Chef Ryan Abitz

Personal Chef in Vancouver

I am a professional chef currently based in Vancouver, WA, originally from Wisconsin. After culinary school, I opened two restaurants from the ground up in my home state, gaining invaluable experience in kitchen leadership, menu development, and operations. While those years shaped my foundation, I realized that traditional restaurant politics were not aligned with the kind of culinary life I wanted to build.

That realization led me to Austin, Texas, where I spent six years immersed in its vibrant food and music scene. There, I deepened my knowledge of barbecue, launched a personal chef business, operated a food cart, and ran a meal delivery service. Austin gave me the freedom to refine my style and fully embrace a more personal and creative approach to cooking.

Since 2010, working as a personal chef has been my focus and my passion. I value the direct connection with clients, the flexibility to design custom menus, and the opportunity to create meaningful dining experiences without the constraints of a traditional restaurant setting. My goal is always to deliver food that feels thoughtful, flavorful, and tailored to each occasion.

I truly love what I do, and that enthusiasm translates into a relaxed, enjoyable, and seamless experience for the people I cook for.

For me, cooking is...

Fun and creative. There is a never ending quantity of possibilities out there.

I learned to cook at...

Formal schooling at Fox Valley Tech in Appleton, WI. Prior to that, fast paced restaurant/bar atmospheres. Can't forget mother and grandmother :)

A cooking secret...

Using salt correctly. The best dishes have enough salt to pull all the flavors out but not be too salty. Layer flavors for better rounded dishes.

My menus

Local (4 courses)

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Grilled asparagus with poached egg and truffle oil

Duck confit salad with arugula and cherry vinaigrette

Dungeness crab-stuffed mushrooms

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Creamy wild mushroom bisque

Potato-leek soup with crispy shallots

Roasted tomato and basil soup with herb croutons

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grass-fed beef tenderloin with wild mushroom risotto and red wine reduction

Herb-crusted halibut with saffron beurre blanc

Rosemary roasted lamb chops with mint yogurt sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Flourless chocolate torte with local honey drizzle

Seasonal fruit galette with vanilla crème fraîche

Cheesecake with hazelnut crust and berry coulis

Surprise (3 course)

STARTER

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Seasonal soup with artisan bread

Wild mushroom bruschetta with fresh herbs

Goat cheese tartlet with caramelized onions

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Herb-crusted chicken with wild rice pilaf

Grilled salmon with lemon-caper beurre blanc

Braised pork shoulder with creamy polenta

DESSERT

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Chocolate mousse with berry compote

Lemon tart with whipped cream

Vanilla crème brûlée

Mediterranean (4 course)

STARTER

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Charred octopus with smoked paprika aioli

Meze platter with dolmas, whipped feta, and muhammara

Spanakopita with dill yogurt dip

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lentil soup with preserved lemons and cumin

Tomato and red pepper bisque with spiced yogurt

Chickpea and harissa stew

MAIN COURSE

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Whole grilled branzino with fennel and preserved lemons

Lamb kofta with saffron rice and roasted vegetables

Moussaka with eggplant and béchamel sauce

DESSERT

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Rosewater panna cotta with pistachios

Kataifi nests filled with honeyed walnuts and mascarpone

Basque cheesecake with citrus glaze

Japanese (5 course)

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Otoro sashimi with fresh wasabi

King crab tempura with yuzu kosho aioli

Toro tartare with caviar and soy reduction

Miso-aged tofu with sesame crackers

Japanese cheese platter with pickled vegetables

Grilled mochi with soy glaze

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Miso soup with lobster and enoki mushrooms

Chawanmushi (savory egg custard) with truffle oil

Matsutake mushroom broth with yuzu peel

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

A5 Wagyu steak with truffle ponzu and asparagus

Grilled scallops with miso butter and shishito peppers

Chirashi bowl with premium sushi-grade fish

DESSERT

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Yuzu soufflé with candied ginger

Matcha mille crêpe cake

Anmitsu (Japanese dessert parfait)

Local (3 courses)

STARTER

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Seasonal roasted vegetable salad with citrus vinaigrette

Sweet corn chowder with crispy bacon

Mixed greens with candied pecans, goat cheese, and apple cider vinaigrette

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Herb-crusted roasted chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal greens

Pan-seared pork chops with honey mustard glaze and roasted root vegetables

Grilled salmon with lemon-dill butter and wild rice

DESSERT

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Berry cobbler with whipped cream

Chocolate mousse with sea salt caramel

Vanilla bean panna cotta with fresh berries

Local (5 courses)

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Oregon Dungeness crab cakes with preserved lemon aioli

Caviar and blini with crème fraîche

Seared foie gras with fig compote and brioche

Aged cheddar and candied walnuts with spiced apple compote

Artisan cheese and local honeycomb platter with port reduction

Truffle-infused brie with crackers and fresh figs

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Sweet corn chowder with pancetta

Lobster bisque with chive oil

Butternut squash soup with maple crème fraîche

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Sous vide lamb rack with heirloom carrots and parsnip purée

Wagyu ribeye with truffle mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus

Pan-seared black cod with miso glaze and forbidden rice

DESSERT

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Seasonal fruit tart with crème anglaise

Chocolate soufflé with espresso anglaise

Lemon meringue dome with basil-infused syrup

Italian (3 course)

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Caprese salad with basil pesto drizzle

Minestrone soup with Parmesan crostini

Arancini stuffed with mozzarella and served with marinara

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Rigatoni Bolognese with Parmigiano-Reggiano

Chicken Piccata with lemon-caper sauce and roasted potatoes

Eggplant Parmesan with basil marinara

DESSERT

All inclusive

Traditional Tiramisu

Affogato with vanilla gelato and espresso

Ricotta cheesecake with orange zest

Surprise (4 course)

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Lobster bisque shots with fresh herbs

Seared scallops with garlic and herb butter

Duck confit salad with cherry vinaigrette

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Velvety sweet corn soup with truffle oil

Tomato-basil bisque with grilled cheese croutons

Roasted squash soup with maple crème fraîche

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef short ribs with mashed potatoes and red wine jus

Roasted halibut with saffron risotto

Herb-crusted lamb chops with ratatouille

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Honey and almond tart with mascarpone

Flourless chocolate cake with caramel drizzle

Seasonal fruit pavlova

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Chef Ryan's reviews

4.94

•

32 services

Sarah was incredible The food and flavors were some of the best I have ever eaten. The whole experience was such a special night to remember. Thank you Chef Sarah

Thank you so much for another successful dinner. It's always great to have someone teach you along the way and discuss the dish with you. All of the courses were incredible and we are truly blessed to have you.

Ryan was wonderful from start to finish! He was responsive to menu wants and needs and offered options I was excited about. He kept in touch, was punctual the night of, and provided and experience even better than expected. The three course meal was beautiful and delicious and he explained each course when serving us. He was personable and we also felt comfortable relaxing and chatting on our own while he was cooking. I have already recommended Ryan to my sister's and will definitely call him in the future for another special occasion. Thank you Chef Ryan Abitz!

He was absolutely amazing. The food was absolutely amazing. Can't wait to book him again.

Chef Ryan is amazing. Menu options were great, and executed very well. We were wowed by every course. Chef has a cool story and mission, we very much appreciated his efforts and talent! Definitely recommend!

Chef Ryan’s food was fantastic! The experience was just what I was hoping for. Only fantastic things to say about him.