- Chicago
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Private Chef - Elegant Plant-Forward Dinner
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What You'll Do
Enjoy a meal featuring vegetarian specialties prepared with thoughtful touches of gourmet magic.
Let Chef Janet create an innovative plant-based meal for your pleasure in this mindful private chef experience. You'll savor a selection of dishes adapted for meat-free eaters. Dig into a whipped ricotta starter, flavored with fruit and honey. Then, rediscover classic British Wellington, filled with squash, spinach and chickpeas, served with an earthy sweet potato dish on the side. An airy chocolate mousse dessert will set your heart alight.
Guests are welcome to provide wine and beer to accompany the menu, and may request pairing recommendations from the chef upon booking.
Your Menu
Whipped Ricotta
With honey, grapes, walnuts and polenta crisps
Vegetarian Wellington
With puff pastry, mushrooms, spinach, butternut squash, chickpeas and feta
Sweet Potato Skillet
With sweet potato, black beans, asparagus, onions, cheese and egg (if desired)
Chocolate Mousse
With whipping cream, cocoa powder and powdered sugar
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if noted prior to the event. Please mention this in the message field when you submit your booking request as adjustments cannot be made during the event.
Details
- Minimum Guests 2
- Maximum Guests 20
- Meal Courses 4
- Event Duration 3 hours
- Chef Arrival Time 30 minutes prior to the selected serving time
- Labels Healthy, Vegan
What's included
The ingredients
The cooking
The service
The washing up
Meet your chef
Chef Janet has been cooking for as long as she can remember - and she loves sharing that joy with others. Her passion is helping people feel confident, creative and at ease in the kitchen. After attending culinary school in the 1980s, Chef Janet deepened her culinary journey while living in Taiwan and Hong Kong, where she also began her career as a high school teacher. For decades, she’s been teaching a wide range of cooking classes, on and off, always with the same goal: to empower others through food. Nothing makes her happier than seeing the spark of joy and pride when someone masters a new skill.
The Cozymeal Protection®
Verified Chefs
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Concierge
Cancellation Policy
Flexible booking: Cancel or reschedule this event's reservation for free up to 48 hours before the event.
This experience is not refundable as it includes a meal kit.
Chef Janet will travel to guests within Chicago for this experience.
What You'll Do
Enjoy a meal featuring vegetarian specialties prepared with thoughtful touches of gourmet magic.
Let Chef Janet create an innovative plant-based meal for your pleasure in this mindful private chef experience. You'll savor a selection of dishes adapted for meat-free eaters. Dig into a whipped ricotta starter, flavored with fruit and honey. Then, rediscover classic British Wellington, filled with squash, spinach and chickpeas, served with an earthy sweet potato dish on the side. An airy chocolate mousse dessert will set your heart alight.
Guests are welcome to provide wine and beer to accompany the menu, and may request pairing recommendations from the chef upon booking.
Your Menu
Whipped Ricotta
With honey, grapes, walnuts and polenta crisps
Vegetarian Wellington
With puff pastry, mushrooms, spinach, butternut squash, chickpeas and feta
Sweet Potato Skillet
With sweet potato, black beans, asparagus, onions, cheese and egg (if desired)
Chocolate Mousse
With whipping cream, cocoa powder and powdered sugar
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if noted prior to the event. Please mention this in the message field when you submit your booking request as adjustments cannot be made during the event.
Details
- Minimum Guests 2
- Maximum Guests 20
- Meal Courses 4
- Event Duration 3 hours
- Chef Arrival Time 30 minutes prior to the selected serving time
- Labels Healthy, Vegan
What's included
The ingredients
The cooking
The service
The washing up
Reviews
Verified guest reviews for other experiences with Chef Janet
Eleni
20 May 2026
We absolutely loved our cooking class with Chef Janet! We made bruschetta, a tagliatelle dish, and tiramisu and all of them were delicious! Chef Janet did such a great job catering to the different skill levels of our group members and jumping in when we needed help. My group had such a fun time learning something new and creating a new memory! Not only was she super helpful with teaching us how to cook, but she also came prepared with all of the materials and appliances! She also made sure everything was cleaned up before she left. I will definitely be using Chef Janet in the future!
