Chef's Expressions

I worked primarily with Paul Kountz at Chef's Expressions for my wedding. He was extremely courteous and professional throughout the planning. Chef's Expressions was the ONLY vendor who listened to what I wanted from the get go, and sent me a proposal that accurately portrayed what I was interested in. I gave five different vendors the same requests/budget/food restrictions, and the other four sent me what was clearly a careless generic menu riddled with things I had said I did not want. Paul's menu was beautifully written, very descriptive, and PROMPT. I knew we were going to work with him right away. My wedding planner, Leslie Weekes of Leslie-Manning Events, also highly recommended CE, so we knew our guests were in for a treat. CE really worked within our budget and provided us exquisite food on the wedding day. Our guests are still emailing me for a recipe for the asparagus and leek soup the chef prepared to honour my French side of the family (Paul, if you're reading this, hook me up!) We could not have asked for better food, but the icing on the proverbial cake was how fantastic the CE staff was. The servers were quick, darting in and out almost unseen. I say almost because so many guests noted how friendly and happy they looked while they were working. It really sets the mood when the waitstaff is also having a good time at the wedding. The bartenders were full of jokes and quick comebacks and remembered people's preferences throughout the evening. My wedding was a bit complicated in that my parents live overseas, so they were only here in the two weeks leading up to the ceremony. During the final walk through with the caterer, Paul really took his time to repeat things directly to them that I'm sure he would have rather skimmed over since the wedding planner and myself already knew everything. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated the way he made my parents feel like they were valued and integral members of the planning experience. He asked them questions and made sure to alter some plans to accommodate my mother's last minute wishes (Pssst, Paul, bet you've never had a 20 minute convo on how to fold napkins before, eh?). He was fantastic and always dressed to the nines when we met with him. I will always be grateful for how well that walk through went and how happy my parents were afterwards. Chef's Expressions is a vendor I will recommend to EVERYONE planning a wedding in DC. EVERYONE.

My husband and I had our reception at the George Peabody Library. The first time we saw the Library, Chef's Expressions was setting up for a wedding, and we met Paul Kountz for the first time. After seeing Paul and his staff in action, there was no question that he was the caterer for us. His efficiency and professionalism was apparent to us right away. After booking the Library and Chef's Expressions, Paul could not have been more accomodating to my indecisiveness, and our two sets of out of state parents. It didn't matter what question I had, what time I emailed him, or even what time I called him. He was always there to answer my questions and reassure me that all would be fine. He was definitely our sanity throughout the planning process. Despite the fact that we were always in contact, Paul and Chef's Expressions needed very little direction. Their expertise in every aspect of our reception was comforting and astounding. When I walked into the reception, it took my breath away. I consider myself a perfectionist and a control freak, and Paul and his team put me to shame. It was perfect in every way. In terms of food and drink, I could not say enough good things. My guests arrived much earlier than planned and Paul and his team had the bars set up in record time, and began serving drinks 30 minutes earlier than the start of the cocktail hour. This is just one example of how they went above and beyond. The food was beautiful and delicious, and we received so many compliments from our guests. The cake, done by Chef's Expressions, was exactly like the photo I chose, and could not have been more tasty! Paul assigned Stacey as our personal attendant for the evening, and she was a life saver. Drinks and appetizers appeared out of nowhere, and any time I needed someone or something, she was right there. It was almost as if she was reading my mind! As you can see, Chef's Expressions, Paul, Stacey, and the rest of his team made our wedding the most memorable night of our lives. So many of our guests claim that it was the most beautiful, most fun wedding they have ever attended and we owe it all to Chef's Expressions! I will use Chef's for all of my events.

Bonny, Christine, Paul and the entire Chef's team were fabulous to work with. Chef's put 110 ten percent into making sure our wedding was perfect. They were flexible with last minute tweaks to food/drink/dessert/timeline plans. They are willing to work with you whether its on menu, timing, place settings. They worked closely and effectively with the other vendors to make the cocktail hour and reception ran smoothly. They were exceptionally responsive in communicating with us throughout the process. Thank you Chefs! We would highly recommend you use chef's for your next party or special event.

