MEET YOUR CHEFS


Two culinary storytellers, one shared vision: to celebrate the harvest, the land, and the joy of gathering around a table.
Monica brings trained expertise and international influences, while Jeanette blends homegrown passion with creative flair. Together, they craft intimate, seasonal dinners that honor nature, flavor, and connection.

A woman with long dark hair smiling and standing in a kitchen, wearing a gray t-shirt and a green apron with a towel hanging from the waist.

MONICA CASTILLO

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Monica grew up surrounded by the rhythms of farm life, where her family’s cattle and cheese farm provided fresh fruits, vegetables, and inspiration for her love of seasonal cooking. Her early connection to the land planted the seeds for a lifelong passion: creating honest, flavorful dishes rooted in sustainability.

After traveling the world for over a decade, exploring diverse cultures and flavors, Monica returned to her culinary roots. She trained at culinary school in Southern California—graduating at the top of her class—and went on to cook for distinguished clients and establish a successful meal delivery service.

Today, in Wellington, Florida, Monica brings her international influences, Venezuelan heritage, and farm-to-table philosophy to The Wild Acre. Surrounded by her private garden, she curates intimate dining experiences designed to connect people through shared meals, seasonal ingredients, and thoughtful, artful cuisine.

A woman smiling in a kitchen, wearing a green apron over a white shirt, standing at a wooden counter with white cabinets and a vase with flowers behind her.

JEANETTE TEIXEIRA

A Florida native with Italian roots from her mom and Native American heritage from her dad, Jeanette’s love for cooking began at age seven when her dad warned, “If you don’t learn how to cook, no one will marry you.” Somehow, she took him seriously — and has been in the kitchen ever since.

Her cooking honors her comforting roots while adding a playful, personal twist. Since graduating college in 2012, she’s been cooking for friends and family, turning gatherings into celebrations of flavor, laughter, and connection.

Passionate about sustainable food systems and backyard foodscapes — and now even beekeeping — Jeanette sees every ingredient as part of a bigger story. Alongside her trained chef partner, she dives into creative flavor combinations and inventive techniques, making every meal an adventure in the kitchen and on the plate.