THE FIFTH COURSE x CAMPERS EP. 4

Maddy Devita: Bet on yourself, especially when it doesn’t make sense.

Sep 10, 2025

I’d been following Maddy DeVita for a while and first had the pleasure of meeting her when she volunteered as a baker for a special LA event I hosted. By the time we sat down for her Campers episode, I didn’t know her well, but I had a strong hunch we’d click — and within the first ten minutes, that was confirmed.

Maddy has this easy warmth that instantly draws you in, paired with an eye for detail that makes her food feel thoughtful without ever tipping into fussy. We talked about the creation of Hand Me the Fork, what it means to bet on yourself (even when the path isn’t clear), her Nonna-collab pasta videos on Instagram that make you want to stop everything and get your hands in the dough, and what’s on the horizon for her.

What I connected with most was Maddy’s way of gathering. For her, a dinner party isn’t just about the food, it’s about the entire experience. The table, the flow of the night, the conversations sparked between bites, the little details that make guests feel seen and cared for. That’s where her magic lives: in creating moments where people feel at home, and at the same time, a little bit transported.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Who is she: Maddy DeVita
What does she do: Private chef, recipe developer, and content creator
Where to find her: @handmethefork | Website

Maddy is a New York–based chef who has built her career by blending family traditions with a modern sense of style. Her love of cooking sparked at a young age, when certain flavors first piqued her curiosity. She bet on herself early, moving to Italy for a few months to help curate a cookbook and soak up tips of the trade. Along the way, she mastered her Nonna’s recipes and later trained at the Institute of Culinary Education, turning that passion into a profession.

Today, Maddy works as a private chef while also developing recipes and sharing her creative world online with a loyal audience. She’s best known for her approachable, inviting content — especially her “private chef day in the life” videos. Her brand strikes the perfect balance: aspirational without being out of reach, polished yet warm, stylish but never stiff.

WHAT’S ON THE PASS

For Maddy, there was no question — I had to make pasta. A slow-simmered bolognese, hearty and layered, felt like the right choice. It’s a dish rooted in tradition, with the patience and depth that speak directly to her love of family recipes.

I served it with fresh tagliatelle and plenty of Parmigiano, the kind of bowl that demands you sit down, stay awhile, and maybe go back for seconds or fourths... It was comforting and celebratory all at once, much like Maddy herself.

I paired the pasta with a spicy marg, which is Maddy’s go-to drink. This was far from a traditional pairing, but somehow it worked.

THE CONVERSATION

Some favorite moments:

The power of DM culture. Maddy told me how a single Instagram message had turned into a steady stream of private chef gigs, proving that putting yourself out there online can really change your career. (Her Business Insider story dives deeper into this.)
Dinner as performance. For Maddy, cooking privately isn’t just about flavor; it’s about creating a whole sensory experience. She thinks about lighting, pacing, and styling with the same care as the menu itself. The dinner is the show.
Balancing chef and creator. We talked about the constant negotiation between being present in the kitchen and documenting it for an audience. Maddy laughed that sometimes the best dish she’s ever made lives only in her guests’ memories because she never had time to photograph it.
Learning by doing. Maddy didn’t wait until everything was “perfect” to start. She booked jobs before she had it all figured out, learned on the fly, and let her work evolve in public. That honesty is part of why people trust her now. Sure, there were moments of panic and plenty of questions, but those lived quietly in the background.

SIDE PLATE

A takeaway I’ve been carrying with me since our talk is how Maddy got her start. Leaving everything behind to move to Italy stood out the most. It wasn’t just a career step, it was an act of trust. Trusting your gut when the safe option would have been to stay. Trusting that the pull you feel matters more than what makes sense on paper. That is the moment to jump.

It’s rare to hear someone describe such a sharp pivot without a trace of regret. It made me think about the difference between doing what you’re supposed to do and doing what you know you’re meant to do. Maddy’s story is a reminder that the boldest leaps rarely come with a roadmap. The path only shows itself once you’ve started walking.

I can relate to this so deeply. When I packed up and moved to Paris to study at Le Cordon Bleu, nothing about it made sense, yet somehow, it made all the sense.

OTHER RECS THIS WEEK

Drink: A friend of mine brought this over for dinner this past weekend, and I fell in love. It was a bottle of 2022 Vin Des Potes X Tuets Historia De VI. It pairs well with any type of fish or vegetable. Enjoy!

Snack: I’ve been on a major cheese kick since getting back from Europe. My current favorite is the Pecorino Pepato Spizzico Sini Fulvi (quite a mouthful) from Eataly. Take whatever your favorite jam (mine’s ruby apricot), some sweet & hot jalapeno peppers, and a crusty baguette, and go to town. Afternoon made.
Product: Ok, I’m so late to the party, but I’m so happy to be at the party. And I truly have no idea how I didn’t own one of these before now. The XL Hulken rolling bag has changed my life, and has made my private cheffing gigs so much more enjoyable. For all my parent friends out there, it also makes a perfect 15 min game for your toddler. Throw them in and take ‘em for a ride around your apartment!

Pantry: I’ve been loving any and all flavors of the Yellow Bird hot sauces (but I’m partial to the Serrano flavor.) It goes on quite literally anything and everything. Breakfast, lunch, dinner - whatever meal/vehicle you choose is the right option.

Outfit from the episode: My outfit was one of my staples, and a very quintessential “Gina” look. My leopard pants are by Sezane, and the shirt was Zara from forever ago, so I now consider it vintage (sorry, no link on this one!)

UNTIL NEXT TIME

Maddy made me think differently about entertaining. That it’s not just about feeding people, but about shaping how they feel in your space. She approaches every table like a canvas, equal parts food, mood, and memory.

She cooks, she hosts, she creates, and she does it all with a kind of ease that makes you want to linger long after the plates are cleared.

The full episode is live now, and it’s one of my favorites!!!! Heres a few extra BTS photos from the day <3