Opal & Oak offers custom in-home dining experiences based in Iowa. Their private chef creates personalized menus to delight your senses.
Where are you located? What does your family look like? Humans and not.
We are located in Humboldt Iowa and we do service all of Iowa at the moment.
My family looks like this. Well it is just me (Harrison) and my parents as I am an only child and we have a dog and two cats.
Iowa State Cyclones or Iowa Hawkeyes? (Or favorite team?)
I don’t really have a favorite team as I don’t really have time to look at sports that often.
How has your private chef business evolved over time?
We have evolved very fast and we are trying to launch our product line which will be in the fall of 2025. We also have just started trying to raise money for our foundation, the Opal Oak Foundation. Which will help people that are struggling with food insecurity, mental wellness for hospitality workers, scholarships for future chefs, green kitchen initiative and relief kitchens for disaster stricken areas.
What made you decide to start this business?
I decided to start this business to bring more gourmet food to Northern Iowa
Why has this been a good fit for you?
As I went to culinary school I wanted to bring something to my town to make my town unique and interesting and hopefully grow the town more.
If you could choose one treat what would it be?
It would have to be a my grandma’s old fashioned brownie if that she used to make
What have been some struggles with starting this business?
Getting clients is one of the struggles of starting my business.
What has been the most rewarding part of your business?
Being able to cook for clients and see their faces when I’m cooking for them and during the meal.
Beach or mountain? Why?
Beach all the way. I love being able to tan when I go to the beach and be grounded for my mental health
How do you do what you do with your business? How does it work?
Opal and Oak is a personal and private chef service that creates custom gourmet dining experiences. Here’s how it works:
- We Plan: Clients tell us their food preferences, dietary needs, and event details.
- We Cook: We craft a tailored menu and prepare meals using fresh, high-quality ingredients.
- We Serve: We cook on-site or deliver meals, ensuring a flawless dining experience.
- We Expand: We also offer artisan condiments, sauces, and a frozen product line.
- We Give Back: Through the Opal and Oak Foundation, we provide meals for those in need and support aspiring chefs.
What hasn’t worked?
Scaling too fast – Expanding services while maintaining quality has been a challenge.
Balancing customization & efficiency – Personalization is great but time-consuming.
Supply chain issues – Sourcing top-quality ingredients consistently isn’t always easy.
Marketing struggles – Raising awareness and educating clients takes effort.
Hiring the right team – Finding skilled chefs who match our standards is tough.
What else are you doing that is awesome? (Feel free to brag about yourself here!!)
I am also currently working on building the Opal and Oak Foundation that will help to keep people that have food insecurity. Also as part of the Opal and Oak foundation there is another program as well which is our relief kitchens to help disaster areas to feed people fresh prepared meals. I am also working on a condiment line as well on top of my charity line.
What have you learned now that you didn’t know before?
How stressful it is to run your own business and grow it so that you are able to make money and continue making money to support yourself and grow the business.
Favorite thing to do in your free time?
I like to create new dishes so that I can make them for my clients.
What piece of advice would you give to yourself when you started this business?
That it is ok that things are taking slow to grow my business
What is the next thing you are wanting to pursue?
I want to pursue starting my own restaurant
Favorite thing to make for dinner?
Steak and so good mashed potatoes.
How do we find out more about you? Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Etsy. Give me all of the ways to see your business/products!
Facebook- Opal & Oak
Instagram- opal.and_oak
Website-www.opalandoakia.com
Is starting a private chef business easy?
Opal & Oak is more than just a private chef service—it’s a passion-driven culinary experience dedicated to bringing gourmet dining to Northern Iowa while giving back to the community. From personalized menus to exciting future endeavors like a product line and the Opal Oak Foundation, this journey is just getting started. If you’re inspired by their story and want to support local entrepreneurs, check out more incredible businesses in our Entrepreneur Friends series!
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