The Chef Instead - www.thechefinstead.

31/07/2024

Thank you, Leona, for letting us be a part of your 90th birthday celebrations 🥰

What fun it was to offer a lovely lunch, and with such a spectacular view of our beautiful lake! Her daughter Tracey organized everything with us from Australia, and we did our best to spoil them 😊
Our herb & cheddar shortbread got everyone in the mood with a bit of refreshment, then a full lunch buffet was set. Thankfully, everyone saved room for Chef Martin’s sticky toffee pudding as a final touch.
We love being a part of these moments; we consider it a privilege to share our passion while contributing to special memories. Whether for big groups or small ones, we hope we add a little something extra ✨

19/07/2024

Have you ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes on a day we do a BBQ event?
This was a day this summer that we cooked for a smallish group at a house in Kelowna…
DISCLAIMER: we are not responsible if you drool on your device 😉

04/07/2024

One of the great things about having been in the Okanagan for almost 20 years as a chef is all the memories shared with clients.
Because I cook fresh food on site every time, I have a while to get to know people if they are around. I also love to share my passion for good food so I’m happy to teach people if they want to learn.
We were thrilled to see Maureen & Chuck and their friends again for a spirited Canada Day party despite the rain. And a new guest, Oli, was quite keen to learn and even help out!
It is a great gift to give your kids an appreciation of food - I am sure Oli will go far in this world with his enthusiasm and curiosity.
Make time to spend with friends and family this summer - you can never have too many good memories.
- Chef Martin

29/06/2024

The summer season is full of important events, and we love being a part of each one we cook for.
Last weekend we got to help Mason’s family celebrate his high school graduation. His grandparents have a beautiful house and yard that made a lovely venue, and thankfully it wasn’t too hot to be wearing a kilt and honour his Scottish ancestors. Congratulations Mason, we wish you well on your next endeavours!
It was a pleasure to serve such a gracious young man and see the wonderful support from his family & friends.

There aren’t many Saturdays left open for us this summer, but if you want to celebrate on another day of the week, we’d love to help make your event special with a freshly prepared meal - and made by a handsome Chef too! We can even include our signature Taboo brownies if you ask nicely ☺️

#

24/05/2024

Grilling season is starting - please consider this post a friendly reminder from your favourite private chef 😁
(And remember fat congeals and accumulates in the winter, so it’s a good idea to clean that little tray or pail at the end of the summer !)

Remember that combustible siding does not stand up to heat well. Please make sure you always leave at least 3’ clearance between flammable or combutustible material!

03/03/2024

REMINDER for everyone, summer is booking fast and you shouldn't wait too long to reserve your special date otherwise I might be booked by the time you figure things out.

10/06/2023

We haven’t posted anything in a while but we have been busy working 😊

Summer always brings weddings, and we are proud to share our prepared-on-site, served-fresh BBQ buffet to couples like Emily & Brock at La Casa Mirador on the Westside.

We are just as proud to have long-standing clients for dinner parties like Mary Jane & John, for whom Chef Martin has cooked many meals over the years. I always start out with great intentions for photos at these parties but then it gets busy 😜 So you’ll see lovely pics of the appies, …and you just have to trust me when I say the lamb chop & beef tenderloin with chimichurri tossed veggies, and roasted potatoes with Parmesan & truffle oil was enjoyed (empty plates are a great compliment!) Chef made one of his delectable chocolate cakes and had special birthday wishes for John.

We look forward to seeing more of you this year, and if we don’t see you we hope you are properly celebrating life with some pomp and ceremony of your own 😉 - Kristin

24/03/2023

if you're looking for a photographer in the Okanagan for any occasions, she does great work❤️❤️

Happy weekend! What are your weekend plans? :)

10/12/2022

Anyone who has been to a dinner party where Chef Martin cooked during The Christmas (or Thanksgiving) season might remember his “turkey talk”, which included tips on cooking the turkey and - just like Jamie Oliver - making the gravy ahead of time.
Here’s your bonus session on the subject 😉
Happy Gravy Day!

26/11/2022

Thanks to Natalie MacLean for sharing one of my recipes. I wonder what wine she recommends with this? 🤔 Does anyone have any recommendations?

Need a fast & yummy chocolate cake recipe❓

🔗 link in bio

https://www.nataliemaclean.com/recipes/view/fast--yummy-chocolate-cake/204

📅 Every year on November 26 is International Cake 🍰 Day!

🎂 Fast & Yummy Chocolate Cake

👍 This is a great cake for kids from 7 to 77 years old. not fancy at all, but very dense and chocolaty!

🧈 125 g butter
🍚 1/2 cup sugar
🥚 2 eggs
🥄 2 tbsp cornstarch
🥄 4 tbsp cocoa
🥛 1/2 cup milk
🍫 1/4 cup melted good quality chocolate
📏 1 1/2 cup flour
🥄 3 tbsp baking powder

1️⃣ Place all of these ingredients in a food processor and mix well for no more than 1 minute.

2️⃣ Pour into a greased and floured pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until it is done.

3️⃣ Once it is almost cold, I usually pour chocolate ganache on top.

😍 Voila!

👨‍🍳 Private Chef Martin Larpise
📙 Author of "My Daughter wants to be Chef"

What's your favourite cake❓ And are you celebrating with one today ❓

Let me know in the comments👇



The Chef Instead - www.thechefinstead.

24/10/2022

“There’s snow in them-there hills!” Big White and Silver Star have both received their first snowfalls. And l’m in dinner party mode! (BBQing in the winter is like cooking in a fridge lol)

If you want to book a fun après-ski party at your condo on the hill - or in Kelowna, or pretty much anywhere in the Okanagan - contact me to book! You can email me at

01/09/2022

Lots of people are going back to “the grind” soon after the laid-back ways of summer. So we wanted to share a recipe that helps keep away the negative vibes. An added bonus is that it has no calories 😋

22/08/2022

Hey there peeps! Just wanted to let you know we are taking a few days off to enjoy some Summer vibes on the lake. Chef will respond to any inquiries in the order they come in. See you Friday!

18/08/2022

Phew, it’s hot out there - especially next to a BBQ rig cooking meat all summer long. We are so glad it’s been for wonderful gatherings such as these:
- Lindsay & Ed from 350 Bakehouse Cafe had a beautiful space for their wedding (and their donuts for dessert ! 😋 Give them a call if that’s your style too)
- plenty of old friends and family had a chance to catch up at Birgit & Brad’s “Post-Pandemic Backyard Bash”. We were busy with food but the bevvies from the Born to Shake team looked fabulous and were very popular too
- we had a chance to shine in the elegant set-up that Tanya & Ron created in their home for their engagement party, and we brought out their inner kids’ spirits when we opened the mini-donut bar with all the trimmings!

Thanks to everyone who lets us share in their special events by having us feed your group. We hope to see you all soon for something - even if it’s just because you want to get friends together 🎉

28/07/2022

Beautiful days like this are what keep us going on hot summer weekends like we are having now.
Thanks so much to Sarah & Mark for having us as part of your wedding celebrations. We love sharing our passion with enthusiastic groups, and it was fun to be back at such a beautiful place.

Denise and her team at Meadow Valley Ranch have created a lovely set-up for a special gathering. We hope to
return again soon!

13/07/2022

Summer is underway! Everyone is eager to get together with friends and family, and we love being able to help people make the day extra special with our special touches on our freshly prepared meals. Chef Martin’s BBQ strikes a chord with folks of all ages.
We went full out last weekend with Lauren & Blair’s wedding in East Kelowna and Louisa & Neal’s anniversary in Summerland. Love is in the air just like it’s in the food! 😁

It might seem like the season is just beginning but you know how fast the time goes. Don’t wait to organize your gathering - we are taking fall & winter bookings already (and weddings for next summer, too).

