Chef John Phelps

Personal Chef in Freeport

I am an award winning chef with 30 years experience in the culinary field. I have worked hundreds of kitchens being a chef for hire in Denver before moving to the New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. I worked my way across the Gulf Coast finally ending up here in Santa Rosa Beach. I am currently working at The Bay preparing the food for guests to enjoy and in my free time I love to cook for friends.

For me, cooking is...

For me cooking is important. It's important the food looks amazing. It's important the food tastes amazing. It's important to love the meal.

I learned to cook at...

I learned to cook from Chef Salinda Witervongle in Denver. 2 years of on the job training I could never pay for. But really you never stop learning

A cooking secret...

My secret is no secret at all. I make great food that people want to eat.

My menus

Locally Inspired Indulge

STARTER

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Avacado, Mango and Crab Cake Salad with Florida Citrus Dressing

FIRST COURSE

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Handmade Lobster Ravioli with Lemon Ricotta and Cajun Ya-Ya Cream Sauce with Fresh Baked Bread

MAIN COURSE

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Pan Seared Red Snapper with Polenta Cake Spinach and Smoked Tomato Coulis

DESSERT

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Key Lime Tiramisu

FROM THE SEA BASIC

STARTER

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Avocado, Mango, Blood Orange and Pomegranate Citrus Salad

FIRST COURSE

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Handmade Lobster Ravioli in Cajun Ya-Ya sauce

MAIN COURSE

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Pan Seared Red Snapper with Polenta Cake Spinach and Smoked Tomato Coulis

DESSERT

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Key Lime Pie

MEDITERRANEAN + FRENCH + ITALIAN

STARTER

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Traditional Bruschetta with Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil

Classic Caprese Salad

Bruschetta with Peppers and Gorgonzola

FIRST COURSE

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Spaghetti with Marinara (fresh pasta & sauce)

Classic Carbonara with Fresh Pasta and Crisp Pancetta

Goat Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Romesco

MAIN COURSE

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Fettuccine Marinara with Handmade Pasta & 12-hour Sauce

Chicken Cacciatore

Eggplant Rollotini (stuffed with ricotta, parmesan & basil)

DESSERT

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Classic Baklava

Crème Brûlée, Vanilla Bean

Panna Cotta

Italian Indulgence

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Grilled asparagus Salad with Tomato, Burrata and Basil with Aged Balsamic Reduction

FIRST COURSE

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Saffron Fettuccine with Butter Poached Lobster in Lemon Cream Sauce

MAIN COURSE

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Revearse Pan Seared Filet Mignon with Red Wine Demi Glaze, Potato Croquet, Balsamic Mushrooms and Tomatoes

DESSERT

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Strawberry Tiramisu with Kalua and Baileys

Exclusive Local Experience

STARTER

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Baby Arugula Salad with Pan Seared Scallops and Grilled Peach

FIRST COURSE

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Goat Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Romesco and Blacked Gulf Shrimp

MAIN COURSE

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Reverse Pan-Seared Filet Mignon with Saffron Poached Lobster Tail in Béarnaise Sauce 🥩🦞

Snapper Wellington with Ginger Beurre Blanc, Fingerling Potatoes & Grilled Asparagus 🐟🌿

DESSERT

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Fallen Chocolate Souffle with Marscapone Whipped Cream and Florida Berries

Strawberry Tiramisu with Kalua and Baileys

Mediterranean Delight II

STARTER

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Burrata with Tomato, Basil & Prosciutto

Grilled Asparagus Salad with Tomato, Burrata & Aged Balsamic

Marinated Asparagus, Fig, Goat Cheese & Heirloom Tomato Salad

FIRST COURSE

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Handmade Ricotta & Goat Cheese Ravioli in Fig & Brown Butter Sauce

Caprese Rigatoni

MAIN COURSE

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Pan Seared Red Snapper with Polenta Cake, Spinach & Tomato Coulis

Mediterranean Filet Mignon with Spinach, Feta & Sun-dried Tomato Pesto

DESSERT

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Strawberry Tiramisu with Prosecco Ice Cream

Baklava Cheesecake

Low Country Boil

STARTER

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Grilled Watermelon Salad Avocado and Lime Vinaigrette

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese

Cajun Dirty Rice with Chorizo

MAIN COURSE

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Low Country Boil with Gulf Shrimp, Crab, Loster and Mussels

DESSERT

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Key Lime Pie

King Cake Bread Pudding with whiskey caramel

Local Favorites

STARTER

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Avocado, Mango and Crab Cake Salad with Florida Citrus Dressing

FIRST COURSE

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Handmade Lobster Ravioli in Cajun Ya-Ya sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan Seared Red Snapper with Polenta Cake Spinach and Smoked Tomato Coulis

DESSERT

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Strawberry Tiramisu

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Chef John's reviews

4.91

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164 services

Chef John made our vacation! This is our first experience using a chef for an entire week of vacation for our growing family, and it did not disappoint! John created an incredible menu of breakfasts, lunch and dinners. He was flexible when we asked to have meals at a certain time to coincide with our grandchildren’s naps and bedtimes. He was sensitive to certain food sensitivities and quickly dialed into our preferences. He engaged with everyone and we enjoyed learning his approach to creating wonderful meals. We all agreed, having Chef John was the best experience of our vacation. Well Done!!!

