Dinner Party Chef

Event Chef — Private Birthday Celebration
Captiva Island, FL · Saturday, October 10th · One-Night Event

Our client is celebrating a milestone 70th birthday and is seeking a talented Event Chef to create an elegant, elevated dinner experience for family and close loved ones on Captiva Island. The guest of honor is spending the week on the island to relax and celebrate surrounded by family, and this dinner is meant to be a thoughtful, memorable centerpiece of that celebration.

EVENT DETAILS

• Date: Saturday, October 10th, dinner service
• Location: Private rental home, Captiva Island, FL
• Guest count: 6 adults plus a few children 
• Occasion: 70th birthday celebration for the matriarch of the family, who prefers fish

CULINARY VISION

• Style: Elegant and elevated, but not fussy or overdone
• Format: Passed hors d'oeuvres to start, followed by a multi-course plated dinner, likely three courses
• Protein focus: A mix of fish and meat, with fish especially important given the birthday guest's preference
• Kid-friendly consideration: At least one dish or course that appeals to younger palates
• Overall tone: Thoughtful and celebratory, food that feels like a genuine gift for the occasion, not a generic catered event

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Proven experience designing and executing multi-course plated dinners for private events
• Comfort cooking both seafood and meat at a high level
• Creativity and confidence proposing a custom menu tailored to the celebration
• Experience working in private home kitchens, ideally with passed hors d'oeuvres service
• Polished, professional presence; comfortable interacting with family and guests throughout the evening
• Based in or able to travel to Captiva Island / Southwest Florida for this one-night engagement
• Strong references from prior private event or private chef work

COMPENSATION

• $600++ daily rate 

DM Estate Staffing is a domestic staffing firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, dedicated to connecting exceptional Private Service Professionals with private clients and family offices across the United States. Built over more than a decade on referrals and repeat clients, we have grown thoughtfully by doing one thing well: finding the right person for the right home.

Every member of our recruiting team has worked personally in the homes of prominent private clients, as estate managers, private chefs, household leaders, and more. That lived experience is what sets us apart. We don't just understand private service in theory; we've navigated its nuances, its demands, and its deeply personal nature from the inside. That perspective shapes every search we conduct and every candidate we represent.

We encourage you to regularly explore our job board and apply for any roles that align with your experience and aspirations. When your background aligns with what our clients are looking for, we will be in touch. We hope to have the opportunity to work with you soon.