Chef Samantha Stanley

Private Chef In Dunfermline

I have loved cooking for as long as I can remember, it's the only thing I've truly known about myself. There's something amazing about sharing food and bringing people together. I've worked at some incredible places over the years, with some of the best chefs who've impressed onto me an extremely high standard whilst still nurturing the love I have for great food. I read a lot about food, constantly and love trying new things and sharing them with people.

For me, cooking is...

The greatest form of art and love

I learned to cook at...

I did study at a college for catering but I gained my best knowledge at 5* Hotel The Savoy and 1 Michelin Starred Restaurant the Peat Inn.

A cooking secret...

Expressing my love through each ingredient and showing each one care before it even comes together as a dish.

My menus

Fine Dining - 3 Courses

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Mango & Lime Prawn Ceviche, Chilli Tempura Prawns and Mango-Coriander Salsa

Venison Carpaccio, Pickled Blackberries, Parsnip Puree & Parsnip Crisps

Caramelised Goat’s Cheese, Marinated Beetroots & Candied Walnuts

Oak Smoked Salmon, Passionfruit Salmon Ceviche, Herb Blini, Creme Fraiche and Passionfruit Dressing

Smoked Beef Tartare, Crispy Egg Yolk & Truffle Aioli

Twice Baked Smoked Cheddar Souffle with Heritage Tomato Salad

Maple Glazed Pork Belly, Spiced Plum Puree, Roasted Plums & Cress

Roasted Squashes, Cashew ‘Cream Cheese’, Butternut Squash Purée & Pumpkin Seeds (Ve)

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Braised Ox Cheek with Roasted Cauliflower, Cauliflower Cheese Puree, Toasted Panko & Chard

Pumpkin Gnocchi, Roasted Squashes, Squash Crisps & Pickled Bramble

Poached Cod, Potato Rosti, Roasted Scallop, Cavalo Nero and Cep Veloute

Pancetta Wrapped Pork Fillet with Pea Puree, Braised Pork Shoulder & Crackling

Pan Roasted Chicken Breast, Smoked Potato Purée, Cabbage & Pancetta With A Vermouth Jus

Portabello Mushroom Kiev, Parsley Emulsion & Charred Gem

DESSERT

All inclusive

Strawberry & Elderflower Eton Mess

Lemon Crème Brulee with Lavender Shortbread & Raspberries

Coconut Pannacotta, Pineapple Carpaccio, Marinated Mango & Sesame Snap

Passionfruit Rum-Soaked Peaches, Raspberry Sorbet, Raspberry Gel, Passionfruit Coulis and Meringue

Dark Chocolate Delice, Cherry Compote, Chocolate & Rosemary Snap & Clotted Cream Icecream

Vanilla Bean Set Anglaise, Poached Rhubarb, Ginger Beer Gel & Gingerbread

Italian Style Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Slow Roasted Tomatoes with Pesto Mozzerella and Basil Salad (Vegetarian)

Spring Pea Risotto with Shaved Parmesan & Broad Beans

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tagliatelle Carbonara with Crispy Egg Yolk & Bacon Crumb

Traditional Lasagne with Garlic Bread

DESSERT

All inclusive

Traditional Tiramisu

Chocolate Torta Caprese with Orange Marscapone & Marinated Orange Segments

Vegetarian Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Twice Baked Smoked Cheddar Souffle with Heritage Tomato Salad (vegetarian)

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Cauliflower Cheese Gnocchi, Roasted Cauliflower & Brassicas (Vegetarian)

DESSERT

All inclusive

White Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Gel with Marinated Raspberries and Thyme Sable (Vegetarian)

Vegan Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Salt Baked Celeriac Open 'Ravioli' (Vegan)

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Roast Cauliflower 'Steak' with Olive Oil Potato Puree, Cauliflower Puree, Glazed Shallot (Vegan)

DESSERT

All inclusive

Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse with Marinated Orange Segments (Vegan)

Fine Dining 3 Courses

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Twice Baked Smoked Cheddar Souffle with Heritage Tomato Salad

Smoked Beef Tartare, Crispy Egg Yolk & Truffle Aioli

Oak Smoked Salmon, Passionfruit Salmon Ceviche, Citrus Blini, Creme Fraiche and Passionfruit Dressing

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Pancetta Wrapped Pork Fillet with Pea Puree, Braised Pork Shoulder & Crackling

Portabello Mushroom Kiev, Charred Baby Gem & Parsley Emulsion (V)

Pan Roasted Salmon with Herb Crushed New Potatoes, Razor Clam, Clam Veloute & Caviar

