Chef Ritchie Boucher

Private Chef in Heathmont

I am a professional chef with 27 years of experience working across a wide range of kitchens, including the Yarra Valley (Balgownie Estate and Oakridge Winery), Melbourne cafés, cocktail and wine bars, Queensland’s Hyatt Regency Resort in Coolum, as well as temporary roles in Soho, London. I am also New Zealand–trained, having completed my culinary training in Auckland, which has shaped my adaptable and well-rounded cooking style.

For the past five years, I have worked as a private chef with Gathar, delivering high-quality, personalized dining experiences. I pride myself on maintaining a very clean workspace and thrive in a well-organized kitchen, where attention to detail and efficiency allow me to consistently perform at my best.

For me, cooking is...

My lifestyle and my passion.

I learned to cook at...

I learned to cook as a young boy, helping Mum make the gravy and baking slices for the family.

A cooking secret...

I like to use the freshest local seasonal produce from the Yarra Valley where possible. I have a close affiliation with local producers.

My menus

Mediterranean

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Chefs Mezze Plate

Hot honey halloumi, flat breads

Crunchy eggplant chips, babaganoush

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Hand-rolled ricotta gnocchi, spring pea purée, goats curd, basil + toasted almonds

Lamb + feta meatballs, spiced cous cous, mint yoghurt

Chicken kofta, pomegranate pilaf, za’atar pita

Kingfish Crudo, ruby grapefruit, finger lime, spiced nut dukkah

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Mediterranean lemon + herby chicken w garlic, olive + caper white wine cream sauce, potato + fennel gratin, spring greens

Pulled lamb shoulder, polenta chips, Tuscan kale, pangrattato, grana padano

Crumbed pork cutlet, Greek lemony patatas, apple kale slaw

Veal saltimbocca, sage, crisp prosciutto, potato puree, broccolini, vino sauce

Garlic prawn paella, romesco salsa

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Classic tiramisu with local chocolate coffee beans

Orange blossom panna cotta w candied citrus + orange sherbet

Sticky date pudding, indulgent butterscotch sauce, freshly whipped cream

Rosewater crème’ brûlée, raspberries, rose Persian fairy floss

White chocolate panna cotta, passionfruit + raspberry sherbet

French

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Grazing board with local cheeses and charcuterie

Confit Duck tartlets, pomegranate molasses, sour cherry pickle

Freshly shucked oysters, finger lime mignonette

Baked camembert, fig + quince jam, baguette croutes

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Kingfish Crudo, ruby grapefruit, finger lime, spiced nut dukkah

Yarra Valley Goats Cheese brûléed, garlic pita crisps, toasted walnuts, pear, local truffle honey

Steak tartare, cornichons, radish, fried capers, salsa verde, gin crackers

‘Duck a’lOrange’ salad, Four Pillars gin marmalade dressing

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Crispy skin barramundi, potato & fennel gratin, pea purée

‘Coq Au Vin’ French-style succulent chicken, potato pavè, orange glazed baby carrots

‘Beef Bourgogne’, silky pomme puree

Grass-fed roasted fillet of beef, cafe de Paris butter, hasselback potatoes, smoked carrot purée, charred shallots, red wine jus

Confit duck leg, Four Pillars Gin marmalade glaze, duck fat potatoes, cumquat sauce

+ seasonal greens to share on all mains

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Vanilla bean creme brûlée, fresh seasonal berries

Warm flourless chocolate torte with creme fraiche + strawberry compote

Sticky date pudding, indulgent butterscotch sauce, whipped cream

White chocolate pavlova with lashing of cream and fresh berries

Yarra Valley cheese selection with pita crisps and condiments

Canapé / Cocktail Party

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Korean ‘karage chicken’ with kewpie

