Chef Darius Knetsch

Private Chef in Croydon

Darius Knetsch,

My Passion for cooking started at a very early age. I remember helping my mother on Sundays with the roast and making cake for families and guests who would visit.

I took up my first position as a Chef in the Park Lane Hotel "London" Where I started as a Commis "trainee" Chef. While at Park Lane I took up Catering College to improve my knowledge in the Catering Industry. I continued college for seven years covering basic cooking and then advance my skills in Buffet and Larder work. I work throughout the Industry Picking up skills and knowledge from the different establishments. Since I started at the Park Lane Hotel I have constantly worked my way up the career ladder.

My deepest passion is for Oriental Cooking after work at the Crockford Casino "London," I have always been interested to know much more about this style of cooking, so I brought books. But this was not enough so I took up classes and started visiting foreign countries on holiday.

I visit New Orleans where I first tasted Cajun food and California where I experienced Real Mexican cooking.

It was a great enrichment to visit all the different countries and tasting the vast range of ethnic dishes from around the world, I would then try a master all the dishes on my return home

After my long period working in five-star hotel and Michelin style restaurant, I really enjoy working as a private chef more because you get to see your work being enjoyed giving you that first hand feeling to do more for the host and guest,

For me, cooking is...

is my way of life, am proud of whatever I put on the plate because it not just food its part of myself

I learned to cook at...

I have always loved cooking from a very early age, took my first position at the Park Lane Hotel which was a 5* hotel

A cooking secret...

I love the new challenge that hospitality brings each and every day, it helps me to enjoy and love the things I do.

My menus

Italian/Mediterranean - Basic

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Tomato bruschetta with mozzarella and basil (vegetarian)

Antipasti (meat and vegetables)

Arancini with Chilli Garlic Dip

Burrata Cheese with heritage tomatoes and basil oil (vegetarian)

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Penne Pasta with Italian tomato Sauce (vegetarian)

Chicken Pomodoro with roasted new potatoes

Beef lasagne

Grilled Aubergine Stuffed with Feta and Quinoa, tomato sauce (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Classic Italian Tiramisu

Lemon Tart

Vanilla Cheese Cake

Ricotta and orange pie top with Black cherry compote

Surprise - Basic

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Tomato bruschetta with mozzarella and basil (vegetarian)

Chicken Samosa with minted yoghurt dip

Goat Cheese and Mango Salad (vegetarian)

Vietnamese Chicken and Prawn Roll

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lamb Kofta with herbs and spices

Vegetable Enchiladas with red pepper and courgette (vegetarian)

Classic Italian Sausage meatballs with Spaghetti

Teriyaki Duck Breast with Pak Choi and Sticky Rice

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Coconut Crème Caramel

Pecan Pie with Crème Anglaise

Banoffee pie with crème anglaise

Lemon Tiramisu

Surprise - Exclusive

STARTER

All inclusive

Chef choice canapes

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tuna Tataki with Ponzu

Lobster ravioli

Avocado and Beetroot with Quinoa (vegetarian)

Boneless Quail with Mushroom and Devil Sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Classic Beef Wellington

Halibut with Romesco Sauce

Baked Wild Mushroom and Spinach Wellington (vegetarian)

Duck Leg Confit with Puy Lentils

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Passion Fruit and Apricot Sphere (please note we need 3 day for preparation)

Pantxineta (puff pastry filled with crème Pâtissière)

Dark Chocolate Fondant with Mint Fudge Sauce

Mango Pudding with Orange Syrup

Italian Shared menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Chef 3 choice canapes

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Bruschetta topped with mozzarella, and fresh basil, and garlic

Slices of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil drizzled with balsamic glaze

Antipasto Platter - A selection of Italian cured meats, cheeses, olives, and marinated vegetables

Tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil served with basil oil

Chill grilled asparagus wrap in courgette and feta cheese

Italian Scot Egg with spicy tomato and garlic mayonnise

Melon, Tomato and prosciutto top with fresh mint and honey Glazed

Sun-blush tomato Arancini and garlic mayo and rocket salad

Piri Piri Prawn and garlic

Ham and Cheese Frittata with rocket salad and olive oil

Salmon and Prawn with a honey and soya sauce glazzed

Salted Cod Fritters in spicy tomato and mayonnaise Sauce

Sardine of herb toast top with herb oil and rocket salad

Stuffed Squid with Prawns

(V) Baked red pepper with plum tomato and garlic served with basil oil

Classic Italian Minestrone soup

Nectarines with heritage cherry tomato with burrata cheese and pistachio honey dressing and basil

Burrata cheese served with heritage Tomato, fresh Basil and olive oil

Buffalo Mozzarella served with heritage Tomato, Fresh Basil and olive oil

Boneless Quail on Peal Couscous Salad top with sherry glazed

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Spaghetti Pasta with Bolognese Sauce

Penne Pasta with Italian tomato Sauce

Chicken Thigh with all’arrabbiata Sauce with Asparagus and Potato Gnocchi

Classic Italian Sausage meatballs with Spaghetti

Salmon Top with fresh herb and cherry tomato on polenta Cake

Chicken Pomodoro with roasted new potato and Mediterranean mix vegetables

Italian style Steak with Herb Chimichurri Sauce with fondant Potato and Vegetable beans sauce

Roasted Stone bass top with artichoke and lemon butter dressing, Baby new and vegetables potato parisienne

(V)Aubergine Parmigiana with pearl couscous and broccoli

Vegetables Cianbotta, with Rice

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Classic Italian Tiramisu

Amerian blueberry pie

Panna Cotta with a berry compote

Ricotta and orange pie top with Black cherry compote

Sicilian cheesecake with Mix Berries compote

Apple and almond sliced with creme Anglaise

Chocolate tart with ginger and walnut syrup

Baked Fruit with crème anglaise

Apple pie with creme anglaise

Polenta cake with mix berries compote

Olive oil cake with black cherries compote

Local - Basic

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

(v) Welsh Rabbit tart top with wild mushroom, Port Jus and micro Cress

Chicken and Ham Croquettes

Classic Prawn Cocktail

Tomato bruschetta top with mozzarella and basil (vegetarian)

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef and ale pie with seasonal vegetable mash potato and gravy

Pan Roasted Chicken breast stuffed with sausage meat and herbs, fondant potato and seasonal vegetables

(V)Aubergine Parmigiana with pearl couscous and broccoli

Traditional one piece Lancashire hotpot

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Apple crumble

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce

Treacle tart with creme Anglaise

Eton Mess

Italian/Mediterranean - Indulge

STARTER

All inclusive

Chef choice canapes

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Aubergine parmigiana (vegetarian)

Bruschetta with Parma Ham and Rocket Salad

Antipasto platter

Filo parcel stuff with feta cheese, mushroom and spinach (vegetarian)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Linguine Tomato Pasta with Parmesan Chicken

Mediterranean Stuffed Mushrooms with herb potatoes (vegetarian)

Sea Bass with roasted fennel

Herb Crusted Salmon with Fondant Potato

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Sicilian cheesecake with Mix Berries compote

Limoncello Tiramisu

Polenta cake with mix berries compote

Panna Cotta with a berry compote

Local - Exclusive

STARTER

All inclusive

Chef choice canapes

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Boneless Quail served with wild mushroom and a rich port Jus and herb cress

Avocado and roast beetroot with herb oil (vegetarian)

Baccalà (salted cod) in a tomato and olive sauce

Crab and Avocado with Pecorino Crisps

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Classic Beef Wellington with fondant potato and red wine Jus

Rump of Lamb with puy lentils, tomato-courgette timbale, and thyme jus

Baked Wild Mushroom and Spinach Wellington (vegetarian)

