Who exactly is showing up to my home?

Every chef on our roster is trained, background-checked, and food safety certified. We carry full liability and workers comp insurance and run food board analysis on every event.

What's included in the price?

Everything. Shopping, prep, cooking, plating, service, and cleanup. One number. No surprises. We suggest a 20% gratuity, but that's the only thing not baked in.

What does it cost to hire a private chef in Denver, Colorado?

Private chef dinners start at $150 per person for a custom four-course meal, $1,200 minimum. Catering runs $75 per person for buffet, $100 for family style, $125 to $150 for plated. All-inclusive either way.

Do you travel to mountain towns and resort areas?

We're already there. Chefs stationed across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Arizona. No travel fees. Ever.

Can you cook in a rental kitchen you've never seen?

We do it all the time. We come fully prepared. For bigger events we might ask for a quick photo of the kitchen ahead of time, but we show up ready.

How far in advance do I need to book?

Ideally a week. We can move faster for smaller dinners. We also have events booked two years out. Whatever your timeline, let's talk.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies?

There's nothing we can't or won't accommodate. Kosher, halal, any allergen, any lifestyle diet. We love a good challenge.

How many people can you serve?

One person to 150 to 200 guests. We try to stay under 120 for most events to keep quality exactly where it needs to be.

How to Turn a Date Night or Anniversary Into a Gourmet Experience

May 15

Written By Stephen Ingber

Chef Tips

Most couples planning an anniversary dinner default to a restaurant reservation. I understand the instinct — restaurants feel celebratory, the effort is outsourced, and there's a baseline level of craft you can count on. But after years of cooking private dinners for couples across Colorado and the mountain west, I'd argue that the private chef experience does something a restaurant fundamentally cannot: it makes the entire evening about the two of you, not about fitting into someone else's service schedule.

Why In-Home Dining Hits Differently for Intimate Occasions

A restaurant, even a great one, is a shared space. You're surrounded by other tables, other conversations, a server who appears every twelve minutes whether you want them to or not. The pacing isn't yours. When I cook a private anniversary dinner, the evening moves at the couple's pace. If they want to linger over the second course for forty minutes, we linger. The menu is built around what they actually love — not what's in season at the restaurant's supplier this week.

What a Thoughtfully Planned Private Dinner Looks Like

The dinners I'm most proud of start with a conversation, not a menu. Before I cook for anyone, I want to know: What does this couple love to eat? Are there dishes that carry memories — a place they've traveled, a meal they've talked about for years? A typical private anniversary dinner might look like:

Arrival: A charcuterie and cheese display with Champagne, giving the couple time to settle in while I finish prep
First course: Something light and elegant — a crudo, a delicate soup, or a composed salad with unexpected elements
Second course: A pasta or risotto — something warm and comforting but technically refined
Main: The centerpiece of the meal, built around whatever protein resonates most — a dry-aged beef tenderloin, a whole roasted fish, a lamb rack with seasonal accompaniments
Dessert: Something personal whenever possible. I've made the same chocolate soufflé twice for clients who had it on their honeymoon and asked me to recreate it. That's the kind of detail that turns a dinner into a memory

How to Elevate the Experience Beyond the Food

Lighting: Candles over overheads, always. If you only do one thing to transform a dining space, it's this
Table setting: Use your best dishes and glassware — the occasion justifies it
Music: Build a playlist in advance rather than letting a streaming algorithm decide
Wine pairings: Ask about wine pairing recommendations alongside the menu. The right wine with each course makes the progression coherent

Dietary Needs Are Part of the Design, Not an Afterthought

One of the genuine advantages of a private chef over a restaurant is how dietary restrictions get handled. At a restaurant, a gluten-free or dairy-free request means navigating what's already on the menu — substitutions, omissions, a plate that arrives looking like something's missing. When I design a private dinner around a dietary need, it's built in from the start. The constraint becomes part of the creative brief.

When to Book

For a private dinner for two, I recommend booking at least one to two weeks in advance — enough time to have a proper conversation about the menu, source any specialty ingredients, and build something genuinely tailored. For milestone anniversaries where you want everything to be exactly right, give yourself three to four weeks.

The best anniversary dinners I've cooked weren't the most technically complex ones. They were the ones where I understood exactly who I was cooking for and designed every detail around them. That's the version of this experience worth creating.

Planning a special anniversary dinner or date night in Vail, Aspen, Denver, Scottsdale, or Park City? Get a custom proposal from MileHighCook →

About the Author

Steve Ingber — Executive Chef & Founder, MileHighCook

CIA-trained Executive Chef Steve Ingber founded MileHighCook to bring consistent, chef-driven luxury dining to private events across Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming. Featured in Food & Wine Magazine. 4.8 stars across 65+ verified Google reviews. Learn more about Steve →

Ready to create an unforgettable anniversary or date night experience? Let's build the menu together.

Get a Custom Quote →

Stephen Ingber