Vacation Private Chef
Big Boards Catering brings a full vacation private chef experience to rental homes in and around Clermont, FL, cooking restaurant quality meals right in your vacation kitchen.
The Top Vacation Private Chef in clermont, FL
Big Boards Catering delivers a true vacation private chef experience to travelers staying in and around Clermont, FL. Chef Andy Raphael owns and operates the company, and he personally cooks in vacation homes across the theme park corridor every week. We build each menu around your group, your trip, and the one rule of vacation, which is that nobody should spend it in the kitchen. Feast nights featuring a full Seafood Boil, Tomahawk Steak, or King Crab Legs turn a rental house dinner into the highlight of the trip. Family favorites like Sheet Pan Tacos, Gourmet Burger Sliders, and Mac & Cheese keep every age at the table happy. The chef shops for the ingredients, cooks on site in your rental kitchen, serves the meal, and cleans everything before leaving. After long park days, dinner is simply ready when your group walks through the door. Dietary needs, allergies, and kids plates get planned before you ever land in Florida. We serve single celebration dinners and multi night packages across a full stay. Vacation homes in Clermont, Kissimmee, Celebration, Horizon West, and the surrounding resort communities all sit inside our range. Pricing stays transparent and itemized, which matters when a big group is splitting the bill. When you book Big Boards Catering, your vacation gets the one upgrade everyone at the table will agree on.
Andy and his crew absolutely knocked it out of the park catering my cousin’s bridal shower at our home. From start to finish, everything was seamless. The food was exceptional—beautifully presented and even better tasting (guests are still talking about it). Every detail felt thoughtful and elevated the entire event. The service was just as impressive. Andy and his team were professional, attentive, and made everything feel effortless on our end. They truly went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly so we could actually enjoy the day. I would recommend Andy to anyone without hesitation and will definitely be using him again for future events. Five stars all the way!
I just have to say—Andy absolutely knocked it out of the park. The food was incredible from start to finish, but the shrimp and grits were on another level. Hands down the best shrimp I’ve ever had—perfectly cooked, flavorful, and just melt-in-your-mouth good. You can tell a lot of care and skill went into every bite. I’ll definitely be coming back and recommending this to everyone I know!
Such a great catering company! If you want class paired with absolutely delicious food, this is the one. Everything was beautifully done and tasted even better than it looked!!
Food was delicious, the set up was beautiful, and the staff was incredible!! 🙂
The presentation was incredible, the food was absolutely amazing. But the staff was by far the best part! I highly recommend!
Shrimp and grits were incredible!! The service is amazing. I’ve never been unsatisfied.!! We have hired Andy three times now and every time it’s absolutely perfect!! High quality and definitely recommend them!
We used Big Boards for our wedding shower in Winter Garden this past August, and they were fantastic! The food was delicious, especially the charcuterie board and cannolis 😉, which were a huge hit with our guests. The display was beautifully set up, and everything was handled so professionally. They truly made the day special. Highly recommend!
Big Boards Catering made celebrating my special event an enchanting evening, and my guest are still raving about the food and excellent service.
We highly recommend Andy and his team for any event. We were fortunate enough to have him cater our wedding last October in Howie in The Hills. The food we chose was amazing: Entrees *Pulled pork and Mac and cheese *Chili Glazed Meatballs with Yukon gold mash potatoes Sides *green beans with almonds *Chili Rice and Beans We plan on using him for our other events and can’t recommend Big Boards Catering enough.
Have attended several events where Big Boards Catering provided the food. It's always been excellent food and excellent service! I've been impressed with their attention to detail in how they set up and display the food as well as break down and clean up!
Andy and his team are awesome! I will use Big Boards again in a heartbeat. My guests were so impressed with not only the presentation but the food itself was outstanding! Big Boards Catering is an absolute must use ... again and again!
We have used big boards several times as well as been at events they have catered. Everything is always wonderful. We highly recommend them!
We’ve used Andy and staff for about 3 events and they have been amazing. Food has been delicious and when accompanied with their amazing service, they are perfect for any event!
Shrimp and grits to die for! Highlight recommend! Great service and delicious foods for parties and family gatherings
Amazing! Perfect beautiful amazing services I love them so much! The food is so good!!
