What exactly do you offer?
We provide a unique and personal private chef experience brought directly to your kitchen. We combine the expertise of our own Michellin star chef, with high end restaurant quality cuisine, prepared and served in a unique location of your choosing.
What type of events can you cater for?
We would normally expect to serve 8 to 20 people & cater for a wide range of events from private dinner parties, special occasions or business gatherings & each menu is a bespoke experience to suit your personal tastes.
Do you provide lessons or teaching events?
Yes, we can provide all kinds of teaching and demonstration events, where guests can partake in the preparation and cooking of some or all of the courses. Following cooking, guests can serve and eat their creations. This can even be given on a one on one basis, or for small groups, which is ideal for parties, hen dos or even corporate team days.
How do we choose a menu?
We can cater for a wide range of palettes, however, we always try to cook with fresh, local and seasonal produce. You can request a completely bespoke menu for you and your guests, choosing favourite dishes or a particular theme. Alan has put together some of our most popular choices in our sample menus which will be provided on request. These menus also help when trying to stick to a particular budget as we only charge for the ingredients for your menu.
Can I choose my own menu?
Our fine dining experience service is bespoke and you can choose any dishes to your preference. You will work directly with our chef to discuss all options and how the courses will work together, to enthral the tastes and preferences of you and your guests.
Where do you source your ingredients?
Our chef uses fresh ingredients that are sourced locally in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties and are organic wherever possible. A selection of our ingredients are also brought from France, Spain or Italy, to add authenticity to certain dishes. Alan would be delighted to discuss the ingredients with you in more detail when we create your menu.
Does the Chef come to us?
Yes, although we are based in Woodstock on the edge of the Cotswolds, we will come to any location around the country to cook and serve a fine dining meal. That can be your home, rented accommodation or any private venue. Our chef will work hand in hand with you to design and cook your perfect dining experience, leaving you to sit back, relax and enjoy the evening.
Do you provide waiting staff?
Yes, part of the included experience are our waiting staff. One waitress is always included but depending on how many guests are dining, we would recommend that our waitress attend. If you have your own waiting staff or assistance, we will adjust your quote accordingly. Our provided team will also help with set up, food preparation, hosting and the final clear up.
Alan’s Fine Dining team comprises experienced caterers and waiting staff. As well as being excellent private chefs and well-polished personal waiters, they are unassuming, friendly and calm, dedicated to providing the optimum experience for the client.
Do we have to supply all equipment?
We are able to provide all plates, cutlery, linen and glasses if necessary. At the time of booking we will discuss what equipment you have, or will require, and will adjust your quote accordingly. Clean plates are required for each person and course served, so for example, a six course meal for six people would require a minimum of 36 clean plates.
What equipment do I need to provide?
We request you have a minimum of a clean kitchen, with empty sink and room in both your fridge and freezer, as well as enough working space to cook and prepare food for your number of guests. Our chef will require a fully operational oven so please ensure your gas or electric is working properly. All necessary cooking utensils will be supplied.
Do you prepare all food on site?
In most cases, food sourcing, mise en place, preparation from scratch and even initial cooking, will be started in our company kitchen, not just at the kitchen provided. Our costs take into account the time spent before the actual dinner, so some preparation will be done beforehand.
My Kitchen or Dining space is small, is this ok?
We will need a sufficiently equipped kitchen large enough to cater for the number of guests in your party. However the chef can, to a degree, adjust to the kitchen space available to him. Prior to the event, we will visit the location and confirm the size of the space is adequate.
I have an Aga, is that a problem?
If your property has an aga, without an additional electric or gas oven, this is fine but we will need to be made aware of this in advance and it may limit your menu options. On the day of the event, we ask that you ensure the aga is at full temperature for the chef’s arrival and nothing has been cooked in it for the last 2 hours.
When will the chef arrive?
Due to the time required to prepare and cook your menu, we may need access to the premises as much as 4 hours before your first course serving time. However, each menu will differ in preparation time depending on its complexity and the number of guests. Therefore, we may need to arrive anywhere between one and four hours prior to the start time that you have requested.
Do I need to set the table?
No, all of the work is done by our team. The waitress and chef will arrive before the event and begin all preparation. After the evening has finished the table is cleared away and everything is cleaned and left how it was found.
Who will serve the food?
We always include one member of staff for waiting service, depending on the size of the party, more may be required. We have a great team of professional, highly experienced and friendly staff who will serve your food, pour your wines and treat you and your guests as if you are in a high end restaurant.
