Private Chef - Elegant Christmas Dining

76 reviews

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starting at

$ 99 Per person

All inclusive: 5-course meal, ingredients, cooking, service & clean up.

This private chef experience does not have any dates.

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What You’ll Do

Savor a multi-course Christmas meal prepared by a top-tier chef this holiday season.

Throw an immaculate holiday party with a dinner prepared by a five star culinary specialist in this private chef experience. Skip the crowded grocery stores and overbooked restaurants and have your holiday meal made for you in the comfort of your own home.

Start with a hearty "White Christmas" potato leek soup followed by a classic Bourbon honey-glazed baked ham for the main course. Dig into fresh dinner rolls and homestyle sides like four cheese baked mac and cheese and savory roasted Brussels sprouts tossed with bacon lardons. End your meal with festive gingerbread cheesecake for a perfect holiday experience. Or choose to curate the menu up to your preferences from the multiple array of options.

Guests are welcome to provide wine and beer to accompany the menu, and may request pairing recommendations from the chef upon booking.

Your Menu

Appetizer

Choose 1 per group

вЂњWhite ChristmasвЂќ potato leek soup
Seasonal greens with persimmons, pomegranate seeds and herb vinaigrette
Fig, pistachio and orange baked Brie or cranberry baked Brie
Festive Christmas charcuterie and cheese board

EntrГ©e

Choose 1 per group

Roasted beef tenderloin with au jus gravy, garlic and herbs
Bourbon honey glazed baked ham

Butter flake Dinner Rolls or Classic Yeast Dinner Rolls

With garlic herb compound butter

Homemade Sides

Choose 2 per group

Gratin Dauphinoise
Four cheese baked macaroni & cheese with crispy panko breadcrumb topping
Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon lardons and walnuts
Maple glazed sweet potatoes
Haricots verts with crispy onions
Carrot soufflГ© with pecan Streusel topping

Dessert

Choose 1 per group

Gingerbread cheesecake
CrГЁme brГ»lГ©e: choice of vanilla, eggnog or peppermint chocolate
Bourbon chocolate pecan pie with vanilla bean Chantilly cream

Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if noted prior to the event. Please mention this in the message field when you submit your booking request as adjustments cannot be made during the event.

Details

Minimum Guests 2
Maximum Guests 30
Meal Courses 5
Event Duration 2 hours
Chef Arrival Time 30 minutes prior to the selected serving time
Labels Christmas

What's included

The ingredients

The cooking

The service

The washing up

Meet your chef

Chef Tess

76 reviews

Classically trained under world-class chefs like Mario Batali, Mattahias Froeshcel and Wylie Dufresne, Chef Tess is equipped in a range of techniques and cuisines from molecular gastronomy to rustic Italian. After years in the restaurant industry and achieving second place on the Food NetworkвЂ™s "Chopped," Chef Tess decided to focus on her passion for teaching people how to cook simple and satisfying food. She's also been part of "Good Mythical Morning," a talk show series on YouTube.

View all of Chef Tess's Experiences

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Cancellation Policy

Flexible booking: Cancel or reschedule this event's reservation for free up to 48 hours before the event.

Chef Tess will travel to guests within Portland for this experience.

What You’ll Do

Savor a multi-course Christmas meal prepared by a top-tier chef this holiday season.

Your Menu

Appetizer

Choose 1 per group

EntrГ©e

Choose 1 per group

Roasted beef tenderloin with au jus gravy, garlic and herbs
Bourbon honey glazed baked ham

Butter flake Dinner Rolls or Classic Yeast Dinner Rolls

With garlic herb compound butter

Homemade Sides

Choose 2 per group

Dessert

Choose 1 per group

Gingerbread cheesecake
CrГЁme brГ»lГ©e: choice of vanilla, eggnog or peppermint chocolate
Bourbon chocolate pecan pie with vanilla bean Chantilly cream

Details

Minimum Guests 2
Maximum Guests 30
Meal Courses 5
Event Duration 2 hours
Chef Arrival Time 30 minutes prior to the selected serving time
Labels Christmas

What's included

The ingredients

The cooking

The service

The washing up

Reviews

Verified guest reviews for other experiences with Chef Tess

Edward

02 Mar 2024

Excellent experience! Very knowledgeable chef, with an engaging immersive atmosphere where we learned a lot about the food we made. Very tasty!

Tracy

01 Feb 2024

This was a gift for my son and his girlfriend for Christmas. They absolutely loved it. They felt it provided a lot of good insight on cooking and learned quite a bit.

