Chef Cornelius R. Jemison

Private Chef In Valparaiso

A young Midwesterner with over 8 years of experience in high volume catering, fine-dining and casual restaurants. I am team player who is thrilled about serving guests with enticing plates, notable service and etiquette. I provide you with an extraordinary experience and welcoming hospitality in my area of expertise. My food is a style comprised of years of interest in Asian fusion cuisine with a focus modern gastronomy. I believe in my expression of food, though I am eager to hear your needs and further provide you with excellent service. I love bringing nostalgia to a plate in a way that makes you ask "How did you that"? I am also a recipient of the NWI 21 Under 21 Award, and advocate for Career and Technical Education with the Career Centers of the Midwest, and currently one of the youngest chefs to be hired at the Chicago Bears Stadium, Solider Field, as a Chef de Partie. I am fortunate to now be in a position to present guests with my ideas and stories on the dinner table.

For me, cooking is...

a way to express myself artistically with challenging ideas. A trip to the grocery store is like picking out the colors for a delicious portrait.

I learned to cook at...

the Area Career Center, a program teaches high schoolers a trade. I used the foundation they gave me to build my skills upon it, piece by piece.

A cooking secret...

knowing that I've done this before. The food is prepped, the table is set, and the focus is on providing an experience you won't get in a restaurant.

My menus

Latin Fusion

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken Tortilla Soup | Pickled Red Onion

Charred Pineapple Salad | Queso Blanco | Candied Peppers

Jalapeño Street Corn

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Charred Flank Steak | Cilantro Rice | Mole

Garlic Chili Shrimp | Charred Corn Ribs | Cilantro Crema

Chicken Adobo | Charred Peppers | Roasted Chickpeas

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Basque Cheesecake | Dulche de Leche

Rice Pudding | Dark Chocolate | Toasted Coconut

Brown Sugar Baked Pears | Greek Yogurt | Crushed Peanuts

Italio Reggiano

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tomato & Red Pepper Soup | Basil

Fig Salad | Arugula | Pistachio | Burrata

Fried Artichoke & Lemon-Olive Oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Carved Lamb Leg | Chimichurri & Roasted Potatoes

Salmon Piperade | Tomato Passata | Basil & Peppers

Braised Beef & Pork Meatballs | Creamy Polenta & Arrabiata Sauce

Nonna's Chicken Alfredo | Cracked Pepper and Herbs

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu | Coffee Cream | Pistachio Crumble

Flourless Chocolate Torte | Raspberry Couli | Tart Cream

Almond & Coffee Sponge Cake by Bao's Pastry

Family Feast

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Crisp Broccolini & Fried Garlic

Garlicky Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Root Veg Medley

Maple & Black Pepper Carrots | Crushed Peanuts & Goat Cheese

Fig Chopped Salad | Aged Parmesean | Fig Balsamic | Toasted Sunflower Seed

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Thyme Roast Chicken

Charred Flank Steak & Chimichurri

Zesty Pasta Primavera

Garlic Chili Glazed Salmon

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chantilly Berry Cake by Bao's Pastry

Basque Cheesecake | Dulche de Leche

Flourless Chocolate Torte | Raspberry Couli

Brunch-a-holics

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Smoked Sausage or Chicken Sausage

Crispy Bacon or Turkey Bacon

Loaded Cheddar Potatoes & Chives

Chef’s Decade Sourdough Bread

French Scrambled Eggs & Cheddar

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Spicy Tomato Shakshouka | Lardons | Parsley | Parmesan

Charred Flank Steak | Chimichurri & Peppers

Citrus Salmon Lox | Dill | Crema | Pickled Red Onion & Sourdough Toast

Ham Hash | Crispy Potatoes | Charred Onions & Roasted Peppers

DESSERT

Choose 2 dishes

Assorted Pastries

Fresh Fruit Platter

Cottage Cheese & Greek Yogurt

Bagel Tower

Surreal Steakhouse

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Chives

Roasted Veg Medley

Creamed Spinach

Crispy Brussel Sprouts | Bacon | Honey Butter

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Broiled Porterhouse For the Table

