Lydia Hodges

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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 68 times

Background checked

4 employees

6 years in business

Business hours

This pro hasn't listed their business hours.

Payment methods

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

Social media

Instagram

Top Pro status

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

2025

2024

Services offered

Beverage types

Beer

Liquor / mixed drinks

Wine

Non-alcoholic beverages

Event type

Wedding reception

Birthday party

Special occasion

Cocktail party

Event vibe

Low key / casual

Formal / elegant

Upbeat / lively

Projects and media

Reviews

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

Exceptional 5.0

74 reviews

5

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Read reviews that mention:

Jahanara U.

2 weeks ago

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Hired on Thumbtack

Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 6 - 10 guests • Dinner • Premium (high end ingredients) • Dessert • Cold beverages (non-alcoholic) • American - formal • Italian • Mediterranean / Middle Eastern • Asian • French • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc.

Personal Chef

Annemarie D.

Feb 20, 2026

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Hired on Thumbtack

Chef Lydia and her assistant, Nathan, were an absolute pleasure to have in our home! Chef’s cooking is healthy, clean and delicious. Her presentation was beautiful and every element was thoughtfully prepared. She brought kid-friendly options with special touches just for our little ones and came ready with dietary alterations for each dish to accommodate an allergy. Both Chef Lydia and Nathan added such joy to our evening, seamlessly blending in while remaining professional, polished and attentive. My kitchen was flawless when they left. I would easily welcome them back for another occasion.

Details: Regular meal • 6 - 10 guests • Lunch • Dinner • Standard (basic ingredients) • Dessert • Italian • Mexican / Latin American • Mediterranean / Middle Eastern • Dairy intolerant • Meal prepared onsite • A few times per week • My home, venue, etc.

Personal Chef

Zoe H.

Feb 14, 2026

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Hired on Thumbtack

Lydia was amazing to work with every step of the way. She was very responsive and came to the table with great ideas to make the night perfect. And not to mention the food was outstanding. Super accommodating for any food allergies or dislikes!

Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 11 - 20 guests • Dinner • Standard (basic ingredients) • Dessert • Italian • Gluten free or celiac • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • My home, venue, etc.

Personal Chef

Victoria P.

Feb 13, 2026

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Hired on Thumbtack

Details: Special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) • 6 - 10 guests • Dinner • Standard (basic ingredients) • Dessert • American - casual • American - formal • Italian • Mediterranean / Middle Eastern • Vegetarian or vegan • Meal prepared onsite • Only once • 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

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.