Behind the Scenes of a Dinner Party with Atlanta Personal Chef Service

So, while you are enjoying your company and the great food being prepared, what’s taking place in the kitchen to make it all happen?  See below for a sneak peak!

Chef Patricia starts sauteeing the root vegetables

Chef Patricia and Chef David making Butternut Squash soup

Toasted Baguettes ready for the Cheese Board

Atlanta Personal Chef Service Chef David makes sure the temperature is just right

Chef David prepares the Goat Cheese Tarts

Chef Patricia and Chef David plate the main course

 

Chef Patricia tops of the Chocolate Lava Cakes with Creme Anglaise

 

Our chefs will arrive about 2-3 hours before serving time to make all the courses of your meal, typically consisting of a soup, salad, entrée, and dessert.  Basically, we’re bringing the restaurant to your home, so you can enjoy your time with your guests.  We’ll set the table, pour the drinks, bring out each course, and clear the plates.  When we leave, the trash is already taken out and the dishes are clean and put away.  We making hosting parties so easy, you won’t have to deal with restaurant crowds again!

Each course is shown below:

Atlanta Personal Chef Service Goat Cheese Tart with Roasted Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, and Arugula

 

Atlanta Personal Chef Service Butternut Squash Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds and Nutmeg Cream

Atlanta Personal Chef Service American style Wedge Salad with Apple Smoked Bacon and Blue Cheese

Atlanta Personal Chef Service Filet Mignon with Cabernet Sauce over roasted Root Vegetables and Asparagus

Atlanta Personal Chef Service Chocolate Lava Cake with Creme Anglaise, Fresh Berries, and Vanialla Bean Ice Cream

Interested in having Atlanta Personal Chef Service host your next dinner party?  See our Services page here or call us at 404-913-4633.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Atlanta’s Dinner Party Chefs at Work

Bar with Cheese Board prepared by Atlanta Personal Chef Service 

Personal Chef Patricia preparing dinner party salads

Atlanta Personal Chef Service plating risotto to be served with seared halibut

Dinner Party desserts ready to be served to guests

Atlanta Personal Chef Service chefs at a recent dinner party

Wondering what it’s like to hire a personal chef to cook for a dinner party in your home? If you’re considering hiring a chef to come into your kitchen, it would be good to understand what to expect and to know what you need to do to prepare. I've attached plenty of action shots to this post so you have a sneak peak at the behind-the-scenes preparation that goes on to make your party a truly special event.

At Atlanta Personal Chef Service, we make dinner parties easy on you. All you need to do is select your preferred menu (we’ll offer you suggestions if you prefer), have your serving ware set out, and purchase your favorite wine or beverages of choice.

Our Chef (or team of chefs for larger parties) will arrive about 3 hours before your scheduled meal time. We’ll be bringing much of our own gear with us (a cooler with the groceries needed to cook your selected menu), any additional pots, pans, or special cooking utensils needed, personalized menus, and table decorations. The chef team will then set the table, set up a bar (if you will be serving beverages) with hors d’oeurves or a cheese platter, and start cooking. It’s your choice whether or not you’d like to be near the kitchen to experience some of the cooking in action, or whether you’d like to relax and entertain your guests in another room. 

Our dinner party guests are served plated courses, just like you would receive your food in an upscale restaurant. Our experienced chefs work speedily to beautifully plate the courses, so that your food is not only tasty and artfully presented, but also served hot. We will then serve the course to you at the table, and clear your plates when you are finished. The dinner will go as quickly or as leisurely as you’d like—we will time the food preparation in the kitchen to be ready to serve the next course when everyone is ready.

Check out more pictures on our website to get a better idea of what its like to hire a dinner party chef for your next party in Atlanta.

Atlanta’s Best Dinner Party Venues

Atlanta Personal Chef Service - Dinner Party Preview

Well, of course choosing Atlanta’s best dinner party venues is extremely subjective, so rather than attempt to hand-select the best venues or even provide a ranking, we’ll take a look at what makes a good dinner party venue, and then provide a list of links to point you in the direction of finding the venue best suited for your party.

First and foremost, you want to think great food. Depending on the occasion, you may choose something as simple as burgers on the grille or barbeque chicken, but whatever the menu calls for, make sure it’s tasty. There are good burgers, and there are “I’d rather pass” ones. You don’t want your guests leaving hungry, or with a bad taste in their mouth. If you can’t cook decent food, certainly choose to outsource the cooking to a restaurant, caterer, or private chef. For the sophisticated palate, there are many, many excellent options for dinner parties.

Second, think service. Will guests be serving themselves, in a buffet-style offering, or do you prefer to have your guests sit at a table and have dinner brought to them? Check with any restaurant, caterer or chef you may be considering hiring to understand what service options they offer. Will they provide ample servers for a party of your size? Again, there’s no right or wrong level of service, only a more preferable level for the occasion and desired formality.

Third, think logistics. One of the biggest dinner party killers is music that’s blaring so loud it’s nearly impossible to hold a conversation. Save the loud music and crowded restaurants for another time. You want your guests to feel relaxed, and be able to carry on conversation easily. If your dinner party will be at a restaurant, look for one with a private room the right size for your party. Also think of logistics such as parking. If there’s no parking nearby (such as in many restaurants in downtown Atlanta or Buckhead), is there a valet? If you’re hosting the party at your house, make sure you offer parking information for your guests.

Here is a link to a list of restaurants in Atlanta that offer special dinner party service. OpenTable is an online service that allows you to make reservations within seconds, but for a more formal occasion, we recommend visiting the restaurant to see the exact space your party will be offered. Additionally, here is a link to a list of restaurants that cater, as well as catering-only services in and near Atlanta. Lastly, don’t forget you can always hire a personal chef to cook and serve your next dinner party right in your own home. Of course, we recommend choosing Atlanta Personal Chef Service (if your party is 16 or fewer), but you can also find a listing of personal chefs in the area by following this link.