James
19 May 2026
We had a wonderful meal, Chef Janet was not only a great teacher but also wonderful company and a great person to have a conversation with!
Sheryl
06 May 2026
The girls made bruschetta, gnocchi & tiramisu. We booked Chef Janet for my daughter’s 16th birthday party. Chef Janet worked really well with the girls and they enjoyed learning from her. My daughter loved the whole evening making her favorite meal with her closest friends, she didn’t have one favorite moment.
Karen
27 Feb 2026
What a delicious Italian meal we prepared ! The evening flew by as we all participated in the prep. Our budding chefs gained confidence and seasoned cooks some new tricks!
Victor
04 Jan 2026
This was a Christmas gift for my wife and i tagged along. We baked Gluten-free and Gluten-full rolls, scones and cinnamon rolls. We had a great time. My wife was able to learn from a Professional and we had a great time. We'll definitely do it again in the future. Thanks
Sanam
19 Apr 2026
Italian pasta night was amazing. Had the best experience with chef Janet. She was so fun to talk with as well! Will be doing this again.
Sanam
19 Apr 2026
Italian pasta night was amazing. Had the best experience with chef Janet. She was so fun to talk with as well! Will be doing this again.
Oma
07 Mar 2026
Janet was incredible! We loved our private class and highly recommend. We made gnocchi, bruschetta, and tiramisu all under her guidance and instruction. Janet is super personable and easy to get along with, and has a great sense of humor in addition to her impressive background! We highly recommend taking a class with her and will likely do so again in the future. Thank you for an amazing experience Janet!
Austin
12 Dec 2025
Chef Janet was amazing! She was so knowledgeable and made the experience so fun for my wife and I. I would recommend her (and plan to) to anyone interested!
Megan
13 Oct 2025
Fun class and Chef Janet was so helpfully in answering all our questions. Such a nice experience to do in your own home!
Austin
13 Sep 2025
Where do we even start! Chef Janet made our date night perfect. The food was amazing, the conversation was great and the tips and tricks are some that we will hold onto forever. The icing on the cake is that our kitchen is even cleaner than when she arrived! Highly recommend Chef Janet and any class she is doing. 10/10 experience. We are already planning our next event with her.
Drew
24 Aug 2025
Janet was super friendly, brought everything we needed, and was super attentive to all our needs and questions. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a fun cooking experience! The food was also delicious.
Laine
18 Aug 2025
Chef Janet was wonderful, and we had such a fun time during our Dim Sum class! Couldn't recommend her services more for anyone looking for a fun group activity!
Erica
18 Jul 2025
Chef Janet was fantastic! My partner and I had so much fun learning how to make bruschetta, pasta, and tiramisu on her birthday. Chef Janet brought all the materials needed and even cleaned up after, so it made for a fun and easy night for us.
Danielle
13 Jul 2025
Chef Janet was amazing--friendly, knowledgeable, and an excellent teacher. We learned so much and ate so well! Will definitely take other classes with her.
Laura
12 Jul 2025
My sister and I had such a wonderful time in Janet’s cooking class! She was warm, knowledgeable, and made the experience both fun and approachable. We learned how to make a delicious bruschetta with olive tapenade, a perfectly cooked chicken marsala, and a silky panna cotta that was the perfect finish. Janet’s guidance made even the more intimidating steps feel easy, and we walked away with new skills—and full stomachs! Highly recommend her class to anyone looking for a hands-on and memorable culinary experience.
Sara
27 Mar 2025
Such a fun time! Chef Janet was professional, kind, and a great teacher. We made and ate a lot of sushi!
Wendy
17 Feb 2025
Chef Janet was excellent from start to finish! She created a fun and engaging experience, guiding us through the preparation of a wonderful meal with plenty of laughs along the way. Her instructions were clear, making it easy to learn new techniques while enjoying the process. Not only was the food delicious, but she also left my kitchen spotless—like she had never even been there. I highly recommend Chef Janet for an amazing experience!
Evan
04 Feb 2025
Janet was fantastic! We had such a fun time learning the art of pasta/ravioli making with her. She comes well prepared with everything (including pots/pans you name it) and her culinary knowledge is exceptional. HIGHLY recommend using Chef Janet you will not regret it. She also went above and beyond to assist in some modifications for dietary restrictions. :)
Jenny
26 Jan 2025
We had a great time learning how to make sushi and Chef Janet was so wonderful. She was great company and very knowledgeable about many cuisines. We look forward to the next class we take with her!