Fillet of Red Snapper with cannellini beans and coconut gratin

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Passion Fruit and Apricot Sphere (please note we need 3 day for preparation)

Pantxineta (puff pastry filled with crème Pâtissière)

Limoncello Tiramisu

Coconut and honey panna cotta with lychee compote

Tradition English Christmas Menu

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Chef Selection of 3 Canapes

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Terrine of Ham Hock set in its own Juice with homemade piccalilli and Curly Endive

Smoked Chicken and apple timbale with creme fraiche served lemon dressing and micro cress

Parma Ham and melon served with micro cress

Smoked salmon and prawn served with micro cress and basil mayo dressing

Classic Prawn Cocktail

Duo Gravadlax with celeriac & fennel salad (fresh salmon beetroot and dill gravadlax served with mix apple and celeriac)

Cured meat and vegetable Antipasti

Smoked Duck breast with Orange and port marmalade served with micro cress salad

Chicken liver pate with toasted brioche and red onion marmalade

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Please select two joint one vegetarian course

Roast Turkey

Roast beef with horseradish sauce

Honey glazed ham

Roast Leg of Lamb with Mint Sauce

Roast Chicken

Roast Salmon with comfit of mix pepper

All the above is con with roast potato, swede and carrot, roasted parsnips, sprouts and chestnut, braised red cabbage, pig in blanket, Stuffing and Gravy

DESSERT

Choose 2 dishes

Brioche and Banana Bread and Butter Pudding served with Crème Anglaise

Apple Pie and Crème Anglaise

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce

Baked New York Cheese Cake

Traditional English Sherry trifle

Treacle tart with creme Anglaise

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Chef Darius's reviews

4.8

•

144 services

We had the absolute pleasure of hosting Darius for a private dinner, and the entire experience was exceptional from start to finish. Not only was the food delicious and beautifully presented, but he was genuinely lovely to have in our home. Friendly, thoughtful, and incredibly professional, Darius made the afternoon feel effortless and special. Every dish was crafted with care, and you could truly taste the passion and skill that went into the menu. Beyond the incredible food, what stood out most was the warm, welcoming energy Darius brought. It felt like having a talented friend cook for us. I can’t recommend Darius highly enough—if you’re looking for someone who delivers both amazing cuisine and a wonderful personal touch, look no further! We’ll definitely be booking again!

We had a wonderful experience with Darius K. He was professional, polite, and friendly. The food was outstanding and his attention to detail, alongside the serving and preparation help from hos daughter made the evening unforgettable. Many thanks!

So grateful for Darius’ exceptional service, dishes, and energy! He curated a personalised menu for our party and was a fantastic addition. Very much recommend his services!

Darius did a fabulous job helping to celebrate my mother’s birthday. The food was absolutely delicious and served exactly as we’d asked. Darius and his assistant left the kitchen spotless. Totally fantastic - don’t wait around just book!

Amazing experience having Darius cooking for us all week. Very friendly, very professional and loves his job. The food was extraordinary! Truly recommend

Darius cooked us an amazing meal for eight last night for my husband’s 60th birthday celebration with friends. Appetisers were served followed by an extremely high quality three course meal. Darius had provided an extensive menu from which we chose two options for each course. Everyone was very happy with their meal and whilst we all enjoyed every course we would highly recommend the Duo of lamb (one comment was “That’s the best lamb I’ve ever had”). Portion sizes were very generous. Darius and his assistant were both discreet and informative about the food and their experience, they were happy to prepare and serve dinner at the leisurely pace we wanted in a very calm and relaxed way. Everything was taken care of from laying the table to leaving the kitchen spotless. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Darius for a stress free amazing dinner party.

Darius and his assistant made it a great evening. The quality of the food was exceptional. Throughout the process Darius had been friendly, flexible, Easy to do business with, just all round excellence. Would totally recommend him ????????