17/06/2022

Hey, folks - especially those on the Westside - In case you didn’t know, Paynter's Fruit Market has an honour-system Station set up with lots of delicious seasonal nibbles (they usually don’t open until the end of the month).

Help chase away those grey day-blues with fresh inspiration for your meals ! 😋

JUST PICKED basil! $5 a bag. Self serve still. We’re pretty excited to see more coming crops out of the garden

Also bags of parsley , kale , chard and rhubarb. Prices as marked, cash box or e-transfer. Out daily until 8pm.

23/05/2022

And away we go!
We warmed up the season last month with the honour of completing another family’s weddings (all 4 kids and their spouses were fed with our BBQ on their special days).
And now this weekend we are in full swing, back at a venue with stunning views - especially when Mother Nature cooperates! Chef was up at 5 am to start the briskets and pork butts in the BBQ - it was a long and rewarding day 😋
Congratulations to Tammy & Chris - may your great luck continue with more sunshine in your lives together!

07/04/2022

you can make a veggie burger with without using machine or chemicals, just use vegetables and rice

If this doesn't get shared a couple of thousand times, I think I'm going to be disappointed...

15/03/2022

After 2 whole years, it is great to hear the ding of new emails and the phone ringing.
We are looking forward to being able to help people make their special days even more special with a great meal. So far, we have a family Passover dinner, wedding rehearsal and reception dinners, backyard family BBQs, and birthday celebrations… with a few smaller dinner parties in between.

It seems even more important now to celebrate the good things in life. Thankfully, spending time around a table sharing a meal with loved ones is something we can turn into reality again.

03/03/2022

I have a humble post today - a pot of stock boiling on the stove. Such a simple thing, nourishing and easy to make. Easy to share, too.
I bet most of you have bought a whole roast chicken. When you are done eating the meat, toss the bones in a large pot with some onion, celery, carrot - maybe a bit of parsley or a carrot top or a generous sprinkle of herbs - and cover it with water (about 3 L). Boil it, letting it reduce to as little as 500 mL. Strain it. Then you have a concentrated stock to use - for a soup, or gravy, or other sauce. You can freeze it or use right away.
Today is Soup it Forward Day, as designated by the wonderful folks at Soup Sisters National - a great reminder that a bowl of soup can spread love and generosity.
If not today, sometime soon put a pot on the stove and share a bit of broth. It will do your soul good in more ways than one.

20/02/2022

It was a full day with family around. I think Opa was happy with all the fuss - his smile was from ear to ear all evening. I was glad to be a part of such a big day.

A few Appies started everyone off, and then I got everything ready for the “surf & turf” dinner. It’s always a bit of a juggling act with counter space bu the end of the day, but I have my secret ways of fitting it all in. Sometimes there are extra bits, like a chicken breast for the kids at a family dinner, but I’m happy to give everyone a quality meal.
There was a monster of a chocolate cake that befitted the occasion, but the truffles Kristin made that afternoon were enjoyed nonetheless.

Another day in the books, and a few more inquiries to respond to once I got home last night. It sure feels good to get back out into the world and do my thing.

19/02/2022

Have you ever wondered how I work?

Here is part of my work day - getting everything ready to take with me when I go to cook a dinner at a client’s home. It’s just one of the steps I take…

-My knives and toolbox are in the truck.
-My crucial herbs and spices and other ingredients from my stock are packed up (that happens first thing in the morning).
-As I write this, I’m standing in line with the groceries. I picked up meat I ordered at the butcher yesterday with what I needed for the client that day.
-I’ll grab a piece of peanut butter toast and then be at the home around noon, to start cooking.
-Kristin will drop me off and then return to help with last minute tidbits as well as serving, since this is a special occasion (at least I call a 90th birthday special!).
-If it fits, I’ll give a talk for the group about cooking tips and techniques. If there are people at home, I might be “on” all day, available for questions and conversation.
-Tonight it’s 3 courses - they ordered a cake but I have a special treat to offer at the end of the evening.
-We will do the dishes and pack away my stuff, and I should be home about 10:30 pm. It’s usually about a 12 hour work day.