Taryn

05 Jun 2023

Awesome class and experience. Chef Tess mixes up humor, warmth and awesome cooking tips to create a magical event!

Donna

28 Dec 2021

Really fun and educational hands on cooking class for friends and family , highly recommend

Tina

09 Dec 2021

Absolutely incredible evening. Tess has a huge personality and her teaching was easy to follow and we have lots of take aways to use in our everyday cooking. Tess is 5 stars all the way.

Karen

19 Apr 2019

Good food, good company! What a fun night and I learned a lot! I can make my own gnocchi now! Thanks Chef Tess!

Simone

17 Feb 2019

Really fun date. Thank you chef Tess for being so entertaining and teaching us a whole lot!

Evelyn

26 Sep 2018

Chef Tess was amazing. The food was delicious and learned so much from her. Learned how to make Gnocchi and Meat bolognese from scratch. Hands on class. Boyfriend and I had a blast. CanвЂ™t wait to book another cooking class with her! A definite must do.

Brent

24 Sep 2018

Chef Tess did a great job with our group. Everyone got involved in cooking and we all learned a bunch. Many of us want to do more classes with Chef Tess specifically! Amazing experience... and the chicken mole was bomb diggity!

Emily

28 Aug 2018

Chef Tess was amazing! Very personable and relatable - great conversation and super friendly! She walked us through each step, but yet still "cooking on the fly" which personally, we love (I never follow recipes). Everything turned out wonderful and I am greatly looking forward to testing my hand at some of these recipes. Excited to book another soon!

Monica

01 Jul 2018

Awesome evening, educational and fun. Will definitely book Chef Tess for our next special occasion, she rocks!

Monica

28 Jun 2018

Chef Tess was awesome! I booked this class as a birthday gift experience for our dad, and we had such a great night. I will definitely make her delicious, healthy recipes again. We learned some new cooking tips while enjoying great conversation and stories with Chef Tess. She has learned some great techniques from working at European restaurants, which we loved learning about. Thank you so much! We'll definitely keep her in mind for our next special occasion event.

Kathy

03 Jun 2017

We had a wonderful time! The food was amazing.

Erin

10 Apr 2017

Chef Tess was so much fun! She is an amazing cook and keeps you entertained all night long with her jokes. We had such a great meal and such a wonderful experience!

Ben

21 Feb 2017

Thank you Chef Tess, food was great and we learned a ton! Deglaze, deglaze!

Maurice

17 Feb 2017

Chef Tess was an extraordinary teacher and dynamic personality. We all felt engaged, learned some new things, and enjoyed each other's company. I highly recommend a private lesson with Chef Tess. Note: Tipped in-person

Allana

09 Feb 2017

Chef Tess was amazing! We learned how to make four very tasty dishes and were happily entertained the entire time. Great hospitality and an awesome, patient teacher!

Stephanie

19 Jan 2017

Chef Tess is AWESOME--we had her in our home in SF for a cooking class with my husband and I. She's respectful, funny and accommodates to your level of skill of cooking. She's an easy conversationalist and a great teacher. Booking through Cozymeal is not so awesome, but if you are willing to stick with it to finally book the event you want than it's worthwhile and ask for Chef Tess!

Denise

28 Oct 2016

Our family had an amazing experience with Chef Tess! She came to our home and expertly taught us how to make gnocchi and the other items on the menu while entertaining us with her grace and wit. We learned some great cooking tips while working hands in in the kitchen together and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. Lots of laughter and fun--and good food! This was a birthday gift for my foodie husband and he was super excited! Have to say - great experience all around.

Sam

05 Oct 2016

We truly loved Chef Tess. We ordered her catering services (full-service/chef-attended) where she prepared a delicious Oxtail ragut alongside a bruschetta appetizer, a refreshing salad and a very tasty dessert. With every dish, she would give us a short introduction which made the experience even more special - like a chef's table. I give her 5 stars for service, food, and presentation.

Stephanie

07 Aug 2016

I signed up for this class with my mom for mothers day. We have done cooking classes in the past but this was our first cozy meal class. The experience was awesome. We made pizza outside and was able to collect fresh herbs from the garden. Chef Tess was really nice and we learned some tips for making pizza in the future. The atmosphere was relaxed and perfect. We would sign up again.

Ray Garcia

03 Mar 2025

She's good at explaining everything

Cameron

07 Feb 2025

Chef Tess was so awesome! We loved how casually she dropped her knowledge and expertise while making the whole experience fun and incredibly delicious! SheвЂ™s great, 10/10 would 1000% recommend

Merrell

21 Nov 2024

Tess was such a delight! We had a really fun time learning how to make gnocchi and a few sauces along with asking Tess random cooking questions. Would highly recommend this engaging class!

