A private chef for a night

Lara Cory enjoyed a romantic dinner with her husband, cooked for them by an experienced chef in the comfort of their own home

Parisians love to entertain at home, and apparently, they love using private chefs to take the hassle out of the whole affair. To be honest, it’s not really the sort of thing I would normally do, but then, I’m not Parisian. The whole idea of having a stranger come into my kitchen and make dinner seems like fertile ground for awkwardness. But, I was wrong.

La Belle Assiette is a private chef service that began in Paris six years ago by two friends, Stephen and Giorgio, and has since flourished and expanded to the UK. Designed to take the stress and effort out of entertaining at home, the process is remarkably easy; from the simple pricing structure to the menu selection, and all the way through to the end of the night when there isn’t a dirty dish in sight.

One of the chefs servicing the Berkshire area is Mark Apsey, who specialises, but isn’t limited to, dairy-free, vegan and modern gastronomic cuisine. Born and raised in Reading, Mark is now based in Tilehurst with his wife and two children. Before going into private service working freelance as well as with La Belle Assiette, Mark had been head chef of Bompas and Parr, The Idle Rocks in Cornwall and L’Ortolan in Reading, starting his career in Michelin-starred restaurants including Nathan Outlaw, John Campbell at Coworth Park and The Atlantic Hotel in Jersey.