My dad is turning 60 this year and my whole family plans to be in town for it, since it is the day before Thanksgiving. The original plan was to go to a top notch steak house, but my older sister is driving 8 hours with two small kids (will be 2.5 and 1 at the time) and thinks that will be too much for them. I completely agree...so we are looking in to options of having a personal chef come to my home to prepare a fabulous steak dinner for 17 of us.
Has anyone done something like this before and can share their experience? What have you done to prepare? What was expected of you before/during/after as far as meal prep, serving, and cleanup? Did you provide the plates, glassware, and flatware? What about tipping?
I have been doing lots of research on it, but I'm looking for personal experiences of what it was like to do something like this.
ADDED: With the catering idea...can we get a great steak meal that way? I have seen catering with foods that feed large groups, but we are looking at more individual meals. Like would they put 15 filet mignon's in a dish and 15 baked potatoes in another? We want fancy...can I get that with catering?
We live a good 90 minutes from the good steak houses. We have Morton's in DC, and Ruth's Chris and Chop House in Annapolis. Both are a hike for us, so I don't think we could get any of their chefs to come, but it's worth a try!
I also host Thanksgiving at my house for this group - and I honestly want to be able to relax and enjoy my dad's birthday with him. So having someone come in to cook and clean was the next best thing to going out.
I didn't look at a catering option - that's a great idea too!
Thank you all! To answer a few questions...we can't do the steak house for the reason it's too far away and would add 3 hours travel to my sister's day plus at least 2 hours at the venue. Logistics is difficult for her to come a day earlier, so we are trying to make it easier for her. --- We do NOT want to celebrate on Thanksgiving. He has shared that day for years and it's his 60th, we want it to be special. ---- the two personal chefs we are in contact in are working up pricing for us. The one I am talking to is going to price it with all of the plates, flatware, glassware, etc included. I'm not sure about the other one. ---- We do not have high end appliances, but both personal chefs said no problem. ----- We don't have seating for that many AT the table, but we have already rented tables for that weekend and have room to set them up in our living room so we can all eat together. Typically when everyone is at my house for a big event the kids eat at the table and the adults eat in the living room (oldest get the couches and the rest of us who can sit on the floor do). ---- Last year for Thanksgiving I had the whole group over on Wednesday night for easy dinner, Thursday for Thanksgiving, Friday night for birthday dinners (we also have one on 11/16, 11/19/ and 12/7), and then my little sister's baby shower at my place Saturday morning...I'm used to the chaos.
FINAL ADD!!! We were able to find an amazing local chef who will come to our house and feed all of us for $38 a person...including all of the glassware, plates, and flatware. We don't have to do a thing!!
We had a steak dinner for 10 catered and served for my in laws 50th wedding anniversary. We were able to choose from an extensive menu, they came to the house and set up in the garage. The service included plated and served meals (on my MIL's china) they even stayed and handwashed the dishes. The food was great and the servers were friendly but not overly intrusive. Made it a very special night for the entire family.
Yes, we just did this two weeks ago at our home. We were having a party that included approximately 25 adults and 7 children. We had a chef do steaks, salmon, and shrimp in our outdoor kitchen. In order to prepare, I made sure he had all of the utensils, plates, seasonings, etc. that he needed ready to go. We went to a special butcher to get the best meats possible. The food was incredible.
His assistant prepared appetizers and some sides. I had purchased all of the foods items and had all of the cutting boards, prep utensils, and serving dishes ready for her. I made a few of the things that I like to serve, so I was prepping some things alongside her. She was fabulous. She passed appetizers, made sure everyone's glasses were filled, cleaned up quickly and efficiently and was a delight.
We provided the tableware, glassware, and flatware, but you can rent these if you would prefer to do that.
I've been the hostess of very large parties before (50 plus) in our home and done it mostly myself, but I can tell you this was the best idea ever. I was really able to focus more on my guests and actually have some fun rather than worrying about taking care of everyone. I still did some of that, of course, but it was a HUGE relief for me and one of the most enjoyable large parties we've had.
I still had things to clean some things after the party---crystal and hand-wash only things that were used later in the evening, but they did the bulk of the work, washing as they went, loading the dishwasher.