Dylan
20 Jan 2025
Chef Janet came out to our house for the evening and showed my partner and I how to make Sushi Rolls. She came with everything necessary for the event, the only thing we provided was a table to work at, an outlet for a rice cooker, and an eager spirit to learn. She was an excellent, patient teacher. We would definitely book her again in the future.
Chris
29 Dec 2024
Great experience with Chef Janet and my family group if 7 in my apartment building kitchen. We all learned a lot and had a very memorable experience.
Susan
23 Dec 2024
Janet was excellent, the food was delicious and experience of cooking it really fun. We wanted to be hands on and she had plenty for us to do, and the end results was fantastic and we have plenty of leftovers. We would definitely want her to come again, just what we were looking for.
Thomas
11 Dec 2024
Chef Janet was awesome! All of the food was so good, better than I've had in restaurants (Dim Sum). Janet was incredibly nice, instructive and great conversation. I would not have expected I'd be a semi-pro potsticker folder in such a short period of time, cooking is not my strong suit! I got this experience for my partner as a gift and she was so stoked.
We would definitely do another cooking experience with Janet!
Justin
22 Nov 2024
Chef Janet delivered a fantastic private dim sum cooking class! Her clear instructions and hands-on teaching style made the experience both educational and fun. She expertly explained each technique while keeping the atmosphere light with great conversation.
The dim sum we prepared was delicious, and we learned how to recreate everything at home. Chef Janet maintained perfect cleanliness throughout and left the kitchen spotless. Her professionalism, combined with her warm personality, made for an outstanding cooking experience.
Pros:
- Expert instruction
- Delicious results
- Great conversation
- Spotless cleanup
- Fun atmosphere
Highly recommend for anyone interested in learning dim sum cooking!
Emm
23 Oct 2024
Chef Janet was very professional, she was an excellent teacher and we had a great time. She made the class very easy to follow, she was prepared with everything she was going to need and we learned a lot!
Mihoko
23 Oct 2024
We had a wonderful ravioli & cannoli cooking class with Chef Janet! She was very well prepared, easygoing and fun to chat with, and taught us with clear and thoughtful instructions that will make it easy to recreate her delicious recipes in the future! Overall fantastic experience and would recommend to friends or as gifts!
Barbara and Noah
22 Oct 2024
Chef Janet provided a terrific cooking experience. She was warm and personable, knowledgable and patient. My 14 year old grandson and I had a ton of fun, made and ate a ton of sushi, and brought some back for the whole family to enjoy. Thanks Chef Janet for a great experience.
Jonathan
13 Oct 2024
Janet was great! She showed up on time, brought everything she would need for the night, and cleaned up everything after! She was kind and very helpful throughout the cooking process. The entire experience lasted slight over 2 hours. I would highly recommend Janet for your Cozymeal experience!
Devesh
08 Oct 2024
We had a lovely time learning from Chef Janet, would highly recommend!
Horacio
28 Sep 2024
Chef Janet was awesome! I booked her for a sushi class as a birthday surprise for my wife and she loved it. It was a very nice experience! She walks you through all the steps but also lets you use your creativity by creating your own rolls. Besides all that, she is such nice company! Would definitely recommend!
Greg
15 Sep 2024
Chef Janet taught us how to prepare a Dim Sum meal for 6 in our home. We learned by doing, as we rolled up sleeves to chop, mix, peel, roll, steam, fry, boil, etc etc. The best part was we now know how to make the perfect potsticker! She brought all needed cooking supplies and ingredients, was well organized, and cheerfully led us through the process. Great way to celebrate a birthday!
Nancy
12 Aug 2024
Chef Janet was tremendous. She is an excellent chef and teacher with an easy-going style, making it fun and enjoyable. The beef and squash ravioli were wonderful, and I plan to try and make it again. I never knew that cannolis were so easy to make. (Hopefully, I can channel Chef Janet's technique!) I highly recommend Chef Janet for the rewarding and delicious experience of having a chef cook and instruct in your home!
