We are so grateful to have worked with Chef Alyssa from Elite Personal Chefs for seven months. We are a family feeding a range of ages and folks with various nutritional needs, and all of those needs were beyond met with Alyssa. We originally hired her on for a two week basis plus a holiday brunch menu plan, and then we kept her on for an additional six-and-a-half months because her approach really impressed us. Like, a lot!!! She menu planned, learned our tastes (collaboration was tops!) and executed the needs of many (modifications and substitutions, etc.) seamlessly. She even had our picky eating kid eating vegetables! Alyssa was an absolute pleasure to work with and is so talented in the creation of her flavors, sauces and textures. We even had a menu one week where she brought dishes we missed from a top Chicago eatery to life. If you can dream it, she can make it! If you're regimented and aren't dreaming a lot and just need really good, balanced meals, she is also supremely talented at that kind of output as well. We so missed when she'd visit us and cook in home once COVID-19 hit. During that time she was a lifesaver and delivered meals that rocked our world. Alyssa is so professional and timely in sharing draft menus and is highly responsive and adaptable. She was always on time, always extremely clean and thorough, and she loved to teach us some of the skills she learned in order to prepare such wonderfully thought out meals. Her clients are lucky to have her, and we will definitely have her back when our family needs the extra help again (if she's available!). read more

One of the worst businesses I have ever encountered in my entire life. The woman who I assume was the liaison between the owner and the chefs was so rude and made physical threats against me. She states she would get on a plane come to Chicago if I said one more thing to any of her employees (mind you I never threatened anyone or was unprofessional whatsoever). Then she told me I can go fuck myself because I'm a crazy bitch. Furthermore, she stated "I don't know who the fuck you think you are but you're a fucking nobody and are zero threat to anyone on my team". This was how I was treated after services were already provided and they were paid in full. I was simply asking for my referral and concierge fee that she verbally agreed to pay me beforehand, then when it came time to collect, she avoided, threatened and ultimately blocked me. read more

Chef Ben was awesome to work with from start to finish. Everything about the dinner was perfect and it was super easy to work with him on the menu planning and also on the day of the event. He incorporated everything that I was looking for into the meal and he made it so simple and easy. He's warm and kind and I can't recommend him enough! read more

Chef Rachel worked with us for a dinner party. Everything about the experience was easy and sweet. It was super easy communicating with Rachel via email/text and over the phone. She incorporated our ideas into the menu she built for us and cooked a delicious family-style dinner that everyone enjoyed. She's also incredibly sweet and easygoing. I got her name from a friend who highly recommended her and honestly, I would do the same - hence why I am writing this review. read more

I chose Elite because I wanted the best private chefs I could find for an all-day home party for 9 people, and the best is exactly what I got. Chef Ervin in particular, along with Chef Rick (who brought Ervin in and who was fantastic himself, as well), worked hard with me in advance to plan every detail of the event. And on the day of the party, everyone from Elite was extraordinarily good at creating delicious food (and drinks) and serving them perfectly. I didn't make it easy for them, either. I had very specific, unusual requests about every detail of food and service, and the Elite staff put in the hard work to honor all those requests and bring my vision into reality. Before the party and during it, their work was as good as I could possibly have imagined. It was exactly what I wanted. I will note that when I originally started planning the party with Elite, the project was given to Chef Rachel, and unfortunately that didn't work out. Unlike Chefs Rick and Ervin, who immediately embraced doing things however I wanted, Chef Rachel wasn't the right fit. To her great credit, she realized this herself and quit the project, identifying Rick as her replacement; and I'm very grateful to her for that. Still, that was more than a month after we started the planning. Given how quickly, easily, and smoothly everything went once Chef Rick took over and brought in Chef Ervin to make the plans, the difference between that and how things had gone with Chef Rachel was night-and-day. But I don't want to overstate the case: Chef Rachel was always professional with me and is clearly a talented and dedicated chef, so she might well have been ideal for a different project and a different client. On the whole, Elite was *incredible*. I would never want to hire anyone else, and I can't possibly recommend them highly enough. To Austin, Ervin, Rick, David, Matt, et al., I say: Thank you, thank you, thank you! read more

