Booking a private chef is a great way to elevated your holiday experience, enjoying a taste of Cornwall’s incredible culinary culture without leaving the comfort of your luxury holiday let here in St Ives.
Many talented local chefs offer this service, with menus which can be tailored to suit your preferences and budget. Seasonal, local ingredients are sure to feature prominently, and wine matching can also be arranged. If all this sounds a little extravagant don’t dismiss it just yet; a bespoke at-home experience can compete in cost with a meal at one of St Ives’ top restaurants. Plus, no need to find a parking space or take a taxi!
We know our guests look forward to spending quality time in their beautiful, handpicked properties – many of which have the kind of kitchen your pro chef will love. So, here’s a few suggestions for private chefs to book for your next break in St Ives. Bon Appetite!
Flavour and Wine
This West Cornwall-based private dining service is brought to you by chef Robert Michael (formerly of Porthgwidden Beach Café in St Ives) who won ‘Best Luxury Catering Service’ at the LUX Food & Drink Awards 2023. Rob brings a love of local ingredients and a creative approach to menu development, and wine matching is a natural element of this.
Rob’s style is bold, rustic and inspired by numerous great food cultures from around the world. He’s happy to design menus in collaboration with each client, providing everything from hearty bowl food to sophisticated tasting menus.
Signature Dish: Roasted hake fillet with a black pudding & thyme crust, wild mushroom risotto cake, Jerusalem artichoke purée & pickled mushrooms – paired with a Californian Oaked Chardonnay.
Chef Fiona NZ
Fiona Were is one of the trailblazers of the Cornish food scene. She has been a private chef for many years now, having previously held senior positions in several of Cornwall’s most prestigious hotels and restaurants.
Fiona’s food is inspired by her roots in New Zealand, where the mixture of cultural influences creates a lively melting pot of culinary eclecticism. Although trained in classic French cuisine, it’s Asian food which holds the strongest appeal for Fiona, reflected in the lightness and vibrancy of her dishes. “My focus is on the use of fresh, local, sustainable and seasonal ingredients, with the Chef Fiona NZ twist,” she explains. “I often incorporate ingredients I have grown myself or foraged, creating wonderfully interesting flavours.”
Based near Redruth, Fiona will happily travel to St Ives to cater for guests of The Cottage Boutique.
Signature Dish: Wild Hand Line Caught Sea Bass, Kombu Tsukudani, Celeriac, Sesame Tempura Porthilly Oyster, Coastal Herbs.
Chef Natasha
Natasha Osborne is a talented and driven chef, with a knack for creating beautiful as well as flavoursome food. Based in West Cornwall, St Ives is Natasha’s stomping ground and she provides dining experiences for groups of all shapes and sizes.
“I always wanted to be a chef,” recalls Natasha, whose childhood in St Ives – where her father worked as a fisherman – was a formative influence. “I was surrounded by this bounty of fresh fish so that plays a massive part in my menus now,” she explains. “I go to great lengths to make sure the fish I use is responsibly sourced and sustainable. I also grow vegetables, fruit, herbs and salads in my garden at home and forage in the Cornish hedgerows for exciting additions to my plates.”
Natasha works closely with clients to plan bespoke menus for all occasions, from relaxed outdoor woodfired dining to 7-course tasting menus paired with the perfect wines.
Signature Dish: Pan-seared scallops served with pea purée, wild garlic, samphire, peas, broad beans, pickled asparagus, crispy pancetta and a lemon and herb dressing.
St Ives Cookery School
Finally, if you like the sound of a private cookery class delivered by a top local chef in your holiday property, check out this new service introduced by chef Jeffrey Robinson. Jeffrey has been at the helm of some of the best kitchens in Cornwall and is set to open a cookery school in St Ives during summer 2024.
In the meantime, he’s happy to come to you in one of our properties and teach groups of 4-12, with each class being completely bespoke. Find out more here.
Prefer a night out? If you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoy flaunting your coupledom, check out our guide to the best date night restaurants in and around St Ives!
