Hospitality With Heart
Rent A Chef was founded on the belief that great food is only part of the experience-how guests feel matters just as much. We specialize in bringing restaurant-quality food and polished service directly to you, whether that’s your home, wedding venue, corporate office, or private event space.
From Southern-style BBQ and comfort classics to elevated plated dinners and curated cocktail experiences, our team adapts every menu to the moment. We don’t believe in cookie-cutter catering-every event is approached with care, creativity, and attention to detail.
Many of our clients return year after year, and we’re proud to be a trusted partner for life’s celebrations, milestones, and meaningful gatherings.
Our Story
Rent A Chef began as a passion project we ran part time for three years. We knew we had something special, but like many small businesses, taking the leap to full time felt like a big step. When the pandemic hit, everything changed. While restaurants and venues were closed, our established clients were still celebrating life’s important moments and our phone started ringing off the hook. That was the moment we realized it was time to leave our corporate jobs behind. In October 2020, we went all in on Rent A Chef and started our LLC. By the end of 2021, we had completed over 130 events and knew we had made the right decision. Today, Rent A Chef is fully licensed and insured, and we operate out of a commercial kitchen in Geneva, IL.
Meet Our Team!
Chef Matt
Executive Chef/Co-Owner
If you’ve ever attended a Rent A Chef event, chances are you’ve met the man, the myth, the music-loving legend-Chef Matt.
With over 20 years of culinary experience, Chef Matt is the creative force and steady hand behind the bold flavors and refined presentation Rent A Chef is known for. Rooted in the heart of Alabama BBQ and seasoned through years of opening and leading top-tier restaurants, he brings both Southern soul and elevated technique to every menu he designs.
From slow-smoked brisket guests remember years later to beautifully plated private-chef dinners, Chef Matt believes great food should feel intentional, generous, and unforgettable. Every dish reflects craftsmanship, consistency, and pride.
But he’s not just a chef.
He’s a natural showman. A storyteller. The kind of host who makes a room feel instantly at ease.
Whether he’s walking guests through a custom tasting menu, leading a seamless corporate service, or spontaneously serenading someone with “Happy Birthday”, Chef Matt creates moments that go beyond the plate. His warmth, humor, and love of music often turn events into experiences people talk about long after the last bite.
Delicious food. Flawless execution. Unforgettable energy.
That’s the Chef Matt Experience.
Heather is the heart behind the hospitality. As co-owner and client experience lead, she ensures every event feels seamless from first inquiry to final cleanup. She works closely with clients to design menus, refine details, coordinate logistics, and bring each vision to life.
With a natural instinct for connection and organization, Heather brings creativity and structure-making the planning process feel smooth instead of overwhelming. From intimate in-home dinners to large-scale weddings and corporate events, she believes the experience should feel as polished behind the scenes as it looks on the plate.
She also leads brand growth, partnerships, and the expansion of services like Bottoms Up Bartending, ensuring Rent A Chef continues evolving while staying rooted in hospitality and excellence.
Heather
Client Experience/Co-Owner
Together, Chef Matt and Heather have built Rent A Chef on trust, consistency, and a commitment to delivering more than just food-they create experiences people remember.