A surprise anniversary dinner in Boca Raton
From $200 per guest plus groceries, $2,000 event minimum. Your all-in quote comes within 24 hours. In September a husband in Boca Raton booked me two or three days ahead to surprise his wife on their 11th anniversary. I cooked for 17 guests, 11 adults and 6 children, with a table set just for the children.
$200 / guest + groceries · $2,000 event minimum
- Occasion — an 11th wedding anniversary, a surprise from the husband
- Home — Boca Raton, an open kitchen with an island
- Guests — 17: 11 adults and 6 children at their own table
- Booked — two or three days ahead
How did the surprise work?
The idea was his, and his wife knew nothing. The guests were invited for a set time, and the surprise came before they arrived: she came home with the children to a dinner she did not expect.
Can you book a private chef at the last minute?
Yes, within limits. He found me through ChatGPT and booked me two or three days before the dinner. What mattered most to him was time with his guests: to talk all evening while the children had a table of their own and felt calm, as if at home. So I planned the evening around two tables.
A short window works, but some dishes need special ingredients that I order several days ahead.
What is it like to have a private chef in an open kitchen?
The open kitchen has an island, with the big dining table right beside it, so I plated in full view of the room. Some guests came over to tell me it was fun to watch a kitchen at work, and many stopped by to thank me.
The next day the host wrote to me: "Everything was amazing and hope to have you back soon."
How do you set a kids' table at a dinner party?
The six children had their own table, set exactly like the adults': knives and forks, glassware, cloth napkins and a printed menu of their own. The parents loved that detail most. The children had three courses: a starter, a main and dessert.
I asked the children whether they were hungry, and they were, so I served them first while the adults gathered over the aperitif. They ate and ran off to the playroom, and the adults sat down to talk, exactly as the host wanted. Their ice cream came out with the adults' dessert.
A dinner party of your own →private chef for a dinner party
What was on the anniversary menu?
I asked what they love, the format and the cuisine, and wrote the menu from their answers. The evening opened with an aperitif and five appetizers, then a first course, a main and dessert.
- With the aperitif — scallop & pistachios, foie gras & raspberries, prosciutto & melon, brie & figs, homemade popcorn
- First course — shrimp & sweet potato with avocado, chili oil and fresh herbs; octopus & romesco with roasted pepper and almond romesco
- Main course — filet mignon with layered potato gratin, seasonal vegetables and demi-glace; branzino fillet with sweet pea purée, sautéed zucchini and bell peppers
- Dessert — warm chocolate cake with hazelnut, salted caramel and vanilla bean ice cream; classic crème brûlée with fresh berries
- For the children — creamy mac & cheese; crispy chicken bites with roasted potatoes and dipping sauce; vanilla ice cream with fresh berries and warm chocolate
Illustrations of dishes from this menu.
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Surprise anniversary dinner with a private chef — frequently asked questions
Can I hire a private chef for a surprise anniversary dinner at home in Boca Raton?
Yes. I cook in private homes across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, Boca Raton included. For this anniversary I cooked for 17 guests, 11 adults and 6 children, in the family's own kitchen, and the wife did not know until she came home.
How far in advance should I book a private chef for a surprise dinner?
As early as you can. This dinner was booked two or three days ahead, but a few extra days let me plan more precisely and order the special ingredients some dishes need.
Can a private chef cook a separate kids' menu at a dinner party?
Yes. At this dinner the six children had their own three courses: mac & cheese, crispy chicken bites with roasted potatoes, and vanilla ice cream with berries and warm chocolate. Their table was set like the adults', with glassware, cloth napkins and a printed menu.
How does a private chef keep a dinner a surprise?
The host plans it with me directly. Here the husband arranged everything and his wife knew nothing. The guests were invited for a set time, and the surprise came when she came home with the children, before anyone else arrived.
How does a private chef choose the menu for an anniversary dinner?
I ask what you love, the format of the evening and the cuisine you want, and I write the menu from your answers. Every menu is personal, made for one dinner.
Planning a surprise of your own?
Tell me the date, the occasion and who is coming, children included. I cook, serve and clean up with my sous-chef, and table setting and flowers are part of every dinner. From $200 per guest plus groceries, $2,000 event minimum. Your all-in quote comes within 24 hours.
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