We recently connected with Blake Stine and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Blake, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

I would have to say that the biggest challenge to profitability in my industry lately has been this ever increasing inflation. It’s definitely making things a bit more challenging for me personally, as well as just about everyone I’ve spoken with that operate in food. I think eggs are at this point up 49.1% last I checked, and they’re a staple when it comes to making a huge variety of dishes. Since the beginning of this Denver Private Chef venture I’ve always kept pricing honest – same as you would find if you were to go eat at a restaurant which has always been agreeable for myself as well as the clients, it’s hard to keep things ballparked in the same price range, say for my office clients, who are used to a flat rate for lunch deliveries but getting creative with the dishes to keep costs in line is never a bad thing!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I got into restaurant kitchens as a teenager, and never looked back. I think I was well suited to the chaos, and grew to actually love it over time – being able to work a flawless service with great responses from the dining room and guests is the most gratifying feeling you can ever experience. This new(ish) business, Denver Private Chef, is my first independent project which started during Covid lockdown as a side hustle but has gained enough momentum to where it is my only work focus! My main services provided are fine dining curated dinners, office lunch catering and cooking classes. I taught culinary at a local technical college over the past several years, and showing people how food works and can be paired is incredibly fun and fulfilling!

I think the biggest thing that sets Denver Private Chef apart from other services is the very hands on and customizable approach to the food for the clients. I work closely with them to get the menus tailored perfectly for every event, be it a wedding, fancy birthday dinner as well as the office lunches. I strive to make sure everyone who’s eating is taken care of, regardless of food allergies or intolerances and preferences. I am very proud of this, and I know the clients appreciate it too – I mean it’s in the name after all, hospitality! I want all potential readers and diners to know that the sky is the limit when it comes to food, and there is no shortage of avenues that we can take to make a perfect meal and seamless service for you!

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

The story of the funding for Denver Private Chef can be summed up pretty quickly – there was no funding! I began doing this using what little savings I had from working in restaurants and teaching. This made it feel like walking a tight rope, as each dinner had to be successful since the profit from them had to carry over into the next upcoming dinner. Profit in the food industry is hard, and a lot of different components all have to work together in synchronicity to do better than just breaking even.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think what even surprised me about my own resilience was over last winter, working for nearly 3 months non-stop catering. Restaurants taught be early that you need to have a ton of grit to be successful, so I’m thankful for that and it’s helped me immensely. Between holiday parties, dinners, lunches and even a huge birthday bash I did food for in Las Vegas it felt like there wasn’t enough time to catch my breath! But once it all settled and we’re here in the new year, things are going back to a “normal” pace, and oddly enough that feels easier than before, coming out of the chaos of October – December.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.denverprivatechef.com
• Instagram: @denverprivatechef
• Facebook: @denverprivatechef
• Linkedin: @denverprivatechef