Alison Garen - Personal Chef and Boutique Caterer - AEGG LLC

06/13/2024

The green of early summer. 💚

06/03/2024

Cooking Mini Camps for Kids
Vienna based chef and mom Alison Garen is offering three weeks of cooking classes/camps for kids and teens. Particularly if you have a swimmer on a club swim team, the times are conveniently structured around swim practices.
The weeks are: June 24-28, June 15-19, June 22-26.
All the information you need, including signups are at Chefalisongaren.com
The age ranges are just a general guideline, and not firm.
If your future chef can only do certain days of a given week, just reach out directly to [email protected], or text her at 610761300 to work out a partial week arrangement.

Alison Garen is a Northern Virginia based cooking instructor, personal chef and boutique caterer. Chef Alison spent her childhood in Tokyo and Singapore, and brings unique global flavors to her cooking. A mom of two, she loves teaching kids and adults how to be confident in the kitchen. Book a Consu...

05/17/2024

If a grazing board has to travel a distance with a client, I provide a helpful map for assembly at its final destination, and then pack everything up in a cooler.

03/15/2024

Spring Break camp solutions, at Vienna Baptist Church 9:30-1:00 pm. Have your child learn to cook! You can do one day or both days.

Private school: camps next Thursday and Friday March 21/22.

FCPS: camps Monday & Tuesday April 1/2

Schedule your appointment online Chef Alison Garen

02/02/2024

Hi followers! Friendly neighborhood chef here.
I’m working with Vienna Baptist to do cooking classes/camp out of their kitchen.
Couple questions:
1) Would your child(ren) be interested? Ages?
2) Half day morning or afternoon?
3) Would an evening adult class appeal at all? Was thinking of doing one a month.
Any other thoughts welcome! You can reach me via any of the links embedded here.
Thank you!!!

Private Chef

01/31/2024

Labels labels labels, and lots of broccoli walnut pesto fusili. 🥦

12/12/2023

Individual EVERYTHING and cranberry margaritas. Loved teaming with to make this female networking event also an event created by women.

12/06/2023

Thank you for inviting me to teach a parent cooking class last night. We took a Sunday roast and used the leftovers for 3 unique weeknight meals.

Teaching others how to cook is my favorite! Happily accepting new students ages 5-95. 🧑‍🍳

09/29/2023

Who is cooking your Thanksgiving dinner? Reach out to your favorite personal chef for help with the big dinner. Especially if your family has dietary concerns, outsourcing even part of the holiday can help you enjoy time with your loved ones.

08/13/2023

Back to school 📚 but do you have a plan for grab-and-go breakfasts, healthy packable lunches and dinners that can be enjoyed between sports practices? Select availability for meal preparation and meal prep classes in September. Link in bio!

08/09/2023

Lots of updates to my website as of today! Link in bio. Cooking classes, cocktail parties and more.

07/27/2023

I know it seems impossibly far away, but if you are thinking about having a holiday party, now is the time to book your favorite caterer. Saturdays in December book up months in advance. Merry Christmas in July!

06/28/2023

06/11/2023

Create your own hot dog bar! 🌭

06/01/2023

Your beach house is booked, you are counting down the days, but do you know who is cooking? Take the planning and prep off your plate, and let me pack you a cooler of prepared dinners perfect for enjoying after a long day in the sunshine. Pricing begins at $375, more details upon request.

05/18/2023

was happy to celebrate a group of special education teachers this past week and sponsor the groceries purchased to prepare a nourishing meal of gratitude!

—
Gratitude post from Jamie Stevenson, the woman we coordinated with:

Vienna Foodies - you did an amazing thing. You helped celebrate a group of special education teachers who have historically been forgotten during FCPS staff appreciation week.

This was the first time in a decade that the staff at Pimmit Hills Early Childhood Special Education Center had a staff lunch during staff appreciation week that they did not have to do for themselves. 😱😭💙. Yes, you read that correctly.

A huge shout out to Alison Garen of Alison Garen - Personal Chef and Boutique Caterer - AEGG LLC!

Alison created beautiful Mediterranean themed bento boxes for the staff - accommodating the one vegetarian and one pescatarian in the group. She was a DELIGHT to work with. 😍

And she went above and beyond - saving the day by making a couple of additional boxes with when we ended up being short due to additional staff unexpectedly at the center that day.

If you need a caterer or personal chef - I highly recommend Alison. Everyone said her food was delicious. Absolutely delicious.