Thank you to the Big Boards Catering Team for the community support by sponsoring Windermere Wine & Dine (multiple years and in very cold temperatures outdoors with smiles on their faces), Matthew's Hope catered fundraising evening, and so many local charities. Beyond your Team's generous hearts and great attitudes, the food that you gifted was delicious, creative, and "Pinteresting." Your company has created jobs and opportunities for so many people, including former students of mine that I taught during their high school years. I am honored to recommend Big Boards Catering to my clients and friends without hesitation because I know that consistently they show up and bring the wow-factor as well as caring for their employees. You are ambassadors of the very best in event/wedding catering industry for professional standards - both in food and business practices. Bless you for all that you do here in Central Florida for our community ❤️🧑🍳☕️✅️
The BEST catering company in the Orlando area. Food is amazing and full of flavor. The staff is kind and will take amazing care of you for your event. If you want great service and amazing food you don’t need to look any further. Go ahead and book Big Boards Catering.
Goodbye party for ED. Wonderful variety and amount of food for staff party (Feb 2026). Everyone was raving about the food.
Andy and his team put together an amazing menu for my son's Wedding Rehersal dinner at our home. What made it even better was we did it all in under 2 weeks! Andy reassured me it would all be perfect and it absolutely was! The food was delicious and his team did all the work...including the clean up!!
Wow!! Thats really the best way to describe Big Boards!! They have catered many events for one of the non profits I am a part of as well as multiple events around central Florida that we have attended....They knock it out of the park everytime!! They are extremely prompt, professional, and the owners go above and beyond for each client!! Small dinner party at home call them!! Office party for 50 people call them! Big corporate event for 300 people and food allergies CALL them!! I cannot reccomend Andy and his crew enough!!!
Delicious food and amazing elevated experience. Owners are extremely personable and always engaging at events. Definitely next level for catering.
Big Boards has been a go-to for my husband and me from Day 1, and we will continue to have them cater our yearly New Years Day event (wouldn't consider any other caterer....ever!). Andy and his team always go the extra mile and bring our events to another level. We have never been disappointed in the quality of the food and service we receive, and we so appreciate the way Big Boards brings that WOW factor! Highly recommend!!!
Every year my husband and I host a Christmas party for our staff of about 75-100 people. Big Boards has been catering this event for the last 4 years. They are always a joy to work with and food is always consistent and DELICIOUS. You must try their deviled eggs! We plan to continue to use their services for our Christmas party and any other events that come up.
I’ve used Big Boards Catering for several events, and they’ve been exceptional every time. They always arrive with a positive attitude, serve delicious food, and truly go above and beyond to ensure everything aligns perfectly with your event’s theme. Last December, our downtown Orlando office building turned 100 years old. They planned a “100-Year Old Christmas” party for me, and it was outstanding. They exceeded all expectations. If you’re looking for someone to handle your event, Andy and his team are a fantastic choice. They absolutely will not disappoint.
Andy and his team were phenomenal for our wedding this past January at Villa Festa in Deland FL. The food was amazing and the presentation was stunning. Andy’s attention to detail is second to none. Highly recommend for any event!
Big Boards Catering is incredible! Great Service, Incredible Food, Highest Communication Ever! Total knowledge, diverse menu and flexible with all options, All around 5x5 stars! Thank you Andy and Teresa!
Big Boards has the best food catered to your preference and service is excellent. Will be using them at our next event
We have had Andy cater three events and he is a genuinely good person with great food and service! Highly recommend!
I’ve had Big Boards Catering multiple times through our BNI group, and it’s something I genuinely look forward to. You can tell he really cares because everything is always fresh, creative, and put together with intention. It’s never your typical boring spread. Highly recommend.
The absolute best food and service I have ever experienced. I will use Andy’s catering company for all my personal and business events in the future.
I’ve have several great experiences working with Big Boards Catering. The professionalism, creativity, and fun they bring to every function is unmatched! Looking forward to next time!
Andy and the Big Boards team have hosted several events in our home. Each time the attention to details, their flexibility with the menu, and treatment of our guests have been top notch! Andy is easy to work with and really wants to make each event special in its own way. We highly recommend this catering team!!! Pro tip: get the shrimp and grits, and the pesto tortellini!
