Lydia Hodges

$100/person

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Responds in about 4 hours

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About

I am a culinary trained professional that is insured! WE CAN TRAVEL to YOU! SPECIALIZES in Bachelorette/Bachelor parties Micro weddings & Wedding catering Bridal & baby showers Brunches Intimate dinners & events Corporate events and so much more We Offer Drop off for any event BIG OR small! We do not offer bartending services, but work with other local bartenders! We also do not offer just service, but we do offer food with service. Even if it’s charcuterie, crudite, or dessert. I’ve been in the hospitality industry for 14 years. I started Little Plates which was a very successful healthy food program for kids in daycares and private schools. I traveled the country catering micro events for the last couple years, and started a luxury picnic business on the Oregon coast & Washington state. The Hudson Valley & the Tri-state area has always been my home and the uniqueness of it keeps me coming back!

Overview

Hired 60 times

10 similar jobs done near you

Background checked

4 employees

5 years in business

Business hours

This pro hasn't listed their business hours.

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Venmo, and Zelle.

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Top Pro status

Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

2024

Services offered

Event type

Additional food/drink

Dessert

Cold beverages (non-alcoholic)

Hot beverages (coffee, tea, etc.)

Cuisine types

American - casual

American - formal

Italian

Southern

Projects and media

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Exceptional 5.0

70 reviews

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Read reviews that mention:

Lindsay S.

Sep 1, 2025

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Hired on Thumbtack

Chef Lydia and her sous chef hosted our best friend’s bachelorette party and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. They were punctual, professional and fun. They added so many personal touches that went with our theme, helped us pick out a great menu with fresh foods that were in season and were very personable with great conversation. Some of our personal favorites were the homemade pasta, homemade ice cream and the Pinot Grigio chicken. We also enjoyed a wonderful mocktail hour with two beautiful charcuterie boards. She was the perfect chef for our event! Thanks again :) Lindsay

Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 6 - 10 guests • Dinner • I'm flexible • Dessert • American - casual • American - formal • Italian • Mexican / Latin American • Southern • Mediterranean / Middle Eastern • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.

Personal Chef

Elsie A.

Feb 3, 2025

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Hired on Thumbtack

I was not able to make my event happen with Chef Lydia because we had a changed of plan. A travel instead of a party Not my choice but my husband's. I am giving this review of Chef Lydia from my experienced with the flow of our communications: it was a breeze on our planning, she gave me a phone call right away making sure we are on the same page, which hardly happen in these day in age., email and text messages seem to be the new form of communication. I am a baby boomer and I believed in a personal connection. Chef Lydia is very personable: she sent me a set menu in a matter of day. Her business acumen is to excellence. She seem an easy person to work with. I will definitely reach out to her again if I would have another party planned.

Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 36 - 50 guests • Dinner • I'm flexible • Dessert • Barbecue • Mexican / Latin American • Meal prepared onsite • A few times per month • My home, venue, etc.

Personal Chef

Maddie R.

Nov 26, 2025

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Hired on Thumbtack

I hired Chef Lydia for my wedding and I am so beyond grateful that I did. We had small wedding with ~25 people and we all stayed at a private estate for the weekend. I wanted to have an intimate dinner meal at “home” while still enjoying the benefits of professional-grade food and service. I spoke with a few other chefs in the area but was having trouble finding someone who I connected with and who grasped the vision. A friend of mine recommended looking at Thumbtack and I was a little hesitant as I’d never heard of it but after speaking with Chef Lydia I immediately knew I’d hit gold. She was a great listener and I felt she truly understood what I wanted and was excited to be a part of it. She made some great suggestions and was also open to accommodate any of my requests. We settled on appetizers for a cocktail hour and a 3-course meal for the sit-down dinner. After engaging with Chef Lydia she was extremely responsive to any follow up questions I had and also checked in with me at considerate intervals so I never felt like she’d forgotten about me. The food was delicious, fresh, and beautifully arranged without being pretentious. The service was also phenomenal – everything was executed efficiently and was timed perfectly. I would recommend Chef Lydia from the fantastic food and service alone, but what really exceeded my expectations were all the extra things they did to make our day special. To name a few: they organized the make-shift bar area we’d thrown together the previous night, they pre-poured glasses of champagne for our post-ceremony toast, they lit 30+ candles at the table before dinner and helped move them to the living room when the party migrated there post-dinner, we made our own desserts which they brought out and arranged for us to enjoy after dinner, they even brought some of their own flowers/decorations, the list goes on. And, of course, they tidied up the kitchen upon arrival and left it spotless when they left. All that said, what really made my experience with Chef Lydia exceptional was her and her team’s professionalism and positive energy. Chef Lydia and her team were prompt, low-maintenance, and so personable. Because we were all staying on site there were plenty of people coming in and out of the kitchen and chatting with them while they cooked and they were so friendly and warm. My husband and I walked actually through the kitchen on the way outside for our marriage ceremony and Chef Lydia and crew were there cheering us on and hyping us up! The service provided by Chef Lydia and her team was one of the highlights of the weekend – we were all blown away by the quality of the food, the service, and the personalities.

Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 21 - 35 guests • Dinner • I'm flexible • Italian • American - formal • American - casual • Mediterranean / Middle Eastern • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.

Personal Chef

Taylor G.

Nov 1, 2025

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Hired on Thumbtack

Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 21 - 35 guests • Dinner • Cocktail hour / hors d'oeuvres • Dessert • I'm flexible • Dessert • American - formal • Italian • Nut allergies • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.

Personal Chef

Jim M.

Oct 27, 2025

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Hired on Thumbtack

Let's start with what wasn't perfect. Oh wait...nothing! For my wife’s 65th birthday, we hosted six couples at an estate in the Berkshires. In our first conversation, on Zoom, Chef Lydia's warmth and energy jumped off the screen. When the house’s water system failed on the big day, Lydia, her husband, Nathan, and their team didn’t flinch. They bought many gallons of water on the way and carried on with grace and positivity. Her team was attentive without being intrusive, reading the room perfectly and making everyone feel cared for. The locally inspired menu (which she worked closely with me to create) was outstanding, showcasing her deep connections with area producers. Every dish was delicious, and the birthday cake — courtesy of her bakery friends — was a big hit. Beyond the food, Chef Lydia’s professionalism and gift for making everyone feel important made the evening unforgettable. She and her team also left the kitchen spotless — every dish, pot and platter cleaned and put away. Chef Lydia is one of those rare people who makes everyone and everything around her better. We were very lucky to find her — thanks, Thumbtack — and we’d hire her again in a heartbeat.

Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 11 - 20 guests • Cocktail hour / hors d'oeuvres • Dinner • Premium (high end ingredients) • Dessert • American - casual • American - formal • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.

Personal Chef

Credentials

Background Check

Lydia Hodges

FAQs

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I actually love working with new clients and clients who have never hired a chef before. I try I and make it easy and streamline it as much as possible! I’m here to make it a luxurious and fun experience.
How did you get started doing this type of work?
I have been in the industry for 14 years in every aspect of restaurants, then in 2014 I jumped feet first into an organic food program for kids that o created from scratch. I started it at a daycare and it expanded to a private school as well. I absolutely loved being in the kitchen and crafting delicious, nutritious menus!
What types of customers have you worked with?
Wonderful people from all walks of life. Most importantly- Kind people.