Let’s face it: planning a special event can be stressful. Amid the excitement of creating a memorable day for your friends and family, it’s easy to lose sleep over every detail—literally. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it all yourself. Enter the professional chef—your secret weapon for turning culinary dreams into reality.

Hiring a top private chef isn’t just about having someone cook. It’s about crafting a customized dining experience that reflects your tastes, celebrates your guests, and captures the spirit of the moment. Whether you're dreaming of a five-course food and wine paired tasting menu or a laid-back backyard brunch, a skilled personal chef brings more than delicious food—they bring unforgettable flavor, finesse, and professionalism.

So, where do you start? Sure, you’ll research special event catering companies, read reviews, and get referrals from friends. But don’t stop there—try asking your local wine shop or specialty food market if they’ve worked with any standout private chefs. These industry insiders often have great recommendations.

Before making any calls, define your vision. Are you planning an intimate dinner or an over-the-top birthday bash? Consider your guest count, event location, desired cuisine, dietary restrictions, and, of course, your budget. The best professional chefs will want to understand your goals and may offer a consultation or tasting to ensure you’re aligned on the vision. They should be well-versed in wine pairings, ingredient sourcing, and menu planning that excites and delights.

Make sure you’re aligned before signing on the dotted line. Beyond food and drink, discuss logistics—event space limitations, setup and cleanup timelines, deposits, travel fees, and cancellation policies. At Crave Culinary Arts, we’ve handled everything from limited kitchen setups to last-minute curveballs. Clear communication on the front end leads to flawless execution on the big day.

When the party starts, relax and enjoy. You’ve hired a pro—so pour a glass, dim the lights, and savor the experience. And if your chef knocks it out of the park, consider a tip as a meaningful gesture of appreciation. At Crave Culinary Arts, we’re proud to help make events in Greenville, South Carolina, North Carolina—and beyond—truly unforgettable. Let us turn your next dinner party into a work of art.

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Photographs: Ashley Dellinger Photography

Undoubtedly, the most global characteristic of our humanity is food. From simple nourishment and comfort meals to private & personal chefs and luxury dining experiences, we indulge in flavors and textures that have traveled across the earth throughout the centuries to land on our dinner plates. One dish with such worldly relevance is ravioli, rumored to be inspired by Marco Polo’s introduction of Chinese dumplings to Italy in the 13th century. We recreated the pillows of pasta goodness with the help of an authentic recipe that produces a beautiful dough ready for your favorite filling.

Ravioli is a crowd pleaser for Sunday supper and celebratory events. Fresh pasta, like all the world’s food, began as artisanal - crafted by the hands of professional chefs and plebeians alike. And this one requires you to be in touch with the nuances of each sheet of lovely dough. There is an amalgamation of 400 grams of Italian 00 superfine flour and four eggs that has passed through the pasta machine seven times until the light filters through and your hand appears from beneath.

The care and attention doesn’t end there. Once the first sheet is prepared, the process of filling, covering, and cutting your ravioli begins. Too much filling and they’re leaking all over the place; don’t get all the air bubbles out, and your beauties are likely to burst. But done well, dough and cheese and seasoning are transformed into precious pockets of sumptuous satisfaction.

You won’t find cans of that famous chef’s ravioli in our South Carolina pantry. The time it takes to create your own fresh-made ravioli is worth it; not only for the final product but the process of crafting the food you eat and perfecting the art with patient hands time and again.

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Aging gracefully is an artform. Decades before reaching “a certain age” we must spend a lifetime feeding our mind, body and soul with as much goodness as we can muster. We add to the fulfillment of that pursuit when we gather for bountiful times with loved ones and great food and music. For Chef Monique, one song has been a family anthem that caps each joyful event, the 1979 hit “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. This timeless song encaptures the communal experience on the disco dance floor, celebrates the ties that bind between kinfolk and extends a warm embrace to all those seeking togetherness.

At Crave Culinary Arts, we reach across the dining table to bond sacred connections and are privileged to witness the intimate moments as families celebrate their most important occasions. Recently, Chef Monique honored her Aunt Kereen with an “80 and Fabulous” party that featured appetizers, a five-course dinner with wine pairings and, of course, dancing to songs from the past eight decades.