Ryan
05 Aug 2024
Chef Janet was fantastic! She taught us how to make cannoli's that were so delicious. The pasta was wonderful too and we learned a ton!
Eden
10 Jul 2024
So much fun!
Jonathon
11 Jun 2024
Chef Janet was awesome! We were intimidated to make pasta, and it was great to see how easy it was (and delicious)!
Kimberly
04 Jun 2024
Chef Janet is fantastic! We really enjoyed learning to make sushi rolls from her and she made it a lot of fun.
John
17 May 2024
Janet did a great job and it was so fun to learn how to roll sushi! The different ingredient options were delicious. Janet was very engaging and it was entertaining experience. Would highly recommend and would want to do another one of her classes again!
Emily
28 Apr 2024
Chef Janet ran a wonderful class for us, readily modifying recipes based on allergies and preferences. She was friendly and professional throughout. It was a fantastic experience and very smoothly run from start to finish. We were so pleased with the whole event, and the food was absolutely delicious. We have a newfound confidence and determination to make fresh pasta going forward--and we're never buying premade cannoli again!
Michele
05 Apr 2024
Chef Janet was wonderful! She came to our house for a for a family class in Dim Sum and we had a great time, especially our 6 year old granddaughter. We learned a lot and appreciate that she was willing to teach all of us. Looking forward to scheduling again!
Sierra
30 Mar 2024
We highly enjoyed this class with Chef Janet! She had a very approachable teaching style that made us feel comfortable and confident throughout the class. We had fun and would recommend this to everyone else!
MARCIA
23 Mar 2024
Janet was great! She explained everything and we all had a great time! I would definitely recommend her to others!
Adrienne
13 Mar 2024
We had a GREAT time with Chef Janet! She made the entire process very fun and educational. The food was delicious and we've already tried some of the recipes we learned during our class on our own. I would HIGHLY recommend booking her services.
Owen & Corrie
13 Mar 2024
Chef Janet was great, highly recommend. Excellent balance of instruction and providing space for our family to enjoy themselves.
Gabriela
11 Mar 2024
Chef Janet was amazing!! The dim sum experience was delicious - very tasty dumplings and sauces!!
Zach
07 Mar 2024
Janet was great, thank you!
Heather
03 Mar 2024
We learned everything we need to know about making our own sushi rolls at home - thoroughly enjoyed our experience in the comfort of our own kitchen and home with Chef Janet!
Nicholas
13 Feb 2024
Chef Janet was incredible! She was extremely knowledgeable, giving us all sorts of tips and tricks. She was also a great teacher, making the class fun and entertaining. Definitely recommend.
Owen
10 Feb 2024
We had an amazing time with Chef Janet. Food was delicious, great conversation, and I will be making these dishes again! Highly recommend
Charlotte
09 Feb 2024
This class was so fun! Chef Janet makes this class very easy and hassle free. Book it!
William
07 Feb 2024
Janet was a wonderful teacher and an even better person. I really enjoyed learning sushi from her!
Tori
05 Feb 2024
Wow, what a great experience! Chef Janet exceeded every expectation and created a memorable evening for our family. The company was so much fun and the food was amazing! Would highly recommend. We even talked about doing another class in the future!
Ellen
28 Jan 2024
We had SO much fun with Janet! She taught us a lot, was really kind and had great convo, and the food was delicious! She also left us absolutely nothing to clean up afterwards. We would absolutely book again. It was a great choice for my husband’s bday.
Grace
22 Jan 2024
Great quality class - I gave as a gift and the recipients were raving about the class! Not only was it a fun and approachable sushi-making class, but Janet was delightful and they had a great time hearing all about her travels and cooking experience.
Audrey
20 Jan 2024
My family had a great experience with Chef Janet. She was patient, helpful and knowledgeable. The food was delicious and the ingredients were great. We would definitely do it again.
Hamza
08 Jan 2024
Chef Janet was amazing! We had the best time with her and she has such great energy and stories for days. She explains the why and really accommodated some food restrictions for us to have an amazing meal.