Prosciutto, blue cheese, rocket + fresh pear

Mac n Cheese croquettes, confit garlic mayo

Crostini with seared duck, hoisin + pickled cucumber

Mozzarella stuffed beef meatballs with sweet chilli jam

Mexican spiced lamb tacos, pico de gallo

Chipotle ‘popcorn’ chicken

Thai-style fragrant pork meatball with Nam jim

Crunchy Eggplant chips, miso mayo

Roast pumpkin, caramelised onion + feta tartlets

Kingfish ceviche, avocado, lime, jalapeno

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

BBQ Pulled pork bruschetta

Chefs beef brisket mini pies, chilli jam

Confit Duck tartlet, pomegranates, sour cherry pickle

Smoked bacon arancini, romesco + confit garlic aioli

Four cheese arancini, sriracha kewpie

Chefs mini sausage rolls, tomato capsicum relish

Goats cheese ‘brûlée’, French onion & tarragon Palmiettes de croissant

Smoked salmon blinis, horseradish creme

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Pulled pork ‘carnita’ quesadillas

Lamb kofta, garlic sauce, za’atar pita

Mini cheeseburger sliders, chefs Big Mac sauce

Southern fried chicken slider, kimchi slaw + kewpie

Mexican spiced lamb sliders, pico de gallo

Garlic prawn paella, romesco salsa

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Classic tiramisu with local chocolate coffee beans

Lemon meringue cannoli, pistachio crumb

Orange Blossom Panna Cotta w candied citrus + orange sherbet

Sticky date pudding, indulgent butterscotch sauce, freshly whipped cream

Vanilla bean cheesecake, gingernut biscuit base, passionfruit coulis

Warm flourless chocolate torte with creme fraiche + strawberry sauce

Brunch

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Local Yarra Valley danish pastries

Local Yarra Valley juices & smoothies (bottles)

Fresh seasonal fruit platter

Mini pancakes w fresh berries, maple syrup

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Local fruit loaf ‘French toast’ w maple cinnamon butter

Local almond croissants

Local sourdough w house made spreads

Local croissants w prosciutto, gruyere + heirloom tomatoes

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Yarra Valley Goats Cheese brûléed, pear, local truffle honey

Bacon & egg rolls, tomato + capsicum relish

Chilli scrambled eggs w fresh herbs, Yarra Valley Persian Fetta

Poached eggs, bacon, tomatoes, sautéed greens + hollandaise

DESSERT

Choose 2 dishes

Sticky date pudding, indulgent butterscotch sauce, freshly whipped cream

Warm flourless chocolate torte with creme fraiche + strawberry sauce

Vanilla bean cheesecake, gingernut biscuit base, raspberry sauce

Yarra Valley cheese selection with pita crisps and condiments

Italian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Chefs classic bruschetta

Antipasto platter (to share)

Smoked bacon arancini, romesco sauce, confit garlic aioli

Mushroom, thyme + white wine arancini, truffle mayo

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Butter-poached prawn and lobster raviolo with truffle infused pumpkin puree

Alla vodka rigatoni pasta, tomato/cream, grana padano

Spaghetti ‘Cacio e Pepe’

Burrata, heirloom tomatoes, basil

Chorizo and garlic prawns, cooked in a rich tomato sugo and served with fresh ciabatta

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Traditional pork roast ‘Porchetta’ with hasselback potatoes, apple sauce + pepper jus

Slow roasted lamb shoulder, parmesan polenta chips, salsa verde, greens

House made potato gnocchi, Milawa blue cheese cream, roast pumpkin, caramelised onion + truffle honey walnuts

Market fish, oven-baked, roasted vine-ripened tomatoes, olives, feta + white wine

Chicken ‘Cotoletta’ mushroom sauce, potato mash + sauté greens

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Sticky date pudding, indulgent butterscotch sauce, whipped cream

Classic tiramisu with local chocolate coffee beans

Lemon meringue cannolis

Orange blossom crème brûlée, orange sherbet candied citrus

White chocolate panna cotta, passionfruit + raspberry sherbet

Asian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Thai-style fragrant pork meatball with Nam jim