MARIJA

07 Nov 2024

We had such a great time with Chef Tess! She really knows her stuff and made the whole experience super fun. Not only did she share tons of cooking tips and tricks, but she also kept us laughing and engaged the whole time. IвЂ™d absolutely recommend her to anyoneвЂ”whether youвЂ™re a beginner or a seasoned cook, youвЂ™ll have a blast and learn a lot. Thanks again, Chef Tess, for an awesome experience!

Mary

19 Sep 2024

Chef Tess is clearly a talented and knowledgeable about Asian cuisine. It was a great class.

Shannon

08 Aug 2024

We had the best experience with Chef Tess! Delicious and beautiful food, lots of simple tips and tricks for cooking, great company, and lots of laughs. Would definitely come to another one of Chef TessвЂ™ classes.

Debbie

13 Jun 2024

Tess was amazing! Funny, engaging, and very knowledgeable. I consider myself a very experienced person on the cooking front and I learned a lot! So happy to finally know how to make a papaya salad in my own kitchen. Thanks Tess!

Kristi

01 May 2024

Hilarious. Inviting. Delicious!

Courtney

07 Mar 2024

Chef Tess was great! She is very knowledgable and I learned a lot just watching and listening. The food was amazing - I can't wait to try to make the ramen!

Justine Hanlon

01 Feb 2024

Experienced, knowledgeable, and broke things down in a way thats reminiscent of a cooking show but in the best way possible.

Courtney

18 Dec 2023

10 stars. I'm honestly still full of joy from our evening with Tess. Thank you, thank you, thank you. She is real, she is raw, she is COMFORTABLE. Aside from being fking FULL of knowledge, she is absolutely hilarious. There was not a single second where I felt out of place in my first ever cooking class. For some of us, it takes a lot to step out of our comfort zone to learn a new skill in front of a group of strangers, and not once did I worry about how others saw me or what Chef Tess thought of me as well. I left with confidence, a full belly, and I cannot wait to cook this meal for my family! Thank you, chef. I'll be booking another class ASAP.

Eileen

20 Nov 2023

Tess was engaging, informative, and energetic. I had more fun than I expected and learned a lot.

Julie

12 Nov 2023

Chef Tess is a fun and knowledgeable teacher! The class was great and the food was delicious.

Frank

04 Nov 2023

Gacie, mille! Excellent class, terrific instruction. and fun cooking with others.

Fay

03 Nov 2023

All I can say isвЂ¦AMAZING. Enjoy with an open heart and open mind.

Chris

26 Aug 2023

Thanks!

Kate

09 Apr 2023

This class was SO fun!! Tess is extremely knowledgeable and so so fun. Perfect for a date night!

Celine

09 May 2022

This cooking lesson was a lot of fun and learning! Tess covered so much! Part cultural, part technics, we learned about the different kind of peppers being used in Mexico, the aromatics going into molГ© and how to process them. We also learned how to debone a chicken, how to build flavors as you saute veggies, etc, etc. All that in a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful home. I would definitely recommend it!

Jill

07 May 2022

Super fun and laid backed! Nice environment and a good place to learn!

John

18 Feb 2022

Tess is a delightful person and first-rate instructor. We learned a lot about making Thai food from the core fundamentals to how to shop for good ingredients. We also got to discuss how different cuisines from around the world are made in comparison. Her breadth of knowledge is awesome. Can't wait to take another class from her and/or see her comedy!

Dan

08 Feb 2022

We had a good experience with Chef Tess. She was entertaining as well as knowledgeable and a good teacher. The class was hands on for everyone in the group, and the food was good. We learned useful techniques and nuances to everyday cooking tasks in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Recommended.

Sean

30 Jan 2022

First experience on cozy meal and a great one at that

Madeline

29 Jan 2022

Chef Tess is hands down one of the coolest people IвЂ™ve ever met. Between her deep and worldly knowledge of cuisine, to her open and hilarious demeanor, she truly made our first couples cooking class an experience to remember! Will definitely be back- and will be going to one of her comedy shows soon!! Do yourself a favor and book with her!!

