Chef Rachel Caplan

Private Chef In Ocean Shores

I approach cooking with an artist's mentality, creating my recipes as if a collage: using my experiences of different cultures I gather ingredients and flavours to create multifaceted menus.

I love putting my own stamp on traditional dishes, creating new combinations and experimenting with innovative flavours while using fresh, local and organic produce as much as possible.

I have held senior positions in the Hospitality Industry for over 15 years. I am a creative, enthusiastic, hardworking chef with a true passion for food, experienced in functions, a la carte and 5-star catering for individual clients, cooking demonstrations, lessons and farmer's market tours. I am knowledgeable in a variety of cuisines and dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, diabetic, raw foods and paleo and have developed tailored recipes for my clients

My recipe development experience encompasses the creation of a line of vegan confectionery for “Byron Bay Sweets” such as gummies, caramels, chocolates and lollipops. I am currently developing and producing all natural hot sauces for “Hellish Sauces” with ingredients sourced from local suppliers.

My qualifications are: Certificate III/1V in Commercial Cookery, an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management, Food Safety Supervisor Certificate, NSW/QLD RSA and a current First Aid Certificate.

For me, cooking is...

a lifestyle. I am very conscious of what I serve to my clients (and myself) and the effect on their health and well-being.

I learned to cook at...

Kingscliff Tafe, and then on the job experience at The Bay Retreats. This was challenging as each individual client had a dietary/eating preference.

A role model in the kitchen is...

Alice Waters- one of the first chefs to use the "farm to table" philosophy, as well as being one of the pioneers of California cuisine.

A cooking secret...

To use the best local ingredients possible.

My menus

Elegant Mediterranean Tapas

STARTER

All inclusive

Citrus and Fennel Marinated Olives

Classic Spanish Tortilla

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Chorizo Poached in Red Wine

Warm Kale Salad with Almonds, Serrano ham and Manchego

Garlic prawns served with crusty warmed baguette

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Lamb Meatballs with Feta and Mint served in a rich marinara sauce

Andalusian Style Chicken with Saffron and Green olives

Patatas Bravas with Smoky Aioli

DESSERT

All inclusive

Creamy Caramel Flan with Orange infusion

Latin American Tasting Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Watermelon and Mint Gazpacho Shooters

Spicy Corn Fritters with a Coriander mayonnaise and candied Jalepeno

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Snapper and prawn ceviche with lime and avocado

Chicken Tinga Tostata with smoky, spicy tomato salsa, refried black beans beans, topped with cilantro and cheese

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Roasted Asparagus and white bean salad with mango and mojo-crillo

Gaucho grilled sirloin steak with salsa verde and patatas bravas

DESSERT

All inclusive

Tres leches cake with strawberries

Indulgent Mediterranean Dinner

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Trio of Canapes: Roast Beef & Cornichons and Horseradish Cream, Carmelised Fennel Puff Pastry with Gruyere, Smoked Salmon, Dill and Creme Fraiche Blinis

Oysters on the half shell with mignonette granita

Mixed Bruschetta platter : Tomato and basil, Pea and pecorino, Whipped ricotta with roasted pumpkin and preserved lemon

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Balsamic Peach, Burrata and Prosciutto Salad

Kinkawooka mussels with streaky bacon steamed in Stone & Wood Pacific Ale

Penne alla vodka (pasta in a rich and creamy tomato sauce laced with vodka with a hint of chili)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lamb Cutlets wrapped in Prosciutto and Feta Cheese served over a White Bean Puree with Slow Roasted Tomatoes, Olive Tapenade, and Warmed Crusty Bread

Baked Snapper with white wine, fennel, lemon and capers served with orzo

Chicken piccata with roasted Hasselback potatoes, Sicilian style green beans

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Grazing platter of decadent baked goods, chocolate covered strawberries, seasonal fruits and chocolates

