To celebrate a friend’s special birthday we decided to book ‘The Cerenity Chef’, a recommendation we’d received for a private dining experience. 

The idea was perfect, opportunity to relax in your own home but enjoy the splendour of fine dining, and Caitlin didn’t disappoint. 

From the early planning stages, Caitlin offered ideas, menu choices and was open to our own contributions, with finer details agreed nearer the event. 

The celebration couldn’t have been more perfect, Caitlin arrived and before too long felt like one of the gang, she’s comfortable and calm in your kitchen, will chat, if you’d like, or have her head down quietly cooking away whilst the party gets in full swing. 

The food was just sensational and the evening unfolded as planned, all thanks to the cooking skills and organisation of Caitlin.

If you’re looking for that something special to celebrate a loved one or a special occasion, then think of The Cerenity Chef, as you won’t regret it.

Caitlin was great. Her food was delicious and was served with perfect timing. She was engaging when we chatted to her, and ensued our evening was a huge success. The kitchen was left spotless! Thank you Caitlin!

Caitlin was incredible! After a late cancellation she came to our rescue with just a few days to do, tailoring a menu offering to our requests whilst keeping to an agreed budget. Very communicative and friendly when organising the event and super accommodating and personable on the night too. The food itself was amazing in both flavour and presentation and she catered for dietary requirements with no fuss too! Can't recommend enough!

I personally just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for the absolutely delicious meals and fantastic meal ideas throughout our offsite. Your cooking was not only incredibly flavorful but also made each gathering even more special.

We truly appreciated your hard work, creativity, and dedication—you made every meal an experience to remember! It was a joy to enjoy your dishes, and we are so grateful for the effort and passion you put into every bite.

Thank you again for everything!

“We contacted Caitlin through Unique Homestays, noticing that she was well placed for our location in Gorran Haven. She was super helpful in shaping the menu for our 50th birthdays, including special attention for our 12 yr old daughter.
Caitlin arrived about 90 mins before dinner, and prepped and chatted, as well as giving our labrador some very welcome attention!
A delicious 3 course meal of scallops (cheese soufflé for our daughter), Lamb rack (Ribeye for the protein hungry daughter (and lab ;)) and then a lovely mango 7 passionfruit Eton mess to finish.
Caitlin clearly has a fabulous understanding of flavour combinations - too many sauces, vegetables and extra crunches to mention, and a great eye for detail. It was a truly delicious and very special birthday treat.”

“Caitlin was just perfect for our evening. We were a group of 11 with one serious gluten allergy. She prepped all the GF food in a different part of her kitchen. It was a fairly chaotic night as we were simultaneously playing a ‘murder’ game but all the delicious food was served up and we could help ourselves. It was sort of Mexican with twists - Peri Peri chicken, devilled eggs, spicy rice, quesadillas (gluten and GF) etc etc. they cleared up without us even noticing! All great!”

“I recently had the pleasure of hiring Chef Caitlin Prees for a private dinner party for NYE, and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences! From start to finish, Caitlin showcased not only her incredible cooking skills but also her warm personality and professionalism.

Upon our initial consultation, Caitlin took the time to understand my preferences and dietary restrictions, crafting a delicious custom menu. Each dish was beautifully presented, making the meal feel like a restaurant experience in our own home.

We started the evening with a selection of yummy canapés, a delightful cheese soufflé, which was light and fluffy. The main course featured succulent Cornish beef that was cooked to perfection, while the cauliflower steak for our vegetarian guests was equally impressive, showcasing Caitlin’s ability to create delightful dishes for everyone.

The pudding was a stunning apple tart rose that was as beautiful as it was delicious.

Caitlin also catered for a gaggle of children that were all very happy with their own kid friendly meals (especially the ice-cream cookie sandwiches!) 

Beyond the food, Caitlin's warm and engaging personality made the evening even more special. She seamlessly blended into our gathering!

If you're considering hiring a private chef, I wholeheartedly recommend Chef Caitlin. Her culinary artistry, professionalism, and ability to create a welcoming atmosphere turned our dinner party into a truly memorable occasion. I can’t wait to have her and Alex back for our next party!”

“She was delightful - so bright, cheerful and chatty. She cleared up and the kitchen was spotless when she left. She even stayed on to have a chat with us once dinner was finished. Her food was delicious, and we'd have no hesitation in recommending Caitlin to friends and those staying at the house on holiday. If we didn't live so far away, we'd book her again immediately!”

“We had the absolute pleasure of experiencing Caitlin’s exceptional culinary skills during our stay in Cornwall in December 2024. From the very first contact, Caitlin’s service was nothing short of outstanding. She was responsive, professional, and incredibly helpful, promptly advising us of her services and costs.

The menu planning process was seamless—Caitlin helped us craft a menu that was both healthy and creative, catering perfectly to our preferences. She provided a detailed breakdown of the costs, including delivery, which made everything clear and stress-free.

When we arrived, the weather was brewing up quite the storm, but Caitlin arrived as planned while we were out on the beach. She thoughtfully unpacked all the beautifully packaged food for us, and as we returned just as she was leaving, it was a delight to meet her in person. Her warmth and professionalism truly added to the experience.

As for the food—it was simply divine. The hearty, thick soup was packed with flavour and perfect for the chilly weather. The chicken was cooked to perfection, tender and delicious, while the salads and vegetables were vibrant, generous, and bursting with color. The cakes were so delicious they lasted us the entire weekend (a feat of willpower on our part!), and the homemade sourdough bread was absolutely outstanding.

