Whether it’s a private in-home dinner, meal prep service, family gathering, a fresh picnic or major sports event, Chef Dylan Smith has a menu for it.
The Jackson-based chef has lived in the Tetons since 2014, honing his skills in the kitchen while working at restaurants and bars around the valley, as well as catering big events like the PGA Tour, sporting events at the L.A. Convention Center and weddings in Jackson.
After the pandemic changed the landscape of the restaurant industry, he launched his own business, Apex Private Chef Service, specializing in private in-home dinners, take-home meals and special events.
Smith appreciates the more personal nature of cooking for small, more intimate groups instead of in a restaurant setting, allowing him to create unique dishes he’s really proud of. This summer, he’s created four summer menus, including items like Wagyu surf and turf, squash blossom ravioli, beet and ginger gravlax and bacon-wrapped King Ora salmon.
“I feel fortunate to have a diverse background and experience in cooking and catering so I could take influence from everywhere to build my own menus,” he says. “When you can cook for a small group of people, you can allot yourself enough time to execute everything exactly as you want to, creating everything to live exactly up to your standards.”
Getting to know his clients and taking inspiration from what they like to eat is an exciting way for Smith to share his love of food, both with locals and visitors. “I like providing a more unique experience and having that more personal interaction. I like to believe it’s a more memorable experience for the clients, and that’s really rewarding.”
Smith is gearing up for a big summer, working with local producers like Morning Dew Mushrooms as well as bringing in some high-quality specialty items like Wagyu beef and fresh seafood. He also partners with Avant Delivery and has prepared meals like sweet tea smoked chicken breast with grilled veggies and scalloped potatoes and honey miso glazed salmon with forbidden lime rice and Morning Dew mushrooms available for local delivery.