Elbert
06 Jan 2024
Chef Janet did an amazing job for our dim sum class! I booked her as a surprise Christmas gift for my wife and I, and chef Janet was able to accommodate our dietary needs while tailoring the menu to our tastes. She was collaborative and open to trying new things with us, which we really appreciated. Chef Janet made a huge amount of food for the two of us, and was informative and engaging while teaching us techniques and answering our questions. She is an incredibly interesting individual with a plethora of life experience. We had an awesome time with chef Janet and would absolutely recommend her class to anyone!
Theresa
06 Jan 2024
We had such a great time with Chef Janet! She was very friendly and engaging, the food was great, and the kitchen was left sparkling clean! We're already talking about when we can book our next class!
Ellie
05 Jan 2024
Chef Janet was so much fun! She makes cooking easy and accessible, and teaches you techniques that you can use any time. She was very prepared and was a joy to have in our home.
Colleen
02 Jan 2024
Chef Janet is fantastic! She made the class accessible for three children and we all had a great time and learned some new skills! Highly recommend!
Marissa
31 Dec 2023
My boyfriend and I had a blast working with Chef Janet. She is extremely knowledgable and personable, and the food was delicious. I highly recommend!
Gracie
19 Dec 2023
Janet was a hoot. We had so much fun making dimsum and every dish was beyond delicious. I can't wait to whip out these recipes for my next dinner party!
Kyle
11 Dec 2023
Chef Janet was amazing! Highly recommend this experience to anyone for a fun night out at "home".
Jianna
07 Dec 2023
Cooking with Chef Janet was a wonderful experience!! She is a wealth of knowledge, explains directions clearly and such a kind person!! We loved spending the night cooking with her!!
Joseph
06 Dec 2023
Chef Janet was amazing! Very thorough and an excellent and patient teacher! The food was delicious and very well explained every step of the way.
Claire
03 Dec 2023
Chef Janet was AWESOME! Booked her Dim Sum class for my 2 year anniversary. She comes with everything you could need (you need to supply nothing but a stove and microwave!) and then takes home all of the dirty pots and pans - no clean up was a lovely surprise. She is funny and great to talk to. Oh and most importantly, the food was delicious!
Lauren
28 Nov 2023
We had the best evening with Chef Janet! She was so kind while talking us through each step. She was also very personable and we enjoyed getting to know her. I would recommend her and this experience to anyone I know. It was awesome and would do it again!!
Ellie
13 Nov 2023
We had the best experience with Chef Janet. She was friendly and conversational while very instructive. She kept the class moving at a great pace but made sure we had enough time to taste our creations along the way. She came fully prepared and was able to adapt the meal to our preferences. We had such a great time, we will definitely be booking another class soon!
Maria
12 Nov 2023
What a great evening! Chef Janet was informative, friendly and knowledgeable. We look forward to taking another class with her in the future :)
Keith
22 Oct 2023
We had the pleasure of celebrating two family birthdays with Janet. She helped us every step of the way and helped us create amazing Italian pasta! Would recommend her for any group!
Fahad
18 Oct 2023
Chef Janet was wonderful! The dim sum food was delicious and Janet did a great job walking us through every step of the process!
Tom
17 Oct 2023
Chef Janet was awesome! She arrived on time, brought everything we needed, laid out disposable table cloths so clean up was easy (she cleaned up), basically did everything to make the experience for me and my wife amazing. The food was great, portion sizes were incredible, and Janet also has some incredible life stories too which made the evening so interesting. We highly recommend her!
Matthew
30 Sep 2023
Our time with Chef Janet was nothing short of wonderful. It was a delightful experience to cook, converse, and create a wonderful memory with her. She was also very accommodating regarding potential dietary restrictions and made to share lots of useful techniques that could be used in our own cooking ventures. Please do yourself a favor and take one of her classes! You won’t regret it!
JoAnna
26 Sep 2023
I booked Chef Janet's Dim Sum class as a surprise gift for my husband's birthday, and we had an absolutely amazing time! We learned a bunch of great recipes and cooking tips, and her stories of living in Taiwan and Hong Kong made the class even better. She was super patient, explained everything clearly, and made sure we had enough food to feel stuffed by the end of class. My partner and I are definitely planning on taking another class with her in the future. We highly recommend her classes, do not hesitate to book!
Derek
23 Sep 2023
All of the reviews say how great Chef Janet is…they are 100% correct. She makes the class such a nice experience. She was great with our kids and she was super patient.
