Chef Charlene Sherman

Private Chef In Youngstown

In addition to holding various roles in the culinary world, I have also appeared on several cooking shows, including Hell’s Kitchen on Fox. My love of farm-to-table dishes that evoke comfort grew organically during my Wyoming childhood. I have worked on a guest ranch and at an award-winning restaurant during my 10-plus years in the industry. Starting off as a pastry chef I made the transition to savory and fell in love.

For me, cooking is...

For me, cooking is an art. It’s an expression of love. I love making a dish that taps into a core memory.

I learned to cook at...

I originally went to culinary school for baking and pastry and moved into savory on the job.

A cooking secret...

If it’s savory it needs garlic and booze, if it’s sweet it needs vanilla and booze.

My menus

Mediterranean

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Spinach and artichoke phyllo bites

Artichoke dip with crudités and corn tortilla chips

Hummus and crudite with naan

Flatbreads

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Hearts of palm salad

Caesar salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tarragon infused Butter poached crab over whipped mashed potatoes with blistered asparagus

Beef/Chicken/ Veggie kabobs with tzatziki sauce with couscous

Branzini with caper butter served with papas bravas in a Smokey aioli

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Lemon tart with fresh berries

Cheesecake with salted caramel or strawberry reduction

Baklava and fruit

Surf and turf

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Steamed little neck clams in white wine and garlic served with crostini

Lump meat Crab cakes with remoulade

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Caesar salad

Wedge Salad with Gorgonzola

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

60 day dry aged filet with garlic confit and herb Lardon compound butter finished with a demi glaze over mashed potatoes with blistered asparagus

New York strip steak with Mac and cheese and broccolini

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cheesecake with caramel sauce

Molten lava cake with berries

Family style Italian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Meatballs with sun dried tomato Marinara finished Parmesan and basil

Bruschetta with burrata and balsamic reduction

Breaded calamari with marinara

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Caesar salad

Insalata ricotta with artichoke hearts and tomato pesto

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef and sausage ragu over Pappardelle

Beef Braciole with oven roasted tomatoes and marinara over homemade pasta

Angel hair pasta with pesto topped with chicken mushroom and artichoke hearts

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu

Cannoli

Local flavors

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Andouille sausage over stone fruit hash

Sweet and spicy smoked salmon over avocado mousse on crostini

Stuffed artichoke heart

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Hearts of palm salad

Insalata ricotta with artichoke hearts and tomato pesto

Chopped salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Panko crusted chicken breast cutlet with prosciutto and sundried tomato pesto finished with burrata served over Quattro cheese risotto

Bacon wrapped filet topped with crab in a garlic confit and herb Lardon compound butter over garlic mashed potatoes served with asparagus and finished hollandaise sauce

Branzini with caper butter served with papas bravas in a Smokey aioli

Spiced apple and bourbon glazed porterhouse pork chop over root vegetables finished in brown butter

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Lemon tart with fresh berries

Chocolate brownie a la mode

Chocolate mousse with berries and Chantilly cream

Mediterranean menu

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

OLIVE TAPENADE STUFFED DATES WITH TOASTED PINE NUTS

Mezze Platter

Dolmas

Baba ghanoush

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Hearts of palm salad

Chopped Mediterranean salad with vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Vegan Mushroom Shawarma Recipe With Tahini

Stuffed peppers with couscous salad

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Baklava and fruit

Vegan chocolate mousse

Italian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Acorn squash with hot honey and pepitas

Andouille sausage over stone fruit hash

Melon trio with prosciutto and mozzarella finished with balsamic reduction

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Minestrone

Melon trio with prosciutto and mozzarella finished with honey vinegarette

Ensalata ricotta with sundried tomatoes, pesto and artichoke hearts

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Porterhouse porkchop pan seared over Israeli couscous and creamy mushroom and Parmesan garlic sauce

Quattro fromage risotto topped with butter poached shrimp and finished with pea shoot micro greens