Steven

08 Jan 2022

My husband booked a lesson with Chef Tess for he and I as a Christmas gift. We had such an amazing time learning how to braise meat and use our cooking tools properly. Chef Tess entertained us with humor and delightful anecdotes of her culinary past. We laughed throughout the coarse and learned valuable tricks of the trade. I am already looking forward to booking another session very soon as everything turned out delicious. The cherry on top was the fun dessert. Thank you for the wonderful and unforgettable experience!

Ellen

03 Jan 2022

My daughter and I really enjoyed the Thai class. Tess was fun to learn from and gave us some basic cooking tips that were very helpful!

Wendy

30 Dec 2021

Chef Tess invited us to her beautiful home, and made us all feel welcome right away. She was flexible with our team showing up at varying times, and gave us all time to chat and catch up. She was hilarious, entertaining, and informative. The food was fun to make and was just as delicious. I learned a whole lot about the foods going into my meal and would absolutely do this again with Chef Tess! If you are even considering booking, go ahead and do it - it was a wonderful experience!

Mary

22 Dec 2021

What a fun time! Chef Tess was terrific - organized, knowledgeable, outgoing. There were seven of us butterflies to heard, and she pulled it off with aplomb. Everyone learned so much and had a great time doing it. The meal we prepared was plentiful and delicious, and every single expectation was exceeded. There will definitely be another booking real soon.

David

14 Dec 2021

The evening with Chef Tess was amazing! 8 adults, 2 children, and she didnвЂ™t flinch at the pandemonium! She was very helpful with her teaching techniques as we created a five star dinner. This experience is one the family will talk about for many years to come! Thanks Chef Tess

Jason

11 Nov 2021

Amazing experience! Chef Tess was a riot to cook with, my team said every team event now requires Chef Tess to come with us. We will definitely be back and look forward to next time!

Gary

13 Dec 2019

Both me and my wife had an excellent time cooking with Chef Tess. She is inviting, funny, warm, and knowledgeable. The food we were guided to prepare was amazing... so many layers of flavor. Although we took a Thai class, I do believe Chef Tess's techniques and people skills would make any class she teaches fun and delicious. I would recommend Chef Tess to anyone looking for these things. Congratulations and best wishes with the pregnancy!

Amber

12 Oct 2019

What a wonderful meal! Tess is the best! She's funny and she teaches you why you're doing what you're doing with each recipe! So confident that I'll be able to try these recipes at home!

Hollee

05 Aug 2019

Tess was absolutely wonderful. Not only did we really enjoy her teaching but the food was AMAZING. We will definitely be hosting a dinner party soon with this amazing menu. Highly recommend! Thanks Tess!

Jared

29 Sep 2018

Chef Tess was an amazing instructor, host, and entertainer and the food was delicious. We had great time and highly recommend taking a class with her.

Kevin

10 Sep 2018

Chef Tess Was Amazing she was so cool at explaining everything very informative information made it fun for everyone I took my girlfriend who came from South Korea to her first cooking class in LA chef Tess made it super comfortable made us laugh the whole time with her impressions and her dog Bowie is adorable , really food experience from the cooking class I left feeling full satasfied with my experience and a little sad it had to end time flew by when your surrounded by a good instructor and group ! I would definetly recomend her thanks chef Tess !!

Josh

09 Sep 2018

We had an amazing experience!!! Chef Tess welcomed us into her home with incredible hospitality and a waвЂrm and inviting personality, Not to mention she is SO FUN to not only learn from but to just hang out with. She also offered lots of practical insights and tips on the colonary arts taken from her own funny experiences, which was super entertaining and didnвЂ™t even feel like learning:) .Getting to meet new people from different places and backgrounds and work together to make a glorious feast was also really cool and created a sense of teamwork! Would highly recommend this to any couple looking to expand their skills and meet awesome people! Especially Tess!

Olea

26 Sep 2017

My coworkers and I had an absolute blast! Chef Tess is a great chef and entertainer. We even asked if she had other classes that she teaches, we would love to have her teach us again. I have learned so much about food and preparation, the gnocchi were delicious, the appetizers we made were incredible. Even Tess' kitchen is as so homey and complimented the Italian meal experience. I would highly recommend Tess and this gnocchi making experience to my friends and family. And will be trying to make gnocchi with my husband at home :)

Andrew

12 Sep 2017

Chef Tess was great. The food was delicious. It was a fun night! Chef Tess was funny and informative. She has a lot of cooking experience and had stories about working in hectic kitchens. She had some great advice when it came to cooking and the meals we made was delicious! We highly recommend chef Tess.

Judy

11 Sep 2017

Fun, informative evening, learning how to cook healthy French dishes ending in a scrumcios meal. Chef Tess is a brilliant, personable artist with a bright future!

