Holiday Private Chef Services - Elevate Your Poconos Celebrations
Transform your Poconos or NEPA estate into the setting for unforgettable holiday celebrations. Chef Keith Kalm specializes in Michelin-quality Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve dinners—delivering traditional luxury with modern sophistication while you enjoy the holiday alongside your guests.
Why Choose Private Chef for Holiday Celebrations
Ready to Experience Luxury Dining?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your private chef experience.
Holiday restaurant dining means crowded rooms, fixed menus, inflexible timing, and public settings. Holiday cooking at home means stress, kitchen chaos, and missing your own celebration. Private chef service delivers the best of both worlds: exceptional cuisine in your home's intimate setting while you celebrate with guests.
Holiday Private Chef Advantages:
- Enjoy Your Own Celebration: Dine with family rather than laboring in the kitchen
- Traditional with Elevation: Classic holiday flavors executed to Michelin standards
- Customization: Your family traditions, your preferences, your timing
- Dietary Flexibility: Accommodate all guests seamlessly—vegan cousin, gluten-free uncle, picky children
- Intimate Setting: Your home, your table, your atmosphere
- Multi-Generational Friendly: Service paced for everyone from grandparents to children
- No Travel: No driving after wine-paired dinners
- Complete Service: Arrival through cleanup—you relax entirely
Holiday Services Offered
Explore Our Service Options
View our custom menus and pricing for your upcoming event.
Thanksgiving Estate Dinners
Traditional Luxury Thanksgiving (Serves 8-16)
Transform the classic feast into refined celebration:
Reception (Optional, +30 minutes before seating)
- Passed hors d'oeuvres: Butternut squash tartlets, cranberry brie bites
- Signature autumn cocktails
Seated Service
First Course Butternut squash bisque | sage oil | crème fraîche | crispy prosciutto | pumpkin seeds
Second Course Baby kale salad | roasted pears | candied pecans | gorgonzola | maple vinaigrette
Main Course (Served family-style or plated)
- Heritage turkey (roasted and carved tableside) | herb butter | pan gravy
- Sourdough sage stuffing | dried cranberries | toasted pecans
- Truffle mashed potatoes | butter | cream
- Maple-roasted Brussels sprouts | bacon | balsamic
- Green bean almondine | brown butter | toasted almonds
- Sweet potato casserole | pecan streusel | marshmallow (elevated execution)
- Cranberry-orange relish | fresh and compote versions
Dessert Course
- Classic pumpkin pie | bourbon whipped cream
- Apple tart tatin | vanilla ice cream | caramel
- Pecan pie | dark chocolate | sea salt
Optional Add-Ons:
- Oyster bar starter course (+$35/person)
- Wine pairings throughout (+$75/person)
- Thanksgiving breakfast service next morning (+$45/person)
Investment: $375/person, 8-person minimum ($3,000) Booking Deadline: October 15 for Thanksgiving service Deposit: 50% required at booking
Christmas Eve Luxury Dinners
Ready to Book?
Contact us to begin planning your private chef experience.
Elegant Christmas Celebration (Serves 6-14)
Sophisticated holiday dining with festive elegance:
Welcome Reception
- Champagne service
- Passed hors d'oeuvres: Lobster toast, beef Wellington bites, truffle arancini
Seated Multi-Course Dinner
First Course Lobster bisque | cognac cream | puff pastry | caviar | chive oil
Second Course Winter salad | roasted beets | goat cheese | candied walnuts | citrus vinaigrette
Third Course Pan-seared diver scallops | cauliflower purée | brown butter | pomegranate
Fourth Course Intermezzo: Champagne sorbet | fresh berries
Fifth Course (Choice presented)
- Prime beef tenderloin | truffle potato gratin | roasted bone marrow | red wine demi-glace
- OR Butter-poached lobster tail | risotto | seasonal vegetables | lobster butter
- OR Herb-crusted rack of lamb | potato pavé | mint gastrique | seasonal vegetables
Sixth Course Selection of artisanal cheeses | honeycomb | marcona almonds | fruit compote
Seventh Course Bûche de Noël (Yule log) | chocolate | vanilla cream | berries | gold leaf
Investment: $425/person, 6-person minimum ($2,550) Booking Deadline: November 15 Deposit: 50% at booking
New Year's Eve Celebration Dinners
Champagne-Focused Tasting Experience (Serves 6-12)
Ring in the new year with sophisticated elegance:
9:00 PM Service Start (Timed for midnight celebration)
Champagne Reception
- Premium champagne selection
- Caviar service | traditional accompaniments
- Oysters on half shell
Seated Progression
Course One (9:30 PM) Foie gras torchon | cherry gastrique | brioche | microgreens
Course Two King crab | avocado | citrus | crispy wonton
Course Three Lobster tail | champagne beurre blanc | asparagus | caviar
Course Four Intermezzo: Champagne granita
11:30 PM - Pre-Midnight Course Prime filet mignon | truffle pommes Anna | roasted marrow | demi-glace
Midnight
- Champagne toast
- Celebration break (30 minutes)
12:30 AM - Final Courses
- Artisanal cheese selection
- Grand Marnier soufflé | vanilla ice cream | berry coulis | gold leaf
Investment: $475/person, 6-person minimum ($2,850) Includes: Premium champagne throughout, midnight toast champagne Booking Deadline: December 1 Deposit: 50% at booking
Additional Holiday Services
Christmas Day Brunch
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Service
Elegant morning celebration:
- Champagne and mimosa bar
- Smoked salmon display
- Eggs Benedict variations
- French toast or pancakes
- Roasted breakfast meats
- Seasonal fruit display
- Pastries and baked goods
Investment: $125/person, 6-person minimum
Holiday Cookie & Dessert Party
Learn More
Discover how we can elevate your next gathering.