Chef's Expressions provided excellent service and food for our daughter's wedding at the George Peabody Library on 03/03/12. It was a pleasure to work with Bonny throughout the process---she was patient, understanding, and extremely responsive to our many emails and phone calls. She and her assistant, Christine, were very detailed and organized. The company responded very professionally to each of our concerns, and we had also a chance to work with Paul. He, too, was very helpful, experienced, and professional. Chef John was delightful, and the food was wonderful! We worked closely with Bonny and John to design a menu with which our daughter and son-in-law were very pleased. Bonny also had excellent suggestions for our linens, timeline and organization of the whole evening! The wait staff and bartenders provided great service. We consider Chef's to be a wonderful vendor.

Hands down the BEST caterer in Baltimore! We could not have been more pleased with our experience. We worked with Bonny who was amazing. She is very organized, friendly and a huge help the day of the wedding. From the minute we booked them, we knew we were in good hands with Bonny and the whole team at Chef's Expression. The food is so delicious. I've found at other weddings that the food sometimes is an afterthought, but not with Chef's. The food is fresh, innovative and beautifully served. The cake is not only the best priced cake in town, but quite honestly the best cake I have ever had! The Carrot Cake is to die for! We had so many of our friends and family tell us how much they loved the food. It's certainly not the cheapest caterer in town but it is completely worth it!

There are not enough words to express how INCREDIBLE Chef's Expressions is as a catering vendor and partner. Their service is truly top-notch. Not one mistake was made during the planning process or the day/night of the wedding; everything was impeccable. My sister and I both welled up with tears when first entering the reception - thanks to Chef's Expressions the setting was flawless. It is important to note that, not only do they serve delicious, perfectly displayed food but they also serve as a partner and play a coordinator role throughout the planning process. They, specifically Paul Kountz in our case, help the bride and groom ensure that everything will flow correctly and go smoothly. They have several years of experience and are certainly the experts so their guidance is very valuable. Not only did they make the event EASY and pleasurable for the bride and groom, they also make it a dream-like experience for the guests. The service could not be better, the food could not be better, and many compliments were given to us about such things on our wedding night and after. If you're evaluating vendors, keep these key things in mind: - Advice and guidance regarding flow of event and decor - Great attention to detail and very responsive throughout entire process - Decades of experience in industry to help plan the night and execute properly - Exemplary service - Delicious food and unique presentation Huge THANK YOU to Paul, his staff and the Chef at Chef's Expressions!

Bonny, Christine and the whole team at Chef's Expressions were AMAZING! They were flexible and patient with us every step of the way - from figuring out our menu to putting up all our other decorations (table numbers, place cards, bar signs, etc.). John, their chef, is passionate about his food and it showed. We received rave reviews from our guests who we consider true foodies. The whole team of servers/bartenders were professional, quick and very personable. Bonny and Christine were responsive and patient - they thought of everything and served as day of coordinators for us - they coordinated with our other vendors to ensure smooth setup and takedown (flowers, dj's, venue, photographer). Chef's Expressions paid amazing attention to the details and the quality of food and service were phenomenal!

I am 62, and have been to quite a few weddings, including over-the-top affairs in NYC. Chef's Expressions catered our wedding in Baltimore, and it was the most fabulous job I have ever seen. Our friends are still commenting on what an incredible job Chef John Walsh did with the food, from planning to execution to presentation. Bonny Opper took care of everything else and the event was seamless, without a single hitch, and we are still getting calls from our friends telling us what an amazing time they had. While Chef's is not the least expensive caterer available, they are in my opinion by far the best value given the fantastic quality, great staff, and perfect execution. Very sincerely, the event could not have been managed better - it was perfect.

Our experience with Chef's Expressions was amazing. They took care of every aspect of the setup and catering of the entire day and I did not have to worry about a thing. Most of all, many MANY of our guests commented that this was the best and most creative wedding food they have ever tasted. I completely agree. Jerry and his team came up with an innovative and delicious three course menu that really reflected my husband and my taste, as well as appealed to a wide variety of palates. The wine choices were also excellent. Chef's Expressions was a pleasure to work with and had an answer to every question (even the annoying ones!) along the way. They were accessible, responsive, and their attention to detail was fantastic. I would also like to comment that Laurel, who coordinated much of the day for us was absolutely amazing to work with. We could not have asked for a better experience. You may find in your research that Chef's Expressions is more expensive than other vendors, but what you get for your dollar is worth EVERY penny. They were more than just caterers, they were basically wedding coordinators for us. I would recommend them in a heartbeat to anyone looking for an innovative, classy, and fun event. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