We ordered dinner from EPC's new "Pop-up Pick-up" concept and went with the "Mimi's Place" menu (traditional southern food). At that time, there was no delivery option so we drove to pick it up. The staff met us downstairs and took all the proper COVID-19 precautions by loading up the back seat of our car, totally contact-free, and a friendly wave to send us off! As for the food itself, it was positively mind-blowing! This was easily the most gourmet takeout experience I think I've ever had. Everything was clearly labeled and nicely-packaged. Quick run-down on our favorite menu items: - Fried chicken: How is it possible for fried chicken to be this good?! The skin was deliciously savory, and the meat was cooked to perfection and super tender. - Fried okra: What?! Honestly I expected this to be my least favorite thing, but it was easily in the top 3. - Fried tomatoes: Super good, especially with the remoulade drizzled over it! - Mac & cheese: I might wanna order a bucket of this next time and just live off of it for a whole week. I think the only way this could've been better is if it had bacon in it, but that may not be authentic southern style. - Coleslaw: Perfection! Tangy (as it should be), but not overly creamy/watery as coleslaw sometimes turns out. Everything was fantastic, but those were my favorites. Overall it was a five-star experience, and I can't wait to order from their upcoming menus! read more

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Chef Rick was a dream to work with! He was timely, professional, and his food was damn delicious! He worked closely with me to create a menu for my friend's surprise 30th birthday. Definitely will be using him again! read more

Elite Personal Chefs - Crab cake with lobster, elote cream, homemade pickles, and roasted red pepper coulis - Caterers Near Me

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Our family hired Chef Austin and his Elite Personal Chef team to cook dinner for us while we were on vacation in Hilton Head South Carolina in July of 2023. 33 of us gathered to celebrate my parent's 60th wedding anniversary, and we hoped it would be a meal and night to remember. From the very start, Chef Austin was responsive and patient with my requests and challenges organizing an intimate family dinner for a large group. He worked with me on all the details: timing, menu, cost, food preferences and allergies. Chef Austin devised a menu combining his low country South Carolina roots along with his credentials as a chef at 3-star Michelin rated Alinea in Chicago (our home town). Everything was delicious! Complex and unique enough to please the foodies in our group but also not so intimidating that those with less adventurous palates couldn't enjoy. Some of our favorite moments ... - Chef Austin's impromptu cocktail lesson with 5 keys to flavor: Many of us gathered around the counter for great info along with a surprise ingredient in a delicious and different drink. - Chef Larry's beef rib roast carving: The youngest member of the team, Larry fit right in as very competent and professional. - Chef Lindsay's utensil delivery: Speedy service to my mom when her spoon went missing. As "front of house" Lindsay quickly and efficiently went through the kitchen cabinets to figure out what could be used for cooking, serving and setting tables. No easy task as this was a rental home and none of us knew where anything was kept. - Chef Kay's chocolate and berry dessert: Proclaimed "the best thing I ever had" by one of the youngest members of our family. - Oh ... and the team cleaned up everything ... stored leftovers, washed dishes, scrubbed pots and pans ... so we didn't have to lift a finger. My dad said it best, "They knocked it out of the park!". Thank you Chef Austin and Elite Personal Chefs! read more

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Omg!!! If I could give Chef Ricardo Paniagua 10 stars I would. I planned my boyfriends surprise birthday dinner months ago. Chef Rick was amazing from start to finish. I don't think I have tasted better food in my life and that's saying a lot. From helping me surprise him to helping me finish setting up and transform my home into a restaurant, he was on point. My boyfriend said it was the best birthday ever!!! I am already looking for him to do my house warming party next month. He is the best, very professional and personable. So do yourself a favor and hire Chef Rick NOW!! You'll thank me later. read more

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Our group of 6 adults and 6 kids had the pleasure of the Chef Austin and Chef Nat experience while on spring break in the Smokey Mountains. What an exceptional experience! Chefs' prepared amazing dinners, prepped breakfasts, did a cooking experience/class with the kids that was really special and always cleaned up which was the gift that keeps on giving for us parents on spring break! We truly enjoyed watching them cook, learned a ton along the way and had an absolute blast trading stories the entire week. We really appreciate your skill, energy and efforts and look forward to seeing you again! read more

Elite Personal Chefs - Chef Austin nailing the 'cooking experience' with the kids! - Caterers Near Me

I'm a weekly meal prep client of Chef Jaime and Chef Nat. Their food and service is fantastic. Always great, healthy options to choose from and opportunities to customize - vegan, gluten free, etc. This service is a life saver for me and I'm so grateful for it! read more

Rachel was amazing and made an incredible diner for us! This was a very great experience.

