Chef Mindy Baker

Chef At Home In Branford

I am a high school culinary teacher and a recent graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with a Masters in Food Business. I look forward to helping clients execute perfect events with amazing food and service. I enjoy developing seasonal menus and shopping at local markets to find the freshest ingredients. I look forward to capturing the visions of the clients I work with and seeing them enjoy themselves without worrying about the food aspect of an event.

For me, cooking is...

an art that brings people together in the best way possible...I enjoy using my talents in the kitchen to bring joy to others.

I learned to cook at...

my family's catering business from my Dad and grandmother. Many of my favorite memories have been made in the kitchen.

A cooking secret...

being able to taste a dish and know how to tweak, enhance or improve upon it.

My menus

Italian Favorites

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

(Included) Artisan Bread, Olives & Olive Oil

Arancini (Italian Fried Risotto)

Brushetta

Eggplant Rollatine

Cheese Course: Local cheeses, preserves, honey, fruit, olives, assorted bread and crackers

Fried Calamari

Fried Mozzerella

Italian Wedding Soup (Mini Meatballs, Homemade Chicken Stock, Spinach, Acini Di Pepe)

Shrimp Cocktail

Appetizer of your choice

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Burrata salad with orange segments, roasted peppers, fresh basil

Panzanella: toasted ciabatta, garden tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, basil, capers

Caesar: Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, Fresh Lemon, Anchovy Paste, Homemade Croutons

Caprese Salad

Soup or Salad of Your Choice

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Chicken (Milanese, Francese, Parmagiana, Saltimboca, etc…)

Filet Mignon or another Steak of Choice

Filet Mignon/ Beef Tenderloin (Gorgonzola Cream, Horseradish or Bearnaise Sauce)

(Counts as 2) Grilled filet mignon, picked lobster meat, portobello, cognac gorgonzola cream sauce

Eggplant Parmagiana

Zuppa di Pesce

Shrimp and Crab Fra Diavolo

Linguine White Clam Sauce

Pasta Amatriciana

Brown Butter Scallops over Parmesan Wilted Spinach Risotto

Entree of Your Choice

Classic Lasagna

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu

Cookie and Bar Platter (Including Italian Favorites Rainbow, Pignoli, Ricotta, Anginettes)

Cannoli (Shells or Dip)

Creme Brulee

Lava Cake & Vanilla Ice Cream

Dessert of your Choice

Latin American Influences

STARTER

All inclusive

Fresh Salsa, Guacamole & Tortilla Chips (ripe avocados, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and fresh lime juice)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Appetizer of your choice

Fried Plantains Chipotle Aioli

Empanadas (Chicken, Beef or Mushroom, Olives, Picadillo, Raisins)

Shrimp Ceviche: Cooked Shrimp, Tomato, Red Onion, Cilantro, Avocado, Fresh Citrus

Short Rib Nachos: Cilantro Avocado Crema, Pico de Gallo, Monterey Jack

Chili, Posole or Chicken Tortilla Soup & Cornbread

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Entree of Your Choice

Baja Fish Tacos: Beer Battered Cod, Cilantro Lime Slaw, Aji Amarillo Sauce or Chipotle Sauce

Tacos Al Pastor: Achiote Marinated Roasted Pork, Charred Pineapple, Onion, Cilantro, Salsa Verde Crudo

(Counts as Two Dishes) Mixed Grill (Skirt Steak, Shrimp & Chicken) Served with Mango Salsa & Chimichurri

Steak Tacos: Mushrooms, Onions, Queso Fresco, Salsa Verde

Shrimp Tempura Tacos with Chipotle Sauce

Birria Tacos: Oaxaca and Chihuahua Cheese, Salsa Verde, Beef Consommé

Sides Included: Arroz Rojo, Pinto Beans, Mexican Street Corn (Esquites) Chipotle Mayo, Cotija, Ancho Powder, Lime

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tres Leches

Dessert of your Choice

Churros and Chocolate Dipping Sauce

Flan de Queso

Pastelillos de Guayaba

Fall Menu

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Italian Wedding Soup

Cheese Course: Local cheeses, preserves, honey, fruit, olives, assorted bread and crackers

Eggplant Rollatine

Butternut Squash Bisque

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Cranberry Baked Brie

Arancini (Italian Fried Risotto)

Sherry Tomato Bisque with Grilled Cheese Croutons

Wild Mushroom Soup

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Salad of your choice

Maple Roasted Carrot and Goat Cheese Salad

Fall Burrata Salad Roasted Butternut Squash, Pomegranate, Pepitas

Italian Chopped Antipasto Salad with Salami, Provolone, Radicchio, Pepperoncini

Autumn Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts, Warm Goat Cheese, Cranberries, Balsamic Vinaigrette Fall Apple Salad with Candied Pecans, Gorgonzola, Apple Cider Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken Milanese

Entree of Your Choice

Classic Meat Lasagna

Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce

Brown Butter Scallops over Parmesan Wilted Spinach Risotto

Pappardelle Bolognese

Beef Bourguignon

Beef Wellington

Beef Tenderloin (Horseradish, Gorgonzola or Bearnaise)