Interactive Experience for Families
Perfect for multi-generational gatherings:
- Cookie decorating stations
- Holiday dessert sampling
- Hot chocolate bar (elevated)
- Festive ambiance
Investment: $85/person, 8-person minimum
Multi-Day Holiday Coverage
For Extended Family Gatherings
Comprehensive service for 3-5 day holiday visits:
- Daily breakfast service
- Casual lunch options
- Formal holiday dinner
- Break and snack service throughout
Investment: Custom packages from $350/person/day
What's Included in Holiday Services
Pre-Event:
- Complimentary consultation and menu customization
- Dietary accommodation planning
- Timeline coordination
- Premium ingredient sourcing
- Day-before prep when beneficial
Event Day:
- Early arrival and kitchen setup
- All preparation and cooking
- Professional plating and presentation
- Coordination of course timing
- Tableside carving/service when appropriate
- Beverage service coordination
- Complete kitchen cleanup and restoration
Post-Event:
- Leftover packaging (holidays like Thanksgiving)
- Kitchen restoration
- Dish cleaning and put-away
- Departure leaving home pristine
Dietary Accommodations for Holiday Meals
Holidays often mean diverse dietary needs. We handle all with sophistication:
Vegan Thanksgiving: Complete parallel menu—butternut squash Wellington, cashew cream sides, plant-based desserts
Gluten-Free Christmas: Every course adapted, from GF stuffing to desserts
Kosher Requirements: Understanding and adherence to standards
Children's Preferences: Elevated versions of familiar favorites alongside adult courses
Allergies: Complete avoidance with separate prep protocols
Every guest eats equally well, regardless of restrictions.
Holiday Booking Timeline & Policies
Critical Deadlines
Thanksgiving: Book by October 15
- Menus finalized by November 1
- Final headcount by November 15
- 50% deposit at booking, balance due November 15
Christmas Eve/Day: Book by November 15
- Menus finalized by December 1
- Final headcount by December 15
- 50% deposit at booking, balance due December 15
New Year's Eve: Book by December 1
- Menus finalized by December 10
- Final headcount by December 20
- 50% deposit at booking, balance due December 20
Why Early Booking Matters
Holiday services are limited:
- Only 4-5 Thanksgiving bookings accepted
- Limited Christmas Eve/Day availability
- Exclusive New Year's Eve bookings
- Premium ingredient sourcing requires advance planning
- Schedule flexibility decreases closer to holidays
Cancellation Policy
- More than 30 days before event: Full refund minus $500 booking fee
- 15-30 days before: 50% refund
- Less than 15 days: No refund (ingredients procured, date blocked)
Service Areas for Holiday Celebrations
Poconos Region:
- Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, Tannersville
- Mount Pocono, Pocono Pines, Lake Harmony
- Milford, Hawley, Lake Wallenpaupack estates
- Jim Thorpe, Lehigh Gorge area
- Delaware Water Gap corridor
NEPA Region:
- Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston
- Clarks Summit, Dalton, Waverly
- Back Mountain area
- Wyoming Valley communities
Extended Areas: Pike, Wayne, Monroe, Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne Counties
Travel to remote estates accommodated professionally.
Why Families Choose Chef Keith for Holidays
Stress-Free Hosting: Enjoy the holiday rather than cooking for days
Quality Beyond Home Cooking: Michelin techniques and premium ingredients
Tradition with Elevation: Familiar flavors executed to fine dining standards
Inclusive Dining: Everyone's dietary needs met with sophistication
Create Memories: Focus on family rather than kitchen logistics
Impress Out-of-Town Guests: Show visiting family exceptional hospitality
Multi-Generational Appeal: Service and flavors that please all ages
No Cleanup: Complete restoration, you relax
Reserve Your Holiday Chef Service
Holiday bookings fill early. Contact us now to secure your preferred date.
To Book:
Email: keith@keithkalm.com
Include:
- Holiday and preferred date
- Expected guest count
- Location (city/town)
- Dietary considerations
- Service preferences (formal plated vs family-style, etc.)
- Any family traditions to incorporate
Response: Within 24 hours with availability confirmation
"Holiday celebrations should be joyful, not stressful. Let Chef Keith handle the culinary excellence while you create memories with loved ones. Experience holiday dining at its finest."
About Chef Keith Kalm
Michelin-trained with a passion for elevating traditional celebrations, Chef Keith specializes in holiday private chef services that honor tradition while delivering contemporary excellence. His understanding of family dynamics, multi-generational preferences, and sophisticated hospitality makes him the premier choice for Poconos and NEPA holiday dining.
Serving holiday celebrations throughout the Poconos and NEPA region.
Service Areas
Ready to Book This Service?
Contact Chef Keith to discuss holiday celebrations for your upcoming event.