We had Chef Austin Yancey and EPC at our home for my mom's 70th and again at her 73rd birthday. Both evenings were magnificent and memorable occasions. In addition to the food and dessert being absolutely amazing, the overall service and professionalism was unparalleled. I highly recommend EPC for any occasion! read more

Elite Personal Chefs - Chef Austin Yancy - Caterers Near Me

Austin came over to do an interactive meal for my mom's birthday. We selected a pre-set menu ahead of time and Austin made sure to incorporate my mom's favorite foods. To say that we were pleased in an understatement. Austin brought his talent and knowledge to help us learn how to cook better and it made for some great tasting food. All 8 of us watched Austin cook for five hours plus and some how more impressed with each item that was placed on the table. How cool is it that Austin made his own pickles, onions, ketchup and truffle aioli right in front of us! The gnocchi Bolognese and banana fosters chocolate creme desserts were to die for. Not to mention the amazing garlic shrimp, beets & burrata and short rib burgers. We were so full and had the most amazing experience. If I could EPC a 10/10, I would. Thank you Austin and EPC! We hope to have to you again soon read more

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Chef Austin has assembled a phenomenal team of professionals that allow you to have a worry free event. I contacted Chef Austin about a week before my event, and he paired me with Chef Veronica and her team. Chef Veronica was a consummate professional. Once she and her team arrived, I knew I had nothing to worry about since they had everything under control for the 20 person seated dinner I was hosting. All of the guests commented on the delicious food, and Chef Veronica and her team left the venue spic and span. You cannot go wrong with Elite Personal Chefs -I've already recommended them to friends and will use them again in the future. read more

I met Austin at the CPMA Produce Show in Montreal. He presented several interesting ideas what to do with cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, and long sweet peppers. He assured me that nothing contained mustard, because I am allergic to it. After tasting various items and grabbing the recipe cards, the chef suggested we come back later and he would give us the leftovers. They were not expecting many people for some reason. A few hours later, my friend and i returned to the booth. True to his word, Austin gave me a big container of leftover tomato soup, with the advice "serve hot or cold". I also got another container with stuffing for the peppers, and a third of tabbouleh salad. I also received a massive amount of produce, some of everything being showcased; and a huge bag of mini tomatoes, more than 3 lbs. I was so stunned and so grateful for the bounty. I have not had a full-time job in 4 years so every little bit helps. My friend received just as much as I did. THANK YOU AUSTIN! My favorite was the tomato soup, which I warmed up at home. The only thing I didn't like were the shards of tomato skins at the bottom of the soup. since I had the recipe, and all those tomatoes, I tried recreating the soup and while it didn't match exactly (e.g. I don't have a blender to purée the soup) it was just as good as the original. I would definitely look for him again if/when he comes back to Montreal. read more

Had a phenomenal engagement dinner last night courtesy of Chef Alyssa! Would absolutely recommend Alyssa and Elite Personal Chefs for any event. Alyssa was extremely helpful throughout the entire process from menu creation all the way through service. Incredibly professional, fun, and most of all delicious food! Made our night even more memorable read more

Chef Alyssa was truly incredible. The food was flavorful, perfectly cooked and she was so easy to work with. Alyssa and I curated the menu for my best friend's bachelorette party and it came out better than I could ever expect!!!! Thank you Alyssa! You were incredible!!! She was so easy to work with and pleasant !!! read more

Last night Chef Austin and his team gave my friends and family a 3 hour private cooking class via Zoom. The experience was unique and gratifying. We were trained in several French cooking techniques and treated to a wide menu including bison tartar, seared salmon and roasted vegetable ratatouille. Encouraged to push ourselves outside of a recipe and to trust our own likes, the experience was fun and exciting. I highly recommend that you gather your quarantined family and friends, open a bottle of wine, and learn from an expert. read more

I won a gift certificate to E.P.C. at my company holiday party last year! We decided to have Chef Austin over on 2/13 for an early Valentine's Day dinner. From the minute they walked in till they left, their energy and enthusiasm was excellent! We shared this interactive class with them with my brother and sis-in-law and the four of us could not stop talking about them after they left! I've taken cooking classes at other places and these guys were on a whole another level. The knowledge shared alone will blow your mind! The food was fantastic! We got to design our own menu and Chef Austin gave us the freedom to choose whatever we'd like! We ate the food as it was cooked, fresh and hot! Everything about the experience was perfection! Lastly, to top it all off they left our kitchen spotless! Can't wait to do it all over again! read more

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EPC provided a great fine dining in-home experience during a weekend away in the Hamptons with some friends. Duane was exceptional and the food was delicious. Highly recommend. read more

