Chef Brandon Levers

Personal Chef in Raleigh

With 17 years of experience in the restaurant industry across the greater NYC area, I bring a well-rounded background in hospitality, from fine dining service and wine presentation to bartending and kitchen leadership. I am a classically trained pastry chef and have also held sous chef positions in fine dining, allowing me to combine precision, creativity, and a deep understanding of both savory and pastry disciplines.

My approach is centered on creating seamless and elevated private dining experiences where you can relax and fully enjoy your time with your guests. Together, we design a customized menu tailored to your preferences and the occasion, ensuring a unique and memorable experience.

In addition to curated dishes, I offer signature cocktails as well as thoughtful wine and beer pairings to complement each course. I can also style and decorate the table according to your chosen theme, creating a cohesive and refined atmosphere from start to finish.

My goal is to deliver not just a meal, but a complete experience—thoughtful, elegant, and effortlessly enjoyable.

For me, cooking is...

Being a chef is what I've always wanted to do since I was little. It is life, culture, and expression all in one.

I learned to cook at...

Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.

A cooking secret...

stay positive and organized.

My menus

Southern Thanksgiving

STARTER

All inclusive

Local Cheeses Breads and Spreads

Acorn Squash Soup with Cranberries and Pumpkin Seeds

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Harvest salad with champagne vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Butter Roasted Turkey

Savory Green Bean Casserole

Cornbread Dressing

Mashed Potatoes with Gravy

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

Pecan Pie with Chocolate Ice Cream

Parisian soiree

STARTER

All inclusive

Assorted French cheeses fresh local fruits

Arancini with Truffle and Parmesan (fried rice balls with spicy marinara sauce)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Seared Scallops, Cucumber, Lemon Coulis and Crispy Prosciutto and Fresh Herbs

Beet Root Deviled Eggs with chili crisp and Bacon

Acorn squash soup

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Fresh handmade fettuccini, seared shrimp in fresh pesto

Cacio e Pepe- classic handmade pasta dish of pepper and cheese

Fried Brussel Sprouts wrapped in bacon with an herb aioli

Roasted Carrot, Fried chicken and Calabrian Chili Aioli

DESSERT

All inclusive

Olive Oil Cake, caramelized figs (season permitting) whipped mascarpone

Chocolate torte with dulce de leche Ice Cream

SURPRISE!!!!!!!

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Hush Puppies with Ginger Scallion aioli

Corn Velouté with Ancho Cheddar Biscuits

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Beet and lemon cured salmon with Fresno pepper and avocado

Braised Octopus with pickled fennel, red onions, fire roasted tomatoes

Classic French Onion Soup

Duck Breast with a Pomegranate consume and leeks

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Filet mignon au poivre, polenta, savory green beans

Beet Carpaccio, Spring Onions, Daikon Radish, Carrots and Coconut Risotto

Crab Filled Ravioli in Butternut Squash Crema with Pomegranate

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Mexican Chocolate spiced cake with stout ice cream

“Lemon Meringue Pie“ dessert play on classic dish

Learn to make homemade pasta night! Chef instructed pasta making dinner

STARTER

All inclusive

Gnocchoi al Parisienne

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Fresh tomatoes and Mozzarella with olive oil and fresh herbs

Duck-mushroom filled ravioli in a brown butter sage sauce

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Homemade Fettuccine with chicken pesto

Handmade raviolis with pork filling and a brown butter sage cream sauce

DESSERT

All inclusive

Tiramisu classico

Gnocchi al dolce

Happy Birthday!🎂

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Hush Puppies with Ginger Scallion aioli

Gazpacho, dill, shallots, lemon

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Braised Octopus with pickled fennel, red onions, fire roasted tomatoes

Scallop Cevice with lemon, cucumber, spicy pepper oil

Burrata with cauliflower, sun dried tomato and pine nuts

Bacon wrapped dates with mascarpone

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Filet mignon au poivre, polenta, savory green beans

Amberjack with Chimichurri, Asparagus and Ginger Rice

Eggplant Rollatini

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

“Lemon Meringue Pie“ dessert play on classic dish

Blueberry Lavender Crème Brûlée

Salted Caramel Chocolate Budino

Southern Flavors

STARTER

All inclusive

Local cheeses and fruits, fresh crudité and seasonal baked goods buffet

Oysters Rockefeller

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Roasted Beet and Feta Salad over Baby Romaine

Mushroom Ravioli in a Brown Butter Sage sauce

Cucumber watermelon gazpacho garnished with fried leeks

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Braised NC short rib over grits and glazed carrots

