So, what was on the menu?
Canapés
· Bloody Mary shots with pesto prawns
· Beef tartare with caper relish
· Tuna cubes wrapped in coriander and nori with wasabi dipping sauce
· Filo pencils with shredded potato and rosemary
· Flower pot with edible soil and baby vegetables
Starter
· Vine tomato cases filled with miso salmon sashimi/miso courgetti
Second course
· New season asparagus
Main course
· Marinated lamb with chickpea puree, pine nuts, lemon sauce, parsley salad
Pudding
· Egg shell with white chocolate mousse, mango centre and toasted brioche dippers
To finish
Petit fours, teas and coffee
A lovely sunny evening on the Friday of May Bank Holiday meant we could sit outside sipping fizz whilst Liz promptly brought out a plethora of perfectly created canapés. An inspired dish of edible soil was a favourite, whilst I also enjoyed the Japanese themed tuna and nori.
The friendly Liz had rang ahead to check my friends' dietary requirements, with one diner being dairy free and another not a fan of fish. With this in mind, professional chef Liz went ahead and created a bespoke menu to suit all six of us. For example, the dairy free pal had a prawn canapé without pesto and and anti-fish friend had soya beans with her Bloody Mary shot.
With the dinner starting at around 7.30pm and nibbles served half an hour beforehand, Liz arrived promptly at 4pm (and didn't moan despite the fact I gave her the postcode for my old house in the next village!) She was really flexible with serving times and was brilliant at gauging the courses - so all I had to worry about was topping up the drinks. As well as Prosecco cocktails and fruity mocktails, I went for a French Sauvignon Blanc to complement the light starters and a Rioja Crianza for the lamb main. (Thanks to my local chef friend Laurie and his wine pairing knowledge - a great foodie to follow on Instagram too).
As well as asking about what plates, cutlery and serving boards I had beforehand (as a food blogger this is very extensive...), Liz brought along a few of her own pieces for her well thought out serving suggestions.
As you can see, the starters, served around 8ish, were lovingly presented and seasonal too.
The main was a light and flavoursome addition to the table - which everyone loved! Tasty, great quality lamb with an Eastern inspired feel - coming through with the warm chickpeas and fresh herbs. The table also had some steamed greens to go with our inviting dish. Inbetween, Liz dutifully cleaned all the cutlery (I only just have six sets) to keep the dinner running smoothly. There was a lot to juggle but she kept her cool!
The grand finale was a beautifully presented white chocolate mousse in a real egg shell. A fun idea which looked very pretty on the plate. The dairy free diner had a dark chocolate version, which looked just as delicious indeed.
Overall it was a super fun evening and great experience. I'd definitely recommend treating yourself to a private chef for a special occasion (or just because) and if you're in the East Midlands I'd definitely recommend Liz in particular. She even did the washing up - and my kitchen was possibly left more sparkling than it started!
Her current menus include Outdoor Entertaining and an Elegant Summer Dinner (both £59 per guest) which both sound really yummy! Other menus from private chefs around the UK start from £39 per person and can range from vegetarian feasts to Summer brunch - just check them out over at La Belle Assiette or browse the other menus from chefs in Leicestershire. It's also worth signing up to the newsletter or looking out for discount codes and vouchers - maybe even hosting a validation dinner yourself!
Would you ever hire a private chef? What would be your ideal cuisine or menu?
I was invited to try out La Belle Assiette as part of Liz Moore's validation dinner. All words my own - thanks to La Belle Assiette for some of the photography.
Wow, what a novelty to think this superb meal was made in a home and not a restaurant kitchen. A lovely dinner party without all the hard work!
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