Big Boards fed my wife’s Birthday Event. The food was themed and on point. Andy and his Crew were Exceptional. I have watched him grow since the beginning. I Highly Highly recommend Big Boards for any event. Thank you Andy for your expertise and quality Much future Success Tom & Marianne Cook
In the spring of 2021 we decided to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with an open house. We contacted Andy at Big Boards Catering. WOW! What a pleasure that turned out to be. He handled everything. We could relax and enjoy our friends. It was a spectacular party and so worry free. They made sure everything was fresh and beautifully presented. Would recommend Andy and his crew for any catering need.
I had been to a few events that Andy had catered, so we used him for our large, Anniversary open house in 2021. It was huge success, and we are still getting positive comments from friends who say it was the best they have seen. I have since been to several events that Andy catered, and every one was first rate. Totally recommend him for his work and his integrity.
Over the past couple of years we have had the honor of working with Andy and his incredible team at Big Boards many times! Whether it's a Wine and Charcuterie night, catering for an event or team meeting, the level of professionalism cant be beat! Andy has such a passion for this and truly cares about each and every client and staff member he interacts with. We will be using Big Boards Catering again!
We have used Andy and his company a few times. Last was Nov 2026 for a 60th Bday party. They did an exemplary job in providing a beautiful menu and even accommodated special diets for a few relatives. They took care of everything. We enjoyed our own party. Highly recommend. Winter Garden, Florida.
We have used Big Boards Catering for my 60th Birthday in August of 2023 and they blew the event out of the park. Everyone raved about the appetizers, the main courses, and the incredible desserts. The set up and attention to detail are top notch. Andy and his team We have used for at least 3 other events and they never disappoint. Cannot wait to use them for our next event.
We have used Big Boards Catering for our annual holiday party in our home in Winter Garden and will continue to do so. Andy and his team create an incredible visual presentation onsite rounded out with food that is equally great. Andy is always responsive and worked with us on any modifications to our menu and always accommodated last minute requests and changes prior to our event. Highly recommend Big Board for any event - personal or business, large or small. You won’t be disappointed!
We used Big Boards Catering for our son‘s wedding on November 1 at Tanner Hall in Winter Garden. From beginning to end, Andy and his team did a magnificent job. The food was absolutely amazing!
I can’t say enough about the service that you will receive with BBC. Andy and his team are so professional and personable all at the same time. They feel like family. They have done Christmas parties and our 50th birthday celebration . Andy is the best!
Outstanding!! Big Boards did our housewarming and everything was perfect. Everyone raved about the food and the presentation! I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Staff was lovely and my kitchen was spotless when they left. Big Boards is the way to go for catering casual or formal affairs.
Big Boards catered my son’s wedding on 11/1/2025. Andy and his team did an amazing job! The quality and attention to detail are second to none. I would absolutely recommend them for any special event.
Big Boards Catering made my daughter’s wedding reception at The Sterling Event Center in Minneola, FL absolutely unforgettable. From the very first consultation through the months leading up to the event, Andy and his staff were professional, organized, and truly attentive. On the wedding day they went above and beyond—seamlessly handling every detail and keeping everything running smoothly. The food was outstanding and delivered the “wow” factor we wanted. Thank you, Andy and team, for making the day spectacular!
Not only is the food absolutely delicious, but the presentation is also gorgeous🤩 Big Boards can make something as simple as a tray of deviled eggs look like a masterpiece. Whether you’re looking for something casual, fun, unique, or elevated, Big Boards Catering Company is the way to go. Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The high level of thought and consideration put into the planning and execution of their events is truly incredible. Everything, from the quality of the food, to the harmony of the items on the menu, to the presentation and its appeal, reflect the care and work ethic these folks pour into their work. My family has been attending functions and parties put on by the purveyors of this business since they were located in Coral Springs, and if anything they have only gotten better. The high reviews speak for themselves, and they only want customer satisfaction as their main goal. They will go out of their way to make your party/event the way you want it: a memorable one that you and your guests will talk about for a long time after it's done.
Exceptional catering experience for a baby shower! From my very first email inquiry until the end of the event Andy and his team were on top of everything! I was planning the event out of state & Andy coordinated and made the menu planning easy for me! We hosted a brunch menu and the food was amazingly presented and very delicious!