We can't stop complimenting Melanie & the Chef's Expressions team...and neither can our guests. If you want excellent food brought to you by a staff of friendly professionals, look no further. We chose "plated stations" so that our guests wouldn't have to serve themselves but would have the choice of several different dishes at our reception. We worked with Chef John to create these stations and his suggestions blew away anything proposed by the competition. His ideas seemed endless and delicious with every description. Melanie handled every detail with ease and care--a rare combo. She always made us feel like what we wanted was not only possible but important to her. Our reception at the American Visionary Art Museum was perfect in every way thanks to Chef's Expressions.

I was excited from my first meeting with Paul. The entire Chef's Expression team does a great job at assuring you that what they will provide will be fantastic, and it was!!!! I was so impressed by everything on my wedding day. The linens were beautiful. The food was terrific (and beautiful as well). But most of all, the service was spectacular! I couldn't imagine things being any more perfect than they were at Chef's Expressions. The people that work there are very very good at letting you know that they are there for you. They are awesome! I would use them again and would recommend them to any bride!

It was such a pleasure to work with Bonny and Christine of Chef's Expressions. They were very friendly, helpful, professional, and always willing to give their opinions. They helped me realize everything I dreamed of for my reception and cocktail hour, decor-wise. And then they helped create the meal of my dreams! All of the food at my wedding was delicious. Every hors d'oeuvres was amazing, and they were nothing compared to the meal! All of the staff were great as well. They were very friendly towards all of the guests and always asking the Groom and I if we needed anything. Also, we had our ceremony and reception in the same room, so it needed to be turned over during the cocktail hour. Chef's blew me away on how fast they were able to turn the room over and how amazing everything looked. Everything was exactly where they needed to be and it was beautiful! They even took the Groom and I into the space before everyone else and made sure we ate some of the hors...

We used Chef's Expressions for my daughter, Courtney's wedding. I had used them for a party previously and had been very pleased with their service. We worked with Bonnie and Christine and they were wonderful. They worked with my daughter Courtney and my son-in-law Scott to put together a wonderful menu that pleased everyone. They also assisted with the linens and table settings. We had the ceremony and reception at the George Peabody Library on a Friday night with a very quick turnaround time from the cocktail hour to the reception, but Bonnie and her crew did everything on time! They exceeded my expectations and I am still getting compliments on all of the food from the cocktail hour to the reception! When we walked in the room for the reception I could not believe how beautiful it was. Thanks to Chef, Bonnie, Christine and everyone at Chef's Expressions.