Lobster ravioli in a creamy squash sauce with Arugala microgreens

Oven roasted chicken over a root veggie hash with a brown butter Sage sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu

Cheesecake with salted caramel or strawberry reduction

Asian Inspired

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Potstickers

Assorted sushi rolls with wasabi and ginger

Seared ahi tuna with avocado

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Spicy Szechuan Eggplant

Sunomono Seaweed and cucumber salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Kung Pao Shrimp with rice

General Tso Chicken Over white rice

DESSERT

All inclusive

Fried bananas

Premium Surf and Turf

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Tuna tartar

Coquilles St. Jacques

Blue crab beignets with dill crema

Potato stacks with creme fraise and caviar with microgreens

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Wedge Salad with Gorgonzola

Roasted Beets and blue cheese on argula and spinach salad finished with citrus vinaigrette

Caesar salad

French onion soup

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

60 day dry aged filet with crab Oscar over garlic mashed potatoes served with asparagus

Tomahawk steak with radish and potato hash topped with sautéed mushrooms finished with a red pepper chimmichurri

Beef Wellington over mashed potato with petit glazed carrots

Cowboy ribeye with lobster Mac n cheese

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Crème brûlée

Cheesecake with salted caramel or strawberry reduction

Tiramisu

Mediterranean

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Spinach and artichoke phyllo bites

Artichoke dip with crudités and corn tortilla chips

Hummus and crudite with naan

Flatbreads

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Hearts of palm salad

Caesar salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tarragon infused Butter poached crab over whipped mashed potatoes with blistered asparagus

Beef/Chicken/ Veggie kabobs with tzatziki sauce with couscous

Branzini with caper butter served with papas bravas in a Smokey aioli

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Lemon tart with fresh berries

Cheesecake with salted caramel or strawberry reduction

Baklava and fruit

Surf and turf

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Steamed little neck clams in white wine and garlic served with crostini

Lump meat Crab cakes with remoulade

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Caesar salad

Wedge Salad with Gorgonzola

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

60 day dry aged filet with garlic confit and herb Lardon compound butter finished with a demi glaze over mashed potatoes with blistered asparagus

New York strip steak with Mac and cheese and broccolini

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cheesecake with caramel sauce

Molten lava cake with berries

Family style Italian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Meatballs with sun dried tomato Marinara finished Parmesan and basil

Bruschetta with burrata and balsamic reduction

Breaded calamari with marinara

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Caesar salad

Insalata ricotta with artichoke hearts and tomato pesto

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef and sausage ragu over Pappardelle

Beef Braciole with oven roasted tomatoes and marinara over homemade pasta

Angel hair pasta with pesto topped with chicken mushroom and artichoke hearts

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu

Cannoli

Local flavors

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Andouille sausage over stone fruit hash

Sweet and spicy smoked salmon over avocado mousse on crostini

Stuffed artichoke heart

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Hearts of palm salad

Insalata ricotta with artichoke hearts and tomato pesto

Chopped salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Panko crusted chicken breast cutlet with prosciutto and sundried tomato pesto finished with burrata served over Quattro cheese risotto

Bacon wrapped filet topped with crab in a garlic confit and herb Lardon compound butter over garlic mashed potatoes served with asparagus and finished hollandaise sauce

Branzini with caper butter served with papas bravas in a Smokey aioli

Spiced apple and bourbon glazed porterhouse pork chop over root vegetables finished in brown butter

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Lemon tart with fresh berries

Chocolate brownie a la mode

Chocolate mousse with berries and Chantilly cream

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Chef Charlene's reviews

4.63

•

92 services

Chef says entertaining, informative and made an incredible meal that impressed our guests. Thank you!

