HOW TO HIRE A CHEF: Plan a private chef evening

It’s all about what you want from private dining

Welcome to Duende, where Chef Tim Zekki is will ensure your private chef experience is exceptional and memorable. Let's start planning a wonderful culinary adventure together.      

First, tell us about what you want from your private chef event

Will it be a dinner party, or something else? Are you thinking a la carte, or tasting menu? Where would you like the restaurant to come to you? At your own home, a self catering cottage or Airbnb home?

Practicalities – what’s the kitchen like in your home or holiday accommodation? (Don’t worry if the kitchen space isn’t huge – Tim is used to working in small spaces, and will prep the fresh food at his restaurant kitchen on the morning of your event.)

Do you or your guests have an allergies or dietary preferences? Will you require a wine flight with a tasting menu? What dates are you looking for?

Once you’ve got some thoughts about the kind of private event you are looking for, use the contact form to email Tim and we can start talking about your private dining event.

Once you’ve booked your private event, Tim will prepare to bring the restaurant to you

BEFORE

Sourcing the Best: I will source all ingredients from local, trusted, sustainable suppliers with provenance. I will personally prepare your chosen menu and arrive at your home or venue at a pre-arranged time, usually and hour and a half before the time you want to sit down to eat.

 If you have any specific dietary requirements, please let us know at least one week before.

DURING

 Personalised Service: On arrival at your venue, we'll set the table, finish the details of the food and serve a fabulous meal to you and your guests.

 We can be as interactive or discreet as you prefer; our default mode is relaxed, warm and friendly. We can be chatty and talk about the details of the food, or we can be quietly working away in the background. It's totally up to you. We want this experience to be all about what you want.

AFTER

A flawless farewell: After all the courses have been served, we'll clear the table, pack up, and leave your kitchen as if we’d never been there. We will then leave you and your guests to finish enjoying your evening. 

 What's included in your private booking

The price of your private chef booking covers everything you need for a hassle-free experience. We take care of sourcing top notch ingredients, provide stylish crockery and cutlery (unless you prefer to use your own), handle the cooking and serving of your chosen menu.

Optional additions

If you're looking to upgrade your private dining experience, Duende offers additional options such as wine pairing flight with tasting notes from our wine expert and Reidel glasses specially designed to enhance the wines.

Or you might want a British or European cheeseboard. Just ask about pricing and availability when making your booking.

How to pay for your private chef event

To secure your private chef event date, we’ll need a 50% deposit. This can be paid through a BACS transfer, (we’ll provide the bank details.) Please note that the deposit is non-refundable within the week leading up to the event, as we start preparing by sourcing ingredients and arranging staff during this time. The remaining 50% payment can be made by BACS transfer the day before the event.