Chef’s Expressions catered my wedding in November, and I highly recommend them. When we began planning the wedding, we met with several caterers and after tastings with three, we were torn between two. However, in the end, Chef’s Expressions made the decision an easy one. Not only was the food delicious, but the presentation and attention to detail was phenomenal. We worked closely with Event Design Consultant Bonny Opper and Executive Chef John Walsh to design our menu and unlike other caterers, they listened to what we wanted and what we liked and then made suggestions of how to enhance our menu. My husband and I, as well as most of my family, tend to like more familiar foods - a good steak, potato and vegetable. While other caterers took this very literally and created a very simple menu, John took note of flavors we liked and asked tons of questions about what in particular we liked about certain foods and from there built a menu that was completely reflective of whom we are and what we like and it was anything but simple and boring! He created an amazing several course menu starting with a delicious shrimp and corn bisque as well as a fantastic salad. The rock fish with lemon grass beurre blanc that followed was cooked perfectly and was so tasty. Finally the beef tenderloin with the morello cherry demi glaze was scrumptious. In addition, Chef’s Expressions provided our wedding cake which was so amazingly beautiful as well as so delicious. Our guests still continue to talk about the food. The presentation of the food was above and beyond what we could have imagined. The way the crudités were served in individual shot glasses was elegant and the shiitake mushroom stick appetizer, which was served from a bowl with fish swimming in the bottom, was a complete hit! Bonny was there every step of the way to help make all the necessary decisions. Since our wedding was at a venue where everything, including linens and chairs, needed to be brought in, there were plenty of decisions to be made! Bonny was so helpful and never made us feel as though we were taking too much time, even when it took us 2 hours to finalize linens and napkins! Bonny always made us feel as though we were her only clients and always had time to answer our questions or give us her opinion. In addition, Bonny and her Event Specialist Christine took such great care of us the day of the wedding. They not only made sure that we had everything we needed, but they made sure our guests were well taken care of. They made sure the evening flowed perfectly and gently guided us through the night to keep us on track which was so helpful considering at that point I had no concept of time! We can’t thank them enough. We continue to hear from our guests about how wonderful our wedding was, from the food to the décor to the drinks. We simply cannot thank Bonny and everyone at Chef’s Expressions enough for helping to make our wedding a truly wonderful and memorable event. Thank you so much! Chef’s Expressions catered my wedding in November, and I highly recommend them. When we began planning the wedding, we met with several caterers and after tastings with three, we were torn between two. However, in the end, Chef’s Expressions made the decision an easy one. Not only was the food delicious, but the presentation and attention to detail was phenomenal. We worked closely with Event Design Consultant Bonny Opper and Executive Chef John Walsh to design our menu and unlike other caterers, they listened to what we wanted and what we liked and then made suggestions of how to enhance our menu. My husband and I, as well as most of my family, tend to like more familiar foods - a good steak, potato and vegetable. While other caterers took this very literally and created a very simple menu, John took note of flavors we liked and asked tons of questions about what in particular we liked about certain foods and from there built a menu that was completely reflective of whom we are and what we like and it was anything but simple and boring! He created an amazing several course menu starting with a delicious shrimp and corn bisque as well as a fantastic salad. The rock fish with lemon grass beurre blanc that followed was cooked perfectly and was so tasty. Finally the beef tenderloin with the morello cherry demi glaze was scrumptious. In addition, Chef’s Expressions provided our wedding cake which was so amazingly beautiful as well as so delicious. Our guests still continue to talk about the food. The presentation of the food was above and beyond what we could have imagined. The way the crudités were served in individual shot glasses was elegant and the shiitake mushroom stick appetizer, which was served from a bowl with fish swimming in the bottom, was a complete hit! Bonny was there every step of the way to help make all the necessary decisions. Since our wedding was at a venue where everything, including linens and chairs, needed to be brought in, there were plenty of decisions to be made! Bonny was so helpful and never made us feel as though we were taking too much time, even when it took us 2 hours to finalize linens and napkins! Bonny always made us feel as though we were her only clients and always had time to answer our questions or give us her opinion. In addition, Bonny and her Event Specialist Christine took such great care of us the day of the wedding. They not only made sure that we had everything we needed, but they made sure our guests were well taken care of. They made sure the evening flowed perfectly and gently guided us through the night to keep us on track which was so helpful considering at that point I had no concept of time! We can’t thank them enough. We continue to hear from our guests about how wonderful our wedding was, from the food to the décor to the drinks. We simply cannot thank Bonny and everyone at Chef’s Expressions enough for helping to make our wedding a truly wonderful and memorable event. Thank you...

I cannot say enough about Chef's Expressions and how highly I would recommend them for your wedding. Bonnie was the main coordinator and Christine was her assistant and they were both extremely responsive and flexible throughout the entire process. When doing research for caterers, I immediately saw Chef's Expressions as the cream of the crop. I however ruled them out because I assumed they would be out of our price range. When we weren't completely happy with the other caterers we spoke to, I contacted Bonnie and was ecstatic to find out that they were very flexible and willing to work within our price range. Not only is the food legitimately amazing (I am a foodie and would classify this food as "great." Not "great for a wedding", but just plain "great!"), and not only does the food LOOK amazing (their plating is phenomenal and they can do special things with each hors d'oeuvres tray and served plate), but the main reason I truly love Chef's Expressions is the day of wedding coordination. Bonnie was very familiar with our venue and very familiar with our DJ, and made us 100% comfortable that everything would go smoothly. They provided us with a suggested timeline and once we tweaked it in the days leading up to the wedding, had full confidence that we didn't need to worry about things running smoothly. If there is one thing I can complain about (and I am really nitpicking here), it's that we were supposed to have one of our hors d'oeuvres served on top of a mini bowl containing a live goldfish, and they forgot that detail, but that is honestly the only thing negative I can say about them. In the weeks since the wedding, I have had multiple guests mention to me that our food was the best food they have ever had at any wedding. I would agree! Bonnie and her staff consistently made sure that not only were we (the bride & groom) fed well when we had time to eat, but regularly refilled our drinks and personally waited on the entire head table to make sure everyone had what they needed. She even packaged up 2 of every course for us to take home, assuming that we probably didnt get a chance to enjoy our meals with all the ongoing time demands of talking to the guests. OH! And the cake! So good! I wasn't expecting much since they aren't a specialty cake boutique but the cake was AMAZING, and beautiful and they can work with you on appearance to cater to what you want it to look like. Wedding planning and the day of can be stressful, but I can't stress enough how highly I recommend choosing Chef's Expressions as your caterer. Guaranteed amazing food with amazing presentation, but also guaranteed flawless execution of the day of, going beyond what most catering companies would do. With Bonnie and Chef's Expressions, you pretty much get food AND a day-of wedding planner for the price of one. That's many less things that you have to worry about when you should be enjoying your night.