Who cleans up afterwards?
Before the end of the service we will do a full clean down of the kitchen and any equipment that has been used. This will include stacking the dishwasher and washing up any used plates. Please note, we politely ask that you empty the dishwasher and leave the kitchen in a clean state for the chef's arrival as well as providing washing up liquid and tea towels.
Should we tip your staff?
The basic service charge is included in the price of the dinner party, however gratuities are at your own discretion and although not expected, are always appreciated. All staff take their personal tips for themselves.
Are there reduced rates for children?
If you have any children under 12 in your group they can dine for a reduced adult fee. They can choose dishes from your selected menu and our chefs are happy to simplify any of these chosen dishes if necessary.
What is the minimum spend?
In order for us to be able to provide our prestige dining services, the minimum food spend for an evening is £800.
How do I let my guests know what the menu includes?
We print personalised menus for each guest that state the dishes for each course and, if chosen, the paired wine from our sommelier.
Can everyone have something different?
Your chosen menu can incorporate a number of different dishes per course. This will increase the overall cost of the meal per head.
How many guests can you cater for?
If there is room and the facilities allow, we can provide a bespoke dining experience menu for up to 14 guests. We can also cater for larger events. Please call for more information.
Can you cater for special dietary requirements?
Our chef will discuss your menu choices and dietary needs in depth, and where required make adjustments to dishes to suit or offer alternative dishes to mix and match your perfect meal. Regrettably, due to the nature of the business, we are unable to guarantee that there will not be any trace of nuts and other food stuffs within our food, due to the environments in which we are cooking.
Can we have more than one dish per course?
We recommend no more than two different dishes per course, to allow the chef to concentrate on producing the highest quality of cuisine and experience expected. If you would like a vegetarian option throughout, we would ask that you choose one vegetarian and one meat or fish option to present to your group. The chef is always happy to discuss any requests with you, and work on a personalised menu that suits your party.
Do you provide soft drinks or water?
No, we do not provide any soft drinks or table water, however we can do so on request.
Do you provide any alcoholic drinks?
We are able to provide a sommelier who will pair each course to a particular wine. The sommelier will explain each wine and how it works with the dish to you and your guests at the table. This service is at an additional cost and will be fully quoted and explained before the evening. You may of course, supply your own wine, however, if this is the case we would then be unable to serve them.
What locations do you cover?
We offer our private catering services throughout the UK including, but not limited to, Oxford, Birmingham, London and Manchester. Travel outside of Oxfordshire is charged at £1 per mile.
How much do you charge?
Each menu and event is completely bespoke, so quotations are provided on discussion of the clients brief. Prices for a typical menu start at £70 per person, based on six diners enjoying six tasting courses. We can also offer canapés, sorbet and cheese courses if you want to increase the length and size of the meal. Prices are inclusive of all ingredients and the chef’s time, both in your kitchen and the preparation of any food beforehand.
How do I get a quote and book?
To discuss your requirements or book an event, please call 07423 746 080 for a no obligation chat about your private chef requirements.
Are there any hidden costs?
All costs are included in your quotation, outlined clearly on the invoice and discussed in detail prior to the booking. There are no further hidden costs over anything agreed.
When are you available?
We always endeavour to provide our bespoke services to all enquirers, however, our availability cannot be guaranteed, due to high demand. Bookings must be made at least 14 days prior to the event date.
When do we pay?
In order to confirm your booking and secure our availability on your planned date, we require a 50% deposit regardless of the size of your party. The remaining balance will be due seven days prior to the day of your event. Any dietary requirements or allergies will have to be noted and agreed at the time of confirmation.
I'm unsure of menu choice or group size?
If you’re unsure of numbers or menu choice but would like to secure your chosen date then you can do so by paying a £300 deposit. You then have until seven days before the event to confirm the details and we’ll just recalculate the balance for you.
Are you available for seasonal events and holidays?
Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. On these dates the customer demand for our service is at its highest but our chef’s availability is at its lowest, often due to family commitments, please get in touch for more information.
What is your cancellation policy?
We require a 50% deposit from clients on receipt of their booking confirmation. The balance of the cost of the party is due seven days before the party. Any cancellations over 10 days or more prior to the party, will receive a full refund. All cancellations must be made in writing by sending an email to info@theoccaisionalmasterchef.co.uk
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