Crunchy eggplant chips, miso mayo

Butter-poached prawns, seeded wafer, kewpie, green apple salsa

Pork belly bites, soy + ginger glaze

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Five spiced fried chicken slider, pickled zucchini, kewpie

Vietnamese beef salad, nuoc cham

Tuna sushimi, spiced sesame dippy

Bang bang chicken salad, cucumber, peanuts, sprouts, black vinegar + chilli dressing

Karage chicken, soft bun, kimchi slaw, gochujang bbq sauce

Master stock pork belly bahn mi slider, pickled cucumber + carrot, sriracha kewpie

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Vietnamese style roast chicken, marinated in garlic, ginger, lemongrass + soy

Orange miso glazed barramundi fillet, ginger, spring onions

Traditional beef Massaman curry, jasmine rice, coriander, fried shallots

Crispy pork belly, carrot purée, spiced greens, fish sauce caramel

Pork katsu (crispy crumbed pork steak) rice, katsu sauce

Grilled teriyaki salmon, wok spiced greens, rice

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Miso caramel chocolate tart, vanilla bean ice cream

Ginger, lemongrass + kaffir lime brûlée

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Chef Ritchie's reviews

4.82

•

104 services

Chef Ritchie was fantastic, good comms leading up to the day and flexible with the menu. We had one vegetarian amongst us and he catered for her with some delicious food too. Our starters, entree, mains and dessert were awesome. He managed 9 loud and opinionated women who were all extremely happy with the service and food. Was great not having to worry about a thing and kitchen and dishes were spotless at the end. We hope to use Chef Ritchie again next year, highly recommend! Thanks Chef Ritchie!!!

Chef Ritchie and assistant Fraser were amazing. They provided us with a delightful menu and themed it to our Halloween dinner. Service and food was excellent. Very engaging and accommodating and I will definitely be using their services again. Sepi

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chef Ritchie made my birthday dinner an absolutely unforgettable experience! His French-inspired menu was exceptional — every dish was bursting with flavour, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. From the first bite to the last, you could taste the passion, creativity, and attention to detail in everything he prepared. The private rooftop setting made the evening feel extra special, and Chef Ritchie’s calm, friendly presence set the perfect tone. He made everyone feel comfortable while still delivering a fine-dining experience worthy of a top restaurant. It wasn’t just a meal — it was a whole experience filled with laughter, amazing food, and incredible atmosphere. I can’t recommend Chef Ritchie highly enough. If you ever get the chance to have him cook for you, take it — you’ll be blown away!

Ritchie was incredible. Everything was taken care of with very little effort on my part. He did it all yet I’m the one getting messages from the guests saying how great the food and evening was. It was exactly how I had hoped the night would go and that is all thanks to Ritchie who served the most delicious and generous food, organised all the plates, glasses and cutlery, and left my kitchen far cleaner than it was when he arrived. 100% recommend if you want beautiful food and the chance to just be with your friends rather than worry about playing host. The perfect evening.

A big thank you to Chef Ritchie and Nicci for her service. The dishes and quality of the food was first class. This was the first time I had used such a service and would recommend Take a Chef or a special occasion. Thank you!

Ritchie was perfect for a family gathering with all the dishes well presented and the taste was second to none. Lucky we got him for our trip

Chef Ritchie cooked for a group of us at my home last Saturday. I couldnt reccommend him highly enough. Not only was his food SOO yummy, presented so well and cooked to perfection. He was so friendly and lovely to have in our home. Ritchie would explain each course as he presented it which made our at home experience very fine dining. He left my kitchen spotless. Overall amazing. Thank you for a very fun night

We had the absolute pleasure of having Ritchie as our private chef for my dad’s birthday celebration, and I cannot recommend him highly enough! From start to finish, everything was simply exceptional. Ritchie created a menu that was not only perfectly tailored to our tastes but also full of flavor, creativity, and attention to detail. Every dish was beautifully presented and tasted incredible – you could truly tell the passion and care he puts into his cooking. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the food, and my dad said it was one of the best meals he’s ever had! Beyond the food, Ritchie made the entire experience seamless and stress-free. His professionalism, warm personality, and ability to create a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere made the day so special. He took care of everything, so we could just enjoy celebrating together. If you’re looking for a private chef who will not only impress your taste buds but also make your event unforgettable, Ritchie is the one to book. We’ll definitely be calling him again for future occasions!