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs

Cider Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Plum Chutney

Silver Palate Chicken Marbella

Chicken Pot Pie

Zuni Cafe Roast Chicken and Bread Salad

Chicken (Francese, Parmigiana, Saltimbocca, etc…)

Select 2 Sides (Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Bouchon Inspired Mashed Potatoes, Cauliflower Gratin, Roasted Butternut Squash, Potato Fennel Gratin, Green Beans Almondine, Roasted Delicata Squash & Brussels Sprouts, Cacio e Pepe Asparagus, Rice Pilaf Cranbe

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cannoli (Shells or Dip)

German Chocolate Cake

Old Fashioned Chocolate Layer Cake

Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake

Carrot Cake

Tiramisu

Creme Brulee

Dessert of your Choice

Caramelized Coconut Oatmeal Cake

Warm Apple Crisp & Vanilla Ice Cream

Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Pumpkin Cheesecake

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

Toblerone Fondue with Strawberries, Bananas, Pound Cake, Rice Krispie Treats, Pretzels

Summer Menu

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Crab Cakes

Local cheeses, preserves, honey, fruit, olives, assorted bread and crackers

Shrimp Cocktail

Fresh Biscuits and Honey Butter

Lobster Bisque, Potato Corn Chowder or Clam Chowder

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Caesar: Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, Fresh Lemon, Anchovy Paste, Homemade Gluten FreeCroutons

Grilled Peaches & Burrata

Burrata salad with orange segments, roasted peppers, fresh basil

Panzanella: toasted ciabatta, garden tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, basil, capers

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Skirt Steak Chimichurri

Grilled Shrimp with Mango Salsa

Lobster Tail or Lobster Rolls

2 favorite sides included: Baked Potato, Mashed Potato, Smashed Potatoes, Grilled Vegetables (Mushrooms, Zucchini, Squash, Red Onion), Green Beans Gremolata (Garlic, Lemon Zest & Olive Oil), Corn on the Cob, Sauteed Spinach, Asparagus, rice, mac & cheese,

Grilled filet mignon, picked lobster meat, portobello, cognac gorgonzola cream sauce

Stuffed or grilled Lobster Tails

Beef Tenderloin (Bearnaise, Horseradish or Gorgonzola Cream)

DESSERT

Choose 2 dishes

Gourmet Ice Cream Sundae Bar to Accompany a Birthday Cake

Fruit Salad

Lava Cake

Peach Raspberry Shortcake or Crisp, Berry Oatmeal Crisp or Strawberry Shortcake or Crisp

Creme Brulee

Warm Cookie Assortment

Cookie and Bar Platter

Assorted mini parfaits

Key Lime Pie

Banana Pudding

Chef Mindy's reviews

4.83

•

14 services

Chef Mindy was a delight! Punctual, pleasant, and professional! Would definitely recommend.

We had Chef Mindy prepare dinner for a bachelor party group of 11. She was communicative, accommodating, and worked with me to prepare a special menu for our group, along with recommendations for wine pairings. Dinner was a hit, and she was thorough in her clean-up. A great experience, highly recommend.

Mindy was the BEST! We planned a small dinner for the first night of a bachelorette trip and it was the perfect start to the weekend. Mindy worked with us to create a menu that fit all of our dietary restrictions and preferences. Everything was absolutely delicious and we couldn't stop thinking about our meal for the rest of the weekend. We loved chatting with Mindy after dinner wrapped up and we are already thinking about our next event so we can work with her again!

Mindy is a master of her craft- she was engaging, and very talented. Mindy prepared a five course meal for an intimate dinner of four. She had everything needed, served phenomenal food, and cleaned up. It was a wonderful experience enjoyed by all.

Mindy was very attentive to the needs of the group. We had lunch and a 4 course dinner for a group of 23. All the food was delicious and made with fresh ingredients. Everyone was raving about all the dishes. We had grilled chicken and beef skewers which were a fan favorite along with the wagyu burgers. During dinner, the coconut shrimp and crab cakes appetizers were to die for! Overall, it was such a delightful gastronomic experience!

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing Chef Mindy's culinary expertise, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. From start to finish, everything was absolutely perfect. Mindy's food was nothing short of extraordinary. Each dish was crafted with care and attention to detail, resulting in a dining experience that was both delightful and memorable. The flavors were well-balanced, and the presentation was impeccable. Beyond her culinary skills, Mindy was incredibly accommodating when it came to creating the menu. She took the time to understand our preferences, ensuring that every guest was satisfied. One of the most impressive aspects of Mindy's service was her meticulous attention to cleanliness. After the event, the kitchen was spotless – it was as if no one had even been there. In summary, Mindy exceeded all expectations. Her wonderful food, flawless execution, and outstanding service made for an unforgettable experience. I couldn't recommend Chef Mindy more highly to anyone looking for an exceptional culinary experience.

Mindy was the best we could have imagined! was so much fun and can’t wait to see her again!!! 12/10 experience!