Amberjack with Chimichurri, Asparagus and Ginger Rice

Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Sweet and Spicy Pepper Jam and Southern Style Biscuits

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

“Lemon Meringue Pie“ dessert play on classic dish

Blueberry Lavender Crème Brûlée

Dark Chocolate Tort with raspberry sorbet

Flight to Tokyo

STARTER

All inclusive

Pork or Veggie Dumplings with Teriyaki Glaze and Togarashi

Creamy Tonka Bean Soup

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Assorted Sushi of Rolls and Sashimi

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Yokohama style Ramen with Tofu and Bok Choy

Matcha Scallops OR Parsnips served with Ginger-Lime Rice

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Green Tea Panna Cotta with Passion Fruit and Mango

White Chocolate, Yuzu and Raspberry Cake

Dark Chocolate cake with Plum compote and Tahitian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Southern Thanksgiving Elevated

STARTER

All inclusive

Local cheeses and fruits, fresh crudité and seasonal baked goods buffet

Oysters Rockefeller

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Roasted Beet and Feta Salad over Baby Romaine

Butternut Squash Soup with fried leeks and chili oil

Mushroom Ravioli in a Brown Butter Sage sauce

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Fried Turkey Breast

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze

Cranberry Sauce with Thyme

Root Vegetable Gratin

Cornbread Dressing

Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes

DESSERT

Choose 2 dishes

Pumpkin Crème Brûlée

Apple Galette with homemade Tahitian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Pecan and Chocolate Chess Pie

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Chef Brandon's reviews

4.67

•

46 services

Would highly recommend Chef Brandon. He was the only chef that was attentive to the initial request for proposal which requested a vegan meal. Not vegetarian or hints of meat for some reason other chefs ent?? He was friendly while still being punctual, professional and discreet. The menu he put together was delicious, fresh(everything made from scratch) and thoughtful. It wasn't just salad or a low effort attempt. He was also very flexible with a menu change and I found the portions generous enough to have just the right amount of leftovers. I would hire him again for sure.

An incredibly talented Chef whose service was impeccable. The quality of food and dish preparation were top notch and outstanding. Presentation was beautiful. I highly recommend this Chef. It was a truly special experience.

Chef Brandon was early! (If you aren’t early you’re late in my book.) He was well prepared. Was kind and easy to talk too but was not intrusive. His food was well timed, wonderfully plated, and tasted out of this world! My two favorite dishes were the Coq Au Vin, and the Shrimp Consume. Highly recommend Brandon and will absolutely be looking to use him again for another special occasion… or just for a great dinner at home! He made my mother in laws 70th birthday an evening to remember.

Chef Brandon was excellent. He was very flexible in crafting a menu that incorporated one person being a vegetarian and tweaking to our desires. He was very personable and the meal and experience was excellent.

Chef Brandon was on time and had dinner prepared at exactly the time we discussed. Every course was very good but the lobster ravioli was the best we've ever had. I would definitely recommend him to others and personally request him again!

This was a gift for my parents and Brandon did not disappoint. They had nothing but rave reviews about his dinner and conversation. Thank you to Take a Chef for connecting us. Would absolutely hire Brandon again.

I am writing to express my utmost satisfaction and gratitude for the exceptional service provided by Take a Chef. From start to finish, my experience with your company has been nothing short of extraordinary. The personal chef we were matched with exceeded all expectations. Their culinary skills were exemplary, and their attention to detail was truly remarkable. Every dish they prepared was not only delicious but also beautifully presented, creating an unforgettable dining experience for myself and my guests. Furthermore, I was thoroughly impressed by the professionalism and responsiveness of your team throughout the entire process. From initial inquiries to the actual event, your staff demonstrated a commitment to excellence that is truly commendable. In summary, Take a Chef has set the bar high for personal chef services. I wholeheartedly recommend your company to anyone seeking a unique and memorable dining experience. Thank you for making our

As a couple with two very different diets it can be challenging to eat at the same place and both enjoy our meals. This was such a wonderful experience and way for us both to have something special and relax in our home with a delicious meal with zero clean up. Brandon was personable and present and immediately made us feel comfortable. He created a phenomenal menu and each dish was celebrated with care. Highly recommend Brandon, and can't wait to do this again.

Brandon was absolutely incredible. The ingredients were outstanding. He was prepared and polite. The presentation of his food was a 10 out of 10 and the quality/taste of everything was phenomenal. I highly recommend Brandon and look forward to this experience again.