I hosted a bridal brunch in May 2025 and hired Big Boards Catering, and it was an unforgettable experience! The service was exceptional, making everyone feel welcomed and attended to. The food was simply outstanding, with the shrimp and grits being the highlight of the meal—rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Every detail was thoughtfully curated, creating a delightful atmosphere for celebrating the bride. Highly recommend Big Boards Catering for any special occasion!
I feel like I can write a book about how AMAZING Andrew & the entire Big Boards team! My husband and I hosted Christmas parties in 2021, 2022, & 2023 and Andrew & team were our go to for catering. Everything was WAY beyond our expectations. The food was amazing, the presentation was over the top, and the service was impeccable. Needless to say our neighbors now ask, mid-summer, for our Christmas party date to have it saved in their calendars. We love the team over at Big Boards Catering..
Such a great event we had March 2026 in Ocoee thanks to the amazing food and presentation Big Boards Catering provided! Never fails to amaze! Andy and his team also catered my wedding back in April of 2024 and because of how amazing him and the entire team did that is why i had them for my event this past March and will use them for every event in the future!
I cannot say enough about Big Boards Catering, Andy, and his entire team. We celebrated my parents 35th Anniversary, my grandma’s 90th Birthday, and doggy’s 13th Birthday, this March 2026 in Ocoee. The food was delicious and the presentation was exceptional. All of the guests were blown away and loved it all. Andy went the extra mile to make sure everything was perfect. I will make sure that Big Boards Catering’s name will spread and I will definitely use them again in the near future!
Andy and his team catered my daughter’s baby shower They followed the theme, provided decorations for food serving tables. The staff took care of set up to clean up. Highly recommend!!
I don’t even know where to begin Andy, Teresa, and the entire team at Big Boards Catering absolutely blew us away for our very first Empowered Electrical Christmas party. From the moment everything was set up, you could tell this was next-level. The presentation alone was stunning, but then you take a bite and it just gets better. Every single item was hot, fresh, and packed with flavor. You could taste the care, the quality, and the intention behind every detail. Nothing sat, nothing felt prepped hours before. It was all dialed in perfectly. Our team could not stop talking about the spread. People were going back for seconds and thirds, just trying to experience everything. It honestly turned into one of the highlights of the entire night and made our first Christmas party as a company that much more special. What made it even more powerful was the moment itself. After everything we accomplished in our first year at Empowered, the night carried a lot of emotion for our team. To have Andy, Teresa, and their team there catering that experience and serving at such a high level made it something we will never forget. It is honestly hard to even put into words what that meant to all of us. What stood out even more was the professionalism and heart behind it all. Andy and Teresa didn’t just cater an event, they elevated the entire experience and made it feel special for every single person there. If you are even thinking about hiring a catering company, stop looking. This is the one. Big Boards Catering set a standard that is going to be hard for anyone else to touch. Thank you guys for making our first Empowered Electrical Christmas party unforgettable. We will 100 percent be back.
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Locations We Offer Vacation Private Chef in Central Florida
Big Boards Catering cooks in vacation rentals, resort homes, and villas across Central Florida, from Clermont and Horizon West to Kissimmee, Celebration, Windermere, and the greater Orlando area. Browse our locations directory to confirm vacation private chef coverage for your rental in your specific city.
- Altamonte Springs
- Apopka
- Baldwin Park
- Casselberry
- Celebration
- Clermont
- Dr. Phillips
- Fairview Shores
- Fern Park
- Forest City
- Gotha
- Groveland
- Horizon West
- Kissimmee
- Lake Mary
- Lockhart
- Longwood
- Maitland
- Mascotte
- Minneola
- Ocoee
- Orlando
- Pine Hills
- Plymouth
- Wekiwa Springs
- Windemere
- Winter Garden
- Winter Park
Our FUll List of Catering Services
Groups who book a vacation chef often add a grazing table for arrival night or dessert catering for a birthday celebrated mid trip, and locals book the same service as an anniversary private chef at home. Visit our full services directory to see every catering option we offer across Central Florida.
