Celebrate the New Year with a Private Chef: Make Your Home the Party Venue
- Cora Courtais
- Oct 20
- 5 min read
Why choosing a private chef for your New Year event makes all the difference
From stress to celebration
If you’re like many Vancouverites, the idea of hosting a New Year’s event sounds exciting, and a little daunting. The decorations, the grocery run, the menu planning, the cooking, the cleanup… it can drain the joy out of what should be a fun night. That’s exactly why I want to share something with you like I’m a friend giving you a tip: hiring a private chef for the big night can turn your home into the place everyone wants to be.
With the right chef, you can:
Focus on your guests and the countdown, rather than being chained to the kitchen.
Enjoy a fully customised menu, whether you’re into local Pacific Northwest ingredients, vegan twists, or gourmet comfort food.
Have someone take care of shopping, cooking, serving, and even cleanup, giving you freedom to enjoy the evening.
In 2025, the notion of bringing the “restaurant experience” into a home is no longer niche. For a radius of +60 km around Vancouver, that means you can host something special whether you’re in Kitsilano, North Vancouver, Burnaby, or even out in Richmond or Surrey.
Meet Chef Kevin: your trusted culinary partner for the evening
Why his experience matters
Let me tell you a little story about Chef Kevin (of Les Petits Chef). He’s been working as a private and event chef around the Vancouver area, and I heard this from him personally:
“One New Year’s Eve I served a seven-course tasting dinner for 10 friends in a suburban home. Watching them relax, laugh, dig into the food, and then realise they didn’t lift a finger — to me that’s what it’s all about.”
That kind of experience is powerful. It goes beyond “just food”, it’s about creating a moment. Chef Kevin’s expertise shines when delivering fine cuisine in a casual home setting.
Experience: He’s done numerous private dinners, understands what works in-home vs. filled restaurant settings.
Expertise: He knows how to layer flavour, source local BC ingredients, pair drinks if needed.
Authoritativeness: He’s known locally for reliable service across the region.
Trustworthiness: You book him, and he shows up, cooks, serves, cleans. You get to relax.
That’s what you’d expect when you hire someone who’s not just “chef for hire,” but someone who treats your event like his own.
How to plan your New Year event (step-by-step)
Anticipate every detail so nothing’s overlooked
Here’s how to take your New Year’s gathering from good to unforgettable — in six practical steps:
Decide guest count and budget
For example: 8 to 12 people is a sweet spot for personalization and flow; larger groups (say 20) change service style.
Budget clarity helps Chef Kevin pick menus and staffing.
Select a date and vibe
New Year’s Eve (December 31) tends to need earlier booking; two out of three private-chef bookings happen by early December.
Do you want a lounge-style spread, formal dinner, or buffet with grazing stations?
Work on the menu
Chef Kevin will ask for dietary needs or restrictions, food preferences.
He draws on local BC produce, seafood, meats, seasonal flavours — for example, wild BC spot prawns, local mushrooms, West-Coast herbs.
Plan logistics at your venue/home
Kitchen access, number of guests, space for service.
Consider if you need servers, bar-service, etc.
Finalize service timeline
Pre-drinks and canapés, main courses, dessert, midnight bites.
Chef Kevin knows how to pace courses so you’re never stuck waiting 30 minutes between dishes.
Enjoy the event and hand-over the cleanup
Your job: host, enjoy company, toast at midnight.
His job: cook, serve, clean.
Why hiring a private chef beats DIY, catering & meal-kits
A friendly comparison to make the choice easy
Let’s compare three alternatives you might consider for your New Year’s event: DIY cooking, typical catering, and hiring a private chef.
Option | Pros | Cons |
DIY cooking | Full control, potentially lower cost | Huge time investment, stress, may miss service flow |
Catering | Off-site kitchen, drop-off food | Less personalised, may not suit in-home ambience |
Private Chef (Chef Kevin) | Personalised menu, full service, home venue | Higher cost than DIY, needs advance booking |
From my perspective, as someone advising a friend, if you want to feel free, relaxed, focused on your guests, then the private chef route is the smart move. Especially if you’ve got 8-12 people (or up to 20) and want something memorable.
Local context: Why Vancouver & +60 km radius matter
Leveraging region-specific advantage
Since you’re hosting around Vancouver — say the Lower Mainland, North Shore, or even up to 60 km out — here are a few region-specific benefits that Chef Kevin brings:
Local sourcing: Vancouver’s food scene is rich. As noted in blogs like Vancouver Foodster and Nosh and Nibble, the city offers incredible foodie experiences. vancouverfoodster.com+1
Familiar with regional logistics: Whether you’re in Kitsilano, Richmond, or Langley, Chef Kevin knows how to plan for travel, delivery, equipment.
Personalisation for west-coast holidays: New Year’s menus often lean into seasonal BC produce, and Chef Kevin knows those windows, which means better tasting dishes.
Because of those local insights, you’re not just booking “a chef” — you’re booking someone who understands your community, your setting, and the expectations of Vancouver hosts.
Your next steps & how to book
Let’s make it happen (without stress)
Okay, here’s what you need to do next (and I’m here cheering you on like a friend):
Head to Les Petits Chef’s booking page and fill in the “Book Now” form (link your event: New Year’s Eve, +60 km radius around Vancouver).
Provide guest count, date/time, any dietary restrictions or theme ideas (like “West Coast tasting”, “family friendly comfort”, “lounge style with cocktails”).
Choose the menu type and service level with Chef Kevin, for example, 5-course, seated service, or grazing + passed appetizers.
Confirm venue details (kitchen access, guest flow) and lock in deposit.
Relax. You’ll receive a confirmed plan, timeline, menu preview, and your only job will be picking out playlist and champagne.
Final Thoughts & Call to Action
Imagine this: you, on your way to the 10-second countdown, strolling through your living room, greeting friends with a drink in hand, while someone else is plating the next dish, clearing the plates, and keeping the vibe rolling. That’s the kind of New Year’s evening you deserve.
If you want to make your home the destination for a memorable, effortless, delicious New Year’s party, book Chef Kevin now, treat yourself and your guests to something special, and step into the new year saying: that was the best dinner we ever had at home.