CHARLESTON PRIVATE CHEF

The Interactive Dinner Experience
My most requested service is to prepare a family style meal in your home so that you can see the entire process. Guests may participate if they wish and interact with me as much or as little as they want. I will work with you before hand to determine the menu centered around you and your group. This experience provides a more casual setting and allows you to entertain your family or guests in a totally unique way. My goal is to not just cook for you, but to provide you with a truly one of a kind unique experience that only I can deliver.

​How does it work? 
Reach out via email or phone, and I'll answer any questions you have about the process. After discussing the details of the event (number of participants, dates, ideas, seasonal ingredients, etc.), we will arrange a time to meet at your home. This can also be done over the phone and via rental agency pictures etc., if a home visit is not an option. I will survey your kitchen, see what will be needed, and we will make a plan and book the date. The days leading up to your event I do all the shopping, traveling and prepping. The day of, I arrive at your home before your guests to set up and the experience begins. After dinner I handle clean up, unless agreed otherwise.  

Interactive cooking classes with me
In a nutshell, it's a fun learning experience, and something different to do with friends and family. I feel that I hear all the time that, 'Oh I love that, but I wish I knew how to cook it!' Take your favorite fish for example. That's where I come in. What's unique about this experience is that you have a culinary professional teaching you techniques in your home. Your kitchen. Your pots and pans. I have found that when people attend a standard cooking class, they don’t’ always take away enough knowledge to replicate the results at home. We tend to overlook the fact that learning to cook in a foreign kitchen doesn't translate well to the home. My thoughts are to not only teach you how to make a dish, but to give you techniques and skills that are applicable to a multitude of dishes. The benefit is that you have an experienced chef standing in your kitchen with you, and we will work together to create dishes and/or a meal, and we'll have fun doing it! I'll answer all of your questions, we can share experiences , and I'll teach you how to use your taste buds as a cooking tool.​

Examples of techniques taught:
Knife sharpening, fish cookery, braising, roasting, pan searing, preparing vegetables, fresh pasta, sauces, soups, salads, gluten free cooking, building a basic pantry list, shopping for ingredients

Other ways to Use My Skills 

• I can help you organize your kitchen and outfit it with equipment that you will really use and need. I can help you declutter all those knick knacks, random spice packets and gadgets that you never use. I will then work with you to reorganize your kitchen in a way that flows and better suits your needs and style. Streamlining your kitchen makes cooking more enjoyable and gives the whole process a more natural feel, just as a clean, organized home makes you feel more welcome.

• Don't live in Charleston, but still want to experience my cooking or services? I'm happy to travel and source ingredients and items in your area.  

• Know somebody who is getting married and is about to register for a bunch of items they will never use? I can help. I can't tell you how many times I've talked to people that have said "I wish I talked to you before I registered". We get caught up in the "hype" of what we think we need and not what we will actually use. I can work with you to figure out what you truly "need" without spending unnecessary money on items you will never use. You don't need the most expensive knives to cook great, but choosing the right ones are important.

• Need advice? I've worn many hats and have been a part of all facets of the commercial restaurant business, from construction, kitchen design, purchasing, team building, and all things culinary. I also have experience in residential kitchens and love helping people design kitchens that are both practical and functional. I've collaborated with architects and designers to add practicality and sensibility to their designs. Chefs and cooks that use their home kitchens often have different wants and needs than what most kitchen designers plan for.