Chef Rachel Erkan

Private Chef In Hilo

I am a Culinary Institute of America trained Chef and have 20+ years experience ranging from private guest ranches, convention hotels, high end restaurants, as well as tropical resorts. I specialize in farm to table cuisine and dietary restrictions. I have spent the past 2 years in the begining stages of developing a food forest on my homestead in Mountain View Hawaii. My dream is to be completely self sufficient with my culinary needs and to teach others how to obtain this lifestyle. I offer a variety of culinary experiences and create a custom experience based on my customers vision. I require a minimum of 4 days commitment prior to booking before your event because I use the freshest possible ingredients in my menus.

For me, cooking is...

My passion, a way to bring people together in a fun energetic atmosphere.

I learned to cook at...

The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York

A cooking secret...

Raw ingredients, I stay away from processed foods and only cook from scratch.

My menus

Pacific fusion

STARTER

All inclusive

Sweet potato bread with miso aioli, pickled quail eggs, and Kim chee

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Coconut shrimp with pineapple pico de Gallo and Sriracha aioli

Ahi poke bowl with sushi rice, furikake and green onion, sea vegetable

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Honey soy glazed Ahi, pineapple salsa, wasabi and lemongrass jasmine rice

DESSERT

All inclusive

Banana Lumpia with lilikoi curd

French Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Charcuterie board with local cheeses, cold cuts, pickled mustard seed and marinated vegetables

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Roasted beet and chevre salad, citrus segments, macadamia nut, preserved citrus vinaigrette

Beef Tartare, egg yolk, red onion, Dijon, gherkins, fresh herbs, crustini

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Roasted Chicken, Mediterranean hollandaise, tapenade, roasted root vegetables, roasted rosemary potatoes

DESSERT

All inclusive

Lilikoi-coconut creme brulee

Latin

STARTER

All inclusive

Ahi/prawn ceviche with tostones

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Ulu/Jackfruit/Rabbit/Chicken/Beef tamale with refried bean dip, corn salsa, pineapple salsa

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Citrus Pan seared fresh catch Casada, Black Bean, Rice, Tomato & Avocado Salad, Roasted Plantain

DESSERT

All inclusive

Coconut Lilikoi Tres Leches

Christmas 2024

STARTER

All inclusive

Parmesan Crusted Brussel Sprouts

Bacon Wrapped Dates Spiced Candied Nuts

Spiced Candied Nuts

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Spinach-Artichoke Puff Pastry Christmas Tree Skewers with Cheese star

Maple Cranberry Baked Brie Pastry

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pineapple Ginger Beer Ham- Roasted local vegetable and potatoes

Vegan Shepherd's Pie- Lentils, squash, mushrooms

DESSERT

All inclusive

Fudge Chocolate Covered peanut butter balls Gingersnap Cookies Triple Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Macnut honey brittle Pineapple and cocoa nib pralines

Brunch

STARTER

All inclusive

Seasonal Fruit Platter with yogurt, homemade granola and fruit curd

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Braised Pork Belly with Mulberry/Blackberry Jam, Leek Confit & Quail Eggs

Avocado Toast with local micro greens, seasonal veg & poached eggs

Shrimp & Grits

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Eggs Benedict

Sourdough quiche with local cheese and Vegetables

Chilaquiles with Temerity Acres Over Easy Egg, Ranchero Sauce, Pico de Gallo, Cotija Cheese, Tortilla Chips

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Bananas Foster French Toast with Candied Macadamia Nuts and Mascarpone whipped cream

Macadamia Nut Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Blueberry and Lemon Scones

Sourdough Banana Bread with Lilikoi Curd

Sushi

STARTER

All inclusive

Miso soup, tofu, green onion

Seaweed salad

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Ahi poke bowl with sushi rice, furikake and green onion, sea asparagus

MAIN COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Spicy tuna roll/hand roll

Shrimp, avocado cucumber roll/hand roll

Asparagus roll/hand roll

Sweet potato roll/hand roll

Ahi sashimi

Tako

Quail Egg

Smoked salmon sashimi

DESSERT

All inclusive

Banana Lumpia with lilikoi curd

Green tea ice cream

Thanksgiving

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Zucchini Corn Bread

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Bites Puff Pastry | Honey | Rosemary