Ritchie was the best, the food was amazing both in taste and presentation especially his sauces, he answered all our questions and put on a fantastic meal, he cleaned everything and left the kitchen spotless. would definately recommend him to others.

Amazing night!

Ritchie was fantastic. He helped make my 50th birthday as memorable as it is. Everything Ritchie said he would do and supply was done. His communication was fantastic, he interacted with us all during the evening, which is what i asked of him, so he could enjoy the evening as much as we did, and it showed in the food he supplied and created for us. Thank you from all of us, that attended the evening Ritchie. We would recommend you as the chef to have for any celebration. Thank you!!!

Ritchie was Amazing!! My partner organised the menu with him as a surprise for our 30th wedding anniversary. The food was really tasty, fresh and the Massaman curry probably the best I’ve tasted ???? Everything was professional, the food was just beautiful, Ritchie was engaging and enthusiastic, polite and posed for a photo with us! Ritchie was attentive through our meal, at the same time, cleaned up, did the dishes and had the kitchen looking better than it was at the start! We had a wonderful night, thanks Ritchie!!

Chef Ritchie created an amazing private experience for friends and family visiting from the USA. He was extremely attentive, and the food was spot on. Was a special evening and can highly recommend!

Chef Ritchie was fantastic! He nailed the 'kiwi' theme brief from the start, and it was a bonus that he is also from New Zealand. I loved that we communicated via txt as it made everything so seamless and he was always prompt on any questions I had. Ritchie also had a great Kiwi assistant (Fraser) who served the food, and fitted in with my guests perfectly. Both of them were very discrete at all times and made themselves comfortable in the kitchen without any disturbance. All the dishes & cutlery were washed and dried before they left, as well as the kitchen was spotless! I have no hesitation in recommending Chef Ritchie to hope to utilize his services again in the future.

The cheff was very good and professional. The food was amazing and the cheff was a very fun person to talk to. everyone had fun.

We all had a fabulous day 11of us from age 75down to 8 months and all in between. Thanks to Ritchies expert cooking, yummy food and pleasant demeanour it was a pleasure to have him around our noisy family. Very pleased I chose him as our chef and guest for the afternoon. Thanking you Sue Scheele

Ritchie was extremely accommodating and able to provide multiple options as we were crafting the final menu. I can't thank him enough for such an incredible dining experience. The dishes were absolutely amazing, everything exceeded our expectations and the flourless chocolate torte was out of this world. Ritchie's attention to detail and passion for creating a truly special meal made Carol's Birthday unforgettable. I highly recommend Ritchie and the team to anyone looking for an exceptional and heartwarming dining experience. Thank you again for making our celebration so special

Ritchie was amazing from the first moment of engagement to the actual dinner. He was clear on the menu selections, was flexible and incredibly patient with us. He was punctual, organised and perfectly met our brief. We requested a feast/family dinner style service and he perfectly executed on that. The food was amazing, plenty to share around and loved by everyone. Thank you so much for the experience!

Chef Richie was fantastic. Punctual and great manner ensured all our guests had memorable experience. Food was fresh and cooked perfectly. Highly recommend!

I had Chef Ritchie for our work dinner of 14 people. Ritchie arrived well before time and prepared everything very professionally. The food was amazing and the service was incredible. Ritchie was very engaging and served the dishes timely. The guests were very happy with the food and the service. I would give 5 star to Ritchie for his professionalism, service and organisation. Would strongly recommend Ritchie !!! last but not the least, kitchen was left very clean and tidy ✅✅