- Anniversary Private Chef
- Baby Shower Catering
- Bachelorette Catering
- BBQ Catering
- Bridal Shower Catering
- Brunch Catering
- Buffet Catering
- Corporate Catering
- Dessert Catering
- Engagement Party Catering
- Girls Trip Catering
- Grazing Table
- Holiday Catering
- Party Catering
- Private Chef
- Quinceañera Catering
- Rehearsal Dinner Catering
- Sandwich Catering
- Sweet 16 Catering
- Taco Catering
- Vacation Private Chef Catering
- Wedding Catering
YEars Experience
Client Satisfaction
Menu Options
Events Catered
Vacation Private Chef in Clermont
The vacation rental corridor around Clermont and Orlando fills with traveling families every week, and most of them face the same dinner problem. After ten hours at the parks, nobody wants to cook, and a restaurant wait with tired kids tests everyone’s patience. Grocery runs eat vacation hours, and a rental kitchen full of unfamiliar pans rarely inspires anyone. A private chef solves all of it in one booking, because dinner happens at the house while your group rests by the pool. Chef Andy Raphael arrives with everything, cooks fresh in your rental kitchen, and serves the meal at your table. The group eats together without a reservation, a drive, or a check split across four families. The kitchen gets cleaned completely before the chef leaves. That is the version of vacation dinner that people actually dream about.
Feast night is the heart of a vacation chef booking, and our menu is built to deliver it. A full Seafood Boil spreads across the table with shrimp, corn, and all the trimmings, turning dinner into an event the kids talk about for years. Tomahawk Steak arrives with real drama, carved for a table of hungry travelers celebrating being together. King Crab Legs, Snow Crab Legs, and Lobster Tails give seafood loving groups the splurge they came for. Beef Tenderloin with Rosemary Garlic & Shallots suits multigenerational dinners where the grandparents deserve something special. The Grilled Shrimp Boil Skewers bring the boil experience in an easier serving format for casual nights. Sides like Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Mac & Cheese, and Green Beans with Almonds Bacon & Black Pepper round out every plate. One great feast night anchors the whole trip’s memories, and we cook it like we know that.
The service itself runs simply from your side of the counter. During planning, we confirm the rental address, the kitchen setup, and the headcount, and then the menu gets built around your group. On the day, the chef shops for fresh ingredients and arrives at your scheduled time with everything needed, including professional cookware. Cooking happens on site in the rental kitchen, so the house fills with the smell of a real dinner instead of takeout bags. The meal gets plated and served at your table, buffet style or family style depending on the group. Kids can eat first when schedules demand it, and adults can linger after. Cleanup happens completely before the chef leaves, down to the counters and the sink. Your only responsibilities are showing up hungry and deciding who sits where.
Our base in Clermont puts us minutes from the heart of Central Florida’s vacation rental market. The resort communities around Kissimmee and Celebration sit squarely inside our nightly range. Horizon West and Windermere rentals, close to the west side of the parks, book us constantly for family gatherings. Larger vacation homes in Groveland, Minneola, and the Clermont lake country host our multigenerational feast nights. Orlando and Dr. Phillips vacation stays, from condos to executive homes, get the same doorstep service. We also reach Winter Garden, Ocoee, and Apopka for groups staying west of the city. Travel is part of our daily rhythm, so your rental’s location rarely surprises us. If your booking confirmation has a Central Florida address, we can probably cook there.
Vacation groups almost always span generations, and the menu has to feed all of them at once. Kids get familiar favorites like Gourmet Burger Sliders, Mac & Cheese, and a Hot Dog Bar that ends the nightly dinner negotiation. Teenagers gravitate to Sheet Pan Tacos and Air Fried Charred Chicken Wings, which disappear faster than we can say so. Adults get the feast, from steak and seafood to Penne Pasta in Tomato Vodka Sauce for the pasta loyalists. Grandparents appreciate gentler options like Salmon in Pesto Sauce and fresh salads. A grazing table on arrival night welcomes everyone to the house before anyone unpacks. Fruit displays and lighter bites balance the vacation indulgence across the week. One table, four generations, zero complaints is the standard we cook toward.
Flexibility is what separates a vacation chef from a one night event. Many groups book a single celebration dinner, often for a birthday, an anniversary, or the last night of the trip. Others book two or three nights across the stay, alternating feast nights with simpler family dinners. Breakfast or brunch service can start a rest day slowly, with deviled eggs, fruit, and warm comfort dishes. A stocked fridge visit can leave prepared meals for the nights we are not there. Menus can shift mid trip when the group discovers a new favorite. Timing flexes around park schedules, late returns, and nap windows. The service bends around your vacation instead of the other way around.
