Some consider food to be the universal language. Whether looking for romantic dinner ideas, bachelorette or wedding events, or just a nice dinner party with friends or coworkers, finding a restaurant can be a daunting task. It’s easy to forget that we don’t even have to leave the comfort of home for an amazing dinner cooked just to your liking.
If cooking doesn’t come naturally, fear not, because there are private chefs who will curate a menu, prepare a delicious meal (likely multi-course) and then clean up as if they were never there. Continue reading for some private chefs and private chef companies in the Northern New Jersey area to prepare a restaurant-quality meal at home.
Ask Chef Ryan | New York Area
Growing up in Southern New Jersey, Chef Ryan had always known that he wanted to pursue his passion for cooking. After gaining experience in New York at various restaurants, Chef Ryan decided to open up his own boutique catering and culinary consulting company. Along with other services including restaurant consulting, cooking classes, and meal prepping, Chef Ryan can also put together a memorable menu for any dinner party or event.
Brown Butter Kitchen | Montclair
“Creating a vibe” is what co-founders Justin Caldwell and Marissa Sanders-Young aim to do when they create a delicious menu for their clients. Marissa and Justin pride themselves on using fresh, high-quality ingredients, and aim to ensure the kitchen is even cleaner than before they arrived. If customers don’t want a chef using their kitchens, they can also deliver meals, as well as meal prep with ten meals a week (customers can pick it up from Montclair).
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Brianna’s Nutrition Kitchen | Morristown
(Photo credit: Brianna’s Nutrition Kitchen)
Founder Brianna Sebasto has roots in delicious cooking and aims to bring it to her local customers. There are suggested menus, as well as customizations available to have a delicious four-course dinner. Dinner parties start at $150 per person plus the cost of ingredients. Brianna offers additional services including weekly personal chef opportunities, as well as cooking classes.
Chef Dan | New York – New Jersey – Florida Area
(Photo credit: Chef Dan)
After working in many successful New Jersey restaurants including the Raven and the Peach and The Rumson Country Club, David D’Alessio decided to give his career a more personal feel. Today, Chef Dan offers private dinner parties for any and all kinds of special events. Pricing is dependent on the day of the week, menu, and courses. For example, Saturday events start at $2,500 (not including services). Bartending services can also be added for an additional fee.
Chef Nirva Llorca | New York Area
After working as an executive sous chef at Bobby Flay’s restaurant in NYC, Chef Nirva had her sights set on a more personal opportunity, private chef services. Past customers say that her cooking and overall service is amazing. Meals start at $80 per person, though the final price depends on the meal, type of ingredients, and amount of people.
See More: 25 Hoboken + Jersey City Foodie Accounts To Follow on Instagram ASAP
Laurel Dragonetti | Hoboken + Tri-State Area
Laurel may be new to the private chef scene, but she is no stranger to dominating a kitchen. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, she worked her way up at a few kitchens to become the sous chef (that’s second in command in the kitchen) at Loring Place in New York City. While she specializes in the best seasonal fare, Laurel especially loves to create risotto for her customers, as she has been cooking Italian cuisine since she was young. Email Laurel at laureldragonetti@gmail.com
Takeachef.com | Greater NJ Area
(Photo credit: Takeachef.com)
Since 2017, Takeachef.com has served more than 3,500 guests with their multi-course meals. With different chefs to choose from, each can curate a special three or more course dinner with different cuisines including Mediterranean, Italian, and more. There are chefs all over the Tri-state area, including Jason Mayer in Edison, New Jersey, and meals cost around $156 per person, though the price depends on the specific arrangement.
Two Men and an Appetite | Wayne
(Photo credit: Two Men and an Appetite)
This family-owned business tailors the private chef experience to be exactly what you need. The menus created by Chef Andrew Blume are fully customized, which means that if a customer is looking for simple appetizers for a five-course meal, that’s exactly what the team will prepare. This means that the cost is also extremely dependent on the menu and ingredients used. Check out the website for more information.