Given that the storm raged on for most of the weekend, Caitlin’s meal was a lifesaver. It brought so much comfort and joy to our stay. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

We wholeheartedly recommend Caitlin and her wonderful service to anyone looking for a gourmet meal with a personal touch in Cornwall. Her outstanding food and thoughtful service made our weekend truly special”

Husband’s 70th Birthday Dinner
“From start to finish our experience with Caitlin was brilliant . She was really helpful with the menu choice , offering different suggestions and it’s great to know that everything was sourced from local suppliers. Caitlin was really calm and accommodating on the evening and the meal was totally delicious and way beyond my expectations.”

70th Birthday Celebration Thai Feast

“We hired Caitlin for a 70th celebration and it was a dream. From the initial contact, the menu planning to the meal itself, it was seamless and wonderfully organized. The food was sensational as well! Thank you!”

Daughter 30th Birthday

“From the moment I touched base with Caitlin concerning the food for our daughter’s 30th birthday party, I knew that we were in very safe and creative hands. Nothing was too much trouble and Caitlin even fine-tuned the menu just days beforehand. The canapés were just wonderful and included vegetarian options – so all requirements were catered for. The main courses were superb, they included locally sourced beef and fish as we were on holiday in Cornwall at the time and wanted to sample local fare. The desserts were amazing and Caitlin even went as far as to arrange and transport a Beauty and the Beast themed birthday cake from a local baker. Caitlin was also really friendly and managed the catering around the chaos of three very young children and their parents! The experience was better than we ever imagined and we could enjoy this wonderful food from the comfort of our holiday home. I cannot recommend Caitlin and her food enough and will be forever grateful for the lovely memories she helped us to create.”

Birthday Celebration Private Dinner

“Caitlin and her fabulous food was truly joyous. She designed a menu to match our brief and delivered a wonderful Asian meal in our holiday accommodation. Caitlin worked in the open plan space and was delightfully discreet yet friendly. She left the kitchen spotless! We truly recommend Caitlin and send her our heartfelt thanks x”

“Caitlin made our celebration supper a total success. From initial menu planning dietary requirements/allergies were fully allowed for and her gluten-free Brownies were almost fought over! Caitlin made it a stress-free evening with great food and we'd happily use her again.”

“Simply awesome from initial enquiry through collaborating over menu choices & options to arriving promptly, working with crockery & cutlery & improvising as necessary to preparing & cooking to timescales requested everything was perfect. Chef Caitlin presented every course beautifully and interacted to a perfect degree and helped made my wife's birthday celebrations one to remember. Thank you!”

Private Dinner Party
“Caitlin's food was so fresh and delicious and the added touches such as flowers and cookies for the children was superb.”

“We had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Caitlin and Jo into our home in Cornwall for my fiancé's 30th birthday, and it was an experience we'll never forget. From the moment they arrived, their warmth and professionalism set the tone for a fantastic evening. The meal began with beautifully crafted Asian-influenced starters, each dish bursting with flavor and creativity. The fresh ceviche that followed was a true highlight—so vibrant and refreshing, it was clear how much care and expertise went into its preparation.

But the star of the night was undoubtedly the banoffee pie for dessert. It was, without exaggeration, the best any of us have ever had, and we’re still talking about it days later. Caitlin's attention to detail in every dish was remarkable, but the dessert was on another level entirely.

What made the evening even more special was how Caitlin and Jo left the kitchen spotless. We didn’t have to lift a finger, allowing us to fully enjoy the celebration. Caitlin was an absolute delight to have in our home, and we couldn’t recommend her more highly for anyone looking to elevate a special occasion. Thank you, Caitlin and Jo, for an unforgettable night!”

Charlie & Kelley Hopkins
Unique Homestays - July 2024
“We had Caitlin join us at our Unique Homestays rental in Whitsand Bay for the final night of our honeymoon and she capped off a perfect week with a perfect meal. Prior to the date Caitlin was incredibly helpful shaping the perfect menu for what we desired. We had a call with Caitlin to work through any allergies and so that she could build a picture of what we would like to eat to make our menu as special as possible. We concluded on a 5 course menu (which Caitlin printed out for us in a wonderful design) that started with a Garden Tomato Caprese salad with homemade Cheddar & Chive Sourdough that was absolutely divine. We followed up with Asian style Pork Gyozas in a Hot & Sour Asian Broth, then both of our favourite course, Butter Poached Cornish Lobster which was juicy, meaty and downright delicious. The fourth course was a Rack of Cornish Lamb was cooked to perfection and was the perfect finish to the main courses. We concluded with a mixed dessert of Passionfruit Pannacota & Apple Rose Pastry which were the perfect end to a delightful meal. Caitlin had also made extras of these so left them with us for the next day along with some lovely Snickerdoodle cookies. Finally when Caitlin left us for the evening, the kitchen was absolutely spotless and the dishwasher running so that we could relax and enjoy the remainder of the night without having to clean up which was lovely. We cannot recommend Caitlin enough and will definitely be contacting her next time we are in Cornwall!

Wife’s Birthday Private Dinner

"A truly great night had by all! Very accommodating for the 8 of us, and the food was top notch!  The whole menu was amazing from the hor d’oeuvres to the pannacotta and mango dessert!  You wouldn’t even know Caitlin had been, the kitchen was left immaculate! Thanks again Caitlin for an amazing experience for my wife’s birthday."

"If you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion during your stay with Cornish Secrets or just want to step down from responsibility to enjoy a fantastic meal without putting the oven or getting in the car, we would whole heartedly recommend the private chef services of The Cerenity Chef!"
Cornish Secrets Review

"Caitlin’s dinner was the absolute highlight of an anniversary weekend away. Caitlin is gracious, collaborative and utterly lovely. Her food, which was absolutely tailored to us, demonstrated a clear passion for her craft, with a wonderful emphasis on sourcing local ingredients. We were privileged to eat such good food (some from Caitlin’s garden) prepared by such a talent.” Rob & Eric Unique Homestays June 2024