Planning happens before your trip starts, so nothing eats into vacation time. Chef Andy Raphael runs a free planning session by phone, covering the dates, the rental, the headcount, and the budget. Dietary needs and allergies across the whole group get documented up front, including the picky eaters everyone pretends not to have. We confirm the rental kitchen’s basics, and our own cookware fills any gaps a rental leaves. Grocery shopping is included, so nobody spends a vacation morning in a supermarket. Itemized pricing makes splitting costs across families painless. A deposit locks your dates, and final counts confirm a few days before arrival. You land in Florida with dinner already solved, which is the best souvenir planning can buy.
CLEAR COMMUNICATION
We believe successful catering starts with strong communication. Our team stays responsive throughout the planning process so expectations, timing, and event details stay organized.
FULL SERVICE CATERING
Our team handles setup, serving, coordination, and cleanup so you can focus on your guests instead of managing event logistics. Big Boards Catering delivers smooth, professional service from start to finish.
CUSTOM EVENT MENUS
Every event is different, which is why Big Boards Catering creates menus tailored to your guest count, event style, and food preferences. We help build a catering experience that feels organized and memorable.
Commonly Asked Vacation Private Chef Questions
A vacation private chef covers the shopping, cooking, serving, and cleanup for meals inside your rental home, from one feast night to a full week of dinners. The questions below answer what travelers headed to the Clermont and Orlando area search for most before booking.
Vacation private chef pricing depends on the group size, the menu, and the number of meals booked. In Central Florida, a single dinner for a group typically runs from roughly forty to one hundred dollars per adult, all inclusive. Family style menus with tacos, pasta, and sliders sit at the friendlier end of that range. Feast nights with Tomahawk Steak, lobster, or a full Seafood Boil price toward the higher end. The quote covers groceries, cooking, service, and cleanup in one number. Kids portions price lighter, which helps on family heavy bookings. Big Boards Catering itemizes every estimate so groups splitting costs see exactly what each piece covers. The final bill matches the quote, with nothing hidden between them.
Group math usually works in your favor at vacation scale. Splitting a private chef dinner across three or four families often costs less per person than a theme park restaurant. There is no tip pressure, no parking, and no drink markup on your own bottles. Larger groups pull the per person cost down through volume. Multi night bookings can price better per meal than single dinners. One planned feast night frequently replaces the most expensive restaurant night of the trip. We are honest about where the money lands on the plate. Compare the numbers against a park dinner for twelve and the value gets obvious.
A few practical factors round out the estimate. Premium seafood like king crab moves with market pricing, and we quote it current. Travel inside the resort corridor is usually included, and anything beyond gets flagged early. Add ons like a grazing table or dessert display get priced as clear line items. Holiday weeks book at peak demand and deserve early commitment. A deposit holds your dates on the calendar. The free planning session produces a firm number before you commit to anything. Send your dates and your headcount, and we will price the whole stay precisely.
Our vacation private chef service covers everything between deciding on a menu and pushing back from the table. Planning starts before your trip with a free session covering dates, headcount, and preferences. Chef Andy Raphael shops for all the groceries on the day of service. He arrives at your rental with the ingredients and professional cookware, then cooks the full meal on site. Dinner gets served at your table, styled family style or buffet style to suit the group. The kitchen gets cleaned completely, from pans to counters to sink. Leftovers get packed and labeled for the fridge when there are any. You never leave the house, and you never lift a spoon.
The details inside that package are what make it feel like vacation. Timing flexes around your park schedule, so a late return does not ruin dinner. Kids can be fed first while adults finish at the pool. The chef can walk the table through each dish or serve quietly, whichever suits your group. Rental kitchen gaps get covered by the equipment we bring. Dietary accommodations are folded in at no extra charge. Special moments, like a birthday dessert mid trip, get planned into the night. Every element exists to remove work from your vacation.
A few things sit outside the standard service, and we say so plainly. Alcohol is not included, though we gladly suggest pairings for bottles you buy. Rental house supplies like extra chairs or outdoor tables stay with the property manager. Meals on days we are not booked belong to your group, though a stocked fridge visit can help. Deep cleaning of the rental remains the property’s job; our cleanup covers everything the meal touched. Anything custom gets discussed and priced during planning. The itemized quote spells out exactly what your booking includes. Clear expectations before the trip protect the relaxation during it.
