• Private Chef Brenda Chicago
  • Asian
  • French
  • Fusion
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Mediterranean
  • Mexican
  • Middle Eastern
  • Modern American
  • Southern

Signature dish:  

Grilled Pork Chop and Mostarda

About Me

Brenda Steele is a private chef & recipe writer, who specializes in menu development. She takes great pleasure in the opportunity to create vibrant, delicious & nourishing meals using high quality local & seasonal ingredients. She particularly enjoys bringing the traditional food practices of: pickling, cheese making, salt curing, fermenting & preserving into her culinary work, along with foraging wild edible flora & fauna to add special touches to a meal.
For 10 years she worked as a private chef in the professional yachting industry, traveling throughout the globe. She considers her nomadic-chef lifestyle to have played a pivotal role in developing her eclectic & adventurous food aesthetic, as well as her bold & colorful palette; having been profoundly influence by the foods and cultures she has explored over the years.
When she is not developing menus, writing recipes, or hosting a private client dinner, she enjoys rambling alone in the woods for a cache of wild boletes & thimbleberries.

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Recent Menus

Reviews - click review to see menu (32)

  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 4 - Aaron

    Quite honestly the best tasting dinner we’ve ever had. Such a unique experience which will most definitely happen again!

    • Worked on February 27, 2021
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 4 - Julia (ID 753145)

    Chef Brenda was amazing! She accommodated my last minute changes the day before, and her meal was fantastic. Everyone was blown away with the whole experience; this was for a small 40th birthday gathering of 6. I would do this again for sure!

    • Worked on February 21, 2021
  • 4+ Course Plated Meal for 12 - Eric

    Brenda was awesome! Super easy to work with her to plan out the menu and the food was amazing!!! We had a party of 12 and everyone enjoyed the food and she helped to make a perfect birthday meal for my wife!

    • Worked on January 30, 2021
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 12 - Kara Gordon (ID 724386)

    Brenda was everything we hoped for and more. Everything was delicious and so thoughtfully planned.

    I can wait to have her back!

    • Worked on December 31, 2020
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 10 - Katherine (ID 723132)

    This experience exceeded our wildest expectations. Not only was Brenda extremely professional and friendly, she cooked us the best meal my friends and I have had in a while. We hired Brenda for an impromptu birthday/ Christmas-themed dinner party and it was the best decision we have ever made. Not only did Brenda cook us an outstanding meal, she served and cleaned, which we were not expecting! It was amazing. We will absolutely be hiring Brenda for our next dinner party!

    • Worked on December 5, 2020
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 2 - Rachel

    I requested a Mexican-themed dinner for my boyfriend's birthday and Brenda went above and beyond to make the evening special for us. Though she didn't have to, I requested a more hands-on, teaching portion, so she taught us how to properly press and cook tortillas which was so much fun! She accommodated my dietary restrictions seamlessly into the meal and, most importantly, it was absolutely delicious. Each dish was beautifully plated, jam-packed with flavor, and photo-op worthy! Brenda knows how to throw together a menu that doesn't leave you overwhelmed, hungry, nor stuffed in the slightest -- a perfectly balanced, unforgettable and delicious meal.

    • Worked on December 7, 2020
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 8 - Jenna Tritsch (ID 708876)

    Dinner was amazing! It couldn’t of asked for a better way to celebrate my mom’s birthday. Brenda was also very easy to work with! I would highly recommend!

    • Worked on December 18, 2020
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 2 - AbdulRahman Baig (ID 702187)

    We had a wonderful experience with Chef Brenda. She prepared an unforgettable meal for an intimate Birthday dinner. We appreciated Chef Brenda accommodating for our dietary restrictions. She was also very collaborative and easy to reach out to in the menu making process.

    The food was delicious and beautifully plated. She was prompt and the kitchen was spotless afterwards. We will be reaching out to her again.

    • Worked on October 19, 2020
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 8 - Blair Hill (ID 699576)

    Brenda was AMAZING! She was flexible with scheduling due to COVID, on time, kind and professional. Our menu consisted of two dinner options- beef and salmon. I eat lots of salmon and this was by far the most delicious salmon I have ever had. Additionally, we had a guest who can’t eat many things including onion and garlic because of some stomach sensitivities. Brenda was able to accommodate him easily (although I am not sure how to make delicious food without seasoning) and his meal looked the same as everyone else’s and also tasted great.

    If I could afford a chef, I would’ve invited Brenda to cook for me everyday for the rest of my life! I would highly recommend Brenda and Table at Home.

    • Worked on January 2, 2021
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 2 - Erroll (ID 683535)

    Brenda was prompt, professional, courteous and, most importantly, the meal was delicious. It was a fantastic anniversary dinner that was perfect in selection and quantity.