Long story short, Elite Personal Chefs was able to accommodate our New Years Eve dinner for 7 at the last minute and they DELIVERED! Chef Eddie and Abby were AMAZING and created a fantastic experience for us. They were professional, timely and very fun! The food was incredible and was coursed out perfectly. My only regret is that my eyes are bigger than my stomach...but we got to enjoy the leftovers! It was truly a seamless experience and great for a special night in. We've already discussed our next food adventure with Chef Eddie and look forward to having him back! read more

Elite Personal Chefs - Surf and turf over mashed potatoes and asparagus - Caterers Near Me

Such a great time spent with family and friends. I even got to meet some new people from the comfort of my own kitchen. The chef's were very knowledgeable and accommodating. Forgetting to buy an ingredient was just an opportunity for them to teach people to improvise. I will definitely do this again. In fact I'm trying to get some girls from work to do this with me. read more

Had our second amazing experience with Chef Tim Tokarz. He is a joy to have in our home and his food is outstanding. I was able to enjoy time with family while eating delicious food that was prepared in my own kitchen. Highly recommend hiring Chef Tim for a special occasion or an intimate gathering. He takes all the stress away from entertaining. read more

Chef Austin is a gifted chef that brings both his professional experience and warm personality to any event. I recently had the pleasure to attend an event he was cooking at and I am still dreaming about his Asian inspired short ribs, garlic mussels and compound herb butter. Just in time for the holidays, he is very detailed in his presentation and the flavors he incorporates into each dish is on epic proportions. I've worked with a lot of chefs in the past and sometimes their egos get in the way, but you won't find that with Chef Austin. He is friendly, ready to cook, educates you on each dish and creates a truly memorable experience. read more

Yum, yum and yum! I'm still salivating over the braised short ribs and roasted tomatoes made by Chef Austin last night at an incredible dinner party hosted by my friends, Sean and Mary. There were so many dishes made I lost count and everything tasted great. I just wish I had a bigger stomach so I could have eaten more! Not only is Austin a talented chef but he is also a really cool guy! We had fun chatting with him and joking around which made the party even more memorable. read more

Jeremy is fantastic. An excellent chef! He made authentic Puerto Rican food. Just like my mom's! And my son is a difficult eater, to say the least, and ate up all the food! He was punctual, efficient, cleaned up, taught me a ton of skills!! Had him back and again just as awesome. Highly recommend their services! read more

When my husband and I started planning our wedding celebration, we wanted the food and drink to be the focus of the event. We found Elite Personal Chefs after reaching out to another caterer who specialized in creating unique experiences. She was on sabbatical but highly recommended Chefs Austin & Eric as the ones to turn to. In short, we were blown away by Elite Personal Chefs. From the first meeting, where we talked in depth about the type of menu we wanted to create, onward these guys were professional, fun, passionate and committed to creating a very special feast for us and our guests. I'm from Texas and my husband is from Hungary, and we asked them if they could imagine a menu that brought tastes together from both of our countries! ;) At our tasting, we were treated to a personal chef dining experience where we sampled some of the most amazing food I've ever had. Chef Eric created an insanely delicious version of Hungarian Sour Cherry Soup with subtle hints of heat and secret flavor a that nearly had me in tears. The courses kept coming, each as delicious as the last. The smoked chicken cassoulet and frittata were soo good. On the day of the wedding, everything went down without a hitch. Lee, who heads up front of the house, brought together an amazing staff if friendly servers and coordinated perfect execution of the service. The custom cocktails were fantastic. Our guests gave Chef Eric & Lee a thorough round of applause for their efforts. And more than one person told us that it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding. Hire these guys and hire them again. They're awesome and you won't be disappointed. read more

Jeremy Kiens was my personal chef for the evening. He provided my boyfriend and I with an EXCELLENT meal!! I feel he went above and beyond to make sure we had a very memorable evening. I loved his professionalism, as well as his overall personality. He was very upbeat and polite coming in. Another thing I loved about Jeremy is that he listened to all my concerns, he kept working with me until we had the perfect menu (I am a very picky eater). His respond time was very quick as well. I already told my boyfriend if / when we go back to Chicago we have to book Jermey again. To anybody reading this, book with Jermey you won't be disappointed! I'm sure the other chefs in the company are good as well, but I loved the one we had the pleasure of working with! Thanks Morgan K. read more