Seared NY Strip Steak

Roasted Ribeye For the Table

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Flourless Chocolate Torte | Raspberry Couli | Pistachio

Basque Cheesecake | Dulche de Leche

Bread Pudding | Raisins | Whiskey Sauce

Fancy French

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Charred Broccolini | Garlic Confít & Oil

Chopped Salad | Aged Parm | Fig Balsamic | Toasted Sunflower Seed

Chilled Pea & Chervil Soup with Crème Fraîche

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Mustard Lamb Rack | Roasted Potatoes & Fried Herbs

Fish Roulade | Roasted Broccolini & Piccata Sauce

Thyme Roasted Chicken | Slow-Roasted Root Vegetables | Pommé’s & Dijon Jus

Seared NY Strip | Glazed Carrots | Garlic Confít Mash & Truffle Sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Crème Brûlée | Fresh Berries | Caramel Crunch

Basque Cheesecake | Salted Caramel

Whipped Chantilly Cream & Berries

Szechuan Season

STARTER

All inclusive

Crispy Spring Roll & Honey Basil Sauce

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Mapo Tofu | Braised Shitake | Chili Broth

Wonton Chicken Soup | Green Onion | Dashi

Pan Fried Garlic Noodles

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Kung Pao Chicken | Steamed Rice

Black Bean Chicken | Sautéed Peppers & Onion | Steamed Rice

Beef Chow Mein

Shrimp Fried Rice

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Almond Jelly & Citrus

Steamed Red Bean Buns

Matcha Crème brûlée | Fresh Berries | Black Sesame

Taste of Japan

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Miso Soup | Tofu | Shitake Mushroom

Chilled Soba Noodles | Mayu Garlic Oil | Mentsuyu Broth

Edamame Salad | Mango | Red Cabbage | Sesame Dressing

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef & Chili Udon

BBQ Salmon & Teriyaki Stir-Fry

24hr Braised Pork Spareribs | Steamed Rice & Charred Scallion

Chicken Adobo with Jasmine Rice & Bok Choy

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Matcha Basque Cheesecake | Coconut Cream & Fresh Berries

Flourless Chocolate Torte | Raspberry Couli | Pistachio

Black Sesame & Chia Seed Rice Krispy Treat

Latin Fusion

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken Tortilla Soup | Pickled Red Onion

Charred Pineapple Salad | Queso Blanco | Candied Peppers

Jalapeño Street Corn

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Charred Flank Steak | Cilantro Rice | Mole

Garlic Chili Shrimp | Charred Corn Ribs | Cilantro Crema

Chicken Adobo | Charred Peppers | Roasted Chickpeas

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Basque Cheesecake | Dulche de Leche

Rice Pudding | Dark Chocolate | Toasted Coconut

Brown Sugar Baked Pears | Greek Yogurt | Crushed Peanuts

Italio Reggiano

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tomato & Red Pepper Soup | Basil

Fig Salad | Arugula | Pistachio | Burrata

Fried Artichoke & Lemon-Olive Oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Carved Lamb Leg | Chimichurri & Roasted Potatoes

Salmon Piperade | Tomato Passata | Basil & Peppers

Braised Beef & Pork Meatballs | Creamy Polenta & Arrabiata Sauce

Nonna's Chicken Alfredo | Cracked Pepper and Herbs

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu | Coffee Cream | Pistachio Crumble

Flourless Chocolate Torte | Raspberry Couli | Tart Cream

Almond & Coffee Sponge Cake by Bao's Pastry

Family Feast

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Crisp Broccolini & Fried Garlic

Garlicky Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Root Veg Medley

Maple & Black Pepper Carrots | Crushed Peanuts & Goat Cheese

Fig Chopped Salad | Aged Parmesean | Fig Balsamic | Toasted Sunflower Seed

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Thyme Roast Chicken

Charred Flank Steak & Chimichurri

Zesty Pasta Primavera

Garlic Chili Glazed Salmon

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chantilly Berry Cake by Bao's Pastry

