As You Like It - Personal Chef Services

J

Jerry P

über Google

We decided to splurge and have a birthday dinner party for three Scorpio friends. Everyone donned dressy attire, there was a nice house sound track in the background, and the fireplace was casting a glow. Dianna provided multiple Fall menu options a couple of weeks prior, and was easily able to adapt to a couple of minor dietary restrictions. Making a choice was the hardest part, there were so many amazing options. She stopped by to familiarize herself with the kitchen and do the final pregame planning one week prior to the event. She arrived about an hour before to set up, and all was ready & mis en place before guests arrived for cocktails. The food was wonderful. We had two rounds of appetizers, a shrimp and avocado stuffed endive, as well as a tomato confit mozzarella Crostini. We had trouble restraining ourselves. The salad with winter greens, fennel, apple, and toasted almonds was perfectly dressed. The braised duck legs fell off the bone, had a delicious marinated flavor crispy skin, and were served aux jus over a wild rice blend. Roasted parsnips and carrots gave it that final fantastic Fall touch. Desert was this simply amazing chocolate cake with three or four different layers involving mousse, ganache, shaved chocolate, and more chocolate! It's a miracle we all survived. Throughout Dianna kept everybody's champagne glass full, circulated the appetizers, and timed the courses to the pace of the crowd. She was charming, with a smile all evening that never stopped. And the best part, and I admit this is a little selfish, was I had to do a bunch of volunteer work all day long, and was able to just relax and get cleaned up in that hour before the party. You know that part when you are normally frantic, running around trying to tighten up all the loose ends. It really was a treat!