Mains

We are always looking for and developing new, creative, dairy-free recipes that we can prepare for our private chef clients.  While not everyone that we work with is vegetarian, most of our clients are dairy free and enjoy plant based meals, with veggies being the main affair.  Even if you are an omnivore and eat animal based protein, we recommend enjoying a meat-free meal every once in a while to give your digestive system a break from breaking down heavier foods.  This reci

Everyone loves to dive into a great dip but sometimes it can feel a little repetitive. An easy way to mix it up is to blend in some veggies to change the flavour and add in some extra nutrients. Back in the fall I had the opportunity to take some (amazing) classes at The Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City. One of the classes was with Chef Megan Huylo who is an incredible chef and inspiration. This recipe is inspired from one of hers. After diving into Megan’s recipes

Quick, easy dinners are not only the best but often a necessity.  This soup is one the easiest ones you'll ever find.  Made with kabocha squash and miso, this soup is inspired by Japanese flavours, but you don't need anything fancy to make it.  Kabocha squash is one of our favourite types of squash- it has a delicious earthy and subtly sweet taste that is richer than butternut squash. This recipe is also very forgiving: feel free to switch out the green onions for 2 to 3 Tbsp

There's nothing quite like a hot plate of pad thai from a amazing Thai restaurant.  Unfortunately this high carb meal is usually packed with sugar and not necessarily made with the healthiest oil. And, if you are vegetarian or vegan and don't eat fish sauce, then pad thai isn't really an option.  We've made this version that's always gluten free and made with nutritious ingredients.  In case you have other  sensitivities or allergies, here are our suggestions on how to modify

With all this dreary winter weather in Toronto, hearty and filling main dishes are one of the things that we crave most.  Although a cheesy rich classic lasagna sounds so appealing, most of our clients can't eat cheese and gluten.  So, we came up with something just as good that's dairy free and gluten free.  This lasagna is full of saucy, baked tomatoes paired with creamy and rich "cheese" that's made from cashews and slightly sweet pumpkin.  We love making this version of l

November is now fondly known as Movember, especially if you have had the joy of a special man in your life deciding to outfit himself with an epic moustache for the month.   All joking aside, this is an important movement that helps raise awareness about men's cancers, from how men can check themselves early for signs of cancer to advocating for affordable treatment. With so many wonderful vegetables in season during the fall, there are so many options to make delicious and n

The Spring Equinox was yesterday, bringing us much closer to sunny jacket-free days.  However, it's still cold in Toronto and we're bracing ourselves for a few more blustery weeks.  When it's cold, there is nothing better than cozying up at the end of the day.  But we need to eat.  This chili is the perfect comfort food for a cold winters day to keep your body nourished and warm. It is full of healthy fats, lean proteins and complex carbs to keep you feeling full.  The best p

Cooking with turmeric can sometimes be tricky- since it is such a vibrant, colourful spice.  Turmeric is one of the best spices out there to prevent inflammation and cancer in the body, which makes it one of our favorite ingredients.  This recipe is easy to whip up quickly and is vegan, gluten free and easy to digest. Coconut Turmeric Chickpeas 2.5 cups chickpeas 1 tsp Tikka Masala powder or Curry powder ( Aravinda's spices ) 1 tsp turmeric 1/8 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp coconut su

Chimichurri Chickpea Salad 1 large can organic chickpeas large handful cilantro large handful parsley large handful green onions 1 small clove garlic 1/4 cup olive oil 2 lemons, juiced 2 tsp honey (or add more to your preference) 1 beet, grated finely or steamed in cubes 1 carrot, grated or chopped finely 1/2 cucumber, chopped in pieces sea salt to taste sundried tomatoes toasted pinenuts goat feta cheese Directions: 1. Blend the herbs, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and

Lemon Spiced Moroccan  Chicken 3 or 4 organic chicken breasts 2 meyer lemons (or regular lemon) 2 cloves garlic 1 inch piece ginger root 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp cumin 3 tsp paprika 1/4 cup fresh parsley 1/4 cup fresh cilantro 1/4 cup olive oil sea salt pepper 3 tsp honey 1 bunch asparagus 1 jar of artichokes   Directions: 1. Combine the garlic, ginger root, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, parsley, cilantro, sea salt, pepper and olive oil in a food processor and blend until smooth.

We thought it’d be fun to give you a peek into how we plan menus as private chefs.  Whether you are curious about what our recipes look like or are a current client and want to know what other clients are eating, we’ve got some tasty ideas for you here. Whenever we start working with a new private chef client, we always find out as much about their dietary likes, dislikes and preferences as we can.  The most common things we see are gluten free, dairy free, grain free, night