Yes, the vacation rental corridor around the Orlando theme parks is the core of this service. Our Clermont base sits minutes from the resort communities travelers book most. Kissimmee and Celebration rentals fill our calendar every week of the year. Horizon West and Windermere homes on the west side of the parks are a short drive for us. Larger vacation estates around Clermont, Minneola, and Groveland host our biggest family feast nights. Orlando and Dr. Phillips stays, from condos to executive homes, all sit inside the range. We know the gate codes, the resort check ins, and the rental kitchen quirks of this corridor. Your rental address is almost certainly familiar territory.
Cooking near the parks comes with rhythms we have learned to respect. Park days run long, so we schedule dinners around realistic return times rather than optimistic ones. Fireworks schedules, early park mornings, and midday pool breaks all shape the meal timing. Groups often want dinner ready the moment they walk in, and we plan the cook backward from the door. Resort community access rules get handled in advance with your rental’s information. Late changes happen on vacation, and we flex with them when the kitchen allows. A dinner that fits the vacation beats a vacation bent around dinner. That understanding is half the service.
Travelers from across the country book this service before they ever land in Florida. Planning happens by phone or message from wherever home is. The menu, the dietary notes, and the schedule all get locked before the flight. Payment and deposits work remotely without any friction. On arrival day, the only remaining task is enjoying the trip. Many groups book us again on their next Orlando visit, sometimes a year out. A reliable dinner plan has become part of how families do the parks. Send your rental address and your dates, and we will take it from there.
Very little, honestly, because the service is designed around rental house realities. A working stove and oven, some counter space, and access to the kitchen cover the essentials. We bring professional cookware, knives, and tools, since rental kitchens rarely stock anything sharp. The groceries arrive with the chef, so your fridge needs only enough room to hold leftovers. Clearing the counters of beach bags and souvenirs before arrival helps the cook start fast. Confirming the gate code and parking situation in advance keeps the schedule smooth. A table cleared for dinner is the finishing touch. Everything else on the list belongs to us.
During planning, we ask a few questions that make the night seamless. The rental listing’s kitchen photos tell us most of what we need about the setup. We confirm stove type, oven condition, and any outdoor grill you want used. Headcount and seating tell us how to stage the serving. Dietary notes and kids preferences finalize the shopping list. Your arrival day schedule shapes the cooking timeline. Any surprise, like a rental kitchen missing its promised oven, gets solved with menu flexibility. Good questions before the trip prevent every problem during it.
A few optional touches can elevate the night if you want them. Your own wine or drinks can chill ahead so pairings land perfectly. Outdoor tables by the pool make a Seafood Boil unforgettable, weather permitting. A birthday or anniversary surprise can be staged with one family member secretly. Music and lighting stay in your hands, and the food will match whatever mood you set. Kids can even watch parts of the cooking, which some chefs mind and ours does not. None of this is required, and all of it is welcome. The house is yours; we just make dinner happen in it.
Yes, large groups are exactly what vacation rental cooking was made for. Multigenerational trips of fifteen to thirty guests fill the big rental homes around Clermont and Kissimmee. We batch cook in waves so a table of thirty eats as fresh as a table of six. Buffet style service moves big family groups efficiently without losing the family dinner feel. Feast nights like a Seafood Boil scale beautifully and turn the whole group into one loud, happy table. Staffing gets added when the headcount demands it. Chef Andy Raphael plans the timeline personally for larger bookings. The reunion photo around a full table is the whole point, and we cook for it.
Big groups bring big logistics, and we handle them quietly. Rental kitchens get evaluated in advance so the equipment matches the headcount. Seating plans across dining tables, kitchen islands, and patio tables get discussed before the night. Multiple proteins keep every branch of the family satisfied without separate meals. Kids tables get their own timing when the schedule calls for it. Serving stations prevent thirty people from crowding one counter. Cleanup scales with the group, and it still finishes before we leave. The hosts of the reunion get to be family instead of staff.
Cost sharing across a big group stays painless with our process. Itemized quotes show each family exactly what the dinner covers. Per person math usually beats any restaurant capable of seating thirty. One deposit holds the date, and the split happens however your family prefers. Multi night bookings spread the value across the whole reunion. Special moments, like a grandparent’s milestone birthday, get built into the menu. We flag every cost early so no family member gets surprised. Bring us the headcount and the occasion, and we will bring the feast.