DESSERT

All inclusive

Compressed Rhubarb, Set Vanilla Anglaise, Gingerbeer Gel and Gingerbread Crumb

Passionfruit Rum-Soaked Peaches, Raspberry Sorbet, Raspberry Gel, Passionfruit Coulis and Meringue

Dark Chocolate Delice, Marinated Cherries, Cherry Sorbet & Chocolate Soil

Scottish Tapas

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Oak Smoked Scottish Salmon, Creme Fraiche, Herb Blini & Citrus Dressing

Caramelised Scottish Goat's Cheese, Marinated Beetroot & Candied Walnuts

Venison Carpaccio, Pickled Brambles, Parsnip Puree & Parsnip Crisps

Traditional Prawn Cocktail

Chicken Liver Pate With Red Onion Marmalade & Toasted Sourdough

Creamy Mushroom Pate With Sourdough Toast

MAIN COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Steak & Ale With Puff Pastry Discs

Roasted Scallops With Black Pudding & Apple

Cullen Skink Soup

Haddock Goujons With Tartare Sauce

Black Pudding Croquettes With Pea Dip

Irn Bru Glazed Slow Cooked Pork Ribs

Scottish Rumbledethumps

Pot Of Stovies

Haggis & Pork Sausageroll

Roast Tatties

Roast Beef In Yorkshire Puddings With Whiskey Peppercorn Sauce

Haggis Bonbons With Wholegrain Mustard Aioli

Clapshot - Mashed Tatties & Swede

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Sticky Toffee Pudding, Whiskey Soaked Raisins, Butterscotch Sauce & Vanilla Bean Icecream

Rhubarb Oaty Crumble With Vanilla Bean Custard

Classic Creme Brulee With Shortbread

Festive Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Venison Carpaccio, Pickled Blackberries, Parsnip Puree & Parsnip Crisps

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Lavender Honey Glazed Duck Breast, Duck Leg Potato Gratin, Baked Carrot and Madeira Jus

DESSERT

All inclusive

Lemon Crème Brulee with Lavender Shortbread & Raspberries

Afternoon Tea

STARTER

All inclusive

Egg Mayonaise Sandwich

Ham & Mustard Sandwich

Chicken, Bacon & Lettuce Wrap

Smoked Salmon & Cucumber Sandwich

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Cherry Scone with Clotted Cream & Jam

Cheese Scone with Salted Butter

Mixed Fruit Scone with Clotted Cream & Jam

Plain Scone with Clotted Cream & Jam

Apple & Cinnamon Scone with Clotted Cream & Jam

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Haggis & Pork Sausageroll

Haggis Bonbons with Wholegrain Mustard Mayo

Roast Beef Yorkshire Pudding with Whiskey Peppercorn Sauce

DESSERT

All inclusive

Carrot Cake

Lavender & Honey Macaroon

Lemon Meringue Pie

Dark Chocolate Brownie

Strawberry & Elderflower Pavlova

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Chef Samantha's reviews

4.83

•

55 services

Samantha was an outstanding chef and made our Christmas get together so memorable. She was extremely obliging and nothing was too much trouble. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking for amazing food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Had never booked a private chef before so was unsure what to expect. Samantha, our chef, was a pleaseure to deal with as she was helpful and kept me updated at all times. Turned up at appointed time along with her husband who served the meal and drinks - excellent service Callum!. Meal and wine flights were fabulous and enjoyed by all attending. Went into the kitchen after Sam and Callum had left and it was spotless - wouldn't have known that they had been there. I would recommend to anyone who was thinking about hiring a private chef to go for it. Thanks again Sam and Callum for making our celebrations go so well

I need to give the utmost recommendation for Chef Sam. She was so accommodating with last minute vegetarian vs chicken requests, giving our group's toddler wee little portions to try things and finding things he likes, and changing dining times or menu while on the trip due to group preferences or the propensity for "there's just one more store we need to check out before heading back". That alone would be worth a high recommendation, but Chef Sam went beyond that. She knew and planned for our bigger eaters and planned perfect proportion sizes so everyone was full but not stuffed (so there was room for dessert which I HIGHLY recommend including in your menu with her). The food was fantastic, rave reviews from everyone in the group - literally everyone even the toddler commented on how great the meal quality was and how it was better than all but the best fine dining experiences, and the fine dining meal we did rivaled even those. The presentation was beautiful, her partner bussing the table and announcing/describing dishes was fantastic and answered questions while layering on elements and history of different dishes - who knew what Cullen Skink soup was before having it? Moreover Chef Sam correctly recommended against having a full Scottish breakfast every day despite my insistence that "we're in Scotland, everyone will want to experience the food" - again harkening back to how she was able to adjust the menu on the fly when our group was satiated after just two full Scottish selections and were ready to try her other breakfast options which were fantastic. Our family has a habit of eating Eggs Benedict, and hers rivaled the best any of us ever had in the States. Finally, she managed the kitchen super well. It was spotless after meals were done, and even during while she was making food at no point did the kitchen look messy. I don't know what sorcery or witchcraft she employs to keep things so clean while cooking, but she just seemed to be the consummate professional Chef. I (speaking for all 8 of us + 1 toddler) can't recommend Chef Sam (and her husband helping with the dishes and bussing the table) enough!

