Love Local Live Local: Private Chef Catering
Juggling a career as a Commercial Cookery teacher and private chef, Dimitris Aronis is a man who has loved quality food for a long time. Working in the hospitality industry since high school, he owns Private Chef Catering, a small business offering private dining experiences for groups that want to entertain at home or on holidays. Based on the Central Coast offering popular menus that serve up beautiful, seasonal organic produce, fresh plates such as Beetroot Carpaccio with shaved baby radish, labneh, blood orange, quinoa, walnut vinaigrette and micro beetroot leaf are a hit with clients.
They offer fresh produce like seared scallops, thyme roasted Lamb fillet, pan fried sage and parmesan gnocchi, freshly shucked Rock Oysters, slow roasted lamb rack or their most popular dish, which is incredibly simple – wild mushroom risotto with Reggiano parmesan, truffle and chives. But the best thing about the experience is, you can tailor a menu that caters to your own personal taste. “You can build your own from our online menus, we can offer something seasonal that works or you can completely design it yourself,” Dimitris said.
“People get so excited to be cooked for and we make it a real experience for them, talking about the produce with a bit of theatre thrown in for fun.” Dimitris did his apprenticeship at the Bathers Pavillion in Balmoral and also worked at The Cowrie in Terrigal. Eight years ago he decided to teach at Tafe during the week, but missed cooking so much that he started his private catering service as a hobby. The business has now grown so much that he has needed to take on more staff.
Based at a warehouse in Wyong, Dimitris has hired two other chefs, plus six wait staff. The team do a lot of working up in the Hunter Valley’s wineries. “We’ve actually been really busy post the first wave of COVID-19. People really want this type of service. It is a lot safer than going out, and because nobody can travel overseas, the holiday house market is really busy,” Dimitri said. Dimitris has worked with Belle Property at some exclusive holiday houses in Killcare and some retreats run by Cathy Baker. For more information, contact Cathy or Dimitris.