A rose gold color scheme evoked the luster and sumptuous decadence of a bygone era. But just as 80 is the new 60, there was nothing old about this birthday party to celebrate a vivacious woman who recently moved to Charleston, South Carolina with her husband of 37 years to start the next chapter of their lives with close family nearby. The menu was inspired by quintessential French establishments and their signature dishes. Appetizers of Eggs a la Arpège and Creme of Watercress Soup were followed by a Bison Roulade and a dessert that was a memory of Auntie K’s favorite German Chocolate Cake. The celebration was officially a success. The candles burned low, the wine bottles were emptied, and true to tradition we ended with our family anthem, the Sisters Sledge serenading us as we bid adieu.

The party reached luxe status thanks to the floral artistry of Toni at Summerville Flower Shop and classy decor from Regina at Small Event Rental - we couldn’t have properly commemorated Auntie K without these talented women. When your celebration demands finery, reach out to Chef Monique for a dreamy event to remember.

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private chef service and event planning pursuits provide on- site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations and more.

The to-do list for a Thanksgiving “hostess with the mostest" can start weeks in advance, with schedules for cleaning, prepping and decorating – a grand choreography for the tastiest day of the year.


The logistical starting point is the bird; whether it’s fresh or frozen determines how to tend to the chilly carcass, and the responsibilities cascade from there. The highly organized host will be prepping elements for side dishes and desserts in between dusting and polishing and brining. Don’t forget the shopping: how many stores will you visit to meet your list?

And then comes the big day, when we hope for everything to go just right. Even if your guests bring side dishes, how much oven space do you have for hot holding? Is there even room in the fridge for Aunt Mary’s Jell-O mold? And just what are these people doing milling around in the kitchen, where there’s precious little space to move or breathe or think?!


It requires tenacity to make it through Thanksgiving Day. The host has given it her all. The guests have eaten and drank to capacity. All that’s left…is the dishes.

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Bucolic scenes of happy cows and chickens named Colin come to mind when we hear “farm fresh;” animals that enjoy fulfilling lives before their finale as your dinner entrée. Are the creatures on family farms more content with their existence than those in factory-like conditions? We may never know, but we are certain that they do taste better, are healthier for our bodies and the planet, and support families and traditions that have existed long before the mechanization of agriculture. And fortunately for those of us in Washington State there is Three Little Pigs Fresh Foods, a family-run business that connects farmers and consumers with a variety of raw milks, cheeses, and meats.

Photo credit: Three Little Pigs Fresh Foods

Founded in 2013 by Ricky and Cindy Umipig, Three Little Pigs Fresh Foods (3LPFF) offers online ordering and convenient pick-up locations for grass-fed, non-GMO, no soy, no antibiotics, sustainable agriculture products such as raw goat and cow milks and cheeses, A2 grass-fed meat, and free range eggs. They cultivate relationships and research farming practices to bring us healthy choices for the delicious protein-packed foods we love. And they continue to look for farmers and products that meet the standard: Would we feed this to our own three little pigs?

Photo credit: Three Little Pigs Fresh Foods

You might be wondering, what’s up with raw milk? Well, it’s not pasteurized, a heating process that kills the bad and good bacteria and destroys the beneficial minerals, enzymes, and amino acids found in animal milk. Here at Crave we performed a milk taste test to see how the raw milks available through 3LPFF stacked up to store-bought, pasteurized, organic brands. There was no comparison in flavor and texture; the grass-fed raw milk won hands down. Dungeness Valley Creamery explains here why raw milk they supply to 3LPFF is superior to the processed stuff on grocery shelves. Much of what 3LPFF sells is not certified organic due to the cost and massive amounts of paperwork required by farmers to meet the USDA regulations. But we think that knowing the farmers and supporting their sustainable agriculture efforts is a better bet than a logo on a box.

Photo credit: Three Little Pigs Fresh Foods

Do yourself a favor and look up the 3LPFF drop-off location near you and start enjoying the beauty and bounty of some terrific Washington farms!

