A Private Chef Experience, Years in the Making
At French Magnolia Cooks, the private chef experience is personal, refined, and rooted in decades of professional hospitality—from Michelin-level kitchens to thousands of private events. Founded by a classically trained professional chef and a seasoned wine expert, French Magnolia Cooks was born from decades spent in high-end kitchens in New York City, Atlanta, and Charleston—and shaped by thousands of unforgettable tables served beyond restaurant walls.
Meet The French Magnolia
Chef Missy and French wine expert Thomas Fraley are a husband-and-wife duo behind French Magnolia Cooks, a luxury culinary company and Emmy Award–winning television series built around the private chef experience. With more than 30 years of high-level fine dining and hospitality experience, they set out to create something different—bringing all-inclusive, chef-driven culinary and wine experiences directly into the home.
Founded in 2016, French Magnolia was created as a luxury lifestyle brand centered on in-home fine dining, curated wine experiences, and boutique private events. Since then, Chef Missy and Thomas have executed nearly 1,200 private chef tables and served more than 10,000 guests, combining refined technique with genuine hospitality.
Their background also includes owning and operating a French brasserie and wine bar, an experience that shaped the restaurant-level standards now brought into every private event they serve—whether in a private residence, at an intimate celebration, or in a destination setting across the Southeast.
Legacy of Excellence
In early 2022, Chef Missy was approached by a cinematographer and producer from PBS Appalachia with an invitation to create a culinary television series. What followed was the expansion of a vision she had been shaping for years—telling the full story of food, from hunt and harvest to the table, through the lens of technique, hospitality, and place.
That vision became French Magnolia Cooks, the Emmy Award–winning PBS television series written and produced by Chef Missy and Thomas Fraley. Across 22 episodes, the show explores French-inspired cooking, regional ingredients, and the hospitality philosophy that defines their private chef work. The series now airs on the PBS broadcast network and streams nationwide in over 650 markets.
The show has earned three Emmy Awards, including Best Show, further establishing Chef Missy and Thomas as trusted voices in culinary storytelling—bringing the same care, precision, and warmth seen on screen into every private chef experience they create.
French Magnolia Cooks – A love letter to the American farmer
Distributed by PBS Appalachia, French Magnolia Cooks captures the heartbeat of food through the lens of seasonality, place, and hospitality. Now streaming on PBS and broadcast in over 650 markets nationwide, the series reflects the same philosophy that defines French Magnolia Cooks’ private chef and catering experiences.
Chef Missy is joined by her husband, wine expert and hospitality veteran Thomas Fraley, as together they invite viewers into a world where food, wine, and gathering are deeply connected. Through thoughtful cooking, approachable wine pairing, and unpretentious entertaining, the show celebrates what matters most—connection, care, and authentic hospitality.
From farm, field, garden, and stream to chef and sommelier to the table—all in a single day—Chef Missy, Thomas, and a cast of regional experts take audiences on an epicurean journey rooted in American grit and grace. With warmth, humor, and world-class cinematography, French Magnolia Cooks serves as a love letter to the farmers, producers, and communities that shape our food.
The dynamic partnership between Chef Missy and Thomas Fraley brings a rare balance of technique, heart, and lived hospitality—captivating viewers and guests alike. Whether experienced on screen or at a private table, French Magnolia Cooks is designed to leave people feeling welcomed, inspired, and deeply nourished.
Who Is French Magnolia?
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Chef Missy moved to New York City at just 23 years old—without financial backing and with a clear sense of determination. Armed with an Interior Design degree and a lifelong passion for cooking, she immersed herself in professional kitchens, working her way from prep cook to executive chef by learning every role, responsibility, and rhythm of the craft.
Drawn equally to design, art, and hospitality, Chef Missy later stepped away from the demanding pace of restaurant kitchens to found MC Interiors LLC, an interior design firm serving clients in New York City, Atlanta, and Charleston for over a decade. During that time, she became known not only for her eye for space, but for her ability to host—planning and executing refined soirées, intimate weddings, and high-profile culinary gatherings for private clients.