    • Worked on September 10, 2020
  • BBQ for 26 - Dan

    Brenda was amazing to work with. Flexible, creative and super talented. Her team was beyond professional and helped make our evening unforgettable.

    • Worked on September 6, 2020
  • 4+ Course Plated Meal for 8 - David (ID 163397)

    Brenda surpassed very high expectations for our eight person dinner in every way. She customized the menu ahead of time for our special event and to accommodate some food allergies; she communicated every step of the way to ensure that our evening would go off flawlessly. Food variety and quality was as good as any top dining experience you have ever enjoyed, matched by exquisite service and cleanup. Look no further - Brenda will make your event unforgettable!!

    • Worked on July 25, 2020
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 8 - Tyler

    Brenda did a fantastic job, despite some logistical challenges, of treating us to a wonderful home chef experience. All of the courses were superb, she was charming and personable, and was extremely easy to communicate with. I cannot recommend her services highly enough, and would absolutely book her again next time I was in need!

    • Worked on July 31, 2020
  • 4+ Course Plated Meal for 15 - Tire

    She was phenomenal!!!!! Will recommend her any day anytime to anyone looking for someone who will make the experience worth it . She cooked for my husbands 40th birthday everything was so delicious to the T! She was so professional and seasoning for everything was perfect. My family couldn’t stop thanking for having her . I’m definitely using her services for any family events moving forward!!!

    • Worked on August 1, 2020
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 12 - Beth

    Chef Brenda created a beautiful meal for our girls evening. The salad was fresh and delicious, the cod was perfectly cooked, and her meyer lemon olive oil cake was to die for! She was prompt when arrived, and paced out the courses nicely. We wanted to use our china for this special occasion and she had no problem hand washing our dishes. The kitchen was cleaned and put back together. It was the easiest dinner party I have ever thrown! Thank you Chef Brenda!

    • Worked on June 27, 2020
  • Cooking Lesson for 20 - Julie

    Chef Brenda and her assistant Chelsea made our mom’s birthday dinner so very special! They were a delight to have in our house and the meal was outstanding! Coming from a house that loves to cook, we were hesitant to have someone else prepare a meal for a special occasion, but everything exceeded our expectations! We were dreaming of those short ribs the next day! We would definitely recommend to anyone and hope to have Chef Brenda back again some day soon!

    • Worked on February 29, 2020
  • 4+ Course Plated Meal for 6 - Steve (ID 142407)

    Chef Brenda prepared the most sumptuous birthday dinner for six. She was open to an iterative menu creation, even at the last minute and executed the meal flawlessly. She is personable and was a joy to share our celebration with while still being completely professional throughout the,evening. Highly recommend!

    • Worked on February 28, 2020
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 4 - Yaira (ID 134339)

    Chef Brenda made a fantastic dinner experience for our family of four. She was on time, courteous, and flexible. Every plate had appeal, elegance, and best of all, great flavors. I would do it all over again!

    • Worked on January 28, 2020
  • Brunch for 8 - Dawn (ID 123898)

    Chef Brenda was amazing! She is professional and friendly. She provided a lovely brunch for 8 people. The food and presentation were both perfect. I am still dreaming of the quiche, scones and savory biscuits. She arrived on time and was communicative before the event. When we were finished, the kitchen was spotless. I would highly recommend Chef Brenda!

    • Worked on December 15, 2019
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 20 - keldra

    Chef Brenda was amazing- the food was delicious, and she orchestrated a sit down birthday dinner for 22 people flawlessly. It was overall an incredible experience.

    • Worked on December 14, 2019
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 10 - Renee Cagala (ID 118973)

    Brenda was wonderful! Delicious and a great personality!!

    • Worked on December 20, 2019
  • 4+ Course Plated Meal for 7 - Lauren

    We hired Chef Brenda for a dinner my husband and I hosted for our friends as a thank you to them for throwing us a wonderful baby shower. So, we wanted to make it special and Chef Brenda did just that! Her food was amazing, playing creative, and service simply impeccable! The best part about the evening is when I went into my kitchen at the end of the evening and it was spotless. I would hire again in a heartbeat!

    • Worked on June 1, 2019
  • 4+ Course Plated Meal for 9 - Susan (ID 84469)

    The food, service and communication were all exceptional. I would definitely do this again and I would highly recommend. It was so enjoyable to have a better than restaurant quality meal in the comfort of our home. We used table at home for a graduation dinner and couldn't have been more pleased. In addition, our daughter is gluten free so the meal was gluten free but enjoyed by all the guests. The presentation and quality of foods was a true treat. Chef Brenda is the best!!

    • Worked on May 25, 2019
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 9 - Dana (ID 72461)

    We had a birthday celebration with nine of our closest friends and Brenda was amazing. From start to finish the process, interaction, and meal was out of this world. Her food is so creative, and personality is fun and festive, and her level of professionalism is second to none. She baked a beautiful cake for my wife's birthday. It was an absolutely perfect meal and experience. We will be using Brenda again in the near future. You won't go wrong with choosing Brenda. Make sure to request the short ribs. OMG!!!!