It’s a fair bit of work, but I’m used to the pace after all these years of doing it. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to get back to engaging with people. That’s what I really missed the last 2 years.

12/12/2021

Chef Martin here. I just wanted to say…YES, I’m still here! I’M STILL COOKING 👨‍🍳
For years the holiday season was a busy time for me to cook at parties; and then - well, we all know what happened.
This year it is only a bit better than last year’s total blowout, with last night being my 3rd dinner party of the season, and my 18th day of chef work for 2021.
The good news is, last night was a referral from a client I cooked for over 10 years ago! It feels great to know that my reputation holds the test of time. I woke up to this email from the host:
“Thank you so much for yesterday. You were a total hit, food was amazing. Our group talked about it for hours. No doubt you’ll be hearing from us again. The birthday boy was very impressed. “

Thank you to all of you who have referred me over the years, and have called again. It’s what keeps me optimistic that next year will be better.

*Remember, I do go to Big White and Silver Star 😁 And I am booking weddings for 2022.

01/12/2021

We are very grateful to be safe and healthy amidst all the uncertainty in the world these days.

In honour of we wanted to bring the attention to the last post on this page as we head into a season of giving. If you can, please donate to your charity of choice. Being food people, we connect with the food banks and the Gospel Mission.

And with Dr. Henry’s upbeat announcements today that things are looking up in the BC Interior, we remind you that Chef is ready and able to cook for you 😋 If you’re still not sure when you will get everyone together, may we suggest a gift certificate? 🎁 Contact Chef Martin by email to organize your custom certificate for a fun and unique holiday gift!

20/10/2021

Last week I connected with a fun work team to show them some cooking techniques for creating a great meal. They managed to have fun AND not burn anything! 😆
Most of the group cooked along and showed great results with their focaccia, Mediterranean salad and prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin on a bed of tomato sauce.
I know it can seem daunting, but with some of my coaching you too can cook a great meal (full of flavour, cooked properly and all at the right temperature).
Here’s a review from that group that made me smile:

5 days ago
Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
We used Chef Martin for a team building activity. The result was a lot of fun, entertainment by him, team cohesion and a delicious meal I did not know I would have been able to cook without his coaching. I even made my own bread, and it seemed so easy! Thank you chef!

That’s why I keep doing this work - for people who are keen to have a fantastic experience and learn, or even taste, something new.


(If you’d like to book an online cooking class, or an in-person dinner party, send me an email with your details )

19/09/2021

Check out yesterday's outdoor wedding
https://youtu.be/uG2NXhvCGco
☝☝ GO SEE THE VIDEO ☝☝

thanks to Sachiko and Sean for having organized a great wedding on the family orchard.

02/09/2021

With the restrictions limiting gatherings it has remained hard to do much work, so Chef Martin has been busy adding a series of Camping Meal Videos on his YouTube channel.
(Did you even know he has a YouTube channel? 😁 Just search for “The Chef In Stead” )

He has featured, from top left clockwise, Eggs Benny West Coast style, Fried Chicken, Paella, and Mushroom Flatbread. Just this morning he added Eggs Shakshuka!

Even if you’re not camping this long weekend, you can try any or all of these at home.
Fire up your grills, peeps! Flex those cooking muscles 💪 And tag us when you post those pictures, we love to see your work.

And when we can get back to having a gathering again, please remember that Chef Martin is here, ready to give you a fantastic experience with great food - and no work for you 😊

16/08/2021

New LINKS
https://linktr.ee/thechefinstead
Youtube, instagram, facebook all in one spot

Linktree. Make your link do more.

10/08/2021

Camping Paella