Do you need a chef for your retreat?
The dining table is where guests have the opportunity to come together, socialise and unite over food, 3 times a day, so it’s no surprise that food plays a very important role in each and every retreat. However feeding a large group of people, sourcing food, and managing a budget can be a headache for a retreat owner, so why don’t you recruit a specialist retreat chef to handle all of this for you?
Retreats are my thing. I have been specialising in catering retreats for over 5 years, now and have catered over 60 retreats in that time. Retreats have ranged from short weekend getaways at a manor house in Somerset, to 5 nights in a private villa on the Amalfi Coast. They might have a yoga or fitness focus, nutrition or self-development, but good food is a common denominator.
Work as a retreat chef is varied from driving a left-hand drive car, negotiating European supermarkets, to managing serious allergies and of course plating up delicious food. Over 60 retreats I have gained a huge amount of experience to deliver you the best experience for your guests. I have also attended many yoga retreats as a guest myself, which is what initially drew me to the role, this enables me to fully understand the needs of a retreat guest.
Over 60 retreats I have worked with a wide range of individual wellbeing practitioners and retreat companies such as Yoga on a Shoestring.
My Food
I usually suggest a buffet breakfast and lunch, so guests can choose to fill their plates to suit their appetites, and then a plated sit down dinner for the evening meal so guests can enjoy the experience to the fullest. Long dinners with friends are always my favourite parts of a holiday, and provide an extended time to sit and chat, review the day and put the world to right! I often join the guests for dinner and am always happy to chat about my recipes and share cooking tips.
I have a non-diet approach to healthy cooking, and simply like to celebrate beautifully vibrant food that tastes as good as it looks.
I usually provide a vegetarian menu with the option of a pescatarian meal a number of times throughout the retreat pending budget.
I can provide vegan options if requested, and am always happy to tailor my meals to cater for allergies.
Sample Menu
For a UK weekend retreat, an early summer vegetarian weekend in Kent.
Breakfast Buffet
Scrambled eggs and smoky sautéed mushrooms, with local sourdough toast
Homemade granola with Greek yoghurt and roasted rhubarb, fresh strawberries
Selection of nut butters
*
Light lunch buffet
New potato, buckwheat, asparagus and edamame salad with harissa dressing
Grilled halloumi with mint & homemade hummus
Green salad
*
Two course evening dinner
Miso roasted aubergine with white bean mash, radish, onion and pomegranate salad, steamed green beans with toasted almonds.
Lemon posset with strawberry coulis, strawberries and amaretti biscuits
Costings
Retreats are quoted on an individual basis, on a sliding scale based on numbers of guests, also taking into account how many meals, schedule, whether vegan, vegetarian or +meat and fish. For a larger group or one with complex needs I will bring a kitchen assistant. I am also able to add on extras for a small fee such as cooking demos.
As such I can’t give an accurate quote without this information. As an indicative guide a 2 night weekend Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime (covering 2 x breakfast/brunch, 2 x lunch and 2 x 2 course dinner) for a party of 14 (inclusive of all guests + any teaching staff) you can expect to pay £99 per head for the weekend.
Hire me
Want to work with me? Please fill out the form below and I will be in touch with availabilty and a quote soon. For any specific questions email [email protected]
Please note due to my 3 day a week teaching role at the Garden Museum. I am currently only available for shorter weekend retreats, approximately once a month.