Short notice · Mendocino County

Plans on the coast change fast. A rental comes free, a storm rolls in and nobody wants to drive to dinner, or the trip simply crept up on you. If your dinner’s days away rather than months, get in touch. We say yes to short notice more often than you’d think.

Call or text and you’ll reach a chef, not a booking system.

What works on short notice

The menus that come together best on a few days’ notice are the generous ones: family-style platters, a braise that’s been going since morning, a big salad from whatever the farms had that week, and a dessert that’s ready before we walk in. We build them from what’s on the boats and at the market that week, which on this coast is usually the best version of the meal anyway.

• Family-style dinners for a group in a rental
• One big night in a weekend you’ve already planned
• Meals for the stay: a few dinners cooked ahead and left in your fridge
• A birthday or anniversary dinner that nearly didn’t happen

What we need to know

To get you a fast answer, send us:

• The date, and roughly when you’d like to eat
• How many adults and how many kids
• Where you’re staying: the town, and the listing link if it’s a rental (it tells us about the kitchen)
• Any allergies or must-haves

That’s enough for us to check and call you back. From there it’s a short conversation about the food, and then we’re shopping.

Good to know

How short is too short?

Tell us anyway. We’ve said yes to dinners booked four days out. If we can’t do it, we’ll tell you right away so you can make other plans.

Can you cook in a rental you’ve never seen?

That’s most of what we do. Send the listing link and we’ll know what the kitchen has, and we bring what it’s missing. Here’s how we size up a rental kitchen.

What does it cost?

The same as any other dinner. The pricing guide has the rates, and what to expect shows how a booking goes.

What if the weather turns?

Storm nights are some of our favorite dinners to cook. You’re not going anywhere, so we’ll come to you. (Planning around this El Niño winter? Same answer.)

Also planning something? Holiday dinners · Sample menus · Pricing guide · FAQ · Personal chef · Cooking classes

Check your date

Tell us your date and guest count. For anything inside a week, call or text 707-941-3452; it’s the fastest way to reach us.