Private Chef & Classic Catering

Farm-to-table dining,
customized to your experience.

Steak cooking on a cast iron skillet inside a wood-fired oven with flames.

A private chef experience goes well beyond food. Chef Degen designs the menu around your occasion, your guests, and the season — then arrives early, manages everything behind the scenes, and leaves your kitchen cleaner than he found it. You host without lifting a finger.

From intimate dinner parties for 8 to marquee events for 200, the approach is the same: seasonal ingredients sourced from Sonoma's farms, technique drawn from Italian tradition, and service that feels warm and effortless — never stiff or over-formal.

Weddings & Rehearsal Dinners

Estate Parties

Corporate Events

Winery Events

Birthdays

Canapés consisting of cantaloupe slices wrapped with prosciutto and secured with toothpicks.
A man wearing a black chef's uniform and a brown cap stands outdoors next to a wood-fired pizza oven, surrounded by green trees and foliage.
Crispy fried croquettes on a bed of red sauce with purple basil leaves, arranged on white plate.
A long outdoor dining table set with multiple wine glasses, water glasses, plates, napkins, and shells with jewelry on top, illuminated by warm sunlight.
Preparation of shrimp and vegetable stir-fry in a large black pan, with visible shrimp, carrots, green onions, and other vegetables.
Raw spaghetti noodles arranged in small mounds on a surface.
Assorted grilled vegetables on a wooden board, including carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, and greens.
Plate of small sponge cakes dusted with powdered sugar, garnished with fresh fig slices.
Inside a grill, meat patties are cooking on the upper rack, and green onions are grilling on the lower rack. There is a small fire with glowing coals below.
Yellow squash pizza with cheese on a black and white floral patterned surface.
Close-up of a plate of grilled cherry tomato and basil skewers with melted cheese, in the foreground, and a plate of glazed salmon fillets garnished with greens in the background.
Person holding two wooden plates with food: one with a pizza and the other with fried appetizer skewers.
Multiple slices of pizza on metal stands at a pizza tasting event.

What's included

The Details

A long dining table set for a formal outdoor dinner with plates, glasses, napkins, and candles, overlooking a infinity pool and scenic hills and trees in the background during daytime.

  • Menu design consultation and seasonal planning

  • Ingredient sourcing from local Sonoma farms and producers

  • Day-of cooking, plating, and service

  • Service staff scaled to guest count

  • Full kitchen cleanup on departure

  • Wine pairing suggestions (sommelier referrals available)

Event size

8 – 200 Guests

Sourcing

Local Sonoma Farms

Menu style

Custom / Seasonal

Pricing

Custom Quote
Request A Quote
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We begin with a consultation — you share your preferences, any dietary needs, the occasion, and the feel you're after. Chef Degen then proposes a menu. You review it, give feedback, and we refine until it feels exactly right. The day-of, he handles everything from prep through service and cleanup.


  • Yes — and we treat dietary accommodations as creative constraints, not compromises. Whether it's gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, or specific allergies, we design the menu so every guest eats something genuinely delicious, not just a safe option.

  • Frequently. Sonoma wineries are a natural fit — many have commercial kitchens or full prep facilities, and Chef Degen understands the culture and expectations of wine country hospitality events. We're well-versed in working alongside existing venue staff and sommelier teams.

  • Private chef pricing depends on guest count, menu complexity, sourcing requirements, service staff, and travel. We provide a detailed proposal after an initial conversation — no vague estimates or surprise fees. Every line item is explained upfront.

Request a Private Chef Quote

Tell us about your occasion and we'll reach out within 48 hours.