Our Story
The Collective Chef & Catering is a Toledo-based private chef and full-service catering company serving Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. We create custom menus from scratch, designed to elevate weddings, corporate events, and intimate gatherings.
Led by an experienced culinary team, we focus on thoughtful execution, quality ingredients, and seamless service — delivering restaurant-level cuisine with a personalized touch.
Exceptional food. Unforgettable experiences.
Meet The Chef
Marcus Hartford
Born and raised in Toledo, Chef Marcus Hartford is the visionary behind The Collective’s signature culinary experiences. He refined his craft in Columbus, earning his degree in Culinary Arts and Applied Sciences from the Columbus Culinary Institute, laying the foundation for over 15 years of fine dining and elevated catering experience.
His journey has taken him through kitchens in Ann Arbor, Columbus, Toledo, and Chicago, with each city shaping his style and deepening his culinary perspective before he ultimately returned to where it all began, bringing that experience home to Toledo.
A two-time Best Chef of Toledo, Marcus is known for his elevated approach to comfort cuisine, seamlessly blending familiarity with sophistication. His range spans authentic street-style Mexican to classic Italian and French, all executed with precision, intention, and artistry.
From intimate private dining to curated large-scale events, Chef Marcus creates refined, immersive experiences defined by warmth, detail, and unforgettable flavor, where every moment is elevated yet still feels like home.
Recognize the name The Collective Chef? There’s a reason.
Chef Marcus Hartford has built a reputation around creating food that’s just as memorable as the experience surrounding it. Along the way, he’s been named Best Chef in Toledo twice, earned Best Plating Presentation at Barefoot at the Beach, taken home six Jam City wins, and secured back-to-back Grand Champion honors at The Collab. And that’s only scratching the surface.
Now, Marcus is stepping into his next chapter as the Founding Resident Chef of CJ’s Culinary Reserve in Perrysburg, bringing The Collective’s signature approach to private dining, events, cooking experiences, and more.
Two-time Best Chef. Six-time Jam City winner. Back-to-back Grand Champion. Founding Resident Chef.
Zack Cappelletty
Chef Zack Cappelletty brings more than a decade of experience in locally owned, high-volume, scratch kitchens throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan to his role as Sous Chef at The Collective Private Chef & Catering.
From serving as Kitchen Manager at Smokehouse in Temperance, Michigan, to working at Phoxy Pho in Toledo, Zack has built a foundation rooted in leadership, organization, consistency, and creativity. His thoughtful approach and collaborative spirit make him a valued part of The Collective’s kitchen and leadership team.
Whether preparing an intimate private dinner, executing a large catering event, teaching a class, or bringing a curated pop-up dinner to life, Zack approaches each experience with care and attention to detail.
FOOD IS ABOUT PEOPLE.
Zack shares The Collective’s commitment to bringing people together through food, community, locally sourced ingredients, and thoughtfully crafted experiences. His work reflects that belief, from the preparation behind the scenes to the food on each guest’s plate.
Outside the kitchen, Zack enjoys live music, skateboarding, riding his bike, writing, and exploring regional cuisines from different cultures. That curiosity continues to inspire his creativity in the kitchen.
Locally Sourced
We source fresh ingredients from Northwest Ohio farms and suppliers whenever possible.
Local producer or vendor? Let’s partner — reach out to connect.