    • Worked on March 16, 2019
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 4 - Scott (ID 70864)

    Chef Brenda was truly first class. She was on time, polite, and delivered a wonderful meal for 4 people at our condo. We have a dog and she rolled with the punches as he sat at her feet hoping she would drop some scraps. The meal was delicious from start to finish and very creative.

    All in all, can't recommend Brenda enough and we will look to use her again in the future.

    • Worked on February 23, 2019
  • 4+ Course Plated Meal for 8 - Nicki (ID 64366)

    I can’t say enough about how memorable our experience with Chef Brenda was! I was apprehensive to hand over the keys and be a guest at my own party, but I couldn’t be happier.

    She curated an unforgettable menu, made the process extremely easy and wasn’t phased by our German Shepherd puppy who insisted on being her shadow.

    The menu consisted of a delicious palette cleansing salad with a mint vinegrette, a unique and flavorful galette, a red wine braised short rib that melts in your mouth, and to topped it all off a delectable dark chocolate cake.

    Chef Brenda really elevated the evening for our guests and went above and beyond. Everyone is still raving about the elegant meal and how phenomenal the experience was. We will definitely utilize Table at Home for future events!

    • Worked on January 25, 2019
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 14 - Gareth (ID 61286)

    We hired Brenda for a 1920's themed murder mystery dinner party in our home with 14 guests and she was absolutely wonderful to work with from start to finish. She worked hard to fine tune the menu to our preferences and budget. She spent time reviewing our timeline in advance to assure we were on the same page and when the weather was looking iffy for travel, she came up with a contigency plan to assure a smooth execution. She was a delight throughout the evening and our guests all raved about every course. She took such care with the presentation and the food was not only instagram worthy, but every bite was divine. We are so lucky we came across Brenda and we are hoping to hire her again for our next special event.

    • Worked on January 19, 2019
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 10 - Kari Bello (ID 61107)

    Thank you for your wonderful services. Chef Brenda was perfect in every way. Her chef skills were so amazing and all the food was not only delicious but it was presented so beautifully. Having a chef was such a bonus so that I could not only enjoy my guests but I actually could spend quality time with them. Thank you

    • Worked on January 3, 2019
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 11 - Josh (ID 59483)

    Brenda was punctual and provided an amazing meal exactly as advertised

    • Worked on December 28, 2018
  • 4+ Course Plated Meal for 2 - William (ID 58527)

    My husband surprised me with Table at Home as a gift, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. Chef Brenda was professional, communicative, flexible, and personable. She proactively reached out before our scheduled night to confirm details and the menu. She adjusted the menu to remove an ingredient I don’t care for, and seemed very open to any other accommodations we may have wanted. Her meal was EXCELLENT - among the best I’ve had, and I dine at high end restaurants regularly for my job. She was also a joy to have in our kitchen. She was very well prepared and consequently relaxed and personable throughout the night.

    • Worked on December 29, 2018
  • 2-3 Course Plated Meal for 5 - Laura Zehner (ID 47401)

    Brenda was amazing. Easy to work with and the food was truly a chef worthy of a fine dining restaurant. The food took into consideration several severe food allergies but never tasted like something that was altered for food allergies. It was such a great night to relax and spend time with family and my teen sons, who enjoy eating but don’t want to eat out. This will be a night we all remember- thanks to Brenda! We will definitely do this again!

    • Worked on November 11, 2018
  • Dinner party - plated for 5 - Mary (ID 41607)

    Having worked with in-home personal chefs in the past, I am very particular with whom I hire. We were planning an intimate family get together for five. Googling around I found Table at Home, a platform for quality chefs. I completed an online form describing the event including the date, number of guests and price range. Within minutes I was contacted by a TAH representative explaining their process of connecting me with several chefs who were interested in my event. After reviewing their menus in which photographs were attached, I zeroed in on Chef Brenda.

    Chef Brenda’s menu took into consideration our gluten free dietary needs. We texted back and forth a few times and had a phone conversation fine tuning our personal tailored menu. Chef Brenda arrived at the time we had agreed to and we immediately knew we were in for a special evening. In short, Chef Brenda served us a Michelin star level meal and the service was equal to a fine dining restaurant. The menu was so flavorful and she used all locally sourced seasonal produce, local charcuterie meats and cheeses and fresh fish. Her presentation was stunning! Each course was full of color and incorporated so many unique textures.

    We will invited Chef Brenda back in the future to our home to create another amazing experience.

    We highly recommend Table at Home and we trust that because of their vetting process any of their chefs would be as professional as Chef Brenda.

    • Worked on November 3, 2018
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