Chef Erin Hawkins

Personal Chef in Stamford

I am a as they say, home-grown chef. I trained under my parents and aunts without even realizing I was in school. I wanted to go to culinary school so very badly and instead was veered in a different direction by my mother. I still came full circle back into cooking each time I thought I had left. It's in my blood to cook and the kitchen is my safe place. I am not afraid to attempt new things and put my twist on classical dishes. I am a gardener as well. My father and I have gardens; actually, all of my aunts and uncles have gardens as well. I am the youngest of three and the only girl. I was born in Connecticut and raised in Stamford where I migrated back to after years in the south. I work instinctively up to and inside of the kitchen along with being deliberately precise. I don't have a favorite dish that I do make. I enjoy creating and recreating to where there are no bounds.

For me, cooking is...

My Zen. It keeps me balanced & calm. If my energy is off I know I cannot cook so I make sure to keep my energy up & to stay in a state of happiness.

I learned to cook at...

I started cooking when I was 7. I learned from my parents & my aunts. They are the foundation for me being so in love with what I can do with food.

A cooking secret...

Showing love and gratitude in each step; from grocery shopping & prepping to enjoying the scents of the food, all of the way to the finished product.

My menus

Kosher

STARTER

All inclusive

Challah

Moroccan Soup

White Chicken Chili

Corn and Potato Soup

Minestrone Lentil Soup

Matzo Ball Soup

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Chicken Meatballs in Saffron Tomato Sauce

Creamed Butternut Squash Polenta

Marinated Vegetable Salad

Smoked Salmon, Olive and Wild Rice Salad

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Butternut Squash Risotto

Sautéed Chicken w/Leeks, Carrots, Parsnips & Mushrooms

Lemon Oregano Baked Salmon

Apple Cider Beef Stew

Chimichurri Cod w/Potatoes & Squash

Zatar Chicken w/Cauliflower & Chickpeas

Pesto Chicken Feta Gnocchi

Spinach & Feta Cannelloni

Chicken Marbella

Roasted Brussels w/Balsamic Vinegar & Honey

Sautéed Asparagus & Peas

Cauliflower Purée w/Thyme

DESSERT

All inclusive

Chocolate Toffee Matzo Crack

Coconut Macaroons

Chocolate Chip Meringues

Flourless Chocolate Cake w/Meringue

Sushi

STARTER

All inclusive

Veggie Spring Rolls

Spicy Crab Roll

Shrimp Tempura Roll

Shaggy Dog Roll (Shrimp, Crab, Avocado, Spicy Mayo)

Tempura Salmon Roll

Jalapeño Sushi Roll

New York Strip & Tempura Fried Shrimp Roll

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Cucumber Salad

Macadamia Spicy Tuna Roll

Salmon, Avocado, Scallions & Cream Cheese Topped w/Sweet Plantain (Roll)

Rainbow Roll Acevichado

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

DESSERT

All inclusive

Dessert Sushi

Sweet Potato Sushi Rolls

Asian Donuts

Event - Latin American

STARTER

All inclusive

Albondigas

Shrimp and Fish Ceviche

Seared Tuna and Avocado Tostado

Prosciutto Wrapped Sweet Plantains

Mango and Avocado Beef Tartare

Colombian Arepas with a jus dipping sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Encuritido

Cuban Mojo Chicken Lollipops

Brazilian Shrimp and Fish Stew

Vegan Ajiaco

Chaufa Rice

Chile Pebre

Peruvian Bean Salad

Mexican Harvest Salad

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Pollo a la Brasa (Roasted Chicken)

Carne con Papas (Beef with Potatoes)

Pescado Encocado

Pan Fried Flounder in Garlic Sauce

Papa la Huancaina

White Rice with Pepper and Onion Relish

Green Bean Salad with Cilantro-Lime Dressing

DESSERT

All inclusive

Tres Leches

Flan

Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies

Brazilian Brigadeiro (Fudge Balls)

Event - French

STARTER

All inclusive

Charcuterie Board

Artichoke Puff Pastry Tart

French Cake Sale

Baked Camembert with Honey and Rosemary, Served with Toasted Baguette Slices

Salmon Tartare

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Clams Oreganata

Ratatouille. Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Eggplant, Tomato and Basil in a Blended Tomato Sauce

Alsatian Cheese Tart

Lyonnaise salad

Coquilles St. Jacques

Mini Croque Monsieur

Nicoise Salad

French Onion Soup

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

French Onion Stuffed Meatloaf au Gratin

Piperade

Quenelles with a Lobster Sauce

Sole Meunière

Beef Bourguignon

Chicken Cassoulet

Haricot Vert with Caramelized Onions

Parmentier potatoes with rosemary and garlic

Bouillabaisse

DESSERT

All inclusive

Prosecco Poached Peaches with Whipped Feta and Pistachios

Brown Butter Financiers

Citrus Cheesecake

Crème Brûlée French Toast Served with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Chocolate Pots de Crème Served with Cardamom Whipped Cream

Event - Asian

STARTER

All inclusive

Chicken Pad Thai in Lettuce Cups

Asian Style Meatballs

Veggie Spring Rolls

Jalapeño Sushi Roll

Edamame with Sweet and Salty Soy Sauce

Shrimp Bao

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Cucumber Salad

Curried Thai Shrimp Soup with Lemongrass

Mongolian Beef

Korean Fried Cauliflower

Macadamia Spicy Tuna Roll

BBQ Brussels

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Toasted Fried Rice (w/vegetables and or meat)

