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

Brunch

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Fresh fruit

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Seasoned potatoes

Bacon and sausage

Crepe bar with assorted jams, fillings, and berries

Scrambled eggs

Crab and hollandaise sauce filling

DESSERT

All inclusive

Cherry tartlet

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

Family style Italian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Meatballs with sun dried tomato Marinara finished Parmesan and basil

Bruschetta with burrata and balsamic reduction

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Caesar salad

Caprese salad on spinach blend with balsamic reduction

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef and ragu over Pappardelle

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

Chicken breast with sundried tomato pasta with a cream sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu

Cheesecake with salted caramel

Italian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Pan seared scallops over a garlic pepper pecorino sauce

Proscuitto wrapped shrimp with sweet chili Thai sauce

Mozzarella stuffed meatballs in a Sundried tomato and basil marinara sauce finished with Parmesan and basil

Mussels in garlic and white wine with crostini

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Caesar salad

Insalata ricotta with artichoke hearts and tomato pesto

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

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

Porchetta with Quattro fromage risotto and asparagus tips

Lobster ravioli in a creamy peppered pecorino sauce Arugala microgreens

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cheesecake with salted caramel or strawberry reduction

Tiramisu

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

Premium Surf and Turf

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Blini with smoked salmon and dill crema

Pan seared sea scallop over fire roasted corn puree

Oysters Rockefeller

Breaded jumbo shrimp with garlic and herb butter

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Hearts of palm salad

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

Spinach and Arugula blend topped with fresh berries and toasted pecans with a poppyseed lemon vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

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

Cowboy rib eye with lobster Mac n cheese

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Lemon tart with fresh berries

Cheesecake with salted caramel or strawberry reduction

Crème brûlée

Farm to table

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Corn fritter with remoulade

Goat cheese with hot honey over sourdough crostini with apple compote

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Honey glazed Goat cheese and almond stuffed pear over mixed greens

Spinach and Arugula blend topped with fresh berries and toasted pecans with a poppyseed lemon vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

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

Pan seared chicken over wild rice with duck fat and garlic confit mushrooms and blistered asparagus with a garlic herb cream sauce

Herb crusted Mushroom and Gorgonzola Stuffed beef tenderloin over mashed potatoes finished with a Demi glaze

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Strawberry shortcake stacks

Bourbon butter cake

Apple pie A La mode with caramel

Ocean inspired menu

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Crab stuffed avocado

Large blackened prawns with pineapple chutney

Clams in garlic and white wine served with crostini

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Hearts of palm salad

Caesar salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Herb roasted Branzino fish over cilantro lime rice finished with a pineapple chutney

Tarragon infused Butter poached crab over whipped mashed potatoes

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Lemon tart with fresh berries

Cheesecake with salted caramel or strawberry reduction

Brunch

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Fresh fruit

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Seasoned potatoes

Bacon and sausage

Crepe bar with assorted jams, fillings, and berries

Scrambled eggs

Crab and hollandaise sauce filling

DESSERT

All inclusive

Cherry tartlet

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

Family style Italian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Meatballs with sun dried tomato Marinara finished Parmesan and basil

Bruschetta with burrata and balsamic reduction

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Caesar salad

Caprese salad on spinach blend with balsamic reduction

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef and ragu over Pappardelle

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

Chicken breast with sundried tomato pasta with a cream sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu

Cheesecake with salted caramel

Italian

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Pan seared scallops over a garlic pepper pecorino sauce

Proscuitto wrapped shrimp with sweet chili Thai sauce

Mozzarella stuffed meatballs in a Sundried tomato and basil marinara sauce finished with Parmesan and basil

Mussels in garlic and white wine with crostini

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Caesar salad

Insalata ricotta with artichoke hearts and tomato pesto

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

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

Porchetta with Quattro fromage risotto and asparagus tips

Lobster ravioli in a creamy peppered pecorino sauce Arugala microgreens

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cheesecake with salted caramel or strawberry reduction

Tiramisu

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Chef Charlene's reviews

4.63

•

90 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!