We were thrilled with Chef Alyssa and the wonderful meal she made at our home for my wife's birthday this weekend. I had wanted to surprise my wife with a memorable dinner for two at home and Alyssa really made it happen. She worked with me to plan the menu (but truth be told, I didn't have to do much work there because once I have her the broad parameters of what we were looking for, her first suggestions were on point!), showed up at the appointed time (even making an extra stop to pick up birthday candles on the way - thanks again for that) and just got right to work. We had a wonderful five course meal including a delicious creative beverage, all prepared, served, and everything cleaned up in about two hours and 20 minutes total. We didn't have to lift a finger including cleanup, and Alyssa worked flawlessly with the dishes, pans and tools we had handy in the kitchen. She gave interesting explanations of the various dishes when we asked, also. I could go on and on about how terrific our meal was, but bottom line, Chef Alyssa and Elite Personal Chefs has our highest recommendation. Thank you again! read more

This was my first experience with Elite Personal Chefs and I was totally impressed with them. Chef Austin and Chef Alyssa are the best. I used them for a corporate event - all company cocktail hour and then private shareholder dinner afterward. The food was wonderful, beautiful presentation (thanks to Chef Alyssa!) I heard rave reviews from everyone who attended. Customer service was excellent. They are professionals and know exactly what they are doing from top to bottom. Hope to use them again in the future! read more

We have worked with Chef Austin twice now. Each time was nothing short of amazing. We hosted a formal sit down 60th birthday party for my Mom as well as a "supper club" neighborhood backyard dinner party. Chef Austin took a lot of time planning the menu and making sure the event was just what we wanted. Throughout the event he really takes the time to interact with everyone. Looking forward to many more parties with Chef Austin! read more

We recently had Austin and his team cater our wedding. Austin was super flexible with the format and was a great host while cooking. His food blew us away and was better than we could have ever imagined. I would highly recommend him and his team to anyone looking for a catered event. Thanks Austin! read more

I had the pleasure of having Chef Austin and his sous chef, Anthony over at my house last week to cook dinner. As a someone who loves food and wants to develop my culinary skills (for nothing more than to host freaking amazing dinner parties), I was excited to learn from someone as experienced and elite as Chef Austin. It was truly an unforgettable experience. Not only does he cook mean dishes, he's a phenomenal educator. He got me to understand how cooking works just from the basics and then built up from there! His style is playful and fun. Chef Austins is the ONLY PERSON WHO HAS ACTUALLY CONVINCED ME TO TAKE RISKS IN THE KITCHEN! ....Use crazy spices, throw in pickle juice, poor in a splash of the red wine you're sipping.... Best part (besides the food, of course) was sipping wine with him and Anthony chatting all things food, restaurants and life! I'm so looking forward to my next culinary adventure with him! Session #1 in the books, 2 more to go! read more

What an amazing experience!!! Chef Austin and his awesome team delivered more than expected, were fast to answer any of my questions during the party planning, and the food was just perfect. It was great to have them cooking and helping with the service, so I could enjoy my party. I would recommend EPC to anyone that wants to be a guest on its own party. And be ready to have an amazing gastronomic experience. Would be using EPC again for our next event! Thanks chef Austin, Chef Brendan, Lee and Reece. Hope to see you again soon! read more

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We have a bachelorette bash with EPC and it was a home run!! We had given them a difficult task to design a menu that was "Mexican/Asian" and they deliver a fusion that was incredible. Thank you Chef Austin for your creative insight! We loved how personable you and Lee were and hope to do more events with you in the future :) read more

Chef Austin is my hero. Met him while he was in town for a produce trade show. He offered me buckets and buckets of free fresh produce. Just in time for a Sunday BBQ. He's the nicest chef you'll ever meet. read more

These guys are awesome! We just worked a wedding together and I could not have been more impressed. They were able to execute amazing food, had the most professional staff, and were very detail oriented. If anyone is looking for someone to go above and beyond your expectations Elite Personal Chefs is the way to go! I would recommend them to anyone and can't wait to work with them again! read more

Had a Virtual Cooking Class with Chef Conor and it was an absolute blast. We had about 5 couples on Zoom with everything going on with COVID and it was the best night we've had for sure! Fun, engaging and really well organized! Learned a ton and will definitely be scheduling another soon! Thank you Chef Conor read more

We hired Elite Personal Chefs to cater our Kentucky Derby Day fundraiser for our charity. They were exceptional. They created a wonderful menu, stayed in touch during the planning process and provided excellent service and food on the date of the event. I would strongly recommend them and I would hire them again for any future events. read more