Odes of Food Personal Chef Service McHenry County Illinois

My husband and I wanted a special dinner to celebrate 20 years together. I’m diabetic, so going out to restaurants can be a bit challenging. Chef Stephen was recommended to us by Lori from Cherry Tree Inn, and I’m so glad! After a lovely phone conversation where we talked about my dietary needs and our shared interest in food (both my husband and I like to cook, and enjoy trying lots of different food when traveling), Stephen sent us a wide variety of menu ideas. We chose our top favorites, then he tweaked the final menu to my dietary needs.

The menu was a delicious mix of “old” (food we’d had before) and new, tailored to my needs so well I had very stable blood sugar after enjoying a full 4-course meal that included dessert!

I would highly, highly recommend Chef Stephen - he really knows his craft, from both culinary and nutritional bases. Having a “fancy” meal in house, where it was quiet enough to have good conversation (restaurants have gotten so loud, it’s hard to hear each other), and I could just eat what was served, without trying to mentally tabulate carbs or keep track of portion sizes, was so nice.

We had the pleasure of hiring Chef Stephen for a very special birthday party and he is absolutely phenomenal!! This was the first time ever experiencing a chef come to cook at our home, and Chef Stephen has definitely set the bar. Each course was more delicious than the last, and every time I thought I was “full” I was able to find a little more room for his tremendous cooking! Needless to say, we were all part of the clean plate club! If you’re looking for a uniquely wonderful experience, with amazing fresh choices, and a very very talented chef to complete the trifecta, look no further. This is worth it, repeatedly!

We hired Chef Stephen for my best friend’s bachelorette weekend this past summer, and it was hands-down the highlight of the entire trip. The food was absolutely incredible and so thoughtfully tailored to the bride’s favorite dishes (all Asian-inspired)—it truly felt personal, not generic at all.

On top of that, he somehow pulled off an amazing, seamless meal in what was essentially a play kitchen at our Airbnb. Limited space, limited tools, zero stress for us. Everything just worked thanks to Stephen!

Stephen is also just a genuinely kind, fun person to be around, which matters so much in a group setting like this. Could not recommend him more. We’re still talking about that meal months later!!

We had the absolute pleasure of hiring Stephen for a private dinner to celebrate my mother’s birthday, and it was nothing short of incredible! From start to finish, the entire experience exceeded our expectations.

The menu was thoughtfully curated and showcased Stephen’s creativity and passion for food. Each dish was beautifully presented, bursting with flavor, and felt like a work of art. Beyond the amazing food, Stephen created such a warm and welcoming atmosphere—our family got to relax, enjoy each other’s company, and truly be present for the celebration without worrying about a thing.

It felt like a fine-dining experience brought right into our home. Everyone was raving about the evening long after it ended, and my mom said it was one of the best birthdays she’s ever had. We’re already looking for another excuse to book Stephen again. Highly, highly recommend!

Stephen came for my bachelorette party and cooked us an amazing meal! So much better than going to a restaurant, we were able to get ready and take photos while he cooked then relax and enjoy our meal. Highly recommend!

Planning a weekend family gathering from one city to another is never easy—but discovering “Ode’s of Food” and working with Stephen made the process not only manageable, but truly enjoyable. Stephen was incredibly flexible, professional, and easy to work with. We were celebrating our grandma’s 90th birthday, and thanks to Stephen, a special occasion became even more memorable. He took the time to listen to our needs and requests, always responded with a positive attitude, and delivered more than we expected. His creative and delicious food preparations met everyone’s needs and expectations. We honestly couldn’t have picked a better person for the job. Thank you, Stephen—you were a delight to work with, and we’re already looking forward to seeing you again in five years for Grandma’s 95th!

I hired Chef Stephen for my husband's birthday party for 10 people. All I can say is WOW, did he deliver! We had a five course meal and every course was better than the last. The food was fabulous and the service was amazing! I will absolutely hire Chef Stephen again and highly recommend him to anyone looking for a personal chef.

delicious

We just hired Chef Stephen to cook for my wife’s birthday party in our home. My wife has specific dietary needs as a pescatarian and Stephen was able to provide a top notch experience for all 10 of us by serving some of the best food I’ve ever had - and I heard multiple people comment on various dishes that same sentiment. Everything was hot - fresh - beautifully seasoned - paired with fruits and veggies - really an impressive menu. I will refer him far and wide.

Chef Stephen is a gem - if you are considering a private chef for a dinner party - this is your man. The food was beyond anything I expected and every one of my ten guests was delighted. 11/10 cannot recommend enough. His pricing was fair and he can cook anything…

Talented Chef, he is always able to provide all my dietary requirements, as well as create deliciously beautiful dishes. An all around happily fed customer.

Stephen is one of the most thoughtful, talented and hardworking people I know. He transformed how our business did food with resourceful and imaginative menus, careful preparatory planning and a love of food and life that is utterly contagious. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Stephen is an unbelievable chef and has a natural talent and flair with food. That and his fantastic positivity and attitude towards life will elevate and touch everyone that he has ever worked with. To those he will work with in the future I would say: you are very lucky people. Success will be guaranteed.