Chocolate ganache tart with berry coulis and whipped cream

Orange and Cardamon Cake with coconut cream

Middle Eastern Feast

STARTER

All inclusive

Mezze grazing platter with Selection of Dips, cheeses, marinated vegetables

Flatbreads with Za'tar

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Whole Roasted Cauliflower With green tahini sauce (GF, V)

Tomato, Olive and Sumac salad (GF,V)

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Slow roasted lamb with pomegranate sauce (GF)

Cous cous with fresh herbs, apricot and almond

Chermoula Aubergine with Quinoa and Yoghurt (GF)

DESSERT

All inclusive

Orange and Cardamon Cake with coconut cream

Modern Australian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Trio of Canapes: Roast Beef & Cornichons and Horseradish Cream, Carmelised Fennel Puff Pastry with Gruyere, Smoked Salmon, Dill and Creme Fraiche Blinis

Grazing platter with a selection of dips, house made marinated vegetables, locally made cheeses

Oysters on the half shell with mignonette granita

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Prawn, mango and avocado salad served in lettuce cups

Herbed Pea and Bacon Risotto topped with Scallops and Parmigiano Reggiano

Heirloom tomato and Byron bay mozzarella tart served with greens drizzled with balsamic reduction

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pork Medallions with a maple balsamic glaze with rosemary roast potatoes and steamed greens

Slow roasted leg of lamb, rosemaryt roasted potatoes, sauteed broccolini with pine nut and parsley salsa

Braised chicken with sage, pine nut and silver beet served over creamy potato and leek mash

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Salted Chocolate Caramel Tart served with Freshly Whipped Cream

Classic Cheesecake with Berry Compote

Sticky Date Pudding

Traditional Italian Menu

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Mixed Bruschetta platter : Tomato and basil, Pea and pecorino, Whipped ricotta with roasted pumpkin and preserved lemon

Antipasto plate of chargrilled vegetables and parmesan shards with warmed garlic baguette

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Herbed Pea Risotto with Scallops and Parmigiano Reggiano

Burrata with melon & heirloom tomatoes, basil vinaigrette and hibiscus spice

Ricotta Gnudi with pomodoro sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken Saltimbocca ala Romana (with sage and Prosciutto), duckfat roasted potatoes and Sicilian style green beans

Prawn Linguine with garlic, cherry, tomato, white wine and a hint of chili

Beef braciola stuffed with cheese and bread crumbs simmered in a rich tomato sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate ganache tart with roasted strawberries and whipped cream

Tiramisu cheesecake with espresso syrup

Orange, polenta and olive oil cake with whipped mascarpone and thyme

Japanese Fusion

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Chef's selection of Yakitori: Chicken and Scallion, Zucchini, Beef meatball

Carrot ginger soup shooters (GF, V)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Miso Glazed Eggplant with Pickled Radish

Snapper and pineapple ceviche with jalepeno

Scallion pancakes with dipping sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Miso Glazed Salmon with Wasabi Mash and Sesame Spinach

Slow Cooked Pork Belly on Braised Asian Greens with Coconut Rice

Grass Fed Steaks with Soy-Braised Mushrooms, Coconut Rice, Pickled Radish and Stir Fried Greens

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Matcha Tiramisu parfaits

Coconut panna cotta with passion fruit

Chocolate ganache tart with roasted strawberries and whipped cream

Traditional French

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Pissaladière tart with caramelized onions, anchovies, and cured black olives

Pate au maison served with cornichon

Trio of Canapes: polenta bites with roasted red peppers (gf) caramelized fennel puff pastry with gruyere , roast beef & cornichons and horseradish cream

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Vegetable and Goat Cheese Terrine with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Mussels with with garlic and white wine, grilled bread with herb butter

Beetroot Carpaccio with orange dressing and avocado pate

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Coq Au Vin (Chicken Braised in Red Wine with Mushrooms and onions, served over Creamy Mashed Potato and Parsnips with Sauteed Green Beans