Chef's Expressions was the caterer that my husband and I selected for our wedding at Gramercy Mansion and we could not have been happier with them. Throughout the entire process, Bonny and Christine were friendly, easy to work with, very responsive, and extremely knowledgeable (of both the food/wine and the space at Gramercy Mansion). We fully trusted them in helping us to create a spectacular menu that suited our tastes, and they did not disappoint. So many of our guests raved about how wonderful the food and service were at the reception. More than anything, as the bride, I was so grateful for the impeccable service that was provided that evening. Bonny and Christine handled the flow and timeline of the night- I never once had to worry about when the next "step" was supposed to occur. Everyone on their staff seemed organized and knew their roles. Bonny, Christine, the waitstaff, and the chefs really are there to provide the best meal and overall experience for everyone. They receive very high recommendations from us!!!

From the moment that we first met with Bonny at Chef's Expression, there was no doubt in our mind that we would use them as our caterer. We were very unsure of what we wanted for out catering, but Bonny and the rest of her team were able to assist us to make our day perfect. The food that was served at our wedding was the best food I have ever eaten at a wedding, and we have had numerous guests tell us that. The food was creative and different, but also comforting and appealling to all of our guests. Bonny and Christine were there to help us with every stage of the planning and helped make keep us calm. We have talked about our wedding and have said over and over again that we would not change a thing! Bonny and her staff were always able to answer ever question that we could come up with and provide us with amazing recommendations for all of our wedding needs! They even made a special fruit tart for the bride! Thanks for making our dreams come true!

The Best Caterer in Maryland. The menu, made from scratch, was simply fantastic and drink pairing recommendations were perfect. Service was excellent. Our wedding would not have been such perfect without Chef's Expressions

If you want a stress-free wedding, then look no further than Chef's Expressions!! From our initial interaction with Paul, Chef John, and the wonderful staff, my husband and I were instantly impressed by their enthusiasm and professionalism. I truly cannot say enough good things about Chef's Expressions. They were hands-down the best wedding vendor that we hired! Paul and the amazing team at Chef's didn't miss a beat from planning our menu to overseeing the smallest of details. We hired them to cater our wedding but Paul and team provided so much more. Not only was the food AMAZING but we felt that the team went above and beyond expectations to deliver what was the most amazing day of our lives! I'll be the first to admit that I have a Type A personality and sometimes have trouble giving up control. But when Paul says it's gonna be okay - TRUST HIM!Paul was always quick to respond to my incessant emails and phone calls and remained the consummate professional through it all. Our guests were truly blown away by everything and are still raving about the excellent four-course meal that Chef's provided that evening. Planning a wedding can definitely be stressful, and hiring trustworthy vendors is of the utmost importance to ensure your day is unforgettable. Therefore, I can say with absolute confidence that you will not be disappointed in your decision to hire Chef's Expressions.

We used Chef's Expressions as our wedding caterer and could not have been happier! Bonnie and her team were extremely professional, always prompt to respond to me, and the food was the best wedding food I have ever eaten. Bonnie basically doubled as my wedding day coordinator making sure the timeline ran smoothly and that I was always happy. They even boxed up two extra dinners and sent them to our hotel since we didn't have a chance to eat very much. Bonnie and her team made the entire wedding planning experience as easy for me as possible and I would strongly recommend Chef's Expressions for a wedding caterer.