Chef Dan - Private Chef and Caterer

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Introduction

I'm Chef Daniel D'Alessio. As an avid lover of the sights, smells, and tastes of endless possible food combinations, I have decided to make the creation of food my life. Working in such places like the Raven And The Peach in Fairhaven and at Rumson Country Club in Rumson NJ, I immersed myself in French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese cooking styles. I have over 10 years of experience in fine dining and catering. Marketing myself as a private chef, I will design and create a customized menu for my clients. We handle everything including a romantic evening at home for 2, intimate dinner parties, cocktail parties, weddings and big catered events. We were awarded Thumbtacks #1 Home Caterer and Top Pro in NY and NJ for 2015, 2016, 2017, and recently 2018. It is a great honor and we strive to continue to be the best of the best. Hire us and get a chance to relax at your next party, your in good hands.

Overview

Hired 90 times

6 employees

12 years in business

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Top Pro status

Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

2019

2018

2017

Featured Projects

36 photos

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Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Excellent 4.9

73 reviews

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Read reviews that mention:

Kyle G.

Dec 4, 2017

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Hired on Thumbtack

Chef Dan helped out with a reception for our company. He and his team were on time set up quickly, they even stayed a little bit after the scheduled end time to continue serving our guests. The food was excellent and the serving staff were ultra professional. Everything was kept clean throughout the event and all our guests were well attended to. I could not have been happier with Chef Dan and his crew.

Wedding and Event Catering

Pamela P.

Feb 22, 2015

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Hired on Thumbtack

Chef Dan catered our Valentine's Dinner Party, and was an absolute pleasure to work with - from beginning to end. The menu he put together was brilliant, unique, and delicious. He worked with our set budget and went above and beyond to make sure every detail was just as we wanted. My husband doesn't like certain flavors/spices, and Chef Dan literally made two versions of some of his appetizers so my husband could enjoy everything, too. Chef Dan and Brianna, his adorable bride-to-be, showed up early on a cold and snowy day, ready to work. Between the two of them, they handled every single little thing so we could enjoy our party! In fact, everyone had a blast, and just raved about the food and the specialty cocktails. Throughout the evening, Chef Dan and Brianna were pros - taking time to answer questions about certain dishes/ingredients, and completely charming our guests with their smiles, enthusiasm and teamwork. Obviously, we made the right choice! Chef Dan gets my highest possible rating - for professionalism, for quality, for creativity, for eagerness to please, for presentation. . . . he made our party a night to remember!

Wedding and Event Catering

Roma S.

May 13, 2016

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Hired on Thumbtack

Chef Dan and his fiancee are a power team! I hired Chef Dan to cater a small bachelorette party for my sister. The food was amazing and Chef Dan was so friendly and professional. He made us feel like he was just a friend in our kitchen cooking just for us! He helped make our night one to remember and would definitely recommend him for any party or occasion.

Personal Chef

Anthony D.

Nov 23, 2015

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Hired on Thumbtack

For two years in a row, Chef Dan has catered our holiday party and both events have been a huge success with no small thanks to Dan's cooking and his partner in crime, Brianna's bartending. Amazing food, excellent service, outstanding value.

Wedding and Event Catering

Amanda E.

Nov 8, 2017

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Hired on Thumbtack

The surprise birthday dinner for my husband was an incredible night we will all always remember - thanks to Chef-Dan and Brianna! From the very beginning, they were incredibly responsive, not only with crafting a quote but with responding to questions and special accommodations (gluten-free, no problem!). Working with Chef-Dan, I selected a number of items for our menu, mostly by viewing his website, which proved to be spot-on. Everything he made tasted as beautiful as all the images on his website. He was also available to answer my questions and help me to make the best selections for a group with varying ages (12-74) and tastes. Also, he helped me to stretch our funds, and still satisfy the very large contingent of hungry 20-somethings! Chef-Dan agreed to provide demonstration-style cooking for our guests, and he captivated us with searing scallops, slicing lamb chops, and beautifully plating up our dishes. The banana foster dish was by far the most fun with the flames shooting up from the stove! Chef-Dan was focused, but in a friendly way, and calmly explained everything he was doing. Everyone loved the event and it was so nice to be gathered as a family and enjoy an amazing meal without anyone having to be taken away with preparations and cleaning. I cannot count how many times I overheard "What a great idea!" and "This is so much fun!" from our family members. I was so grateful that the night went so well. And, that he not only shops for everything and brings it to you, but also leaves your kitchen spotless. Wow. One of my special requests was for some guidance on making 2 signature cocktails. Brianna to the rescue! She not only sent, in advance, a list of everything we needed on hand, she brought with her all necessary items to mix, stir, and masterfully serve drinks. She completely captured the audience and had everyone engaged. We had a lot of fun learning how to make not only 2 drinks from Brianna, but I think we may have made 8 different drinks. Our 20-somethings in the crowd thought this was so much fun! Chef-Dan and Brianna - you make an amazing team and our entire family cannot wait to see you again! Thank you for making this special birthday a night we will always remember! We cannot remember ever having a better time together over a meal.

Personal Chef

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Every menu is different, so there is no set pricing. We start our cocktail parties at $60 per head, buffets at $75, and multi-course plated meals start at $125 per person.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We first speak through thumbtack and then set up a day and time to speak over the phone and discuss the event. I then send a sample menu with pricing over to the client. If they decide to go with me I send out the catering contract to be signed and returned with a deposit for the date.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been in the industry for over 10 years. I graduated at the top of my culinary class and have worked in many fine dinning establishments.