Wined & Dined :: Our Time With a Personal Chef

Confession :: Although I may dream of kicking back after work with a glass of wine while someone else does the cooking, the reality is we are a middle-class family on a budget. While I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a professional prepare a succulent meal for me, never in my wildest dreams would I consider hiring a personal chef.  Then I was introduced to our sponsors at Amazing Kitchen, a company that makes hiring a personal chef convenient, affordable, and enjoyable.  They graciously came to my home earlier this month to let my family and I try out their services.  This chef experience was awesome, and I will certainly be doing this again for my family.

The Planning

From the planning to the execution, the entire process was flawless. We worked with the owner to schedule a day and time that worked for our family for a chef to come in. Our family is vegetarian, but this didn’t pose an issue. The chef presented us with an extensive menu of options to choose from.

The chef arrived at our home at 5:30, arms full of groceries, and with a smile. We had the kitchen prepared for him with basic tools, and he immediately got to work.

The Chef

Chef Ivan was a hit in our home. In addition to being a seasoned chef with fourteen years of experience in culinary arts, he also worked his magic and captivated our toddler in the kitchen. He let our daughter sample along the way and made her own pint-sized plate for each course. Chef Ivan was very personable, entertaining our questions while working feverishly to prepare our meals. I saw this as a learning opportunity, picking his brain about techniques and tricks of the trade. He made such an impression on our toddler that now, several weeks later, she is still talking about him and asking when he will come back.

The Food {aka The Star of the Show}

First Course :: Salad

We started our culinary adventures with a tomato and mozzarella salad. While the mozzarella and tomatoes are a staple of the dish, the kale pesto the chef concocted was a home-run. Our toddler asked for seconds. Yes, you heard right — a second serving of kale!

Second Course :: Appetizer

For our appetizer, Chef Ivan prepared handmade egg rolls with carrot and red cabbage. While he stood in the kitchen filling and wrapping, our daughter watched in amazement. The flavor was phenomenal, and the presentation was impeccable.

Third Course :: Entrée

If you’ve ever attempted risotto, you know it’s an art. So we put our chef to the test with our request for a garlic vegetable risotto. And man did he deliver! The best part — we had leftovers for days!

Fourth Course :: Dessert

Chef Ivan closed out the show with poached pears in a strawberry compote. Although our bellies were full, we made room for this light and fresh finisher.

Wrapping It All Up

Our family loves great tasting and great quality food, but the reality is that sometimes going out to eat with a toddler is a real challenge. The chefs at Amazing Kitchen bring a true culinary experience to your home that leaves your taste buds singing.  For us, Chef Ivan prepared an awesome four-course meal, AND he cleaned up as he went along, leaving us time to enjoy together as a family.

The true test of an experience is “would you do it again?” And overwhelmingly, our response is YES, YES, and YES! Honestly, I’ve already taken out my planner and am scheming on when we will have Amazing Kitchen back to our home for an evening of affordable and delectable dining.

Please Note :: While this may be a sponsored post, as always – all thoughts and opinions about Amazing Kitchen and the team of chefs are completely my own!