I am a personal chef in Elmhurst on a weekly basis for a lovely couple who have decided they want to try the Weight Watchers program after too much holiday indulgence! Their new program will be nice and smooth, now that their refrigerator is stocked full of healthy choices. Included this week on their menu, was Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry, Tuscan Sausage and Bean Soup, Herb Roasted Lamb Chops, Mediterranean Chicken Breasts, Healthy Greek Nachos, Asian Zucchini Noodles, Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Butternut Squash, Strawberry Spinach Salad, Low Carb Lemon Cottage Pancakes, Bacon Egg Zucchini and Cheese Muffins, Chocolate Fudge Cookie Bites, and Chocolate Cakes with Vanilla Cream.

“Why does your food taste so good?” That was one of the most unusual, sincere compliments I recently received from my clients who I cook for as a personal chef in Naperville. He is the dad in a busy household full of teenagers and pre-teens. They wanted me to make regular weeknight meals; comfort food that the kids would love. One of the dishes I made was BBQ Meatballs. The dad thought, “Oh. Ok, that will probably be good, but nothing special.” He said he wasn’t expecting them to be so good. As a personal chef, I am always trying to bring my cooking to the next level, even if it’s a humble dish like meatloaf,  BBQ meatballs, or mashed potatoes. One of the ways I do this is by thinking how I can add Umami to a dish. If you’re not familiar with the term, it is a category of taste (in addition to sweet, sour, salty and bitter) that is almost undefinable. It is what makes you say “Mmmm” when you eat. It adds a depth and richness. Some items with natural umami are beef, mushrooms, cooked tomatoes, mushrooms and anchovies. There are lots of Umami items on the market now; mushroom powders, roasted tomatoes. I love thinking of ways to take the food to the next level and my personal chef clients seem to love it too!

“Fish sauce!  You put it in the meatloaf!?” Yes. I certainly did. I put it in the meatloaf. I know; it sounds crazy. Just trust me. 

As a personal chef, I am looking for ways to add complexity to a dish. To deepen the flavors. To make you say “Mmm. Why is this so good?” when you taste it. I don’t want it to be unfamiliar. Just better. Having read extensively about Umami, I am looking for ways to add it to dishes where you normally wouldn’t find it. I have worked as a personal chef in Glen Ellyn for a lovely family who loves good comfort food, but with a healthy flavorful slant. They love this meatloaf. Lots of aromatics, reduced tomato paste, a mix of meats, and a tiny bit of fish sauce make it really delicious. 

The reason that my clients in Hinsdale hired a personal chef to help with them on their Weight Watchers plan, is that they both were committed to staying on the plan, but didn’t want to spend time in the kitchen cooking! They enjoy cooking together every once in a while, but they are both working still, and busy! They need fast, easy food to heat and eat after their busy workday. That’s where hiring a personal chef came in! The weight watchers plan is lightyears better than it ever has been in the past. It’s very easy to make homemade, healthy meals, without using processed ingredients. On this week’s menu was Weight Watchers Parmigiana Crusted Chicken Breasts, Whole Grain Spaghetti, Chicken Fajitas, Pork Chops with Dijon Herb Sauce, Pan Grilled Filet Mignon, salad and lots of snacks! Staying on Weight Watchers is so much easier when you hire a personal chef! 

My client who hired me as a personal chef in Elmhurst likes to stay on the Keto eating plan. I come every few weeks, and make lots and lots of portions of each dish, stocking up her freezer to make it easy to stay on her Keto plan after her busy workdays! Here was this month’s menu: Oven Baked BBQ Ribs, Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (this recipe was from the Food Network, and it was very good!) Shepherd’s Pie, Keto Baked Chicken with Pork Rinds, Keto Pot Roast, Keto Meatballs, and Shrimp with Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce. 

I cook for a lovely lady in Burr Ridge who is in her mid eighties; she always wants a large portion to share, so that when her son visits, they can have a nice easy dinner by just heating it up. He is a meat and potatoes kind of guy, and she loves stick to your ribs comfort food. This week I made Chicken Pot Pie, Mississippi Roast, BBQ Shredded Pork and Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken.

My single guy client in Hinsdale is an avid exerciser, and works very long hours. He eats Paleo, and likes lots of protein. Each time I cook for him, I leave him a nice big portion of pan grilled filet mignon to snack on throughout the week after his workouts. I also cook shredded chicken breast, hard boiled eggs, mini lamb chops as well as lots of fresh roasted vegetables. All he has to do is heat and eat to keep his energy up! Having healthy options that his personal chef made makes his healthy lifestyle very manageable, even with his busy schedule. Helping busy people eat well is very rewarding for this personal chef!

My Naperville family who I’ve worked as a personal chef for for the last few months need lots of variety! This week I made Italian Stuffed Spaghetti Squash, Blackened Fish Tacos with Mango Cabbage Slaw, Crispy Togarashi Chicken with Sesame Cucumber Relish and Oven Baked Pork Chops. I always make extras for the kids; something for them to grab right after school before they had back out to sports and activiites! This busy mom told me hiring a personal chef was a great move and is making her life easier! 

My couple that needed a personal chef in Hinsdale asked for lots of spice, tons of flavor, very healthy food. (And nachos and brownies for the kids!)

This week I made for them:

Halibut with Thai Curry Coconut Sauce

Roasted Haricot Verts with Cherry Tomatoes

Basmati Rice

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Short Grain Brown Rice with Ginger and Garlic

Sauteed Asparagus and Snow Peas

Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Black Beans, Quinoa and Queso

North African Fire Roasted Tomato Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Kale

Mixed Greens Salad with Fig Vinaigrette

Nachos

Brownies

Eating healthy at home is much easier with a personal chef that comes to your home!

I work as a personal chef in Naperville on a weekly basis for a very fun family who is always having guests! They were expecting a houseful in the next couple of days, so I stocked up their refrigerator with good dinners for them to heat and eat. Included was Pasta with Short Rib Ragu, Garlic Bread, Oven Baked BBQ Ribs, Baked Beans with Bacon and Red Onions, Roasted Broccolini, Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus, Parmesan Chicken, Roasted Green Beans, Mixed Greens Salad with Dark Cherry Vinaigrette, Cinnamon Donut Muffins, Brown Butter Marshmallow Rice Krispie Treats!