Look in your area for personal chefs. There are some who will handle absolutely everything, from the shopping to the cooking to the clean-up. You can talk with them about what they will do, what you would like them to do, and what you are wanting to do yourself. Contact several different business so you can get a feel for the ones you think would work best for your purposes. You will find a fairly large range of costs, depending on what you want them to do and how many people you are serving.
One of the ones we checked with but did not use because of scheduling conflicts was Big City Chefs. They have personal chefs in all major metropolitan areas and you can look at their services online. We ended up using a chef from the country club, and it worked out perfectly. We did tip them.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. Doing this will be so worth it. Your sister and her family will have the comforts of your home for their little ones if they get fussy, but all of you adults will be able to enjoy the celebration for your dad and not have to worry about all of the cooking and serving details. Hope you have a great party!
J. F.
I agree with the catering idea. I used to work for a church that had some events catered, and the companies/restaurants we used were all very professional and organized and did everything for us.
Some places will give you everything in disposable containers. Others will bring them in those pans with the fire underneath (I'm really tired today and getting over a cold, so my brain is not working) and then stay and clean up. Personally, I'd like the disposable containers because then they just drop it off and go and you don't have to worry about it again :-)
I completely agree with you wanting to do this. Enjoy your time with your family, and enjoy your dad's birthday. It is worth the extra expense!
I've done this kind of catering before, so I can give you an idea of what to expect. First, tipping is not expected at all. Once or twice we've been tipped $20, enough for a drink after :) You provide the serving dishes and tableware, the chef might bring their own pots and pans & special items like knives. I expect a very clean kitchen to work in, and a simple "tour" to show me where everything is in the kitchen. Experienced chefs know how to hold food at the right temp so everyone is served at once. Some guests wanted to watch us cook, some let us be (I do these with my husband). We typically serve each person on separate plates for the main course, and depending on what the sides are, they can be served family style or individually, you'll have to speak to the chef about it. Some chefs will ask you to provide the food and they just cook it, some want to purchase the food and bring it to your house. Clean up after the meal is your responsibility, but the chef should leave your kitchen pretty neat, but shouldn't be expected to do any dishes except the ones he/she brings. We often left before the meal was over, payment happens ahead of time so no need to address it at your event. Any other questions? Message me here :)
I have no experience with it but I think trying to do a fancy meal like your describing will be hard unless you have a chef's kitchen grade appliances and work space. And do you have seating for 15 to 17 people? Steak knives,fancy goods etc? Do you have anyone you can hire to baby sit the little ones? Perhaps someone from your neighborhood that you know well. Your sister might be ok with that. Can you do the dinner the day after thanksgiving or even the Saturday? What your looking for to me sounds hard to provide in your home.
Sorry, no experience, but your idea sounds AWESOME!
No experience here either, but just wanted to say how nice you are! Doing this to accommodate your sister. You are one awesome little sister!!
We've had several different caterers for a holiday party. Not a sit down meal but they've come with some things prepared and then some they cook in our kitchen so they're hot. Steak doesn't travel well. Not sure I'd want steaks already cooked brought in. But I think there's not always a big difference between a small catering company and a personal chef. With the small catering companies we've used, the chef came and had helpers. And they clean everything up. It's usually worked out ahead of time if you want them to provide dishes and all. And I've only tipped when we used a big catering service that dropped off the food all prepared in big chafing dishes and a server stayed to help. I tipped him. So I'd look at personal chefs and smaller catering companies. They're likely the same thing in a way and how you want things done usually is up to you. Extra cost for their dishes... Or if you go with a big catering company, they can bring big dishes and drop them or you can ask them to include a server. I'd just pick a different meal than steak in that case.
ooh my word!! For our 15th wedding anniversary - I had a couple come in and cook for us - it was awesome!!!
I'll send the name!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your dad!!