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Tattered books and wooden boxes hold the keys to family recipes that do more than fill our belly. Culture flows through us with time spent across generations in the kitchen. The pitter-patter of little feet around grandma as she stirs or kneads was the foray for many into the magic of the kitchen. We believe that food is a vital force in bringing people together and keeping traditions alive. Whether for celebration, religion, or sheer love, cooking, serving, and eating food with other humans is basic and beautiful.

The most revered aunties and abuelas labor over their cuisine with nary a measuring device in sight. Their craft is primal, using their senses to achieve the defining conditions of recreating a recipe – scent, flavor, and texture. They seem to charm simple ingredients into mouthwatering dishes that often come with a dose of memories.

Still, cookbooks serve as the written record of a group’s food culture or an individual chef’s style; our favorites provide insight into the stories behind the meals. Families, churches, and social groups have long curated their own recipe books to preserve cherished dishes, such as the small collection pictured below that spans more than a century of cooking.

A world of recipes can now be found at the touch of a screen, offering seasoned cooks inspiration and giving guidance to those less confident with their kitchen tools. We applaud those who abandon fear of the unknown to try new things; the kitchen is a refuge and a lab. Future generations will delve into their family recipes and build their own cache of treasured flavors to share with their loved ones.

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Grocery shelves are filled with Valentine’s Day gifts mere days after the New Year begins. True romantics might scoff at artificially flavored love, preferring a more natural and sensual approach to their sweet treats. Saint Valentine is thought to be a Roman saint from the third century, but very little is known of him. We could invoke many cliché on Roman excess for the holiday but will instead turn to another culture venerated for indulgence of the senses. For Valentine’s or any other day, may we suggest these French desserts for a culinary celebration of love?

Photo credit: Nutella via Frenchalacarteblog.com

For a group celebration one might consider a demure vat of melted chocolate of the finest origin with an eclectic array of dipping foods. Although fondue originated in Switzerland, the borders of culture are blurred in continental Europe and the dish was embraced in France, as well. The typical pound cake, strawberries, and brownie will do. Or you could put an American spin on it and use pretzels, caramel corn, or bacon as the vehicles for melted chocolate to your mouth. Your mate might be surprised at just how sensual you can make the dipping action and the drizzling of chocolate.

Photo credit: Juhan Harm commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ujuvad_saarekesed.jpg

If your fantasy includes being deserted on an island with your lover, perhaps this “floating island” dessert will intrigue your senses. Essentially, it is meringue floating on crème anglaise – or whipped egg whites, sugar, and vanilla atop pourable custard of egg yolks, sugar, and hot milk. The juxtaposition of airy meringue with the rich depth of custard reminds us that opposites do attract. There are, of course, many varieties of this delicacy; this version sporting fresh cherries looks absolutely to die for. Like, literally, we might go into a love coma.

Photo credit: Linsfood.com

What could be more romantic than heart-shaped food? Coeur a’la Crème or “heart of cream” is a fabulous choice for those who want to celebrate their sweet side despite their lack of a sweet tooth. The creamy heart can be made from any soft cheese such as mascarpone or ricotta and served with a berry coulis, the French name for pureed and strained fruit sauces. The tender white heart surrounded by the bold berry colors evokes a sense of balance that is surely borne out by the flavors and textures of this beautiful dessert.

The heart-shaped box of chocolates may now seem plebeian. And while we want to celebrate love every day, doesn’t your crush, the love of your life, deserve something decadent at least one day of the year? Avec amour, Chef Monique!

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Happy New Year’s Day! We successfully hurdled through space-time for another year and now welcome 2018 with open arms. While we bathe in optimism for our well-intentioned resolutions, let’s also celebrate the amazing human force that made 2017 the best year yet for Crave Culinary Arts.

While Chef de Cuisine Monique orchestrates every detail of the Crave experience, the force that brings those culinary dreams to reality is a group of wonderfully talented and beautiful people who pull off feats of food and drink with balance, poise, and grace. Very special thanks goes to Sous Chef Leah for her precise execution and immeasurable flexibility to adapt at a moment’s notice. Along with our excellent back-of-house, bartending and service staff, our team delivers on Crave’s promise for an unforgettable culinary adventure. Let’s scroll on for a look at our behind-the-scenes fun in 2017. Cheers to many more memories in 2018!