Darius was incredible! He took over our kitchen with utter professionalism, produced beautiful, delicious food and served it to us with grace and efficiency. Could not have asked for more!

WOW....Chef Darius creations were ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. This was the highlight of my Birthday weekend London getaway. Highly recommend "Take a Chef" and more specifically Chef Darius!

This is the second time we have booked Darius and it won't be the last. Absolutely incredible evening and the food was amazing. Big thank you to Darius and his team.

Great experience with Darius for our mum’s birthday lunch for the whole family. Ahead of the day, he worked with us on the menu to cater for all tastes. On the day he delivered great food, both in look and taste, in a relaxed manner. We had four courses spread over an entire afternoon, timed as we wanted them. Darius and his assistant/waiter were attentive without being obtrusive; then at the end of the meal they left the kitchen spotless. We had a great time and would recommend Darius to anyone looking for a special experience in the comfort of their own home.

We had an incredible evening with family, thanks to Darius. There were 12 of us and I was able to completely relax and enjoy my family’s company, with Darius and his assistant taking care of all the food. The food was lovely and served so well - from gorgeous canapés right through to beautifully presented desserts. My kitchen was left sparkling at the end. I wouldn’t hesitate to repeat the experience - it was a night to remember! Thanks Darius!

We had the pleasure of having Chef Darius cater for a dinner party of 12, and he exceeded all expectations. The seared scallops starter was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented, setting the tone for a fantastic meal. The salmon en croute for the main course was absolutely delicious, with flaky pastry and perfectly seasoned fish that impressed all our guests. Not only was the food outstanding, but Chef Darius also brought a warm and friendly demeanour that added to the evening’s enjoyment. He worked seamlessly in our kitchen, keeping everything spotless and organized throughout. His professionalism and attention to detail made the entire experience stress-free Many thanks

Darius was amazing and we all agreed it was one of our best Christmas Day lunches.

Darius's service was exceptional! The food was absolutely delicious and the presentation was beautiful. His experience and love for food shone through in the quality of his work. I would 100% recommend using Darius and will be looking forward to booking him again in the future. He brought a lovely waiter with him who was so friendly and ensured all the food was delivered professionally and with a smile on his face. Thank you again for making our special occasion all the more enjoyable!

We had an excellent meal prepared by Darius, who was also very professional and friendly. Communication pre-dinner was great. Would certainly recommend. Thanks for a brilliant meal!

Darius was absolutely perfect! Warm and engaging, he is clearly expert in his trade as chef and also responsive to specific requests (intolerances, allergies - and a love of extra vegetables!). He had to put up with a curious young beagle wandering into his kitchen at the same time. He made our evening super special and we would, without a doubt, recommend him wholeheartedly. We are already looking forward to next time.

Lovely food, lovely man! We had a great evening and would highly recommend Darius

This was our first time to hire a private chef to cook for us at home. Darius was an excellent introduction to hiring a private chef and we will certainly be hiring him again (provided he is not already fully booked up). His food was delicious and he respected what we liked/did not like. He was flexible and adjusted the menu to our taste (including respecting my nut allergy). Darius added in a few pleasant surprises like canapés and biscuits which were delicious! Personally, I have learnt a lot about where to buy wholesome food as we were educated on the ingredients used. Darius was very punctual, discreet, considerate and left the kitchen spotless. We only wished Darius could cook for us every night. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our wedding anniversary whilst the little ones sleep. Thank you Darius.

We had the absolute pleasure of eating a wonderful meal prepared by Darius. We were only a family of 3 ( one of us with a dairy & gluten intolerance) but this was not a problem for Darius at all. All courses were adapted to suit the main menu choices; and it all tasted divine. The food was well portioned, and very flavoursome. Darius can offer a very varied menu, which will certainly suit, most/if not all food preferences. A very talented chef, who is engaging, yet unintrusive. Do not hesitate to book. We are certainly looking forward to having him cook for us again!!!