Ginger Sesame Noodles with Caramelized Mushrooms

Sweet and Sticky Crispy Beef

Ginger Soy Salmon

Mongolian Chicken

Vegan (Eggplant) Unagi

Braised Bok Choy

Vegetable Stir Fry

DESSERT

All inclusive

Asian Donuts

Thai Tea Crème Brûlée

Butter Mochi Cake

Coconut Mango Sweet Sticky Rice

Chocolate Wonton Pillows

Event Menu - Celiac

STARTER

All inclusive

Hummus Vegetable Wrap

Avocado Tuna Salad

Tuna Tartare w/Avocado, Ginger and Sesame

Lamb Meatball Pops w/Mint Jelly

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Zucchini Lasagna Roll Ups

Grilled Chicken and Veggie Bowls

Zucchini Tart

Spring Roll Medley (Vegetable, Marinated Beef, Salmon)

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Chicken Enchiladas

Lasagna

French Onion Stuffed Meatloaf au Gratin

Moroccan Style Oven Baked Salmon w/Cauliflower and Carrot Salad

Chicken Alfredo Pasta w/Broccoli

DESSERT

All inclusive

Flourless Brownies

Dutch Apple Pie

Bood Orange Olive Oil Chocolate Cake

Citrus Cheesecake

Event Menu - Shellfish Allergy

STARTER

All inclusive

BBQ Cilantro Meatballs w/Parmesan Crisp Shreds

Mongolian Beef Skewers

Tri-Colored Carrot Sesame Salad w/Miso Vinaigrette

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Cajun Salmon Stew w/Vegetables and a Side of Rice

Pesto Chicken Orzo Salad

Mini Beef Wellington w/Creamy Horseradish Sauce

Salmon and Peach Burrata Salad

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Miso Glazed Seabass Skewers

Crispy Honey Chipotle Salmon w/Herbed Lemon Orzo

Chicken and Bok Choy Turmeric Stir Fry

Garlic Mushroom Chicken Sauce w/Sundried Tomatoes Over Linguini

Spiced Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder Over Creamy Cauliflower and Tri-Colored Carrots

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

DESSERT

All inclusive

Angel Cake Topped w/Fresh Cinnamon Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries

Chocolate Lava Cake w/Fresh Cardamom Whipped Cream and Mint

Not Your New York Style Cheesecake

Pecan Bar w/Shortbread Crust and Caramel Sauce

Event Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Strawberry and Kale Chicken Salad w/Sliced Strawberries, Kale Slaw and Poppyseed Dressing

Vegetable Cobb Salad w/Asparagus, Artichoke Quarters, Avocado, Cucumber, Radish, Dill, Mint and Lemon-Lime Vinaigrette

Spring Mixer w/Tomato, Red Onion, Sunflower Seeds and Feta Cheese

Kale Quinoa Salad Bowl w/Chopped Kale, Quinoa, Avocado, Chickpeas, Chopped Beets, Sliced Almonds in a Toasted Walnut Vinaigrette

Smoked Black Bean Soup w/Frisee, Pickled Onion and Avocado Salsa

Salmon Roll w/Kale, Parsnip, Mint w/a Spicy Almond Dipping Sauce

Rainbow Spring Roll w/Red, Yellow, Orange Bell Peppers, Purple Cabbage, Cilantro, Mint w/a Peanut Dipping Sauce

Garlic Chicken Roll w/Quinoa, Cucumber, Romaine and Avocado Cilantro Sauce

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Shrimp Orzo Salad w/Red Onion, Cucumber, Dill, Parsley and Lime Pesto

Deconstructed Carne Asada Tacos

Seafood Cobbler

Salmon Meatballs. Flavors to choose from: Sweet Smoked BBQ / Cilantro Chili w/Thai Sauce / Dill and Lemon w/Red Onion and Caper White Wine Sauce / Cajin Terragon w/Cucumber Dill

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Chicken Cobbler

Maple Dijon Salmon Skewers over Wild Rice Pilaf and Asparagus

Seafood Gumbo w/Shrimp, Crawfish, Crab and Lobster. Served w/Rice

Seafood Boil w/Crab Legs, Shrimp, Lobster, Clams, Oysters, Mussels, Potatoes, Corn and Sauce. Option to omit items

Braised Beef Short Ribs, Parsnip Puree and Brocolini

Spinach Stuffed Chicken w/Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce and Wild Rice Pilaf

DESSERT

All inclusive

Aunt Edna's Pound Cake

Red Velvet Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting

Banana Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

Candied Bacon Lemon Cheesecake

Sweet Potatoe Cheesecake

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Chef Erin's reviews

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2 services

Chef Erin was a delight in every way: her food was inventive and full of love; she was pleasant, punctual, helpful; and was also just fun to be around. I had wanted to do something different for my wife for Valentine's Day, and hiring a private chef seemed like a fun idea. Take a Chef made it pretty easy to set up a date, time, menu preference, and to locate the right chef for the job. Thank you Chef Erin for making it an unforgettable experience, and thanks Take a Chef for helping facilitate it!