personal Chef

i come to you, cook with good ingredients and leave you delish food for the week


Didi arrives weekly, carrying fresh produce and groceries then prepares up to five dinners for you or your family in a single visit.  Her food is creative, global, healthful, and planet-friendly.  Vegetables and fruits are her playground and her vegetarian entrees are nourishing, delicious, and inspired by cuisines that have cooked this way for centuries.  Local fish and meat are treated with equal regard. Refined flours, food treated with chemicals, sodium, and fat are kept to a minimum.  Dietary requests such as a Paleo or Gluten-Free are happily accommodated and one of the advantages to hiring a personal chef.  After 31 years of professional cooking, Didi’s repertoire is vast and requests are easily accommodated.  See endorsements page for immediate references.  Person to person references upon request. Email Didi at ididemmons@gmail.com


TESTIMONIALS

"Didi is priceless.  She's an easy going and very warm person who also happens to make unbelievably good food.  Arriving home to find 4 or 5 dishes that are delicious (e.g., vegetable pancakes), original (e.g., lamb shoulder with figs and fennel) and incredibly wholesome (faro/quinoa/couscous salad) transforms how we eat.  We eagerly look forward to coming home to see what Didi has made us for dinner when she cooks for us and are able to weave the different dishes into our meals during the week.  Didi is also flexible and willing to accommodate specific requests.  She is wonderful with our teenage kids. Can't say enough good things.  We are very fortunate to have found her".   Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc and Nick Haining, MD, Brigham and Women's, Harvard Medical School

"I am happy to recommend Didi as a caterer and an excellent personal chef. She has always been reliable and most important, she prepares excellent food!" -Thomas G. Shapiro, Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP

SAMPLE DISHES (many are seasonal and can be adapted to what is local now)

Black Bean Chili with Root Vegetables and Quinoa
Vegetarian or Vegan Entrees
Portobello Burger with Chickpeas, Oats, Caramelized Onions, Squash Homefries
Smoky Red Bean and Rice Burger (brown rice) with Pineapple Ketchup
Butternut, Spinach and Goat Cheese Lasagna
Risotto Cake Panfried with Root Vegetables and Tuscan Pesto
Crispy Viet Coco Cakes on Arugula and Viet Red Pepper Sauce
Millet Cakes with Roasted Root Veggie Stew and White Beans
Sunchoke Bread Pudding with Bacon, Greens and Gorgonzola
Mexican “Lasagna” with Soy or Chicken Chorizo, Jack Cheese, Refried Beans, Corn Tortillas, Chipotle Tomato Sauce and Corn
Savory Grits with Broad Beans, Thyme,  and Fennel
Cauliflower Shiitake Gnocchi and Brown Butter and Sage
Mushroom Sweet Potato Stew with Dumplings
Potato and Kale Stew with Corn Dumplings
Soft Polenta with Tomato Mushroom Olive Ragout
Bean, Butternut, and Cheese Quesadilla with Apple Chile Salsa
Wild Mushroom Shepard’s Pie with Lentils, Wild Rice, Kale, Brown Onion Gravy

Noodles - ask about gluten-free
Linguine with Broccoli Rabe, Pecans, Preserved Lemon, and Feta
Your Pad Thai or Mine with Tofu, Egg and Peanuts (add shrimp or chicken)
Angel Hair with Peas, Mint, and Walnuts
Black Bean Walnut “meatballs” with Spinach and Tomato Sauce over Chickpea Pasta
Lasagna with Kale, Mushrooms and Pecans, Ricotta and Fresh Tomato Sauce


