Chef, menu, and format
Food is the central point that will gather your guests. There are so many options for how to put together your meal and how to set up the dining experience. We’ve got tips, considerations, and steps broken down below.
Format
Decide on the meal format based on what types of connection between people you want to foster and how much attention you’d like the guests to place on the food. Below, we’ve outlined the basics of each style and some important considerations to make before deciding to choose one format over another.
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This will feel the most formal. 3-4 courses (with the last one being dessert) is a common standard.
Going beyond 3-4 courses elevates the meal even further to more of a tasting menu experience. Consider sitting time, pace the meal, and moderate serving sizes when choosing a longer menu.
A seating chart is common for this format, since guests will be seated next to and across from the same 3-5 people throughout the meal, so you may want to consider how well certain guests mesh socially, who would be more comfortable sitting next to someone they already know, or which guests you want making a new connection. If you will have different options for guests with certain dietary preferences, a seating chart is especially helpful for the staff.
A coursed meal can also help pace an event. If you’d like to spread out speeches or entertainment throughout the meal, the courses can help you time these elements.
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This format can make a seated meal feel more convivial and less formal. Passing dishes around and serving each other can also spark casual interactions and conversations.
Platters full of food can often be visually striking in a unique way, and the sense of a shared abundance is a big plus for this format.
Also, guests are able to decide for themselves how much of each dish they’d like. A sidenote: an individually-plated meal is more likely to reduce food waste in buying and preparation because family-style meals need to account for a greater degree of variability and therefore usually require a larger volume of ingredients, but it’s easier to share leftovers with a family-style meal!
With this format, you’ll want to ensure that there will be some options for any dietary restrictions present and be extra cautious about making sure the presence of any allergens are clearly communicated.
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Passed bites or small plates can make up the equivalent of a meal in a fun and variety-filled way, or you can plan on your guests having a few as a snack before leaving your event for a full meal. Either way, be clear in your event invitations so that guests know what to expect.
If small plates are required instead of just cocktail napkins for bites, it would be best to make sure guests have a place to put them down near where they are, or else they will may be awkwardly juggling a drink, a plate, and a utensil.
Pricing and Style
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A private cheffed dinner can range from $100 to $450 and above per guest. The price varies based on your menu choices in terms of length and ingredients, the chef’s level of recognition, and the meal format. That range can be overwhelming but what it really means is that you’ll be able to shop around, see what chefs offer at different price points, and feel confident that you’ll be able to get a wonderful meal at a wide range of price points.
There is usually a minimum, which varies by the chef - sometimes it’s a flat minimum total, while other times it is the number of guests. (This is another reason to gather RSVPs early; you’ll want to be able to know if your budget is aligned with your expected guest count early.)
For guidance, a straightforward, but bespoke, 3-4 course dinner with passed apps to start costs approximately $150-$175/person with a local private chef. A 5-8 course meal may be $200-$300 per person. More recognized names in the culinary world charge more, or add an appearance fee. Each chef-written menu reflects their own style.
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The chef may charge separately for staff, service & production fees, appearance fees, and tax. If they are coordinating other services on your behalf, like rentals, chat with them about your budget for those as well. Make sure to ask about these and cancellation policies before booking.
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There is a wide-range of styles that can make your event special, from ‘hootenanny’ to ‘plated with tweezers,’ and everything in-between!
If you have a certain cuisine in mind, search for chefs with that speciality. No chef can cook everything equally well and it’s always great to have an expert who’s passionate about the dishes they create. If you are just looking for a skilled chef who can execute their vision of a tasty meal in their style and specialty, you will have more options, and everyone will have more fun.
The chef’s personality style matters too. Some are very comfortable engaging with guests and entertaining a crowd, and this can be important especially if you have an open kitchen or want the food to be a central part of your gathering. However, there is room for the focused, silent type of chef as well. These personalities will fit if you’d like the food to be memorable and delicious but not have any time taken away for presentation or engagement between the chef and guests.
Further Tools
Included in our event guides:
Form letter for reaching out to a chef, with all the info necessary.
A prioritization worksheet for finding and choosing a chef, especially if the menu will be the main feature of the event.
Tips for coordinating rentals with a chef.
How to craft an event timeline with a chef.
A spreadsheet for estimating your beverage needs.
How to coordinate service staff with a chef.
We also cover decor, your planning timeline, hiring entertainment, and more! Sign up for The Event Venue Guide to have access.