My husband and I were having a small family only gathering for our wedding this weekend. We reached out to Lavish Cuisine because we didn't want to have to deal with making food. It was our first time hiring a chef for dinner and Catherine was able to walk us through the process. The process of planning and deciding on the menu was seamless thorough. The dinner was phenomenal. My husband is lactose intolerant and she was able to not only make a beautiful dinner that met our needs but also an out-of-this-world, dairy-free cake that was picture perfect and tasted wonserfully. Because they do all the shopping and cleanup and serving, we were able to enjoy dinner without any hassle. We couldn't have asked for a better end to our special day. I can't stress enough how much I recommend working Lavish Cuisine for any of your needs. read more

We organized a party for our homebuilders. Chef Catherine and Nicole made it a complete success My wife made selections for the menu and communicated with Catherine a few weeks before the event. We settled on empanadas, cowboy caviar, paella, bananas foster and lemon trifles Catherine was on time and well prepared. She made cooking part of the party experience and everyone enjoyed watching. He food was OUTSTANDING! The paella scrumptious with seafood, chicken and chorizo. It looked great and tasted even better. Having Catherine prepare and serve this meal took a great load off us and let us enjoy the party. Highly recommend her services for a complete party experience read more

Lavish Cuisine - Paella.. Delicious! - Personal Chefs Near Me - San Antonio TX, Texas

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Catherine was absolutely amazing! She made the whole experience wonderful and cooked exceptional food. She was very professional, service was flawless and what a fun environment to do this at home. read more

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Chef Catherine was outstanding!!! She is personable, kind, and an excellent chef. She played alone in surprising my husband who didn't even realize she was in our home about to prepare his birthday meal. The food was absolutely amazing. Her steak was the best steak I have ever eaten. I can not even pick a favorite that night because everything was just that good. I highly recommend her. We have already booked her for my sons graduation party. She prepared the meal, served the meal, and cleaned. My kitchen was just as clean as it was before she entered. A perfect 10 in my book.. read more

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My daughter has dreamed of becoming a chef since she was 11 years old. So for her 18th birthday we hired chef Catherine to surprise her with a Julia Child inspired French dinner. We also asked Catherine if Lexy could join her in the kitchen to learn from a real chef. Catherine was amazing! The whole family had a great time! Even our 4 year old son got in on the action. The aroma coming from the kitchen was exquisite! The meal was even better! This was an epic birthday celebration! Thank you read more

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Phenomenal experience and the food is absolutely delicious. Chef Cathy is awesome, made us feel super comfortable and we had a ball just with conversation alone. Don't have any doubts book her now and as often as you can because I know my family and I definitely will. read more

This was our first experience with a Personal Chef & a 50th wedding anniversary dinner for 5people. From the beginning Catherine made me comfortable. I wanted this to be a surprise & she made it all happen. She is a great communicator &;very prompt. And she leaves the kitchen spotless including all your dishes! Now, regarding the meal, in one word, incredible! Every item was perfectly prepared and delicious. Additionally she created a dessert to replicate my friend's favorite cake. Amazing! read more

Lavish Cuisine - Personal Chefs Near Me - San Antonio TX, Texas

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We had Nicole from Lavish come to our ranch for our Mom's 60th birthday dinner for 17 people, and it was wonderful! They arrived on time and food came out right on schedule. The 3 appetizers were plentiful and really delicious, and the seated meal of pork tenderloin was amazing. They brought all their own plates, silverware, cloth napkins, etc. and cleaned up afterward, so it was no work at all for us. The price was very reasonable, especially considering the quality of service and food. We will definitely use them again! read more

We've had the privilege of using Nicole from Lavish Cuisine on more than one occasion. She has catered three large parties for each. Each one had a very different menu though, each time the food was delicious. It was expertly prepared and presented. Most recently she did the shopping and advance preparation for our Anniversary dinner. Nicole helped me surprise my husband by coordinating our calendars to sneak the food into the house. He was quite surprised and we had a lovely evening with delicious food. read more

I planned a 40th birthday weekend for my husband at a ranch in Hondo, Texas. We are from Maine. Catherine came to the ranch we were staying at and prepared two AMAZING dinners for us and our guests and at the last minute, also prepared some delicious breakfasts ready for us to put in the oven in the morning. She and I spoke and discussed the menu once, and after two emails she came up with two incredible dinner menus that we will all be talking about for a very long time. She showed up with everything she needed, prepared dinner while we enjoyed the beautiful ranch house, served appetizers, dinner, and dessert and then cleaned up afterwards so it was like nothing ever happened in the gorgeous kitchen (minus leaving leftovers for midnight munchies!). I cannot say how happy we all were with her food and service. Beyond delightful and since the weekend was such a blast, we are thinking of making this an annual trip to get our friends together and you bet we will be calling Catherine next time we come back!! If I could give ten stars, I would. read more

