Private Chef/Dining Club Service,
Personalized Meal Plans & Wellness Coaching

Food is the source of vitality in this life.

It should also be a source of pleasure, joy, and fun!

All of my meals are comprised of the freshest ingredients sourced as locally as possible with a focus on small-scale, organic, biodynamic, humane, ecologically-centered producers, foragers, and businesses because I understand that the nutritive capacity of your food is directly linked to the health of the environments in which it’s grown/raised. Meals are primarily plant-based (meaning that plants are their foundation, not necessarily their entirety), low-moderate carbs, only whole grains and fruits, mostly gluten-free, and free of refined sugars. They’re developed from knowledge that sits at the intersection between millennia-old healing systems and the most recent functional and integrative medicine research available. I can cater to specialized diets and offer plans that are gluten-free, sugar-free, grain-free, and nut-free. I always share the ingredients in your meals and their origins.

But I believe that truly nourishing food is more than just healthy … It brings you as much joy and pleasure as it does nutrition! I don’t eat food “that’s good for me.” I eat food that’s colorful and delicious, that I want to eat. It just also happens to be good for me! That is the exact sensibility I bring to the meals I prepare for my clients and customers. It’s also why all of my food is infused with lots of love and joy, made entirely from scratch with a rainbow of fresh ingredients, seasoned heavily with fresh herbs and spices, dressed with mouth-watering sauces, FULL OF FLAVOR and pleasurable textures/mouth-feel, and meant to leave you feeling satisfied.

You can enjoy the meals I prepare for you knowing that each ingredient has been carefully selected to ensure that the people and planet that have made your meals possible are also being supported and treated fairly.

Currently, I am located primarily in Sussex County, Delaware/Delaware Beaches, but I’m open to coming elsewhere if an aligned opportunity arises. I will prepare your personalized meal or meal plan in your home on a weekly basis. I am Certified as a Serv-Safe Manager by the National Restaurant Association and follow strict food safety precautions at all times. In addition, I am vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 and will wear a mask in your home.

If you’re interested in having a personal chef come to your home for a private party/event or a week’s worth of the healthiest and most delicious meals available in Sussex County, please CLICK HERE and fill out the form. I will get back to you within 48 hours so that we can determine if we’re a good fit for each other.

private chef services & cooking classes

I am located in Lewes, DE and provide short-term and long-term private chef services and on-site cooking classes for your health-conscious family, vacation, organization, or retreat in Sussex County, Delaware. I am willing to consider other locations in some circumstances, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re located elsewhere.

To check availability and discuss whether we’re a good fit, please send me a brief overview of what you’re looking for by clicking HERE.

popup dinners

Dining club pop-up dinners are 100% plant-based and usually gluten free (I always notify people of potential allergens and have alternative options available). Grain and/or nut-free options are also available (as indicated above).

Popup dinners are unique dinner parties that create opportunities to bring people together and share in the many aspects of our world that we touch when we eat. But most of all, they’re an opportunity to build community and enjoy food that’s healthy, delicious, and beautiful (food must be all three!).

Popup dinners are often made possible because someone is willing to share their house, organization, or business as a meeting space. But they also happen when someone is aware of a public space that would work well. This is where I need your help! Look below to learn more!

host an event!

While I typically look for groups of 10-20 people, I have had dinners of four, two hundred, and everything in between. A lot of factors figure into whether an event will work, but I’m always looking for new and different ideas, experiences, and locations, so if you’re interested in hosting a private event or helping to facilitate a public one in a specific location, LET’S TALK—even if you’re unsure! Below are some sample menus from past dinners.

Email me at the following address and tell me your ideas for an event, so we can discuss whether it’s good fit:

Hilary@instituteforearthbasedliving.com

~ Popup Dinners are pre-planned events open to the public with a limited number of spaces.

~ Facilitated Dining Experiences are private meals and events based on the desired themes, topics, and guest list of the host.

Testimonials

“Hilary prepared a dinner for date night for my girlfriend and I. The food was excellent, she was on time, she cleaned up after herself, and even left us leftovers. The pricing was more than fair. I it was definitely satisfied and would recommend her to anyone.” ~Phil S., San Diego, CA

“Hilary helped my husband and I put on several farm to table events at our home. We knew we could count on her to bring her flair, flavor and fun to our guests - and deliver, she did! She is a joy to work with and makes event planning fun and focused. We would highly recommend her services.” ~Holly T., Philadelphia, PA

sample Pop-up dinner menus