In 2007, Chef Missy returned to formal study, earning a degree in holistic nutrition, and soon after re-entered the culinary world full-time. Her return was decisive. She quickly rose through the ranks in Charleston’s fine dining scene before accepting an Executive Chef position at a five-star Relais & Châteaux property in Blowing Rock, North Carolina—a defining chapter that further shaped her philosophy of thoughtful, ingredient-driven cooking paired with gracious service.
Throughout every chapter of her career—across cities, disciplines, and seasons—one passion remained constant: France. Country French cuisine, technique, décor, and culture have long informed Chef Missy’s creative point of view. That influence, blended seamlessly with her Southern roots, is expressed in her pâtés, menus, and the intimate culinary experiences and boutique weddings she creates.
Largely self-taught through decades of “learning by doing,” Chef Missy’s reverence for French technique and tradition found its natural counterpart in Southern hospitality. In 2016, that union gave rise to French Magnolia—a brand born from equal parts heritage, place, and heart.
Why French Magnolia?
Because Chef Missy is, at her core, a Southern woman with deep French roots—guided by land, culture, and the people who gather around the table.
“The land and its people inspire me to give a passionate voice to its people.
— Chef Missy
Two is Better Than One – Enter Thomas Fraley
Thomas Fraley is a lifelong hospitality professional, wine expert, and the steady counterbalance to Chef Missy’s creative energy. A confirmed bachelor with a deep appreciation for food, wine, and service, Thomas met his match later in life—discovering not only a partner, but a shared calling rooted in hospitality. The two were engaged and married in Charleston, South Carolina, on the one-year anniversary of their first date.
Raised in Arkansas and Tennessee, Thomas moved to Atlanta at 18 to study electronic engineering before answering a different call to service—joining the United States Army Reserves, where he served for eight years. Following his military career, he entered the hospitality industry and quickly discovered a natural aptitude for it.
Through fine dining, Thomas developed a deep appreciation for how exceptional food, old-world wine, thoughtful service, and intentional ambiance come together to create lasting memories. His career soon led him to The Four Seasons in Atlanta, where he was recruited to manage service and oversee the wine program for the intimate Chef’s Table experience alongside the Executive Chef.
Over the past three decades, Thomas has managed and served in fine dining establishments across Atlanta, Charleston, and High Country North Carolina. He has served global leaders and Presidents and is widely respected for his commitment to excellence in hospitality. His experience spans multiple Relais & Châteaux–affiliated properties, where he has trained front-of-house teams, developed wine programs, and consulted on new restaurant concepts and operations.
Today, Thomas Fraley serves as General Manager and Wine Director for French Magnolia, curating world-class wine pairings and ensuring that every private chef experience flows seamlessly from first pour to final course. Guests often find him at the table—sharing château stories, guiding pairings, and bringing warmth and education to each gathering.
Thomas also shares his wine knowledge and hospitality philosophy alongside Chef Missy on the Emmy Award–winning PBS series, French Magnolia Cooks—bringing the same care and presence seen on screen into every private event they host together.
“Missy & I have been instilled with the spirit of hospitality and a gift for loving people with food and wine.” – Thomas Fraley
Together, This Is the Experience
At French Magnolia Cooks, Chef Missy and Thomas Fraley bring together two complementary disciplines—culinary artistry and gracious hospitality—into a single, seamless experience. Every private chef dinner, wedding, or intimate gathering is shaped by their shared belief that how people feel at the table matters just as much as what is served on it. The result is an experience that feels personal, thoughtful, and unmistakably refined—one that guests remember long after the last glass is poured.
When You Hire a Private Chef, It Should Feel Like This
Inviting a private chef into your home is an act of trust. At French Magnolia Cooks, that trust is honored with care, intention, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. From the first conversation to the final course, every detail is thoughtfully handled—so you can be fully present with your guests.