Karen

20 Aug 2017

My daughter and I had the most wonderful experience with Chef Tess. She is an amazing chef and instructor! We had the best time with her! We enjoyed learning how to make gnocchi and have successfully made it on our own since our lesson. I would definitely recommend Chef Tess to all of my friends and family. She's amazing!

Philip

23 Jun 2017

Chef Tess was really fun! We arrived a little late but she did her best to accommodate us with the shortened time and still was able to cook everything! Delicious food, explained the steps and how it differed from traditional French cooking and made it an overall great experience.

David

24 May 2017

I purchased time with Chef Tess as a Mother's Day present for my wife. Myself, my wife and our 14 year old daughter all went to her home in Los Gatos. Pros: Chef Tess is very personable, knowledgeable and patient with newbies. She explained everything she was doing and why she was doing it. The food was fantastic and it felt great knowing we had a hand in making the food so delicious. We even came home and purchased our first whole chicken and broke it down expertly a couple days later thanks to the instructions of Chef Tess. Cons: The kitchen was VERY small for 5 guests plus the chef. Through no fault of Chef Tess, it happened to be one of the hottest days of the year, and unfortunately the home had no AC. I thought the knives were dull and could have used some sharpening, but that might be on purpose so us newbies don't chop off a finger. :) The dessert didn't come together, again due to the hot weather and challenges associated with it being one of the hottest days of the year. Overall I highly recommend Chef Tess though and have given 5 stars to this experience.

Mathai

22 May 2017

Wonderful experience - thank you, Chef!

Irene

13 May 2017

We had an awesome time, not only did we enjoy a delicious meal, we learned some great techniques. She made us feel really comfortable. Definitely will take another class with her

Linda

01 May 2017

Great experience !! We all learned so much and had fun doing it. Tess and her husband were very knowledgeable - our group had all levels of expertise and we all left with new techniques to try. We had a BD party the next day and made 15 individual pizzas and everyone raved about how great they tasted-Thanks Chef Tess

Beatriz

27 Apr 2017

Cheff Tess was amazing! Definitely recommend her class.... She's awesome! Can't wait to take another one of her classes.

Sam

20 Apr 2017

I loved this class. Tess shows a level of mastery and experience in her class that I have not seen anywhere else. Her knowledge about cooking is not jot deep, it is filled with passion. She has amazing stories to tell at the table.

Eddie

01 Apr 2017

Amazing! Made my wife and I feel very comfortable! Chef Tess was a great teacher with patience and knowledge! Everything turned out absolutely delicious from appetizers to dessert! We didn't know gnocchi could be some simple and so delicious! Highly recommend Chef Tess!!

Rebecca

01 Mar 2017

Our cooking class with Tess was excellent. She's a real artist. I learned 20 new things about cooking while immersed in a very pleasant cooking experience. I would highly recommend her class.

Liza

09 Jan 2017

We had a great time in Chef Tess' kitchen. We made the Paella dish, which was challenging for our group, but Tess made sure I came out great.

Travis

15 Nov 2016

Chef Tess is absolutely amazing. From her flexibility in scheduling to her casual but information lacked teaching style. The class was one of the most fun evenings me and my wife have had in a very long time . I would recommend any of her cooking classes as a perfect date night treat for any couple . She made us feel welcome and a part of her family, and treated us as such. Three cheers for Chef Tess we can't wait to schedule another great session with you.

Alrie

25 Jun 2016

Great teaching, short cuts and no measuring, Cook to taste, correcting seasonings along the way, under a shady grape arbor with a gentle breeze blowing! What could be more fun or more delicious!

Steve

09 Jun 2016

Chef Tess was completely prepared and prepared an amazing healthy Mexican dinner for five. She included my teenage niece and nephew in the preparation and was very patient in teaching them technique and flavoring. It was a most memorable, relaxed and tasty family-style gourmet dinner. She is very modest about her extensive experience with some of the best chefs in the United States. It was an unbelievable treat to have her in our home.

Tim

04 Apr 2016

Tess was awesome with the kids, they cooked a delicious meal (I managed to score 2 cookie for myself...). The kids really enjoyed themselves and they even learned a thing or two. Highly recommend.

Michelle

10 Mar 2016

Chef Tess is as talented with food as she is charming and funny. She made everything seem really approachable, and it was great to ask her questions about techniques and ingredients (without feeling silly). I couldn't stop eating the pizza! Her tomato-chile jam with burrata was also incredibly delicious.