Private chef services in the lake
district/Cumbria
Top reviews from Our customers
About Realfood chefs
About Real food chefs
"Our aim is to put you and your guests at ease from the very first conversation you have with us"
Who are Real food chefs
Putting it quite simply we love food , a passion to cook and deliver on great service has taken my little business into the top 3 caterers in the lake district and perhaps even the whole of cumbria.
Realfood chefs wasn't always known for creating exceptional dining experiences. I began the business in 2019 after a seven-year hiatus due to a 2012 motorcycle accident involving a coach. In the past, I was renowned for film and TV set catering and food styling. Interestingly, private chef work was not common back then, but I had a gig on the day of the accident. It took me seven years to recover.
"Doctors said i wouldn't be able to be a chef again"
I went from serving 200 covers a day as a competent chef to struggling with basic tasks like making a sandwich and tea after a head injury. Being unable to pursue my passion for cooking was devastating, and realizing the doctors were right shattered my world.
In 2018, I took a different path after my injury. I joined a local agency supplying chefs to understaffed hotels in the Lakes. I kept my accident a secret and my first shift was a disaster, with word spreading fast. I'll explain more when we meet.
"It wasn't long before i got my cards"
But lets be honest i deserved it , i couldn't cook like i once could , i kept getting awful headaches and i had a bad attitude "I was so angry with my self" and i took it out on everyone else.
After some time had passed, I had come to terms with the fact that I had transformed into a different person, no longer the Michelin-trained chef I used to be. I decided to take another break from the culinary world. Then one day, out of the blue, Chef Vincent from the "Sun Inn in Hawkshead" called, desperate for assistance.
He had found my number from a Facebook post I had posted three months earlier.
"It's Vincent from the Sun. I need some help for a couple of weeks, if you're interested," he said. He confided that he had been cautioned against hiring me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I recounted my accident and my past experiences at renowned places like "Harveys" with Chef Marco and even a stint at the Fat Duck near Marlow. Nowadays, Back then considered myself lucky if I can manage to get the roast potatoes out of the oven on time.
"Thank you Chef Vincent"
You, my friend, are the driving force behind the chef I've become today. Vincent shielded me from the skeptical circle of chefs in the Lake District who wanted nothing to do with me in their kitchens. He granted me the time I needed to heal and rediscover my culinary passion. I'll forever cherish the night he placed me on the pass, orchestrating 20 or 30 food orders, expertly plating them, and sending them out. I absolutely nailed it, and as I walked out of work that evening, I felt like I was walking on air, maybe even shouting, "I'M BACK!"
Though I knew I still had a long journey ahead, I was undeniably on the right path.
I started to receive phone calls from hotels in the lake district asking me if i had any availability , then one day i landed a 3 month contract at the queens hotel in hawkshead in the lake district , I decided to call myself "Real food chefs" and the rest is history , fast forward to march 2020 and i had over 20 chefs working for me in various hotels across Cumbria,
COVID 19
COVID-19 devastated the hotel and catering industry in the Lake District. Realfood chefs became obsolete, and clients who had chefs before the lock downs went silent, some even going into administration. I ended up having to cover the wages of 20 chefs who had each worked over 100 hours, losing everything once more just to pay their owed wages
I reopened during the "Eat Out to Help Out" incentive but lost my reliable chefs. I had to assemble a new team and provide training. After the second lockdown, I decided to shift Realfood chefs from a recruiter to a caterer.
I remember it vividly; it was for a family of 14 adults and 6 kids. I arrived, and the client asked, "When will your staff be coming?" Her face turned to complete horror when I replied, "It's just little old me." In the beginning, I had to handle everything - setting the table, preparing the kitchen, cooking, serving, clearing, and tidying up. The kitchen looked like a disaster zone, but you know me well enough to know I pressed on with my can-do attitude.
After bidding our goodbyes, I drove home in my wife's Honda Jazz. The very next day, I checked my Google profile and found a review.
2024
Lake District Menu's
"We know how important this is to you , so we bring some magic too"
Hire a Private Chef
Our most popular service in the lake district has to be our Private chef experience.
We come and cook delicious food for you and your guests to enjoy in your home.
Simply choose what you would like to eat from our Menus and just sit back and relax.
We travel all over Cumbria to provide you with delicious food that is presented in our special way.
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"Sit in the garden with a cold drink and chat to your family and friends.
We look after the BBQ and make some real food magic happen.
- Hand Crafted burgers
- Local Sausages
- Rib eye steaks
- Lots of Veg/vegan alternatives too
"Its time for you to relax"
Indulge in the extraordinary and elevate your dining experience to another level with Real Food Chefs.A trusted partner for all your private chef needs in the Lake District.
Wedding Catering
Providing Incredible food to your wedding guests is really important as it will be 1 of 3 things they will remember.
Having done our training in large and small 5 star hotels for over 20 years we know a little bit about catering for a wedding in the lake District and Cumbria.
Whether you have decided on a small wedding for 10 or you've invited everyone on the planet, Real food chefs will do you very proud indeed and your guests will be telling you how good the food was for years to come.
Bespoke 3 course Menus are available with delicious starters, Main course and Desserts as well as BBQS and Buffets.
With our dedicated focus on quality, creativity, and attention to detail, Real Food Chefs has earned a reputation for being the go-to choice for those seeking the finest gourmet experiences in the Lake District. Discover the unparalleled pleasure of having a professional chef curate a bespoke menu, using locally sourced ingredients to create exceptional dishes that reflect the essence of the region.