Yes, and on vacation bookings we plan for both with extra care. Family groups always span picky toddlers, allergic cousins, and grandparents with doctor’s orders. Every restriction gets documented during the pre trip planning session. Nut, dairy, gluten, and shellfish allergies shape the shopping list itself. Cross contact gets managed with separate tools and careful sequencing in the rental kitchen. Kids plates lean on familiar favorites like sliders, Mac & Cheese, and simple pasta. Adults with restrictions get full plates, not stripped down versions. Nobody at a family table should eat like an afterthought.
Individual plating is the quiet superpower of a private chef. One cousin’s shellfish allergy does not cancel the Seafood Boil for everyone else. A gluten conscious grandparent gets a complete plate built safely alongside the feast. Vegetarian travelers get real dishes like Pesto Tortellini rather than a pile of sides. Dairy free versions get planned rather than improvised. The chef knows every plate’s contents because he built every plate. Questions at the table get answered on the spot. That certainty is nearly impossible at a restaurant with a twelve top.
Communication before the trip makes all of it reliable. We confirm every restriction in writing before the shopping trip. Severity gets clarified, since a preference and a medical allergy get handled differently. Parents can send kid specific notes as detailed as they like. The final menu goes back to the group before the trip for one last check. Changes mid stay get accommodated when the kitchen allows. Your job is one thorough email; ours is everything after it. Send the list and the whole table will eat happy.
Most groups book a vacation private chef three to six weeks before the trip. Vacation dates lock early, so the chef booking should follow quickly. School break weeks and holiday periods fill our calendar fastest. Summer and spring break in the Orlando corridor book out furthest of all. Multi night packages deserve the longest lead time, since they hold several dates at once. Big Boards Catering can sometimes take single dinners on shorter notice. Availability always comes down to the calendar for your specific dates. Booking when you book the rental is the safest move of all.
Lead time improves the trip in practical ways. Menus get refined across time zones without any rush. Dietary lists from multiple families take a week or two to fully gather. Premium ingredients like king crab get sourced properly with notice. Special surprises mid trip get planned without leaks. A deposit locks the dates on our calendar. Final headcounts confirm a few days before arrival. Calm planning at home means zero food decisions on vacation.
Last minute requests still get an honest answer. Travelers already in town sometimes call two days out, and we say yes when the calendar allows. Simple family menus assemble faster than feast nights. Weeknights inside a stay flex more easily than Saturday celebrations. If we cannot do the dinner justice, we say so directly. Peak weeks forgive the least delay, so do not gamble with spring break. Even a quick message clarifies what your dates can support. Reach out today and we will check the calendar against your trip.
Yes, multi night service is one of the best ways to use a vacation chef. Many groups book two or three dinners spread across a week long stay. A common rhythm alternates one feast night with simpler family dinners in between. Breakfast or brunch service can anchor a slow rest day away from the parks. Arrival night grazing tables welcome the group before anyone unpacks. Menus vary across the nights so nothing repeats unless requested. Multi night bookings often price better per meal than single dinners. The kitchen stays clean all week, which might be the real luxury.
Structuring the week takes about one conversation. We look at your park schedule and place cooking nights on the gaps. The biggest feast usually lands mid trip or on the final night, when the group wants a celebration. Lighter menus follow the most exhausting park days. A stocked fridge visit can cover the nights between our bookings with prepared meals. Timing adjusts mid week when vacation reality rewrites the plan. The same chef across the week learns your group’s favorites fast. By night three, dinner feels like a house tradition.
Groups discover real value in the repeated service. The per meal cost drops as the nights add up. Grocery runs disappear from the vacation entirely. Restaurant roulette with a big group ends after the first home cooked night. Kids settle into a dinner routine even on vacation, which parents quietly treasure. Leftovers from each night cover next day lunches by the pool. The final night feast becomes the trip’s closing ceremony. Book the week once and the food side of your vacation is simply finished.
Get The Best Vacation Private Chef In Central Florida
Book your free vacation private chef planning session and estimate today by calling Big Boards Catering at (954) 778-0456 or by booking online using our 24/7 appointment system.