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Roasted Kabocha Squash Bisque Coconut Cream | Crispy Lentils

Roasted Yellow Beet and Kale Salad Preserved Calamansi Vinaigrette | Shaved Parmesan | Toasted Seeds

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Honey Orange Glazed Whole Chicken Herb Au Jus

Sweet Potato Casserole Brown Sugar Pecan Crumble

Green Bean Salad Garlic | Crispy Onions

Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts

DESSERT

All inclusive

Cranberry Cheese Cake Graham Cracker Crust

Pumpkin Pie Marscapone Whipped Cream

Mediterranean Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Garden gazpacho with green salad

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Big Island prawn scampi with garlic toast

Falafel, hummus, babaganoosh, Tzaziki, feta, pickled red onions, cucumber namasu, pita

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Family Style Italian salt baked whole fresh catch, polenta, seasonal vegetable, Salmoriglio

DESSERT

All inclusive

Hawaiian style Baklava

Pacific fusion

STARTER

All inclusive

Sweet potato bread with miso aioli, pickled quail eggs, and Kim chee

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Coconut shrimp with pineapple pico de Gallo and Sriracha aioli

Ahi poke bowl with sushi rice, furikake and green onion, sea vegetable

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Honey soy glazed Ahi, pineapple salsa, wasabi and lemongrass jasmine rice

DESSERT

All inclusive

Banana Lumpia with lilikoi curd

French Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Charcuterie board with local cheeses, cold cuts, pickled mustard seed and marinated vegetables

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Roasted beet and chevre salad, citrus segments, macadamia nut, preserved citrus vinaigrette

Beef Tartare, egg yolk, red onion, Dijon, gherkins, fresh herbs, crustini

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Roasted Chicken, Mediterranean hollandaise, tapenade, roasted root vegetables, roasted rosemary potatoes

DESSERT

All inclusive

Lilikoi-coconut creme brulee

Latin

STARTER

All inclusive

Ahi/prawn ceviche with tostones

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Ulu/Jackfruit/Rabbit/Chicken/Beef tamale with refried bean dip, corn salsa, pineapple salsa

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Citrus Pan seared fresh catch Casada, Black Bean, Rice, Tomato & Avocado Salad, Roasted Plantain

DESSERT

All inclusive

Coconut Lilikoi Tres Leches

Christmas 2024

STARTER

All inclusive

Parmesan Crusted Brussel Sprouts

Bacon Wrapped Dates Spiced Candied Nuts

Spiced Candied Nuts

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Spinach-Artichoke Puff Pastry Christmas Tree Skewers with Cheese star

Maple Cranberry Baked Brie Pastry

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pineapple Ginger Beer Ham- Roasted local vegetable and potatoes

Vegan Shepherd's Pie- Lentils, squash, mushrooms

DESSERT

All inclusive

Fudge Chocolate Covered peanut butter balls Gingersnap Cookies Triple Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Macnut honey brittle Pineapple and cocoa nib pralines

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Chef Rachel's reviews

4.94

•

25 services

Chef Rachel was WONDERFUL! We had the most special evening - laid back, delicious, and in good company. Rachel herself is very talented, punctual, and a talented chef with much knowledge about the land and its incredible local food options. Thank you so much, I hope to be in touch!

Rachel was incredible. She was professional, engaging and very knowledgeable. We very much enjoyed our interactions with her throughout the evening. Highly recommended. Much of the food served was from her own homestead.

Unfortunately we had a member of our party test positive for Covid and chef Rachel couldn’t cook in person. She still delivered the food and gave special instructions for reheating the food. The presentation was better than expected and her communication was outstanding. Would definitely recommend her!

Incredible food and presentation with local emphasis.

Rachel was fantastic!! She cooked for my new husband and I after our elopement. All dishes were very good and we were talking about how delicious the short ribs were for days afterward. She was very communicative and accommodating to allergies and special requests (we asked for a small wedding cake along with our meal). 10/10, 5 stars, 2 thumbs up!!

Rachel did an incredible job for a family celebration. Her menu options, service, food quality, and more were all excellent. She was also very educational in answering our questions. Highly recommend for a special experience!