The gift certificate from our son and his family was a wonderful surprise. After reviewing some of the options we decided on the Mediterranean Inspired; and Chef Charlene created an amazing experience. We have a counter that overlooks the kitchen and we interacted and watched the magic she put together. Our main dish and dessert were served in our dining room. From the appetizers through dessert everything was prepared and presented in excellent detail. While we had dessert, she cleaned the kitchen. We would highly recommend Charlene and Take a Chef. Dan & Chris

This was my first time using Take a Chef and it was an AMAZING experience, and it wasn't even for me! I found this service when I was looking for a gift for my in-laws for their 50th wedding anniversary. We wanted to do something special for them, and Chef Charlene was something special! The entire process was simple: from the initial paperwork, receiving the menu, tweaking the menu and then communication about address, names and specific details closer to the event, Chef Charlene kept me informed right up to the last minute. The entire thing was a surprise for my in-laws and she was right on board with me and made their evening ultra special. They were absolutely blown away by the food, the flavors and the presentation. My mother-in-law couldn't even believe that Chef Charlene asked her about cleaning up! The LOVED every minute of this experience and raved about it. We got lots of pictures and it is definitely something we would do again in the future. Thank you Chef Charlene for making my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary a memorable one!

Chef Charlene was amazing! Prepared a full menu for a small family gathering to celebrate a 75th birthday. Enjoyed hearing some of her personal stories and we also got some great general cooking tips. Highly recommend!

Excellent experience!

Our chef was amazing. She was as professional as they come and prepared us an amazing meal. Also, she answered all of our ridiculous questions. We would definitely invite her back to our home. Thanks so much

Our chef was lovely. She showed up on time, was professional and the food was fantastic. This is a great service to impress during the holidays. Excellent gift idea or for us made a more impressive work event.

She was awesome and the meal was first class.

Chef Charlie created a delicious meal for a birthday celebration at our home. There were 16 people present, which included a range of tastes. She worked with me to curate a menu that was both elevated for the celebration and would meet everyone’s needs. She kept in contact with me and ensured I felt confident with the dinner preparations. On the night of our event, she came on time and was very friendly. She ensured each course was on time, delicious, and plated in a way to draw visual attention to the ingredients. Everyone was impressed with the quality and taste of the food, ensuring that our weekend of celebrations ended on the perfect note. I can’t wait to use Chef Charlie again and would highly recommend her for any type of gathering as she creates dishes with ease and style.

What a fantastic job! Adapting to the changes of the night and bringing quality and professionalism. Thanks so much!

Chef Charlene was incredible. The food was amazing and she was highly engaging. I would highly recommend her to anyone!

Chef Charlene is excellent! We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a special dinner for 4. Chef Charlene provided suggestions for the courses and arrived on time. She was engaging and efficient. Her food was amazing! We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and will consider her for another special occasion.

Chef Charlene was a great fit for our family! We have 3 little ones and a dairy allergy. She didn’t miss a beat accommodating these needs while creating a memorable experience. The food was delicious, thanks Charlene!

Chef Charlie prepared a delicious dinner for my wife's 30th birthday. Would definitely recommend!

Overall a great experience. Chef was on time and great to work with. Food was cooked well and very flavorful. Would definitely recommend!

The chef presented several options for the menu and worked with us on creating the menu we wanted. The food was delicious and she explained every dish thoroughly. She also did an excellent job cleaning up and putting leftovers away for us. The one downfall to this experience was that she arrived much later than expected, which caused us to miss an evening event we were supposed to attend.

Chef Charlene Sherman was wonderful and made delicious food. Would recommend her if you want a lovely experience.

Charlene made our family taco night so special. What a treat her delicious food was, and my whole family remarked on how kind and engaging she was. Thank you for creating a memorable family dinner for us!

The food was amazing. great experience. will do again!

Chef Charlene was easy to work with and created an amazing menu for a party of 8 in Pittsburgh. She helped craft a wonderful Asian inspired meal and accommodated an earlier time for dinner than we originally thought. On the day of, children showed up (!). Unfazed, Chef Charlene made some kid-friendly sauce that enchanted the youngsters. This was a surprise 40th birthday for a busy mom and Chef Charlene delivered more than we expected.

Chef says entertaining, informative and made an incredible meal that impressed our guests. Thank you!