We were lucky to catch up with Don Saunders recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Don thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I provide a very personalized experience and I believe that is not always the industry standard. The menu I write for each event is crafted after consulting with the client, finding out what they love and don;t love, and of course using seasonal ingredients. Besides bringing over 20 years of high level restaurant chef experience to the table, I want to bring personality to each event. When clients hire me to cook in their homes, they are getting a fun, very interactive, personalized experience with me and their guests.

Don, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Having built a reputation as one of the top chefs in Minneapolis, I am grateful for where I’ve been, and excited about the future. What I offer now as a private chef fits perfectly for myself and most importantly, my clients. I am able to pursue my love of creating food and serving people, but now in a more refined and intimate setting. Clients are able to utilize my skills as a very experienced, service-driven chef and restaurateur to host amazing and unique custom events in their own homes!

It is important to know that in working with me you will get a 100% custom, individualized experience. I will ultimately base the menu, the feel, and every last detail on your vision for the event.

There are a number of styles I can execute from multi-course tasting menus with paired wines to passed hors d’ourves for a cocktail party. I can create a more formal feel or a casual vibe with guest interaction, and even cooking demonstrations!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative?

I do love the actual prep work that comes with being a chef. I like to think I am very organized along with the creative side. So, putting in time, skill and creativity and then watching it come together on finished dishes inside someone’s beautiful home, is very rewarding. I have to say that another rewarding aspect is obviously hearing how happy and satisfied a client is with something as simple as food. It feels good to create joy through food and when client’s experience that, along with their best friends, it is very rewarding!

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I would have knew the impact of social media marketing earlier in my career and knew personally how better to utilize it. I have a few social media outlets that I use but not to their fullest. I am currently outsourcing some experts to get the word out on my business more effectively through social and media marketing.

Contact Info:

• Website: privatechefdon.com
• Instagram: @privatechef_don
• Facebook: Private Chef Don

Image Credits
Kendra Oxendale