Chef Peter Townsend

Chef At Home in Carlton North

Professional chef originally from the UK, Brighton. With over 15 years in the industry, I started my career as a young chef in London. I went on to cook in France, perfecting my trade. In recent years I’ve been cooking in Melbourne and Byron Bay, where I lead seasonal driven restaurants and wine bars. I would love to share my carefully curated menus with you for an unforgettable experience.

For me, cooking is...

A way to express my creativity and bring people together. I love bringing people together to connect over a shared experience.

I learned to cook at...

I’ve spent the last decade travelling and cooking in some of the best culinary regions in the world including France, London and Melbourne.

A cooking secret...

I’m a true believer in less is more and really showcasing beautiful, seasonal ingredients. I really love to let the ingredients shine.

My menus

Mediterranean Elegance

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Freshly shucked oysters, cucumber mignonette, dill

Miso choux au craquelin, whipped yuzu ricotta (vegetarian)

FIRST COURSE

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Agnolotti, brown butter, sage, hazelnut

Heirloom tomatoes, whipped tahini, chilli crisp, basil (vegetarian)

Hiramasa kingfish crudo, pickled shallot, burnt capsicum

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Dry aged duck breast, black garlic butter, carrot, edamame, jus

Roasted porterhouse, duck fat potato, dutch carrot, peppercorn jus

Whole market fish, cafe de paris butter, herbs, lemon (family style)

Charred leeks, ajo blanco, agrodolce, hazelnuts, smoked olive oil (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Whipped dark chocolate, hazelnut, rhubarb, creme chantilly

Passion fruit and coconut bavarois

Cheese selection, quince, pear, lavosh

Signature Melbourne Experience

STARTER

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Freshly shucked appellation oysters, champagne sabayon, caviar

Raw scallop, celeriac, golden sesame

Wagyu carpaccio, wild rocket, truffle oil, parmesan

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Ricotta agnolotti, brown butter, sage, hazelnut (vegetarian)

Hiramasa kingfish crudo, pickled shallot, burnt capsicum

Lobster ravioli, creme fraiche, roe, chives

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

MB6 Wagyu porterhouse, dutch carrot, duck fat potato, peppercorn jus

Miso glazed blue-eye cod, yuzu buerre blanc, chives

Dry aged duck breast, black garlic butter, carrot, edamame, jus

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Whipped dark chocolate, hazelnut, rhubarb, creme chantilly

Cheese selection, quince, pear, lavosh

Brown butter burnt basque cheesecake, poached seasonal fruit

Premium five course degustation menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Dinner rolls, green garlic butter

Freshly shucked appellation oysters, champagne sabayon, caviar

WA half shell scallops, cauliflower puree, apple, lemon

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster ravioli, creme fraiche, roe, chives

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

MB8 Wagyu porterhouse, dutch carrot, duck fat potato, peppercorn jus

DESSERT

All inclusive

Whipped dark chocolate, hazelnut, rhubarb, creme chantilly

Cheese selection, quince, pear, lavosh

Italian Indulgence

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Capocollo, pickled plums, mustard

Figs, lardo, hazelnuts

Crudités, French onion dip (vegetarian)

Edamame whip, rice cracker, sesame (vegetarian)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pumpkin agnolotti, brown butter, sage, hazelnut (vegetarian)

Agnolotti, creme fraiche, parsley sauce

Blue swimmer crab spaghetti, chilli, garlic, lemon, herbs

Roasted tomato and pumpkin soup, basil oil (vegetarian)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Whole roasted flounder, parsley sauce

Butterflied free range roast chicken, whipped tahini, pickled onion, herbs

Halloumi tacos, corn salsa, coriander (vegetarian)

Confit duck leg, braised lentils, radicchio

DESSERT

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Raspberry financiers

Sticky date cake, miso butterscotch, crème chantilly

Salted chocolate and buckwheat cookie ice cream sandwich

Burnt Basque cheesecake, seasonal fruit

Jana Special Event

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Freshly shucked oysters, cucumber, dill oil x 2pp

Focaccia, whipped butter, smoked salt

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh ricotta, hot honey, lemon, olive oil

Wa half shell scallops, cauliflower puree, apple, lemon x 2pp

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Roasted porterhouse, wild rocket, pecorino, truffle oil

Beef fat roast potatoes

Bitter leaves salad, sherry vinegar, currants, shallot

DESSERT

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Whipped dark chocolate, hazelnut, rhubarb, olive oil

Rustic Mediterranean Table

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Anchovy toast, whipped ricotta, lemon

Heirloom tomatoes, whipped ricotta, chilli crisp (vegetarian)

Pumpkin hummus, beetroot cracker, sesame (vegetarian)

Sicilian olives, orange and anise oil (vegetarian)

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh pappardelle, beef short-rib ragu, pecorino

Pan fried gnocchi, wild mushroom, pecorino (vegetarian)

Porchetta, salsa verde, fennel salad, capers

Roasted carrot and quinoa salad, whipped tahini, pickled onion, feta (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Classic Tiramisu

Burnt Basque cheesecake, poached seasonal fruit

Lemon tart, chantilly cream

Whipped white chocolate, mango, coconut

Flavors of Melbourne

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Lamb croquettes, rosemary mayonnaise

Mushroom arancini, pecorino, chives (vegetarian)

Crudités, French onion dip (vegetarian)

Tuna tartare, crostini, shallot, mustard seed

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Roast free range chicken, chicken gravy

Halloumi tacos, corn salsa, coriander (vegetarian)

Pulled beef tacos, white onion, salsa verde

Pumpkin agnolotti, brown butter, sage, hazelnut (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Sticky date cake, miso butterscotch, crème chantilly

