Chef Maricel Gentile is a Filipino-American culinary storyteller who’s redefining how we experience Asian home cooking in America. From her Lola’s kitchen in Manila to celebrated appearances on Food Network, PBS, and Hulu, Maricel brings deep cultural roots and over 30 years of hospitality expertise to every dish she creates.

She’s the chef and owner of Maricel’s Kitchen in East Brunswick, NJ—a beloved culinary experience destination known for immersive cooking classes, Chef’s Table dinners, and heartfelt hospitality. In 2025, she released her debut cookbook, Maricel’s Simply Asian, a five-star favorite that makes Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese cooking feel joyful, personal, and completely doable at home.

A true ambassador for Asian flavors and connection through food, Maricel’s work celebrates authenticity without intimidation. She is also a Chef Ambassador for K-Seafood, proudly representing Korean seafood on a global stage.

Whether teaching someone to roll their first lumpia or helping a third-generation Filipino American rediscover their heritage, Maricel believes food is memory, identity, and love—and she’s here to share all three.