Basque Cheesecake | Dulche de Leche

Flourless Chocolate Torte | Raspberry Couli

Brunch-a-holics

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Smoked Sausage or Chicken Sausage

Crispy Bacon or Turkey Bacon

Loaded Cheddar Potatoes & Chives

Chef’s Decade Sourdough Bread

French Scrambled Eggs & Cheddar

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Spicy Tomato Shakshouka | Lardons | Parsley | Parmesan

Charred Flank Steak | Chimichurri & Peppers

Citrus Salmon Lox | Dill | Crema | Pickled Red Onion & Sourdough Toast

Ham Hash | Crispy Potatoes | Charred Onions & Roasted Peppers

DESSERT

Choose 2 dishes

Assorted Pastries

Fresh Fruit Platter

Cottage Cheese & Greek Yogurt

Bagel Tower

Show me more

Chef Cornelius R.'s reviews

4.85

•

51 services

Chef was fantastic! Great food, Great Conversation! Will 100% book with again!

Chef CJ was incredible and we can’t wait to use him again. From the food to his professionalism he was great.

Thanks to CJ, everyone at the dinner had a magical evening. Every detail was on point: he arrived on-time, took expert command of the kitchen, set a beautiful table, was engaging and friendly with all the guests, and the food was fantastic. Each dish was presented beautifully with a memorable description not only of the ingredients but the story at how he chose/made the dish. It was a very special evening, the food was amazing and we all continued to talk about our experience the entire weekend. Ah-MAY-ZING.

Chef Cornelius was top notch. He created a memorable experience for my wife & I on Valentine's Day. The food was delicious and made from fresh ingredients. Chef Cornelius created a restaurant like set-up in our kitchen & dining room and created a perfect evening for us. He left our kitchen spotless and we will definitely be using him again. I would recommend Chef Cornelius to anyone wanting a unique private dining experience! 5 stars!

Chef Cornelius and his team provided an exceptional dining experience! Their curated menu was tailored to my preferences, with every dish beautifully presented and packed with flavor. They were professional, attentive to dietary needs, and left the kitchen spotless. Highly recommend Chef Cornelius for anyone seeking top-tier, personalized cuisine.

Chef Cornelius was amazing. His excitement, genuine joy and passion was very evident in his approach to his craft. Will definitely use him again!

Cornelius and Celeste made my 40th birthday one I will never forget! We were not an easy group. There were kids, and a lot of chaos, and because of us the timing was off, and they rolled with it all. We were so impressed with Cornelius not only because of the incredible meal and thoughtfulness of the menu, but also his personality, warmth, and engaging nature. Several of our crew asked ourselves if we'd met him before or if we knew of him from a TV show or movie. He was both familiar, in the best way, and impressive. We had butternut squash soup, salmon with broccolini and polenta, and an incredible berry cake. I am not exaggerating when I say that due to kid stuff we started dinner 30 to 45 minutes later than they expected and the soup was still EXACTLY the right temperature. And the best butternut squash soup I've ever had! 5 STARS, thank you both so much!

Chef Cornelius was great, very personable and professional. Food was wonderful, whole experience top notch.

Fantastic

Chef Cornelius was a dream to work with and made our first private chef experience so much fun! He guided me through everything from the time we first connected on TakeaChef up until his arrival for our dinner party. My guests were blown away by each course, and Chef Cornelius' enthusiasm and passion for food really was made apparent through his cooking. He was professional, engaging, and very diligent in his work. I would 1000% recommend him for your next dinner party.

Chef Cornelius did such an amazing job preparing a seafood boil for my family during our vacation. It was so much fun and everything was delicious! We will definitely be using Chef again for any gathering we need!

Chef Cornelius was amazing! He was a great person and the food was incredible.

Chef Cornelius provided a great dinner experience. He was timely, warm, and professional. His food was delicious and our party had a great time enjoying dinner together!

Chef was fantastic! Great food, Great Conversation! Will 100% book with again!

Chef CJ was incredible and we can’t wait to use him again. From the food to his professionalism he was great.