Private chef · Florida Keys
A Private Chef at Your Table in the Florida Keys, From $100 a Guest
Share the date, the guest count and what your table likes to eat. We reply within an hour during business hours and send a full quote within 24 hours.
Get My Quote in 24 HoursPrivate Chef in the Florida Keys for Dinners at Your Home or Rental
Miami Plate Catering sends a private chef to cook dinner in your kitchen in the Florida Keys. The price is $100 to $300+ a guest with groceries included, for 2 guests or more. Availability for your address in the Keys is confirmed in your quote.
- A rental for the week. Book one dinner for the group, and nobody has to cook or find a table.
- A home on the water. Dinner stays at your own table, inside or outside.
- A small, intimate table. Two guests are enough for a booking, and a family dinner for twenty works too.
- Your menu. You tell us the tastes at the table and the meals you want, and the dishes and ingredients are confirmed in your quote.
- Vegan guests. A fully vegan menu is available.
Some parts of a dinner may be prepared in advance, and the cooking itself happens in your kitchen. The Keys are in our service area.
Booking terms
Catering Booking Terms Without Small Print
These are the terms we put in your contract, in plain words.
Deposit, price lock and payment
50% after you approve the menu and quote, or 30% when you book 6+ months ahead. Your contract price does not change before the event. Pay by card, Zelle, ACH, check or cash; 4% off without a card.
Guest count and final payment
Due 10 business days before the event, 48 hours for office and yacht orders. You can reduce the count by up to 10% of the contract.
Cancellation
7+ days before: event credit with no expiry or a refund minus 30%. Less than 7 days: no refund. Drop-off orders: full refund up to 24 hours before delivery. If we have to cancel, we refund your deposit within 10 days and, less than 30 days out, help find a replacement and pay the price difference.
Rain plan
It’s Florida. We bring a tent or switch to a covered format, quoted in advance.
Tasting
Free for booked weddings and events of 100+ guests. Before booking, a tasting is $100, credited to your order if you book within 14 days.
What a Florida Keys Private Chef Costs and What Changes the Total
A private chef dinner costs $100 to $300+ a guest, and the groceries are included. The final number depends on the food you pick and on the size of your table. Sales tax appears as a separate line on your quote, so you see the total before you pay a deposit.
| What changes the total | How it works |
|---|---|
| Dishes you choose | Caviar and wagyu cost extra |
| Table of 12 or more | An assistant joins the chef |
| Table of 20 or more | Servers join the team |
Dishes for the dinner are planned with you, and the team that arrives grows with your table. Sales tax is Florida's 6% plus the county surtax, and it sits on its own line. A tip is optional and never added automatically. For the full price list across formats, see catering menu prices.
How it works
How Catering Works, From Your Request to Event Day
- 1
Answer five questions
Tell us the occasion, guest count, date, area and budget per guest. Prefer to talk? Call, email or message us on WhatsApp.
- 2
Get your quote in 24 hours
A coordinator calls about guests, venue and menu. Your quote lists the price per guest, the service charge and what it covers, sales tax and the total.
- 3
Approve and book
You review the menu and the quote, then sign and pay the deposit. Tasting terms are below.
- 4
Confirm the final count
Menu and count are due 10 business days before the event. After that the count can only go up.
- 5
Event day and after
We set up, serve and clean our area, and pack leftovers on request. Tell us within 24 hours if anything was not right and we make it right with a credit, remake or refund.
How to Prepare a Keys Rental Kitchen for Your Chef's Dinner
Your chef cooks in the kitchen you have, so a rental needs a quick look before the dinner. Tell your coordinator what the kitchen holds, and the plan fits it.
- The stove and the oven. Say whether the rental has a gas or an electric range, and how many burners work.
- Counter and fridge space. A table of eight needs room to plate and a shelf for the groceries.
- Plates and glasses. Check how many place settings the house keeps. If it has too few, tell us, and rentals appear as a separate line on your quote.
- Where dinner is served. A deck, a dining room or a dock-side table all work. Tell us where dinner is served.
- Diets and requests. Tell us about vegan guests, and mention if you want seafood. The dishes are confirmed in your quote.
For buffet catering or larger groups in the Keys, see catering in Key West or catering in Islamorada.
Areas
Catering Across South Florida
We cater in five South Florida regions, from Key West to Vero Beach.
Miami-Dade
Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Kendall, Doral, Homestead, Cutler Bay, Aventura, Pinecrest, Miami Lakes, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, North Miami Beach
Broward
Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Miramar, Weston, Sunrise, Plantation, Deerfield Beach, Tamarac, Coconut Creek, Hallandale Beach, Davie
Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth
Florida Keys
Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Key West
Treasure Coast
Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Vero Beach
Florida Keys Private Chef Questions Before You Book
How much does a private chef cost in the Florida Keys?
$100 to $300+ a guest, with groceries included. Caviar and wagyu cost extra. Sales tax and any other charge are separate lines on your quote.
How many guests do you need for a private chef?
Two guests is the minimum. From 12 guests an assistant joins the chef, and from 20 guests servers join. Your quote names the team for your guest count.
Are groceries included in a Keys private chef price?
Groceries are part of the $100 to $300+ price per guest, and your quote lists what is included, so you see the price of the food before you pay a deposit.
Can I hire a private chef in Key West or Islamorada?
Yes. The Florida Keys, including Key West and Islamorada, are in our service area. Send your date, address and guest count, and we confirm the details in your quote.
What is the difference between a private chef and a personal chef?
Little. Both mean a chef who cooks dinner in your kitchen. We call it a private chef, and the menu is planned with you.
Will the chef cook in my vacation rental kitchen?
Yes, your chef cooks in your kitchen. Tell your coordinator what the kitchen has, such as the range, the oven and the counter space, and the plan fits it. Some parts of the dinner may be prepared in advance.
What sales tax applies to a private chef in the Keys?
Florida's 6% plus the county surtax, shown on its own line in your quote. A tip is optional and never added automatically.
How far ahead should I book a private chef?
Private dinners are booked two to three weeks ahead.
Contacts
Talk to a Catering Coordinator
We are here daily, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Send your date and guest count and we reply within an hour during business hours; the full quote follows within 24 hours.