Private Chef & Catering · Point Arena & the South Coast
Private Chef in Point Arena
Point Arena anchors the southern end of the county — the lighthouse, the pier at Arena Cove, and the Stornetta lands running out along the bluffs. It is a working town rather than a resort, and the coastline around it is some of the most open on the California coast. We cook the length of the south coast from here.
We cook where you’re staying
South-coast bookings come almost entirely from vacation rentals and small inns — bluff houses, cottages around the cove, and the properties scattered south toward Anchor Bay. Many are self-catering by design, with good kitchens and no restaurant within easy reach after dark. Send us the listing and we’ll plan to it.
We also cook the surrounding south coast — Manchester, Anchor Bay, Irish Beach, and the bluff properties along the way. Plenty of these aren’t towns; send the address and we’ll find it.
A lighthouse that the 1906 earthquake took down
The San Andreas fault runs offshore here and comes ashore just north of town, which is why the 1906 earthquake hit Point Arena far harder than its size suggests — the original 1870 lighthouse was damaged beyond saving. What replaced it in 1908 was the first lighthouse in the United States built of reinforced concrete, designed specifically to survive the next one. The town below it has stayed a working place rather than a resort, and the pier at Arena Cove still lands fish.
Our services in Point Arena
South-coast work runs long and multi-day, because people don’t drive an hour for one dinner:
Weddings near the lighthouse are a steady request, at $250 per person for everything tied to the wedding. Full detail on all our services.
Worth knowing while you’re here
Things we’ve picked up cooking in Point Arena, for whoever is staying:
- The lighthouse is open to climb — a hundred and forty-five steps, and the view runs the length of the coast on a clear day.
- Point Arena is one of California’s smallest incorporated cities, with a working pier at Arena Cove rather than a tourist harbour.
- The Stornetta lands north of town are public and walkable, with sea arches and blowholes along the bluff.
- The San Andreas fault runs ashore just north of here. The 1906 quake took down the original lighthouse.
- This is the last real town heading south before you cross into Sonoma County; fuel and groceries are easier here than anywhere further up the coast.
Good for
- Bluff-house rentals taken for a group
- Weddings and elopements near the lighthouse
- Multi-day stays wanting several meals
- Sunset long-table dinners
What we source here
- Fish off the pier at Arena Cove when the boats are in
- Produce from farms along the Garcia River flat
- Lamb from ranches on the coast road
- Coast seafood brought down from Noyo when needed
What it costs in Point Arena
Guide rates, per person, by the meal we’re cooking — every event is quoted individually.
- Dinner from $175 a head, where most tables land $195–245. Brunch, lunch, weddings and tasting menus are all on the full rate card.
- Travel is billed separately. Point Arena is about thirty-five miles south of Mendocino — close to an hour on Highway 1 — well outside our 15-mile radius — we’ll quote it with your proposal so there’s no surprise on the invoice.
Every rate includes menu design, sourcing, all shopping, cooking, service, and full kitchen cleanup. See the full pricing guide.
Good to know
Is Point Arena too far for a single dinner?
No, but be aware it’s about an hour each way, so travel is quoted with your proposal rather than absorbed into the rate. For a single dinner that’s worth knowing up front; for a multi-day stay it spreads across the meals and matters less.
Can you cook several meals across our stay?
Yes, and on the south coast it’s usually the better value. We’ll plan across the days from the rate card — brunch $125, lunch $150, dinner $195 — rather than treating each as a separate trip.
Do you cater weddings near the lighthouse?
We do. The wedding itself is from $250 per person, with the rehearsal supper from $215 and the morning-after brunch from $95. Exposed bluff sites need a real plan for wind and power, which we’ll work through with you.
Also cooking nearby: Elk · Albion · Philo · see all services, sample menus, or the pricing guide.
%s
Tell us the date, the guest count, and where you’re staying. We’ll reply with a menu and an exact quote, usually within two business days.