As chef and owner of Relish, I offer the following to my clients
I also believe I provide much more. My services, be they Bespoke/Personal Chef services, Catering or my Cooking Parties & Lessons are for individuals and families in Monmouth County and the Jersey Shore who want to eat well, feel satisfied, and spend their precious time on other aspects of life. They let me provide the meals and I give them that time back.
It’s yours and I believe you’ve earned it.
I love food, and love the word “sated,” especially when it describes my clients’ appetites and wishes. The choice to eat well is easier than you think with my help. It’s a strongly-held belief of mine that eating delicious and nutritional meals is a pleasure now that can translate into better health in the future. I want this for my own family and for my clients as well.
My classical training was earned at the International Culinary Center (formerly the French Culinary Institute); I have experience cooking and working as a chef in Italy, and I have an unadulterated joy about food and flavor to share. I am the culinary collaborator in the lives of my family, friends and clients – and it’s a job I relish. I would love the pleasure of feeding you, your family or your parties too. If you are my client, you always have an open line to your chef. Now... let’s get started. Talking about it is fun; eating it is better.
BESPOKE SERVICES
“How do I plan and execute 3 meals per day, 7 days a week without the repetition of frozen dinners, take-out or processed food?”
“How do I ‘eat clean,’ organic, sustainable without spending money on food that I’ll throw out a week later because I didn’t have the time or ingenuity to prepare it?”
“How can I manage my diet when I work 70 hours a week?”
“Won’t hiring a personal chef cost too much?”
My bespoke clients know these answers. They want fresh, nutritious and flavorful food. And … they want the ease and attention that comes with meals that are planned and customized to their diets, lifestyles and unique palates. Ours is a collaboration that ends up saving them money, because I listen and deliver.
I want to care for you in a way that is both tangible and intangible. You need to focus your time and energy on the things that matter most to you. You’re juggling priorities and have the intention of eating well and cooking more healthy food at home, but time evaporates and fresh ingredients end up in the trash.
I have a genuine interest in your dietary goals, pay attention to details and specific requests from you and say “yes” always. “We’re craving turkey meatballs, Marcy!” Done. While I am a classically trained chef, I want my mouth to water when I see my plate and I want that for you too. Isn’t food about joy as well as fuel? Isn’t it about our love of flavor and enjoyment of it with each other? Using only quality seasonal, organic and locally sourced ingredients as much as possible, I deliver these creative, beautiful and healthy meals to you so that you can eat well, feel happy, full and satisfied.
I adore my clients as much as I do food – and that is saying something. Let me take care of the meals and give you the freedom simply to enjoy.
CATERING SERVICES
Just the word “party” makes me feel giddy inside. Admit it, it does the same to you too. I love a party…. the ambient and deliciously cluttered sound of chattering voices, the smell of rosemary and garlic, a roast that will fall apart on the first bite or Your Favorite Thing in the World.
Parties. We talk about them as we plan them – eat and celebrate during them and reminisce about them afterwards. My desire as caterer is to deliver not just a crazy great menu of fresh, inventive and yummy food, but to be your secret weapon. Whatever the occasion or theme, large or intimate, I’m ready to help turn whatever you’ve sketched into a real live party. I’m fueled by modern culinary trends as well as traditions and love the planning that takes each gathering from an amorphous good idea to an epic event. I bring my experiences, menu ideas and the knowledge of a classically trained chef to the mix. I also bring the giddy joy of a woman who loves a party from the brainstorming to the execution of every single element and ingredient. My parties are tailored to suit on every level.
Now wipe that grin off your face, choose a great pair of party shoes to wear and call me.
CATERING SERVICES
Just the word “party” makes me feel giddy inside. Admit it, it does the same to you too. I love a party…. the ambient and deliciously cluttered sound of chattering voices, the smell of rosemary and garlic, a roast that will fall apart on the first bite or Your Favorite Thing in the World.
Parties. We talk about them as we plan them – eat and celebrate during them and reminisce about them afterwards. My desire as caterer is to deliver not just a crazy great menu of fresh, inventive and yummy food, but to be your secret weapon. Whatever the occasion or theme, large or intimate, I’m ready to help turn whatever you’ve sketched into a real live party. I’m fueled by modern culinary trends as well as traditions and love the planning that takes each gathering from an amorphous good idea to an epic event. I bring my experiences, menu ideas and the knowledge of a classically trained chef to the mix. I also bring the giddy joy of a woman who loves a party from the brainstorming to the execution of every single element and ingredient. My parties are tailored to suit on every level.
Now wipe that grin off your face, choose a great pair of party shoes to wear and call me.
COOKING LESSONS & PARTIES
If you want to take a dive into a genre of cuisine, a specific ingredient, flavor or culture, I know how to make it happen: an intimate gathering of fun and like-minded pals or co-workers. Two, three, four or more friends uncork a bottle (or three… I don’t judge), experiment and have fun together. My guess is you’ll learn at least one thing, but the goal is also to relax, enjoy yourselves and play with your food.
Whether in a demonstration venue or a host’s home, cooking parties are a way to learn and share quality time together with a classically trained chef as your fearless leader. I love watching people play while realizing they have a new skill, are elevating their basic knowledge, getting the story behind why we chefs do what we do, or just cracking up with each other. If you want to talk about your favorite memories from a trip or old boyfriends, be my guest. There is time for learning and the flow that comes from being together with no deadlines or critics.
From basic knowledge to menu planning, a theme that has captured your imagination to a cultural flavor you want to explore, I’m there. I also provide private lessons for those who want to improve knife skills or other culinary techniques in a focused, one-on-one setting.
