Private chefs shaking up N.J.’s culinary scene

I am thrilled to share a recent feature from Jersey's Best that highlights the growing trend of private chefs in New Jersey. This article, written by Hank Zona, explores the unique experiences and personalized services offered by private chefs who are redefining the culinary scene in the Garden State. Below is an excerpt from the article featuring myself and my journey with Tiny Onion Chef Services.

Meet three private chefs shaking up N.J.’s culinary scene with customized experiences by Hank Zona | For Jersey's Best | Mon., May 8, 2023

Lauren Owens believes in bringing restaurant quality food into her clients’ homes and getting people to eat better.

Lauren Owens, Tiny Onion Chef Services, Metuchen

Lauren Owens describes herself as a “chef by trade and spirit.” After almost 20 years in the restaurant world in New York and New Jersey, she realized she didn’t want to work for anyone any longer and jumped off the corporate ladder into what she calls “an ocean of freedom.” Of course, one needs to be able to swim to do so, and Owens is capable of swimming a medley of different styles.

It’s a gig economy, and Owens wears different hats under the Tiny Onion header. She runs two-hour cooking sessions that include instruction and household menu development, and she has several meal prep clients where she prepares the food for them weekly or biweekly in their homes. She is also the consulting chef at Duke Farms Garden Kitchen in Hillsborough.

Two themes run through her approach to her business: Hospitality and health and wellness. She believes in bringing restaurant quality into her clients’ homes and getting people to eat better. She develops personal and consultative relationships with her in-home-based services. Owens does do private dinner parties in-home for small groups, but what excites her most is what she calls her Date Night service, crafting special, multicourse meals for couples.

Owens also uses social media to spread the word. “I let people into my life on Instagram because a lot of them allow me into their lives, their homes.” Someday, she would like to open not a restaurant but a Tiny Onion shop, where she can combine the different projects under one roof, but for now, the waters she is in are just fine."

For the full article, visit Jersey's Best. Like this article? Share it with your friends!

Stay tuned for more updates and stories from Tiny Onion Chef Services. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @cheflaurenowens for a glimpse into my culinary adventures!