Glazed Bangalow sweet pork medallions with a Dijon mustard sauce served with hasselback potatoes, roasted asparagus with dill and capers

Baked Snapper with white wine, fennel, lemon and capers, served with green beans amondine, lemony roasted potato

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Apple Tarte Tartin with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Chocolate ganache tart with roasted strawberries and sweetened creme fraiche

Decadent Cheese and Fruit Platter

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Chef Rachel's reviews

4.66

•

54 services

Rachel was fabulous! Her communication was great leading up to the event, which made the process very relaxing. There was no fuss on the evening, as she utilised a kitchen that she obviously wasn't familiar with. The food was delicious and cooked to perfection. We would definitely do this again. Thank you!!

Rachel recently looked after us for a family birthday lunch with 8 adults and 4 children. She was kind and professional. The food was delicious and loved by everyone. We would definitely hire Rachel again in the future.

Rachel was nothing short of amazing. Her communication in the lead up was outstanding, the menu option was sent through in a timely manner for us to review and approve. On the day the food, service, quality of produce, presentation was absolutely amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed our degustation experience with Rachel. We would definitely use her again

Food was outstanding and well presented. Chef Rachel worked with me to create a wonderful menu catering for vegetarian in the group. The experience was perfect and the kitchen spotless at the end. Highly recommended

Rachel was excellent! We enjoyed an excellent meal for our wedding anniversary. All four courses were lovely, we couldn't fault her presentation or professionalism. She was super friendly and lovely, she also included substitutions where I couldn't eat certain elements. Really easy to deal with and left the place sparkling clean. Thanks Rachel!

Chef Rachel was just great! The menu that she suggested was perfect for what I was looking for and she was happy to make any changes if necessary. She was also very organised and left everything so clean. The food was delicious and the printed menu was such a nice touch. Overall we would definitely recommend Chef Rachel and would love to have her back.

Rachel was punctual, polite and organised. She was easy to communicate with and organised dinner without a lot of notice. The food was fresh and plated nicely.

Rachel was amazing. We had a few dietary requirements and she tailored the menu perfectly to our needs. The food was incredible and the little menus she printed were absolutely stunning. After the meal my kitchen even looked cleaner than when we started. I will most definitely be using Chef Rachel again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.

I recommend Rachel for her performance! She was able to adapt her menu to our expectations. Thank you !!

I can highly recommend Rachel. Rachel was punctual, fun to talk to, and very professional in the way she presented and cooked our four-course meal. Not only was there a typed menu to accompany our well-presented table but the food was outstanding, tasted awesome and presented beautifully. Rachel made the birthday celebration a day to remember. I wouldn't hesitate in booking Rachel for future events. Thank you, Rachel!

Thank you chef Rachel for making my husband’s 40th birthday not only super special but super delicious!!!!

Chef Rachel was amazing ! Kept us up to date on everything prior to the event, was accomodating to our menu and dietary requirements. Rachel arrived with a great vibe and bought out one after another amazing meals ! We loved every moment and would absolutely do it again!

Chef Rachel did a wonderful luncheon for us. Highly recommend her services.

Rachel did a superb job - hired at the very last minute and created multiple feasts for our family of picky eaters. Thankyou Rachel!

Rachel was very punctual and polite. She cooked a lovely meal for the six of us and cleaned up thoroughly. I would highly recommend her

It was a pleasure to have Rachel in our home the food was delicious and made for a memorable evening Rachel was easy to communicate with and would not hesitate to have Rachel cook for us again and to recommend for anyone looking for a home chef -jill

Having Rachel prepare our lunch was so incredibly relaxing! She was accomodating, friendly and an excellent chef. I will definitely have Rachel cook for us again, there’s no turning back now that I’ve experienced how easy it is to entertain :)

Absolutely loved the experience and the food was delicious. Couldn't rate it any higher.

Rachel was wonderful.