Birds
Ancho Turkey Quinoa Tacos with Cheddar and Smokey Carrot-Pineapple Slaw
Chicken Thigh and Tofu Stir Fry with Mustard Greens and Thai Peanut Sauce
Shredded Turkey Sausage Stew with Millet Cakes (also can be vegetarian using Mushroom Sausage)
Curried Chicken with Almonds, Onions, Mango, and Lemongrass
Turkey Soup with Seasonal Veggies and Barley
Cajun Stew with Andouille Sausage, Tomatoes, White Beans, Greens
Turkey Pot Pie with Rutabaga and other Local Roots
Curried Chicken with Almonds, Onions, Mango, and Lemongrass
Israeli Couscous with Ground Lamb, Tomatoes, Spinach and Feta
Ancho Turkey Quinoa Tacos with Cheddar and Smokey Carrot-Pineapple Slaw
Chicken Thigh and Tofu Stir Fry with Mustard Greens and Thai Peanut Sauce
Shredded Turkey Sausage Stew with Millet Cakes (also can be vegetarian using Mushroom Sausage)
Turkey Soup with Seasonal Veggies and Barley
Cajun Stew with Andouille Sausage, Tomatoes, White Beans, Greens
Turkey Pot Pie with Rutabaga and other Local Roots
Chicken and Dumplings
Bacon Turkey Burgers with Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
Roast Chicken with Harissa (a Moroccan sauce using red peppers)

Meat
Lamb Tagine with Potatoes, Peppers, Olives, Lemon
Lamb Shoulder, Eggplant, Tomato and Chickpea Stew
Israeli Couscous with Ground Lamb, Tomatoes, Spinach and Feta
Lamb Shoulder, Eggplant, Tomato and Chickpea Stew
Pork Chops with Roasted Apples and Lentils
Beef Stew Braised in Beer, Browned Onions, Collards on Egg Noodles
Korean Short Ribs (sweet soy) on Brown Rice
Bacon Turkey Burgers with Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
Korean Short Ribs (sweet soy) on Brown Rice
Pork Chops with Roasted Apples and Lentils


Fish
Cod with Preserved Lemon, Fennel, Mashed Potatoes
Fresh Cod and Clam Chowder
Salt Cod Crab Cakes with Creamy Yogurt Horseradish Sauce and Slaw
Cod or Salmon Poached and served with a Greek Yogurt Tarragon Sauce on Spinach
Roasted Salmon with Greek Yogurt Borani, Local Veggies, Roast Potatoes
Roasted Halibut with Lemons, Olives, and Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
Four Spice Salmon, Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips, Frisee Salad
Red Snapper with Citrus Slaw, Farro 
Cod with Preserved Lemon, Fennel, Mashed Potatoes
Fresh Cod and Clam Chowder
Salt Cod Crab Cakes with Creamy Yogurt Horseradish Sauce and Slaw
Cod or Salmon Poached and served with a Greek Yogurt Tarragon Sauce on bed of Spinach
Roasted Salmon with Greek Yogurt Borani, Local Veggies, Roast Potatoes
Roasted Halibut with Lemons, Olives, and Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
Four Spice Salmon, Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips, Frisee Salad
Red Snapper with Citrus Slaw, Farro

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Soups, Salads, Sides, Snacks
There are lots where these came from!  Just tell me what you like...
I generally do not add dairy to soups, though sometimes yogurt
Soups
Cauliflower Potato Soup
Hubbard Squash Soup with Almonds
Green Gazpacho (our past Governor Patrick loves this!!) -
made with green tomatoes and grapes
Escarole Soup with White Beans, Tomatoes, and Meatballs
Red Gazpacho with Almonds
Roasted Parsnip Soup
Butternut Squash Apple Soup
Thai Butternut Soup with Peanuts and Ginger
Sides
Paprika Peanuts
Smoky Collards
Brussel Sprouts Roasted with Miso and Maple Syrup
Roasted Vegetables - favorites - cauliflower, brussels, parsnip, butternut, fennel  Harissa - Smooth, Sweet and Thick by Moroccan Chef-friend
Salad
Raw Kale Salad with Apples, Pecans, Lemon, Feta
Shredded Brussel Sprout (or broccoli) Salad with Dried Cranberries, Apples, and Pecans
Beet Tatsiki
Greek Salad with Kale Cukes, Red Onion, Olives, Feta