And a huge shout out to all of you and the One Neighborhood Foundation for helping to make this happen. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without you. 🥰

We love this community and appreciate all of you. Thank you, thank you!

05/18/2023

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/dining/drinks/best-boxed-wines.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Boxed wine has a bad reputation but I will tell you, I’ve had many more questionable wines from glass bottles than I have from a good quality box.

Thoughtful winemakers, motivated by environmental concerns, are turning to boxes.

05/13/2023

“What is your favorite cooking tool?” is a question I get all the time.

This slicer goes with me on every job and even to vacation houses when I’m on cooking duty!

Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YDO2LG/ref=nosim?tag=chefalisongar-20

05/04/2023

Thirty boxed lunches for teachers of little ones with special needs. Made with much appreciation and gratitude for their hard work.

04/23/2023

It’s Sample Sunday! An upcoming cocktail party and these clients wanted a preview. Spinach Balls with Lemon Mayonnaise, Curried Cheese Toasts, Individual Seven Layer Dips, Grilled Zucchini Rollups with Goat Cheese & Balsamic Drizzle.

04/07/2023

I now have an Instagram account for just chef life! Give me a follow. https://instagram.com/chef_alison_garen?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

04/06/2023

Did you forget to make Easter reservations?
An Easter brunch or dinner drop off just opened back up on my calendar! A 3 course meal for 8 can arrive at your door for $500. (Menu selections are provided at time of booking, available for Vienna, Reston, McLean and Fairfax only.)

03/27/2023

Don’t you wish your fridge looked like this, all set up for the week? These clients have family dinners all handled for this last week of March.
(I wish MY fridge looked like this!)

03/21/2023

Graduation season is coming! Brunches, lunches, dinners… I offer delivery or on-site catering to celebrate your graduate. Limited spots available in June.

02/25/2023

Have you booked your summer beach house yet? You can also book your cooler-to-go, filled with prepared meals for your family trip. Menus are fully customizable. Take the dinner planning stress off of your packing list. Inquire via email: [email protected]

A happy client explains:
“Chef Alison prepared three dinner meals for the four of us…each delicious, easy to warm and all of them a treat. It made our vacation a truly relaxing affair to enjoy each other’s company while eating a fantastic meal each night. Clean up is a snap and portions are generous…we had enough for a ‘leftovers’ night. She cooks a wide range of food styles and we selected dishes that intrigued us, ones that we do not make at home. I am looking forward to this summer and repeating our sisters’ trip. We will require catering to make it complete!”

02/05/2023

I want to frame every single review I get!! I love making people happy with food.

“Last summer my sisters and I wanted to take a trip together, just ourselves. A sticking point was that all of us should relax, no one should be carrying the mental load of meal planning, prep or cooking.

The answer is obvious…go out for every meal. But that is tiresome and what if we want to have another glass of wine or just collapse in a heap after a busy day hiking in North Carolina?

The BEST answer…have someone else cater dinners for you. Chef Alison prepared three dinner meals for the four of us…each delicious, easy to warm and all of them a treat. It made our vacation a truly relaxing affair to enjoy each other’s company while eating a fantastic meal each night. Clean up is a snap and portions are generous…we had enough for a ‘leftovers’ night. She cooks a wide range of food styles and we selected dishes that intrigued us, ones that we do not make a home. I am looking forward to this summer and repeating our sisters’ trip. We will require catering to make it complete!”

01/30/2023

This family wanted simply prepared protein and veggies to last them all week with a hungry teenager. We added on dairy and gluten free sauces/garnishes to keep it interesting and fun for the grownups.

01/22/2023

Getting reviews like this makes my chef heart and soul grow three sizes.

“Chef Alison prepared meals for a trip last year. The food was delicious, easy to heat up, and allowed my family to have a private dining experience including foods from all over the world (Moroccan spice rubbed chicken, Barbequed Thai chicken, and Cuban flank steak) without leaving the comfort of our vacation rental. We are looking forward to repeating the experience this year. Our vacation won't be complete without Chef Alison!”

01/20/2023

Valentine’s Day plans?
Gift your love:
💗 a romantic dinner at home
💗 a dinner party with friends
💗 a cooking class in your own kitchen
💗 a fridge full of healthy prepared meals

More details:

Alison Garen is a Northern Virginia based Personal Chef, focusing on busy families who want to eat well but don’t have the time to cook. Individuals with dietary restrictions or allergies are her specialty. How can taking the thinking out of your meals transform your life? Book a Consultation

01/11/2023

Meal prep done, ready for delivery!