NOLA Kitchen – Private Chef
Private chef and catering in Austin offering bold, health-forward dishes with a New Orleans twist.
About Chef Mike
Mike Thompson – Your Personal Chef In Austin
Chef Mike Thompson has been in the food and beverage arena since 1988. His professional training is from Johnson & Wales University at Vail. He was the recipient of the University Director’s Distinguished Graduate Award, the school’s highest award for culinary and academic excellence.
After several years of cooking in Vail and St. Louis, Mike returned to his South Louisiana home. He opened his first culinary venture, Chef du Jour, in 2001. Hurricane Katrina quickly altered the future of Chef du Jour. Mike joined the leadership team of Whole Foods Market during his family’s evacuation in Baton Rouge, then moved back to New Orleans to re-open the storm damaged Veterans’ store. Now settled in Austin, Chef Mike is excited to share his passion and knowledge through cooking, culinary classes and all things Cajun/Creole.
How NOLA Kitchen Works
Choose Your
Custom Menu
Meet with Chef Mike to craft a personalized menu – whether it’s brunch, dinner, or a crawfish boil. Your event, your flavor.
We Source
Everything
Chef Mike does all the grocery shopping and prep work, including setup for corporate pantries or vacation rentals.
Perfect for Any
Occasion
From in-home dinners to holiday parties and brunches, enjoy restaurant-quality dishes cooked and plated right where you are.
All-Inclusive
Packages
Sit back and savor your event. Chef Mike handles the cleanup – your kitchen is left spotless!
NOLA Kitchen Services
Private in-home gatherings:
lunches, dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc
Allow Chef Mike to provide a unique and memorable experience for you and your guests by offering you the opportunity to get out of the kitchen, relax and enjoy the party. Meet with the chef personally to create the perfect menu to compliment your evening…after all, this is your party, and the chef wants you to be a part of the planning. Whether it’s a “family style” dinner you have in mind, or would rather have the chef plate and present the offerings, the choice is yours and to top it all off, Chef Mike will leave your kitchen the way he found it!
Included
Personalized menu planning with Chef Mike
Grocery shopping and ingredient sourcing
Accommodation for most dietary requirements and food allergies
Kitchen clean up post event
Big group
Small Group
Custom Event Package
Showers and Brunches:
Let Chef Mike make that special day even more memorable with a customized menu! Meet with the chef to create the perfect culinary combination to accent the morning. Enjoy your gathering as Chef Mike prepares the selections in your very own kitchen prior to your guest’s arrival, then presents a lavish presentation for all to enjoy!
Included
Personalized menu planning with Chef Mike
Grocery shopping and ingredient sourcing
Accommodation for most dietary requirements and food allergies
Kitchen clean up post event
In home cooking & culinary demonstrations and classes
Want to get more hands on? Gather your group to expand their culinary prowess individually or pair up for a unique team building event. Be a part of an interactive experience where the dishes are created by the attendees and the traditions of Louisiana’s rich culinary past are explored.
These hands-on ‘“classes” have proven to engage the guests while elevating the entertainment value. Explore knife skills, general recipe mise-en-place, preparation & presentation as well as how to prepare the Cajun/Creole dinner.
Included
Grocery shopping based on your custom list
Accommodation of most dietary requirements and preferences
Custom Class Package
Holiday & Corporate events and pool parties
NOLA Kitchen has created menus that accommodate events of up to 200 guests. Each menu is created with the client’s expectations and budget kept in mind to reflect their specific needs.
Hors d’oeuvre and static station are de rigueur for the perfect holiday gathering with friends or corporate evenings with colleagues. Grilled offerings or fajita presentations are typical selections for an afternoon with friends by the pool or at the ranch.
Included
Custom menu planning with Chef Mike
On-site cooking, setup, and kitchen cleanup after the event
Accommodation of most dietary requirements and preferences
Grocery shopping and ingredient sourcing
Custom Event Package
Crawfish boils
Whether it’s a small group of 20, or a gathering of 200, let Chef Mike treat your guests to a Louisiana spring time tradition…a genuine, south Louisiana crawfish boil! From late February through the end of May, crawfish are in season and you don’t want to miss out. Being from South Louisiana, Chef Mike is no stranger to preparing what many of his past guests have referred to as “the best crawfish I’ve ever eaten!”
NOLA Kitchen will place your crawfish and sausage order, pick them up the morning of your event, and arrive at your location of choice to boil up those feisty crustaceans for all to see.
Included
Custom menu planning with Chef Mike
On-site cooking, setup, and kitchen cleanup after the event
Accommodation of most dietary requirements and preferences
Grocery shopping and ingredient sourcing
Small group
Medium group
Groups of over 100 guests
Stocking Fee
Vacation rental and corporate pantry stocking
Let NOLA Kitchen take the hassle out of stocking your vacation rental or corporate pantry. This service includes shopping, delivery, and rotation of existing product to ensure optimal freshness. You simply submit your shopping list to Chef Mike and he handles the rest.
Included
Grocery shopping based on your custom list
Delivery, unpacking, and thoughtful pantry organization
Accommodation of most dietary requirements and preferences
Rotation of existing stock for freshness
Chef Mike in Action
Menu Favourites
Let’s plan your perfect event
Our Blog
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer customized menus?
Yes! We work with you to create a menu that reflects your preferences, dietary needs, and the nature of your event. Our sample menus offer inspiration, but everything is fully customizable.
Do you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes