A private chef for Thanksgiving

You host. I cook the turkey, the sides, and dessert in your kitchen, and clean up after.

Whoever usually cooks Thanksgiving never gets to sit down. If that is you, or your mother, or your partner, I cook Thanksgiving dinner in your kitchen, family-style, and you spend the day at the table.

How the day runs

We settle the menu in early November: the classics you cannot skip, the family dish that has to be there, and anything you have always wanted to try. I arrive earlier than I would for a dinner party, since a holiday meal has more moving parts. The oven is mine for the afternoon; you are welcome in the kitchen or welcome to stay out of it. Dinner goes to the table on platters, hot, all at once, the way Thanksgiving should. Afterward I pack the leftovers into containers you can actually find in the fridge the next morning, wash everything, and go.

A Thanksgiving menu

  • Thyme-scented fennel and leek soup to start
  • Sous vide turkey breast with crispy skin, juicy every time
  • Classic stuffing, pommes duchesse, Brussels sprouts and shallots, honey-roasted carrots and parsnips
  • Cranberry curd tart with shortbread crust, whipped cream, and candied orange

Every family has a dish that is non-negotiable. Tell me what it is and I will make it the way it is supposed to be made, including from your grandmother’s recipe card if you send a photo of it. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and other versions of anything on the menu are always available.

Pricing and booking

Thanksgiving is priced 25% above my regular rates (as are the dates through New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day), and it is family-style: $100 per person as the base rate plus the holiday premium, with groceries at cost. A server ($250) is required for family-style dinners of 17 or more. Kids twelve and under are $50 each; under five eat free. Regular rates and worked examples are on the cost guide. I can only be in one kitchen on Thanksgiving, so the date goes early. If you are reading this in November, ask anyway; plans change.

Other ways to do it

  • Thanksgiving Eve or the Saturday after: regular pricing, same menu, and the oven is free on the day itself for whoever insists on cooking.
  • Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: their own page.
  • Friendsgiving: same idea, usually a bigger, louder table, and family-style is made for it.

Questions people ask

How much does a private chef cost for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is priced 25% above my regular family-style rate of $100 per person, plus groceries at cost. Send the headcount and I will quote it exactly; there is a $650 minimum, and a server ($250) is required for 17 or more guests.

How far ahead should I book Thanksgiving?

As early as you can; I can only be in one kitchen that day. Thanksgiving Eve and the Saturday after are easier to get and are regular pricing.

Can you cook our family recipes?

Yes. Send me the recipe, or a photo of the card, and I will make it the way your family expects it.