My birthday was coming up and being the awesome husband he is, my husband decided to surprise me with a private dinner at home. That is probably one of the best decisions he has made in his life next to marrying me. Anyways, here's the review he wrote for Chef Catherine and her private catering business: ------------------------------------------------------------- My wife's birthday was coming up, and I wanted to plan something special -- a surprise private dinner for two at her apartment, catered by a personal chef. I found several chefs in the San Antonio area, but was most impressed by Catherine and her Lavish to Lite Bites; her blog, often updated with her latest culinary adventures and recipes, really showcased her passion for food. She responded to my email quickly, and we met (secretly!) at Starbucks, where she conducted the most comprehensive interview withh me on my wife's culinary preferences. A day later, she sent me a huge list of menu options for each course for me to choose from, all tailored to my wife's favorite ingredients and cuisines. After a few more rounds of talks, we came up with this final menu: Appetizer: Mexican Ceviche Soup Course: Creamy Butternut Squash Soup Fish Course: Saffron and Citrus Black Cod over Bok Choy, Shaved Fennel and Spinach Beef Course: Beef Tenderloin with Merlot and Shiitake Mushroom Reduction, Roasted Poblano & Yukon Gold Potato Puree, Grilled Asparagus Dessert: Passion Mousse Cake Mmm, I'm salivating just remembering it! On her birthday, I picked up my wife after work and brought her home. Not suspecting anything, she pushed open the front door, and gasped. Even I gasped. Catherine had brought rose petals and sprinkled them all over the tables! She set the table neatly with really nice table clothes and dishes. And she lit a bunch of candles that I got earlier that day. It was beautiful! Before we had time to take a second breath, she popped up from behind the door and poured us two glasses of champagne. "Happy birthday!" she said happily. The night just got better from there. The Mexican ceviche was filled with super fresh halibut, shrimp and octopus that she just got from a fish monger that morning; it was the freshest seafood we'd tasted in San Antonio, and perfectly marinated in refreshing acids. And the best part was that there was a seemingly endless supply of it -- not just a spoonful that you'd get at a restaurant, but a huge bowl with more refills that you can take! Just another perk of home versus restaurant cooking! Easily the most satisfying ceviche dish I've had. The black cod was delicious -- nicely seared on the outside, and still succulent on the inside. The citrus sauce was tangy and savory, and my wife, who had been craving black cod, devoured the dish. The steak, though, was the star of the show for me. It was perfectly cooked, extremely tender, and the sauce was a knockout. Even the mashed potato, with a hidden kick from the roasted poblano, was outstanding. We could not finish our steaks that night, but I dug into the leftover eagerly the next day. Still good! The dessert, too, was excellent -- it was sponge cake covered in passion fruit frosting and stuffed with passion fruit compote. I was worried that Catherine wouldn't be able to hunt down all the passion fruit-related ingredients, but why would I doubt that? Through it all, Catherine was a delight; I was worried at first that it'd be awkward to have a personal chef there at a private dinner, but it wasn't at all -- she chatted with us pleasantly when we had questions, but became invisible when we were talking among ourselves. And of course, she did wonders with all the courses, limited as she was in our extremely primitive kitchen (we only had one pot). After all is done, she packed up, did the dishes, and disappeared -- leaving our kitchen cleaner than it was before. I highly recommend Catherine for your next party! She's an excellent chef, is very professional and responsive, and -- amazingly -- is also very reasonably priced :-) Thanks, Catherine, for making our night so special! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I can't recommend Catherine highly enough. She and her cooking have so much character! She is extremely professional (she came in wearing this nice chef suit and she has a culinary degree). Her food is delicious with some added elements of surprise. The main entrees we got was the best American fusion food we've had in San Antonio and being able to get all of my favorite ingradient into one dish is the unique trait only homecooking can provide. We also got some nice cooking tips from her. I would not hesitant to hire her again. Although I hate growing older, but if every birthday is going to be as awesome as my last, I don't mind celebrating it once in awhile. read more

Lavish Cuisine is fantastic! We have known Catherine for a long time now and highly recommend using her services for catering or personal chef services that you may need. read more

We hired Jessica at Lavish Cuisine for my 30th birthday and she was awesome! I was so grateful for her menu guidance early on as I was overwhelmed with so many good food options. Her food was superb and we loved the variety. My friends and family loved the charcuterie board, the parmesan wings, the macaroni cheese balls, the Bloody Mary shrimp cocktail, the wedge salad, the hot artichoke & spinach dip shells... everything. I appreciated that Jessica was respectful and gave our guests space while we enjoyed dinner. I will certainly hire Lavish Cuisine again. read more

