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About
We are a plant based/vegan catering and personal chef business! We cater weddings, cooperate events, do festivals, personal chef for retreats, private homes, festive dinner parties and teach cooking classes. We customize to your needs!
Other specialty diets are easily accommodated: gluten-free, soy-free, grain-free, nut-free etc.
We love showing people how delicious a healthy lifestyle can be! There is no need to be deprived at all when eating a plant-based diet. If there is a dish you desire, we can make it plant-based and many times those eating it don't even guess it's vegan. Let us inspire, teach you and wow you!
Overview
Hired 15 times
Background checked
18 years in business
Business hours
Sun10:00 am - 9:00 pmMon10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Cash, Credit card, PayPal, and Venmo.
Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.
2019
2018
Services offered
Event type
Wedding
Birthday or anniversary party
Dinner party
Corporate event
Meal
Breakfast or brunch
Lunch
Cocktail hour or hors d'oeuvres
Dinner
Drinks and dessert
Dessert
Non-alcoholic drinks
Alcoholic drinks
Coffee or tea
Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, responsiveness, and work quality.
Exceptional 5.0
21 reviews
5
100%
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Your trust means everything to us. Learn about our review guidelines.
Read reviews that mention:
Paul G.
May 4, 2018
•
Hired on Thumbtack
We hired Shelley for our wedding in April and LOVED her work! When we met with her she was very interested in us and our preferences, and was very helpful in reigning our scatterbrained thoughts in. She offered an array of appetizers, garlic bread, green beans (the biggest hit of all our guests!), and a creamy pasta. Although we didn't use them, she could provide dinnerware. She even visited our venue with us to get an idea of the kitchen and facilities. We never got to try the appetizers because our guests cleaned them up, so they must have been good! All through the evening everyone was amazed how good the food was. The food truly exceeded our expectations, and working with Shelley was a joy as well. She and her staff were friendly, prompt, very professional, and she worked miracles with that food. Thank you so much!
Details: Bride or groom • Dinner • Entrees • Hot beverages (coffee, tea, etc.) • Italian • Mexican / Latin American • Mediterranean / Middle Eastern • Indian • Food stations • Yes - full kitchen (oven, stove, refrigerator, sink, and utensils) • Outdoor venue • 71 - 80 guests • $$ (standard)
Living Veg's reply
Loved being a part of your wedding! Such a beautiful wedding it was, you could definitely feel the love in the air. So glad you all enjoyed the food, thank you for the kind review. Congrats again to you both! <3
Wedding Catering
Melissa C.
Jan 9, 2019
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Hired on Thumbtack
I honestly can’t properly express my gratitude for Shelley. I had the task to create a Vegan Organic Kosher wedding feast!! Shelley was my super hero !! We met via FaceTime for planning sessions as I live in CO and she’s in CA. She was so amazing and truly understood exactly what we were looking for. Food is our love language and having a chef that was as passionate as we are was a perfect fit. From the menu planning to the prepping to checking in the ingredients to serving and presenting - her service was spectacular!!! She also provided me with servers !
She created a gourmet vegan taco bar with the most heavanly cheese sauce! We finished the meal with a dessert table that included lime frosted vegan cupcakes with some Gluten Free.
I look forward to working with Shelley over and over again and highly recommend her. Oh did I mention the drum line and the contact info for the sound bath meditation for the bride ?
Details: Party host • Wedding • Lunch • Cold beverages (non-alcoholic) • Hot beverages (coffee, tea, etc.) • Mexican / Latin American • Mediterranean / Middle Eastern • Buffet / self serve • Only drop off is necessary • Home • Yes - full kitchen (oven, stove, refrigerator, sink, and utensils) • 51 - 60 guests • Standard (basic ingredients)
Wedding and Event Catering
Nikki C.
Jun 5, 2018
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Hired on Thumbtack
Shelley was an excellent professional from the moment we made contact. I was looking for a fun, team-building exercise as part of a staff retreat, and I would absolutely recruit Shelley for any future activity with our staff. Admittedly, I am not a vegan, plant-based person...so when I first saw her focus, I was a little hesitant. Our staff also are mostly omnivores. We aren't too picky but I knew we would be tired after a long day together.
When I talked about our objectives and she put a proposed menu together (and also explained that we wouldn't have access to any kitchen or heat sources)...even I became excited about the evening and the food! I'll say that when we told our staff the "surprise" activity, they were more excited about her class than about the fact that we were going to spend the entire next day at Knott's Berry Farm!
Shelley was early to the site, set up quickly, dove right in and immediately got us making a dish that would get food into our tummies after a long day of our staff retreat so that we wouldn't be "hangry." She "read" our group dynamic with a slick expertise and moved at a pace that kept us engaged. When she taught us knife skills, we were able to laugh and learn together in a memorable way. She had a plan for four courses, including dessert, but by the time we got to our third course -- rolling our own sushi -- everyone was literally rolling on our own because we were SO FULL. Most people in our group had never rolled or made their own sushi so they were thrilled for the experience. Dessert was perfect because it was light -- mango with yogurt.
Our staff LOVED this experience. They asked if we could do this again and work with Shelley again at some point in the future. I would happily hire her back to create more memories for us and more yummy foods and teach us more great culinary skills. Thank you, Shelley!
Details: 11+ people • Italian • Vegetarian / Vegan • Japanese • American • BBQ • Mexican / Latin • Healthy • Basic cooking skills • Baking - bread • Baking - desserts and pastries • No dietary restrictions • Adult (over 18) • Beginner • $75 - $150 per person • Willing to work around teacher's schedule • I travel to the cooking instructor • The cooking instructor travels to me
Living Veg's reply
Such an absolute pleasure throwing this extended cooking class for your staff. I think we might of had just as much fun as you guys. It's groups like you that make me love my job. Looking forward to throwing another class for you all in the future! :-)
Private Cooking Lessons
Ryan G.
May 20, 2018
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Hired on Thumbtack
Truly a memorable dinner. Shelly helped me plan, prep, and organize my engagement dinner. It was perfect! I would recommend her to anyone who lands on her profile.
Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 2 guests • Dinner • Dessert • Premium (high end ingredients) • Cold beverages (alcoholic) • American - formal • Italian • Mediterranean / Middle Eastern • French • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • $81 - $100 per person • The personal chef travels to me
Living Veg's reply
Loved being a part of your special night! Such a gorgeous setting for your proposal. Thanks for the kind review! Congrats again to you both <3
Personal Chef
Anna W.
Sep 25, 2018
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Hired on Thumbtack
Shelley was wonderful to work with. She helped me adapt to a new food allergy protocol with her personal chef services. The food she made was fantastic! Highly recommend her!
Details: Regular meal • 2 guests • Lunch • Dinner • Standard (basic ingredients) • Asian • Indian • Meal prepared onsite • Weekly • The personal chef travels to me
Personal Chef
Credentials
Background Check
Shelley Martin
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Pricing is very customized and we like to find a way to make it fit your budget and needs. Private cooking lessons/parties are a flat fee and then a small add on for each additional person. Call or email to get a list of all our services and general pricing.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We like to meet with customers first, ideally in person, but over the phone works too. It's helpful to understand a client's dietary needs and what they are accustomed to, then we can design a package for their event, cooking class, meal plan or whatever we dream up together.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I worked at a small culinary school for a while and learned from some incredible chefs, then proceeded to read every culinary school textbook I could lay my hands on. I proceeded to start a vegan bakery and catering biz I ran for 9 years. Now, as well as being a vegan chef, I've expanded to cooking classes and plant based consulting.