Sarah
14 Sep 2023
Chef Janet was great! She was super patient with us, explained everything clearly, and gave us some great tips!! We had a fantastic evening and are stuffed from so much sushi!
Brenden
04 Sep 2023
Chef Janet was incredible! She’s extremely knowledgeable and taught us several techniques. We will absolutely be doing another class with her.
Nadalie
16 Aug 2023
Chef Janet was amazing! We had a great time and the food was delicious! She was very knowledgeable and accommodating to our preferences and skill level. We will definitely be taking another class from her!
Jenni
15 Aug 2023
An enjoyable evening with family and good food.
Elizabeth
12 Aug 2023
Amazing host! Came to our house fully prepared, made so much food and everything was delicious!! She is a jack of many trades!
Sadie
03 Aug 2023
Janet is great! She is very patient and knowledgeable. We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to take another class.
Bob
30 Jul 2023
Had an wonderful, thoughtfully presented evening with Chef Janet. She was flexible on the ingredients to address tastes and provided a number of great tips thorough out the event.
Michael
12 Jul 2023
Our experience with Janet was amazing! From cooking to sharing about her journey we enjoyed every second of it.
Highly recommend!
Lindsay
11 Jul 2023
Janet was the absolute best! We had an awesome time, learned a bunch and the food was one of the best meals we have had in awhile. If you're deciding whether or not to book this experience - do not hesitate! You will not be disappointed! We can't wait for our next class :)
Adam
10 Jul 2023
Chef Janet was great!
Kirsten
26 Jun 2023
Absolutely fabulous class! So much fun and amazing food. Chef Janet was very knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. She provided a relaxing and entertaining class for my family, in the comfort of my home. I would highly recommend taking a class with Chef Janet!
Elliott
19 Jun 2023
Janet was absolutely fantastic. I wanted to surprise m girlfriend for her 28th birthday with a private cooking experience. This was my first time on Cozymeal, and Janet was the first chef I have done this with. Janet was everything we could've asked for plus more. Her communication upfront was timely and effective. She was very flexible to allow for the dietary restrictions, and allowed my girlfriend and I to customize the dishes of our choice. She was a very good teacher, but also let us do things on our own. She was helpful to "show us the way". We had good conversations and she was entertaining. She did all of the dishes and was very helpful with cleanup. The sushi was awesome and she gave us many tis and tricks. I would certainly recommend Janet!!!
Reviews Chef Janet received outside of Cozymeal
Shirali
01 Jun 2023
awesome class!
Anna
01 Jun 2023
Great class and I learned how to make sushi!
Sabrina
01 Jun 2023
We all had a wonderful time.
Jacob
01 Jun 2023
Janet was fabulous! Great class!
Neal
01 Jun 2023
Janet is amazing! She took the time to teach us how to make the dough and showed us how she would prep everything. It was a fun experience for sure and she helped us really see how to make pasta. She gave plenty of recommendations and more!
Valery
01 Jun 2023
Great Class, lots of great information and tools given. Will be back for more :)
Dominique
01 Jun 2023
Chef Janet was amazing! She was detailed in her explanations and allowed us to have fun cooking. I will definitely be back to check out her other class and bringing friends!
Lori
01 Jun 2023
Cooking with Janet was fun and informative. She was really organized, so that I could relax and enjoy the experience. The food was delicious and I'm excited to be able to make this again on my own.
Regina
01 Jun 2023
Pot stickers are way too delicious and complicated for me to ever make, right? Wrong. Janet stepped us patiently through the process of blending ground meats, chopping vegetables and mixing in seasoning. Just doing that much took the mystery out of pot stickers, but Janet even taught us how to make the dough covering part. She had also provided store-bought frozen shells, but I soon found that the dough I had was heartier. When we tasted our finished creations, I was shocked by how well we had done. Janet provided an excellent recipe and made learning it fun. She helped us feel successful. I had a great time.
Kathy
01 Jun 2023
I recently took Janet's wonderful cooking class. We made Sushi and California rolls. Janet is such a good teacher and made the experience so enjoyable! She had all the equipment ready at our places and walked us through the process step by step. We learned how to prep the fillings and roll each piece. I felt so accomplished when I finished. And it tasted great!