Chef John was a joy to work with. He put together a menu that addressed food allergies. As a special occasion he went out of his way to make the experience a special one. Highly recommend!

John was amazing. Each dish was introduced with an explanation and beautiful presentation and was more delicious than it looked. He was absolutely the THE BEST!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary by eating one of the best meals we’ve ever had, by Chef John. He was on time, kind, pleasant, and the food was AMAZING. I highly highly recommend.

Great service.

Chef John was very professional and accommodating. We appreciated his fact of the matter demeanor. He has the perfect balance of personability and discretion. My boss was absolutely satisfied as were we! I will definitely consider using this services to gift someone in the future. We also appreciate the menu accommodations as well as scheduling. We realize booking a week before and paying 3-4 days before is kind of sketchy but it was a last minute decision and it truly worked out perfect for us!! Thank you take a chef!! ????????????

Chef John Phelps was on time, on top of our needs, prepared great food, and allowed the party to flow. Great experience for 26 on Pensacola Beach

Speechless. Every single day we were speechless. This was our first time having a chef on vacation and we will never vacation differently. We were two families with combined 8 kids. The weight off of us to not have to worry about going to the grocery store, planning a menu, cooking, CLEANING UP.. it was amazing. Chef John is extremely talented and has a true gift. Every single dish was 10 STARS even from the kiddos!

Chef John Phelps was absolutely phenomenal. He arrived early, brought everything he needed, and was impeccably prepared. Every detail we had discussed beforehand was perfectly executed, and he went above and beyond to make the experience seamless and enjoyable for my entire family. Chef John prepared two incredible meals for us. For lunch, he made a taco spread that was out of this world—with shrimp, chicken, and steak options, all served with handmade chips and tortillas. He didn’t miss a single topping—salsa, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, cheese, onions—you name it, it was there. He even paired it with fresh fruit, and everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Dinner was a true fine-dining experience. We started with his signature Florida Citrus Salad topped with perfectly blackened shrimp, chopped avocado, and pomegranate—light, refreshing, and full of flavor. Then came an appetizer of rich, creamy carbonara with handmade noodles and crisp pancetta. For the main course, he served a reverse-seared filet mignon with saffron-poached lobster tail, asparagus, and a decadent béarnaise sauce. It was hands down the best steak I’ve ever had. The meal ended with a rich chocolate dessert paired with ice cream, which was the perfect sweet finish. Chef John, thank you for an incredible experience! It was truly unforgettable, and I can’t wait to hire you again. Highly, highly recommend!

The food was nothing short of extraordinary. It began with vibrant, fresh flavors—a bright heirloom tomato salad paired with creamy mozzarella that set the tone for the unforgettable meal ahead. The handmade bread was warm and comforting, and the house-made noodles—served with both rich marinara and velvety Alfredo—were absolutely divine. Every dish was crafted with such intention and heart that you could taste the love in every bite. And then the filet mignon—perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and seasoned to absolute perfection. Just when we thought it couldn’t get better, dessert arrived: a stunning strawberry tiramisu that was both light and indulgent, and truly to die for. Chef John and his incredible assistant Jess served all 20 of us—family—with such grace and care. We didn’t have to do a thing. They handled every detail so we could be fully present with each other. We ate it today, and it already feels like a cherished memory. If you’re looking for a private chef who delivers not just a meal, but a heartfelt, five-star experience, Chef John is simply the best. We are beyond grateful.

Chef Jon Phelps created an amazing menu and we couldn’t be happier with the experience.

Absolutely fantastic experience! The team was professional, the food was top-notch, and every detail was handled flawlessly. Five stars all the way! Can’t wait to use Chef John next time in Florida!

John was very professional and the food was delicious. I would highly recommend him.

Chef John and his assistants served my friends and our families during a weekend getaway. They were very kind, professional and punctual. He had great communication leading up to the event and the food was absolutely delicious. One dinner included a 4 course meal for my husband's birthday and everyone was highly impressed with the presentation , explanation, and taste of each single dish. I would highly recommend him!

Wow! Chef John was an exceptional chef and very professional. He arrived on-time, brought all the supplies, completed the set-up and service perfectly. It was so, so good! I would absolutely use him again in the future! We had 15 girls and 0 complaints. Thank you Chef John!!

We really enjoyed ourselves and the chef was terrific and polite

Chef John prepared an amazing and delicious meal for our family reunion. The food was outstanding and the presentation was beautiful. Chef John did a wonderful job of catering to the children by allowing them to help prepare dessert and by tweaking menu items for their tastes. Every aspect of the evening was excellent. Highly recommend!

We celebrated an incredible milestone in Panama City Beach: a 70th Wedding Anniversary! Chef John and his wife did a fantastic job with this very special event. Chef was extremely communicative ahead of the event as planning was underway. He sourced some incredible ingredients, including fish caught fresh that very morning! The dinner was extraordinary. We have quite a few foodies in the group, so our expectations were high — and he exceeded them! Chef John brought everything he needed, kept the kitchen clean & organized, and served the dinner at the table. It was everything we wanted from a special meal prepared by a private chef. Thank you, Chef!!

Chef John Phelps was very attentive and creative in the meal prep. He was punctual and communicated well. The food was amazing! He was able to accommodate the many preferences of the group. The presentation was wonderful and all of the food was very flavorful. I would recommend Chef John for your next private meal event.

Great experience!