We planned a 5 course dinner at home with friends. Catherine was amazing, incredible dinner and very professional service. I've already inquired about booking her again. We were impressed, as were our friends. I highly recommend her. read more

I hired Catherine for my wife's birthday party. She planned a fantastic five course French dinner and allowed me to choose from a variety of different options for each course. The final outcome exceeded all that we expected or hoped for. Not only was the food exceptional, but the service she provided throughout the dinner was top notch. The personal touch she provided made the evening incredibly memorable for everyone that attended. I cannot recommend her more highly. Can't wait to ask her to plan another dinner for us! read more

Although it has been almost two months since Catherine Richey of Lavish Cuisine provided a wonderful Valentine's Day dining experience for my wife and I (I've been saying every day I was going to write a review), I remember it as if it was last night. From the initial contact by e-mail to the time she walked out our door, Catherine was a pleasure to deal with. Although I contacted her at he last minute, I was lucky enough that she was able to accommodate us. She guided me through the process from beginning to end, never rushed me and provided me with great suggestions. The hardest part was narrowing down my choices since anything we could think of was available. On the day of our dinner, she texted me to see if there was anything I needed that she could pick up on the way over. I kept texting her of potential obstacles .... Will big dogs bother you? Is it going to bother you if we are hanging around while you prepare since originally I was going to surprise my wife, etc, etc. Nothing fazed her. No matter how easy the process is , if the ambience and food aren't exceptional nothing else matters. Her requirements of our kitchen were minimal and she made us feel very comfortable from the beginning. Since the night was beautiful, my wife and I sat on our back deck drinking wine while dinner was being prepared. We could smell the wonderful aromas being vented outside through the stove vent hood and my wife remarked how wonderful it smelled and how "Catherine was torturing her" with the aromas. We started with a wonderful salad, which was light but flavorful, and included baby greens with pine nuts and citrus, and Parmesan crisps. She served us outside since we were enjoying the night. We had our version of surf and turf (Grilled halibut and Pan seared Tenderloin) served as separate courses. Accompanying the fish was a wonderful yellow squash side dish and with the Tenderloin, wild rice pilaf served in the shape of a heart and roasted asparagus. We finished the dinner with bananas Foster. Needless to say, we were in culinary heaven! My wife said it was the best food she ever had and even after I said "best food ever??" she did not waver! It was indeed exceptional and we started to plot when we could have her come again before we even finished our dinner. Catherine quickly cleaned up and the kitchen looked as if she had never been there. We thoroughly enjoyed our Valentine's Day as provide by Catherine Richey and heartily recommend her! read more

Our experience with Nicole from Lavish Cuisine was very positive. From developing the concept for the party to cleaning up the kitchen, everything was flawless. The menu options were excellent including healthier , creative options. Nicole orchestrated the event flawlessly and the food was excellent. Pricing was very fair given the quality of food and service. We look forward to using Nicole and Lavish Cuisine again. read more

Chef Catherine prepared meals for a 4-day business meeting in the San Antonio area. She is friendly, highly service oriented and her culinary skills are incredible. menu options and food quality was excellent. Connect with Catherine-you won't be disappointed! read more

This is the second event Lavish Cuisine catered for me. After the first event went so well it was incredibly easy for me to touch base, choose my menu, and then forget about it knowing with full confidence Chef Catherine and team would execute brilliantly so I could worry about other things. Very well reviewed, and my catering Rolodex is only one card deep: Lavish Cuisine. read more

I had the pleasure of having Chef Catherine cater my Christmas party. From the quick response to my emails to her promptness the day of the party, Chef Catherine made my party awesome. As my guests entered they were welcomed with mouth watering appetizers and the aroma of fresh herbs and spices, for a minute I forgot I was in my own home. My guests were so surprised to see a Chef in my kitchen, so was I! Chef Catherine and I created a menu that satisfied all my picky-eating friends. From the bacon wrapped dates to the crab cakes (12 lavish bites total), everything was phenomenal. I was even blessed to find left over crab cakes.. but nothing else (my guest demolished everything). Chef Catherine and her assistant Tracey (sorry if I spelled your name wrong) prepped and cooked, served the guests, and cleaned the kitchen (yes, the kitchen was spotless). She also provided the recipes for my guest to take home. Words can't express my gratitude for Lavish to Lite Bites, my party was the talk of the town (well the work place) for weeks. If you are looking for a chef with character and variety, look no further. I can't wait to plan my next event. read more