A Personal Chef Service in Anaheim Hills, Balboa, Balboa Island, Bel Air, Belmont Shores, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Burbank, Cerritos, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Encino, Garden Grove, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Lakewood, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Naples, Newport Beach, Orange, Rancho Palos Verdes, Playa Del Rey, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, San Pedro, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sunset Beach, Surfside, Torrance, Tustin, Venice, and surrounding cities

The Essence of Thyme - A Personal Chef Service By Chef Dahlia Villegas The Essence of Thyme - A Personal Chef Service By Chef Dahlia Villegas The Essence of Thyme - A Personal Chef Service By Chef Dahlia Villegas The Essence of Thyme - A Personal Chef Service By Chef Dahlia Villegas
Chef Dahlia Villegas is a proud member of American Personal & Private Chef Association
Chef Dahlia Villegas is a certied 'Internal Code of Personal Chef Ethics'
ServSafe - Certified & Insured
Certified & Insured

Menu

These are just some favorites. We can tailor a menu just for you. The Essence Of Thyme can even make your own family recipes or something you saw in a cookbook. We just need the recipe or name of the dish and we will make anything you want. All meals will be prepared according to your individual tastes.

Soups and stews as meals

Dad’s chicken noodle soup
Made with chicken breasts, fresh vegetables, special spices and noodles.

Beef and lentil soup (available without meat)
Slow-cooked with fresh herbs and vegetables.

Carmen’s Albondigas soup (chicken or beef)
Hand-formed meatballs with fresh herbs, spices, and vegetables.

Hearty Vegetable soup
Fresh seasonal vegetables in a tomato-based broth.

Beef Stew
Tender beef chunks simmered with onions, garlic, and vegetables.

Chili Con Carne (available meatless)
Slow cooked to perfection, with onions, peppers, kidney and pinto beans.

Poultry

Balsamic Chicken
Roasted chicken marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette with garlic and shallots. Moroccan Chicken
Slow-cooked with Moroccan spices.

Mom’s Lemon Chicken
Oven roasted with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs.

Chicken cutlets
Seasoned with fresh herbs and spices, sautéed in butter and olive oil. Chicken Schnitzel
Boneless, skinless breasts coasted with seasoned panko crumbs, pan fried.

Chicken Stir-Fry
Boneless, skinless breasts marinated in fresh ginger and garlic, stir-fried with
carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, and onion or vegetables of your choice.

Coq Au Vin
Juicy chicken pieces, browned, then braised in a red wine sauce with herbs and onions.

Roasted Turkey Breast
Oven roasted with fresh herbs and aromatics.

Beef and Lamb

Pot Roast
Slow cooked tender beef roast with vegetables and fresh herbs.

Carne Asada
Steak marinated in spices and cooked perfectly for tacos.

Fillet Mignon
Pan seared, and then finished in the oven. Melts in your mouth.

Beef Stir-Fry
Thin pieces of sirloin steak marinated with fresh ginger and garlic, stir-fried with carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, and onion or vegetables of your choice.

Tostadas
Ground beef (or chicken) cooked with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and Mexican spices.

Wine-Braised Short Ribs
Tender short ribs, braised in red wine, onions, garlic, and herbs.

Broiled lamb chops
Marinated with garlic and fresh rosemary.

Lamb kebabs
Marinated with fresh herbs and garlic and broiled to perfection.

Fish

Broiled salmon
Made with garlic, mustard and herbs.

Roasted salmon
Oven baked with fresh dill and spices.

Tilapia fillets
Sautéed with a citrus pan sauce.

Trout fillets
Lightly seasoned, and sautéed in butter.

Pastas

Hearty Lasagna
Noodles layered in a homemade marinara sauce with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. Made with ground beef, ground chicken, or vegetarian.

Spaghetti with meatballs
Handmade savory meatballs with fresh herbs in a homemade marinara sauce with spaghetti noodles. Can use whole-wheat noodles, too!

Butternut Squash Lasagna
Noodles layered with a butternut squash puree and a basil béchamel sauce.

Roasted Vegetable Orzo
Roasted onions, peppers, zucchini, and garlic tossed with orzo and finished with a lemon vinaigrette. Topped with fresh basil and toasted pine nuts.
Great alone or as a side dish.
Macaroni and Cheese
Made with fontina, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. Then baked in the oven to get a crispy top. Comforting!

Side Dishes

The number of sides prepared is dependant on the menu chosen. Extra sides are $20 additional plus groceries.

Basmati rice with saffron
Mexican rice
Fresh salsa
Couscous with shallots, parsley and pine nuts.
Sautéed mushrooms with shallots and garlic
Carrots sautéed with shallots and thyme
Green beans with lemon and garlic
Sautéed spinach and garlic
Mashed potatoes with or without roasted garlic
Roasted potatoes with garlic and fresh herbs
Roasted vegetables with garlic and onion
Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
Roasted Vegetable Orzo
Butternut squash sautéed with red onion and sage, a hint of lime juice and honey
Mixed vegetable sauté-zucchini, yellow squash, red pepper and onion.
Steamed fresh vegetables of your choice: green beans, broccoli, carrots, etc...

Salads are extra $20 plus groceries

Fresh fruit salad (whatever is in season)
Chopped salad (tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, green onion, and parsley)
Caprese salad (Sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil)
Garden salad
Spinach Salad
Tuna Salad
Chicken Salad

Desserts

Do you have a sweet tooth? Desserts are available and priced individually.

Specialty fudge
Assorted cookies
Raspberry Tiramisu
Biscotti
Baklava
Coffee cake
Cheesecake
Banana Bread
Brownies
…….much more, just ask!!

Crock Pot Meals

Want to come home to a freshly prepared meal warm and ready to eat? Do you have a crock-pot? We can make a meal in the crockpot for you to enjoy when you come home. For example: hearty chili, soups, stews, tacos and others. Just ask!

Breakfast

We can make your mornings a little easier too! We offer breakfast frittatas that can be heated quickly. Made with eggs or egg beaters.

Choose up to 3 ingredients. These can be made for one, two, or up to four people.

· Shallots
· Onions
· Sweet bell peppers
· Tomatoes
· Mushrooms
· Spinach
· Zucchini
· Turkey bacon
· Turkey sausage

Price is $ 15 each, plus groceries.