Sam was absolutely wonderful. We had a private dinner for 20 for our micro wedding. The meals were amazing and the kitchen was left spotless. Highly recommend!!

Incredible dining experience, hosted by Samantha and her husband. The whole evening was amazing with beautiful dishes and excellent service. I would thoroughly recommend!

Sam was great! We loved everything she made us, and she left the kitchen spotless. Thanks for a great meal, Sam!

Sam was brilliant - she delivered a wonderful menu. The food quality was superb, it looked great and full of flavour. We would definitely use Sam again as she was easy to get on with, discreet and overall had a truly fantastic evening!

Chef Samantha Stanley was incredible. We hired for two nights and enjoyed Scottish Tapas and then a pan Asian experience. Both nights were superb and all 9 in my party were glowing in their praise for Samantha and her team. Would thoroughly recommend.

Samantha was wonderful! She was very happy to explain what she was cooking and how. She was warm and friendly and relaxed. The food was fantastic - my two highlights were the hand-picked wild garlic pesto and the magnificent Scottish loch trout with caviar beurre blanc! She brought lovely crockery with her which really showed everything off beautifully. And she was ably assisted by her husband. Our party of 10 all had an excellent evening - and for some reason I got all the congratulations and thanks! We would love to have Sam to cook for us again any time - maybe next year when we are in Scotland again!

Samantha created a wonderful menu and meal for our joint family birthday celebrations. The communication beforehand was excellent, allowing us to tweak the menu to our liking and creating something that was very much enjoyed by all 12 of us! Highly recommended!

A delicious and beautifully curated vegan menu for a special family meal. The presentation was exquisite and it exactly fulfilled our brief. Communication was superb and the kitchen was immaculate after. A meal we'll never forget

We booked Samantha for a small celebratory meal for three, and it was a great experience. Going back and forth to agree and finalise the menu couldn’t have been easier. We settled on a 4 course meal with paired wines, each of which were ideal for the corresponding course. We were also surprised by an additional final course of perfect macarons. Samantha was punctual and professional throughout, and we won’t hesitate to hire her again.

This was our first experience of having a chef cooking in our own home. It was great! Samantha and her partner were very professional, knowledgeable and the food was great. Once they left, cheeky family members commented that our kitchen has never been so clean. Definitely an experience I’d repeat.

Samantha was great! We hired her to provide a Thanksgiving meal while we had American family visiting. She did an amazing job and made our experience perfect! Highly recommend. Thank you Sam!!

Sam was brilliant, food was fantastic service was great. I cannot recommend highly enough.

Chef Samantha will assure a great evening for you and your friends. She works closely with you to present a varied an interesting menu. She stays in touch, is very flexible, and very professional. Chef Samantha's dinners are full of fresh local vegetables, her own home made butter, and main courses that make the evening very special. My guests could not have been happier.

Samantha Stanley will make any event a highlight of your travels. I requested dinner for 11. Sam worked with me seamlessly to create a specialized menu, worked around a shellfish allergy, and arrived and immediately went to work quietly and efficiently to turn out a 5-star meal, including her great hors d’oeuvres. My guests could not stop discussing the creative meal with locally grown produce, including Sam’s homemade butter. Her birthday cake ended a great evening. On a scale of 1-5, Sam is a 10, but you cannot give her what the program will not allow, but we all agree it is a 10.

Sam made my husband’s 50th birthday a lovely experience and her food was amazing! Would highly recommend

We asked Sam to cook for us (eleven people!) during 4 days. She was absolutely incredible. It is impressive the variety of delicious dishes she could prepare, her creativity, the love she put in every preparation. She made our visit to Scotland! She cooked Japanese, Thai, traditional Scottish, delicious and amazing desserts (even a 50th anniversary impressive cake)… On top she is a wonderful person. Definitely one of a kind! Top!

Chef Samantha was excellent from start to finish. From her punctual arrival at the house to the first serving of canapés, followed by starters, mains and desserts, her food was magnificent. She was professional and polite as she ensured our needs were met in every way. The beef on the main was especially exceptional. All 8 of our party loved the menu and we would highly recommend her services.