I've had several nice caterers come to my home.Each time for about 15-20 people. Part of the meal was done in their kitchens and was finished up in my home. I entertain a lot, so I had all of the needed tableware and kitchen stuff. We usually tip $20-$50 each depending on how much staff was brought and how labor intensive the meal is. They have always done the clean up associated with the cooking and would run the dishwashers with the first couple of courses' dishes, but they usually leave after the meal is fully served and I would clean up the rest of the dishes. We all like to sit and talk at the table so dessert dishes and wine glasses usually linger long after they're gone.
I hope your celebration goes well and your dad has a nice birthday!
No experience with a personal chef but I'm wondering why you don't just contact the restaurant as the high end ones usually offer catering, especially during the holidays.
Last Christmas my cousin ordered a full dinner including a fabulous prime rib, potatoes and gravy, fresh bread, salads and sides from Whole Foods. It was delicious!
Just a thought.
I would do a caterer instead. Just have them do food for 20 or 25 in case you have big eaters, and pay one fee for them to deliver it, fix it up, lay it out, and clean up since they take most of their pots and pans with them when they leave.
I've done some catering, not professionally of course, style meals for friends and church.
I have made:
Chicken Parmesan served over a bed of al dente spaghetti pasta, with garlic green beans or a regular lettuce side salad, and a wonderful dinner rolls with butter and Parmesan on top.
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, served with orange glazed carrots, and a wilted spinach salad.
Spaghetti with a homemade meat sauce and a homemade marinara sauce for the vegetarians. Served with garlic green beans and a good hearty salad.
Lion House Sweet and Sour Meatballs on a bed of oven steamed rice. Served with steamed squash, zucchini, and other colorful veggies. The largest crowd I've done this meal for was maybe 50. I TRIPLE the sauce, I cook the meatballs a bit then drain the fat off. Then I add the sauce and they are covered when I they go back in. PLUS the smaller the meatballs the more flavorful they'll be. 1.5"-2" are a good size, less than 2" is best.
http://realreliefsocietyrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/03/swee...
Apricot Glazed Ham, this ham is tangy so flavorful sides can hinder it's full experience. I tend to do a salad as an appitizer then bring out the ham and mashed potatoes, corn, broccoli and/or cauliflower, etc...something pretty and colorful but not sweet or savory. This meal...I think 125 was the most I've cooked it for. I had 6 or 8 hams and one burned. This recipe cannot be cooked on high heat. The combination of the apricot preserves, dry mustard, and brown sugar makes it flammable! Low heat, long time to reheat all the way through.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/apricot-baked-ham.
You can select hors d'Oreuvres and appetizers along with the main menu too. Even drinks can be part of the final bill.
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I cooked some on sight but did all the prep work before we got there.
My point is that if you have a menu you want done then having a catering company come in and do that meal you have very little clean up, have less stress since they're going to set everything up and take it down, and more. A personal chef, what I've always thought about them anyway, is that they'll come, do their cooking with maybe one assistant, and leave the rest to you.
Now I'm hungry and want to have some Lion House Sweet and Sour Meatballs. Yumm!
Have you ruled out going to a steak house and getting a private dining room just for your party?
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Restaurants+With+Pri...
http://www.ruthschris.com/privatedining/
Prep-ing for Thanksgiving takes time and space and I'm not sure I'd want to handle 2 major events 2 days in a row in one kitchen/house.
A private dining room gets you all the restaurants facilities, equipment, menu and staff at your disposal.
The kids will be in the room with family - no one else will be bothered by them.
As much as family loves Thanksgiving at your house, having the birthday party at a different location could be refreshing and a treat - a nice change of atmosphere!
It's something to think about.
ETA: Ruth Chris does catering so I don't know why you couldn't get a fancy steak dinner? I would give them a call since they probably offer exactly what you are looking for.
Did you check with a couple of top-notch steak houses in your area to ask about catering, rather than a personal chef? I can't speak to the personal chef - I did have one but on at a vacation resort and they obviously provided everything. Catering varies greatly - many bring all the dishes and just ask that your kitchen is clean and counters cleared off to allow them to work. Others will use your flatware if you have it set up for them (and will charge less accordingly). Usually if they bring their own, they transport it back dirty and wash it at the restaurant (may rinse it first though). I would check out local restaurants and Craigslist (any maybe Angie's List?) to see what was out there.
Good luck!