Lemon tart, crème chantilly

Burnt Basque cheesecake, seasonal fruit

Salted chocolate and buckwheat cookie ice cream sandwich

Chef’s Hidden Gems

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Chef’s Hidden Gems

Mushroom arancini, pecorino, aioli (vegetarian)

Crudités, French onion dip (vegetarian)

Duck liver parfait, lavosh, port blueberries

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Heirloom tomatoes, whipped tahini, chilli crisp, basil (vegetarian)

Tuna tartare, frites, mustard seed

Blue swimmer crab spaghetti, chilli, garlic, lemon, herbs

Pumpkin agnolotti, brown butter, sage, hazelnut (vegetarian)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Confit duck leg, braised lentils, radicchio

Porchetta, salsa verde, fennel and capers

Green beans, whipped ricotta, grilled peach salad (vegetarian)

Pan fried gnocchi, wild mushroom, pecorino (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Burnt Basque cheesecake, poached seasonal fruit

Passion fruit and coconut bavarois

Lemon tart, crème chantilly, yuzu meringue

Dark chocolate cremeux, crème chantilly, plum

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Chef Peter's reviews

4.81

•

38 services

Peter was fantastic, very professional and the food was delicious, highly recommend!

Peter was amazing, very responsive and tailored the menu to all of our various dietaries. The food was incredible!

From the start, Chef Peter was professional, informative, flexible, and very friendly. He happily worked with me to adjust our menu to meet dietary requirements, which I greatly appreciated. On the day, he arrived on time, fully prepped and ready to cook for 30 people, then we unexpectedly lost both power and hot water. While I was panicking, Peter didn’t even bat an eye. He stayed incredibly calm, immediately shifted into problem-solving mode, and made it work. Thankfully, we had a BBQ he could use, and he had pre-baked some of the cookies for dessert. The lack of hot water made cleaning and washing dishes difficult, but again, he adapted, boiling water on the gas stove to ensure he didn’t leave us with a mess. His ability to remain calm under pressure and find solutions not only saved the day but also put me at ease. Everything he cooked was fresh, colourful, and absolutely delicious. The produce was clearly high quality (definitely not store-bought), and the flavours complemented each other beautifully. I would highly recommend Chef Peter and would gladly hire him again for any future events.

Chef Peter was simply incredible. He’s a really great communicator who genuinely cares about the service & quality he delivers. He was very attentive, punctual, funny & friendly. The whole experience was highly delightful and I have already started to recommend him to my friends. I highly recommend working with Peter if you want a successful event! Thank you so much for making the day so special Peter, we appreciate you so much.

Chef Pete did an amazing job, creating a four-course seafood dinner for my wife's birthday. He was punctual and professional, and every dish was amazing. All the different flavoured oils and butters and sauces complimented the fresh seafood and elevated each dish to another level. He also did a great job engaging with my very.... enthusiastic children, involving them in the process, and tailoring their meal to their tastes. Thanks Pete for a very memorable experience, so much better than simply dining out! I wouldn't hesitate to use this service again or to recommend to friends.

An Unforgettable Anniversary Celebration with Exceptional Cuisine From the first bite to the last, Chef Peter delivered an impeccable dining experience for my wife and me during our anniversary celebration. Every dish, from the elegantly crafted starters to the show stopping duck main course, was executed to perfection, flawlessly seasoned, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavour. What truly set Chef Peter apart was his warmth and professionalism. He arrived promptly, ensuring a seamless start to our evening, and his personable nature made us feel at ease as he transformed our kitchen into a gourmet haven. His passion for cooking shone through in every detail, and he took the time to explain each course, adding a thoughtful touch to the experience. This wasn’t just a meal, it was a memory crafted with care. For anyone seeking a talented, reliable, and genuinely kind chef to elevate a special occasion, Chef Peter comes with our highest recommendation. Thank you for making our anniversary one we’ll cherish forever!

We had the pleasure of working with Chef Pete, and the experience was fantastic from start to finish. His communication was clear and professional, making the planning process smooth and stress-free. On the night, he was very attentive and engaging with our guests, adding a personal touch that made the event even more special. Everything ran seamlessly, and the food was excellent. We highly recommend Chef Pete and look forward to working with him again!

Chef Pete was fantastic! Super helpful and responsive planning the menu, he was friendly and a pleasure to talk with, and his food was incredible. Some of the words out of our mouths: ‘Magnificent’, ‘best meal ever’. My partner and I really appreciated how Pete made the evening a wonderful experience to cap a special day for us. I’d absolutely recommend him to anyone.

Chef Peter was exceptional in proactively recommending a menu to a reunion of parents with young children. The communication was prompt and professional, and his accommodation of the four young children (under 4) and furry friend were much appreciated! Thank you for a delicious and memorable meal!

Chef Peter Townsend was fantastic for our Christmas Eve celebration with family. The menu was superb and the presentation of the courses beautiful. Peter was engaging and professional . The kitchen was left spotless. We wouldnt hesitate in having Peter return for future events and recommend him highly.

I was dubious about booking through Take A Chef after our first chef cancelled on us. But I’m so glad they did. We ended up with Chef Pete!

Pete did an amazing job for my 50th birthday celebrations, his food and service was top notch. His spanner crab pasta was a total winner. Pete’s communication was outstanding. Thank you, I will be recommending you!

Pete is a great chef, high quality food nicely presented, and he is very easy to work with. I would definitely use Pete again.

The food was absolutely outstanding! Every dish was bursting with flavor, perfectly balanced, and beautifully presented. You can truly taste the skill and passion in every bite. You’re an incredible chef thank you for such a memorable dining experience!