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Thanksgiving Day is a celebration of unity that brings family members together – whether they like it or not. We don’t always get along, but once a year we can fake it enough to overstuff ourselves like a 1980’s white leather sofa. Somehow, we find a way to be in the same room together.

Okay, so beside Adele’s universal appeal, we at Crave can think of a few other things to bring families together. Food is an important part of expressing one’s culture as well as a way to explore others. Thanksgiving favorites and family recipes abound, but trying something new and unexpected can be another way to connect and make new traditions. PopSugar.com has an inviting list of side dishes to consider for mixing it up this Thanksgiving, like this Caramelized Celery Root Puree with Toasted Hazelnuts.

Music sets the mood of your event. Curate a playlist or find one to suit the crowd. We like this one from Spotify that encompasses genres and generations to bring everyone together.
And when all else fails, booze softens the edges and makes even the most tedious relative more tolerable. Consider making a batch beverage to delight guests as they arrive; it also makes short work of refilling glasses. This Cider Punch boasts holiday flavors of apple, cloves, cinnamon and orange, all in a handy-dandy pitcher!

Whether you are the commensurate hostess or a gracious guest, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the bounty of life, the goodness of humanity and the gift of kindness. May your holiday table be blessed with joy, love and laughter.

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Washington State abounds with farmers and ranchers, foragers and fishers whom bring exceptional products to the tables of food lovers near and far. Not far from our own dining table is River Farm Organic Produce, a third-generation farm rooted in soil that fronts the Yakima River.

River Farm produces many varieties of peppers, tomatoes, melons, squash and zucchini, corn, herbs, greens and more, all certified organic by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Crop rotation is utilized along with the farm’s hens and hogs to control weeds and pests.

And speaking of hogs and hens, River Farm also raises these animals for pastured non-GMO eggs and pork that are available most of the year through the farm stand on Highway 10 near Ellensburg. Here is Bruni, one of the farm’s sows. Don’t worry, she won’t be found on your dinner plate, although one of her juicy piglets will grow a tender pork chop someday.

You can also find farm-made specialties like pickles, kimchee, sauerkraut and relishes year-round at Seattle’s University District Market and seasonally at Kittitas County Farmers Market. Next time you are at the market or traveling by the farm, make sure to treat your palate to the fresh taste of River Farm Organic Produce.

All photos courtesy River Farm Organic Produce

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Tucked away from Interstate 90 and the constant flow of people and goods is Cabin Creek Lodge, the quintessential rustic retreat set in the Wenatchee National Forest and graced with the modern conveniences and comforts of home. The Yakima River flows nearby, wildflowers and wild critters abound, and the serenity of nature settles over the landscape.

We have had the pleasure of cooking in their fabulous kitchen for our own clients and would gladly recommend Cabin Creek Lodge to any group looking for an outdoor experience to complement their next gathering. The lodge is available year-round and offers flexibility to meet their guests’ needs, whether it’s a family reunion, corporate retreat, conference, or wedding. With sleeping accommodations for 40-plus guests and dining space for up to 140 guests in the warm months, Cabin Creek has space galore. Every bedroom has it’s own full bathroom, and the family room boasts a Jacuzzi tub.

And when it’s time to kick back and have fun, this awesome game room is just the place.

We certainly look forward to our next event at the gracious space that is Cabin Creek Lodge.

Cheers & Bon Appetit,
Chef Monique

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.

Whether you choose to hire Crave Culinary Arts for an intimate dinner party, corporate retreat, food and wine tasting or a larger affair, we will create a food experience to be remembered. Here is a look at one of our signature events; an appetizer and wine pairing evening that leaves all guests satiated and smiling. Come take a look at what we do!

Cheers & Bon Appetit,
Chef Monique

Crave Culinary Arts is a Private Chef and Event Planning Boutique serving South Carolina and beyond. Our private & personal chef service and event planning pursuits provide on-site feasts and extraordinary events ranging from intimate hors d’oeuvres, wine tastings, and small dinner parties to thematic social events, intimate weddings, noteworthy celebrations, and more.