Chef John Phelps

Personal Chef In Freeport

I am an award winning chef with 30 years experience in the culinary field. I have worked hundreds of kitchens being a chef for hire in Denver before moving to the New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. I worked my way across the Gulf Coast finally ending up here in Santa Rosa Beach. I am currently working at The Bay preparing the food for guests to enjoy and in my free time I love to cook for friends.

For me, cooking is...

For me cooking is important. It's important the food looks amazing. It's important the food tastes amazing. It's important to love the meal.

I learned to cook at...

I learned to cook from Chef Salinda Witervongle in Denver. 2 years of on the job training I could never pay for. But really you never stop learning

A cooking secret...

My secret is no secret at all. I make great food that people want to eat.

My menus

LATIN AMERICAN | LOCAL | CHEF'S SPECIAL

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Avocado, Mango & Jicama Salad with Florida Citrus Dressing 🥭

Traditional Bruschetta with Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil 🍅

Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup with Queso Fresco 🍲

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Red Beans and Rice with Andouille Sausage 🌶

Classic Tabbouleh with Citrus Vinaigrette & Fresh Herbs 🥗

Grilled Pineapple Skewers 🍍

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Smoked Grilled BBQ Chicken and Tofu 🐔🌱

Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas with Sour Cream Slaw 🌮

Tacos Arebes (Marinated Pork Belly) 🌯

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Flan de Coco 🍮

Classic Tres Leches 🍰

Churro Cheesecake Taco 🌮🍫

Low Country Boil

STARTER

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Grilled Watermelon Salad with Avocado and Lime Vinaigrette 🍉

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Cajun Dirty Rice with Chorizo

Southern Style Macaroni and Cheese

Red Beans and Rice with Andouli Sausage

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Low Country Boil with Gulf Shrimp, Crab, Loster and Mussels

DESSERT

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King Cake Bread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel 🥃🍰

Locally Inspired Indulge

STARTER

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Gulf Shrimp Chili Lime Tostada 🍤

Grilled Watermelon Salad with Avocado and Lime Vinaigrette 🍉

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Goat and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Romesco with Butter Poached Lobster

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan-Seared Red Snapper with Polenta Cake, Spinach & Smoked Tomato Coulis 🐟

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

King Cake Bread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel 🥃🍰

FROM THE SEA BASIC

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Avocado, Mango and Gulf Shrimp salad with Florida Citrus Dressing

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Goat Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Romesco and Saffron Butter Poached Lobster

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan Seared Red Snapper with Polenta Cake Spinach and Smoked Tomato Coulis

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Key Lime Pie

MEDITERRANEAN + FRENCH + ITALIAN

STARTER

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Traditional Bruschetta with Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil

Classic Caprese Salad

Bruschetta with Peppers and Gorgonzola

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Spaghetti with Marinara (fresh pasta & sauce)

Classic Carbonara with Fresh Pasta and Crisp Pancetta

Goat Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Romesco

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fettuccine Marinara with Handmade Pasta & 12-hour Sauce

Chicken Cacciatore

Eggplant Rollotini (stuffed with ricotta, parmesan & basil)

DESSERT

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Classic Baklava

Crème Brûlée, Vanilla Bean

Panna Cotta

Exclusive Local Experience

STARTER

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Avocado, Mango, Blood Orange & Pomegranate Citrus Salad with Blackened Gulf Shrimp 🍤

FIRST COURSE

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Saffron Fettuccine with Butter Poached Lobster in Lemon Cream Sauce 🍝🦞

MAIN COURSE

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Reverse Pan Seared Filet Mignon with Red Wine Demi Glaze, Potato Croquet, Balsamic Mushrooms and Tomatoes

DESSERT

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Key Lime pie

Local Favorites

STARTER

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Avacado, Mango and Crab Cake Salad with Florida Citrus Dressing

FIRST COURSE

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Blackened Gulf Shrimp Alfredo with handmade Fettuccine

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan Seared Red Snapper with Polenta Cake Spinach and Smoked Tomato Coulis

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Key Lime Pie

Mediterranean Essences

STARTER

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Goat Cheese Tart, caramelized onions, tomato, truffle vinaigrette, and arugula

FIRST COURSE

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MAIN COURSE

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Reverse Seared Mediterranean Filet Minon with a Spinach, Feta,and Sun dried Tomato Pesto

DESSERT

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Strawberry Tiramisu

LATIN AMERICAN | LOCAL | CHEF'S SPECIAL

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Avocado, Mango & Jicama Salad with Florida Citrus Dressing 🥭

Traditional Bruschetta with Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil 🍅

Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup with Queso Fresco 🍲

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Red Beans and Rice with Andouille Sausage 🌶

Classic Tabbouleh with Citrus Vinaigrette & Fresh Herbs 🥗

Grilled Pineapple Skewers 🍍

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Smoked Grilled BBQ Chicken and Tofu 🐔🌱

Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas with Sour Cream Slaw 🌮

Tacos Arebes (Marinated Pork Belly) 🌯

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Flan de Coco 🍮

Classic Tres Leches 🍰

Churro Cheesecake Taco 🌮🍫

Low Country Boil

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Grilled Watermelon Salad with Avocado and Lime Vinaigrette 🍉

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Cajun Dirty Rice with Chorizo

Southern Style Macaroni and Cheese

Red Beans and Rice with Andouli Sausage

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Low Country Boil with Gulf Shrimp, Crab, Loster and Mussels

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

King Cake Bread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel 🥃🍰

Locally Inspired Indulge

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Gulf Shrimp Chili Lime Tostada 🍤

Grilled Watermelon Salad with Avocado and Lime Vinaigrette 🍉

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Goat and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Romesco with Butter Poached Lobster

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan-Seared Red Snapper with Polenta Cake, Spinach & Smoked Tomato Coulis 🐟

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

King Cake Bread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel 🥃🍰

FROM THE SEA BASIC

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Avocado, Mango and Gulf Shrimp salad with Florida Citrus Dressing

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Goat Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Romesco and Saffron Butter Poached Lobster

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan Seared Red Snapper with Polenta Cake Spinach and Smoked Tomato Coulis

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Key Lime Pie

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Chef John's reviews

4.9

•

130 services

Our children from out of state arranged this surprise for our 50th Anniversary. Chef John was very personable and easy to talk to. He brought everything he needed to make this a incredible experience. The food was was on point, beautifully presented and he explained each course beautifully. I highly recommend Chef John.

Chef John was incredible! Very polite and accommodating. Food was delicious and was very well prepared. He spent time on presentation which only added to the experience. Would highly recommend him! Thank you so much!

John was punctual, friendly, professional and the food was delicious.

Chef Jon Phelps created an amazing menu and we couldn’t be happier with the experience.

Absolutely fantastic experience! The team was professional, the food was top-notch, and every detail was handled flawlessly. Five stars all the way! Can’t wait to use Chef John next time in Florida!

John was very professional and the food was delicious. I would highly recommend him.

Chef John and his assistants served my friends and our families during a weekend getaway. They were very kind, professional and punctual. He had great communication leading up to the event and the food was absolutely delicious. One dinner included a 4 course meal for my husband's birthday and everyone was highly impressed with the presentation , explanation, and taste of each single dish. I would highly recommend him!

Wow! Chef John was an exceptional chef and very professional. He arrived on-time, brought all the supplies, completed the set-up and service perfectly. It was so, so good! I would absolutely use him again in the future! We had 15 girls and 0 complaints. Thank you Chef John!!

We really enjoyed ourselves and the chef was terrific and polite

Chef John prepared an amazing and delicious meal for our family reunion. The food was outstanding and the presentation was beautiful. Chef John did a wonderful job of catering to the children by allowing them to help prepare dessert and by tweaking menu items for their tastes. Every aspect of the evening was excellent. Highly recommend!

We celebrated an incredible milestone in Panama City Beach: a 70th Wedding Anniversary! Chef John and his wife did a fantastic job with this very special event. Chef was extremely communicative ahead of the event as planning was underway. He sourced some incredible ingredients, including fish caught fresh that very morning! The dinner was extraordinary. We have quite a few foodies in the group, so our expectations were high — and he exceeded them! Chef John brought everything he needed, kept the kitchen clean & organized, and served the dinner at the table. It was everything we wanted from a special meal prepared by a private chef. Thank you, Chef!!

Chef John Phelps was very attentive and creative in the meal prep. He was punctual and communicated well. The food was amazing! He was able to accommodate the many preferences of the group. The presentation was wonderful and all of the food was very flavorful. I would recommend Chef John for your next private meal event.

Great experience!

Chef John prepared a meal that was absolutely incredible. Each course was plated and served magnificently, but the main thing was the incredible flavors. The seven of us enjoyed the entire experience. We will definitely be using him again.

Chef Jon was great and the food was great would highly recommend!

The best dinner we had the entire trip! I hired Chef John as a surprise for our family beach trip (8 people). John made everything so easy and brought everything he needed. He and his assistant were efficient, self-sufficient and impeccable - we just answered the door and he took care of the rest. Every course was better than the last. He served four courses and explained each one at the table. The plating was also spectacular. He and his wife (assistant) were precious, gracious and kind. We so appreciated them and everyone agreed it was the best meal of the trip! We would 10/10 book Chef John through Take a Chef again.

We completed our Takeachef experience in Panama City, Florida(August 17) and it was amazing. Chef John was great, the food was great.....the whole experience was great.

John Phelps was amazing and the food was perfect!!!!

Chef John Phelps was absolutely amazing! He explained every dish he made and they were delicious!!!!! He was punctual and very polite!! Our family style dinner which included 8 adults, 3 kids and 2 babies with more than enough food!!!! We really enjoyed it!

Chef John was amazing. He cooked dinner for us for 5 nights and each one was different and delicious. Dinner was always served on time and was exceptional. He served 19 people (including 11 children) with skill, talent, grace, and ease. We highly recommend!