Family Style Catering – Shared Plates, Served Onsite by a Private Chef
$165.00
CHEFIN’s family style catering means a private chef cooking and serving seven gourmet dishes right at your venue, laid out for guests to help themselves. It’s a relaxed, flavor-forward way to cater a wedding, dinner party or corporate event — all cooked fresh on site, with the shopping, cooking, service and clean-up handled for you.
What’s Included?
- 2 mains, 2 sides, 2 salads, 1 dessert — seven gourmet dishes, designed for sharing family-style
- 1 private chef traveling to you
- Premium ingredients, hand-selected and sourced locally where possible
- Shopping, preparation, cooking, service & clean-up
- A menu fully customizable to your tastes, cuisine preference and dietary needs
Vegetarian, gluten-free and other dietary requirements are easily accommodated — just let your chef know when you book.
Book in 3 Easy Steps
- Select add to cart
- Enter event details
- Secure payment online
This package is priced per person, with all taxes included, and a minimum of 10 guests. Hosting fewer than 10, or a larger event? Contact our concierge for a custom proposal.
If you’d like to add service staff or additional items, simply add this package to your cart, then select any add-ons before checkout.
To explore other options, return to the main shop page to view our full range of packages.
Prefer a no-fuss delivery option instead? That’s our Buffet Catering package.
Take a look at a sample buffet menu below — every dish is fully customizable to your taste.
Your Chef Tailors a Menu, Just for You
Buffet Menu Examples
Chef Molly Bidinost’s Menu
Mains
Whole Branzino, Preserved Lemon Relish, Castelvetrano Olive, Coal Roasted Fennel
Pork Chop Milanese, Peach Jus, Mustard Greens, Grilled Peaches
Sides
Lardo Potatoes, Fried Herbs
Grilled Rainbow Carrots, Whipped Tahini, Pomegranate
Salads
Fennel, Orange, Arugula, Olive Oil, Candied Walnut, Gorgonzola
Grilled Radicchio Caesar Salad, Parmesan Gremolata
Dessert
Basque Cardamom Cheesecake, Seasonal Fruit Compote, Pistachio Brittle
Chef William Lochetto’s Menu
Mains
32oz Tomahawk Steak, Caramelized Onion Au Jus
Roasted Half Chicken, Braised Swiss Chard, Kabocha Squash Puree
Sides
Crispy Fingerling Potatoes, Parmesan, Chives
Grilled Asparagus, Browned Butter Béarnaise Mousseline
Salads
Salanova, Sesame Ginger Dressing, Cucumber, Watermelon Radish, Puffed Wild Rice
Local Beet Salad, Sherry Vinaigrette, Goat Cheese, Arugula
Dessert
Gateau Opera, Spring Berries, Crème Anglaise
Chef Justin Charlton’s Menu
Mains
Herb-Roasted Tofu, Ratatouille, Basil Pesto
Seared King Oyster Mushrooms, Caramelised Shallots, Chimichurri
Sides
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Rosemary, Garlic
Haricot Verts, Toasted Almonds, Lemon
Salads
Mixed Greens, Red Wine Vinaigrette
Baby Kale, Fennel, Radish
Dessert
Chocolate Hazelnut Tart, Raspberries
How to Finalize Your Booking
Next Steps
- Please finalize your reservation by paying in full. If you’re paying via bank transfer or card payment, be sure to include your order number as the payment reference.
- After payment is received, CHEFIN will email you a booking confirmation along with a calendar invitation. This email will also include a form where you can share your event details, preferences, and dietary requirements.
- Once the form is completed and returned, we’ll match you with a Private Chef when your event date is less than 3 weeks away, ensuring the best fit based on your needs and location.
- Your assigned chef will design a custom menu tailored to your tastes, dietary needs, and the style of your event.
- You’ll have the opportunity to review the menu, share feedback, and request adjustments before everything is finalized.
Frequently Asked Questions
What menu will I receive for my event?
Your private chef designs a custom menu for your event based on your tastes, dietary needs and the occasion — it is never pulled from a standard restaurant menu. You will be able to review the menu and request adjustments before it is finalized.
Can I choose a specific chef for my event?
Once your booking is confirmed, our matching system pairs you with a suitable local chef, and you will see chef profiles where possible. During peak periods or last-minute bookings, a chef is assigned directly to make sure your date is covered.
How does booking work?
Add this package to your cart and pay online, then complete a short form about your event, preferences and dietary needs. Once that is returned, we match you with a chef, who designs your custom menu for you to review.
Will a chef be available for my date?
Yes — CHEFIN works with a nationwide network of vetted private chefs. In the rare case no chef can be assigned for your date, you receive a full refund.
What do I need to prepare before the chef arrives?
