Meet Blake Stine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Stine.

Hi Blake, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started Denver Private Chef during the COVID lockdown since the restaurant I was working at slowed down dramatically. My girlfriend and I were shooting ideas around and one popped up about people not being able to eat out since we were all in lockdown, why couldn’t I cook restaurant food for them in their own homes? And the rest is history as they say! I never in a million years would’ve seen myself working outside of a restaurant since I have loved “working the line” since the first time I set food inside of a professional kitchen, but this Private Chef business has its own kind of validation and rewards. It is truly amazing to start a business and not only watch it grow but flourish!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think the biggest struggle I had was going in blind as a first-time business owner. I really didn’t know where to begin. I knew that I had to just dive in head first and figure it out. Luckily my girlfriend is a business owner so her encouragement and guidance helped tremendously! Initially, I had intended on this solely being for private dinners with high-end cuisine but as time goes on I am seeing a lot of different requests. I have some truly wonderful clients who I cater lunches to in several offices around the Denver metro area which has been surprising, but I am always thrilled to be able to bring some great healthy scratch-made lunches to them whenever they request!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My absolute favorite thing to cook is fresh pasta. Whenever going over a menu with a new client I like to ask what their favorite types of food are, ingredients, and special requests. From there I tailor menus to their liking, but I emphasize their requests in the pasta dishes that I come up with. It provides a wonderful creative outlet for me, while they reap the benefits of trying something new and in most cases unexpected in a pasta dish. It provides a fantastic canvas where your only limitation is your own imagination!

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Oh my goodness what can I put here that won’t be too embarrassing? I absolutely LOVE lifting weights. I grew up in the 80’s & 90’s so my heroes were, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Andre the Giant to name a few. My little brother and I were obsessed with professional wrestling and used to beat each other to a pulp when our parents weren’t around (sorry Brad, I always won!). I think a lot of that still resounds today, I do my best to get to the gym at least 5 times a week, which is tricky while running my business and teaching culinary classes in the evening at a local technical college.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.denverprivatechef.com
• Instagram: @denverprivatechef
• Facebook: @denverprivatechef