Clear one to two refrigerator shelves and some counter space, and have your kitchen and dining area ready for a quick walkthrough. Without wait staff booked, you will also need to supply your own table settings, tableware and serving pieces.
What time does the chef arrive?
Your chef typically arrives about 90 minutes before mealtime with all the ingredients, so there is time to set up and cook. Wait staff, if booked, arrive separately. Your chef cleans the kitchen and dining area once service is done.
What is family style catering?
Family style catering is a way of serving a meal where guests share dishes placed at the center of the table, rather than each guest receiving an individually plated course. CHEFIN’s version is cooked on site by a private chef: seven gourmet dishes — two mains, two sides, two salads and one dessert — served family-style so every guest can take exactly what they want.
How much does family style catering cost?
This package is priced per person, with all taxes included, and a minimum of 10 guests. The price covers your private chef, all seven dishes, and the full shopping, cooking, service and clean-up — no separate add-ons for the core experience. For a custom quote on a smaller or larger group, contact our concierge.
Can you accommodate dietary requirements?
Yes. Vegetarian, gluten-free and other dietary requirements are accommodated as standard — just share your guests’ dietary needs when you book, and your chef will design the menu around them.
What’s the difference between this and CHEFIN’s Buffet Catering package?
This package is served family-style at your table by a private chef on site — a minimum of 10 guests. CHEFIN’s separate Buffet Catering package is a delivery-only drop-off, with no chef on site, for groups of 20 or more; wait staff and equipment hire can be added on request. If you’d rather have it delivered than have a chef on site, or you’re catering for 20+ guests, that’s the package to look at — or contact our concierge and we’ll point you to the right fit.
Experience Flow
- Book online and share your event details, cuisine preferences and dietary needs.
- Your private chef designs a custom menu and confirms it with you.
- On the day, your chef arrives about 90 minutes early to set up and prep.
- Your seven dishes are cooked fresh and laid out family-style for guests to help themselves.
- Your chef handles the clean-up — you keep the leftovers.
Perfect For
CHEFIN’s family style catering is a fit for:
- Weddings and rehearsal dinners
- Birthdays, graduations and anniversaries
- Corporate events — team offsites and office parties
- Holiday gatherings and family reunions
Where We Cater
CHEFIN’s private chefs provide family style catering across New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Chicago, Seattle, San Diego, Austin and Houston — plus the surrounding areas in each market.
How Does Family Style Catering Work?
Family style catering is a relaxed way of serving a meal — everyone shares dishes placed at the table instead of waiting on individually plated courses. Your chef cooks and serves every dish, then steps back so you can enjoy the gathering without interruption.
Dishes can be served at your dining table or in a separate buffet-style spread — whichever suits your event. Guests help themselves to as much as they like, and your chef cleans up afterward so you’re not left with the dishes.
When Should I Book Family Style Catering?
This style works best for casual, communal gatherings — it’s built for connection, not formality. It’s a natural fit for weddings and rehearsal dinners, birthdays, anniversaries and holiday gatherings, as well as corporate events like team offsites and office parties, where a shared, help-yourself format keeps things relaxed.
Why Share a Meal?
Sharing food turns the meal itself into the icebreaker — it helps guests relax, start conversations, and settle into an easy, unhurried gathering a plated dinner rarely allows. Whether it’s a private celebration at home or a corporate event with colleagues, a shared table does a lot of the hosting work for you.
Why Choose CHEFIN Over Other Private Chef Services?
Art of Dining Excellence with a Satisfaction Guarantee – An elevated private dining experience—or your money back. Trusted by Fortune 500 teams and 100,000+ guests, our top chefs deliver fine-dining, restaurant-level cuisine using the highest quality ingredients, backed by polished concierge service. From romantic dinners to corporate events, every menu is crafted to your taste and occasion. Discover more…
Unmatched Safety, Hygiene & Privacy Standards – Every chef is rigorously screened and trained to strict food safety standards—many hold US-recognised certifications (e.g., ServSafe or equivalent). We follow kitchen-ready guidelines, secure payments until after the event, provide $20M general liability coverage, and operate under Chatham House Rules for discretion. Learn more…
Select Ingredients of the Highest Quality – We source with purpose: health, environmental responsibility, and positive social impact. Every supplier is carefully selected and vetted to ensure exceptional quality, integrity, and consistency—so every dish tastes as good as it looks. Explore further…
Transparent “All-In” Pricing – Clear pricing, confident booking. Your quote reflects premium private chef service with straightforward inclusions, so you’re never surprised later. You’ll know what’s included, what’s optional, and exactly what to expect—before you confirm. Explore further…
Personalized Support Throughout – Our concierge team handles every detail from booking to menu approval, matching you with the right chef and a smooth run-of-show. Home, office, or private venue—we coordinate timing, preferences, and special requests with calm, discreet precision. Delve deeper…
