What should I get a private chef to cook for us

[Allthegoodhorses]

I won via a charity auction a meal for 4 (two courses) to be cooked for us by a chef in our village. She is a trained Pru Leith cook/chef although does not do this for a living.

I have to provide her with a menu I would like and honestly, I have no ideas. My husband and I are cook-from-scratch people and often have things like rib of beef, Beef Wellington, salmon en croute, Beouf Bourguignon, or pies etc.

I have no idea what I would get her to cook as most things I can think of are what we already do for ourselves. Does anyone have any ideas? We will eat most things but I am not keen on tomatoes or mushrooms. None of the guests are veggie and will eat fish also. I don't think it matters which the two courses are (starter/main or main/dessert).

I would go for a full on fish feast - somehow I never really cook fish although I am a pretty good cook - so I often order it out.
I’d probably have a mooch around the menu of Stein’s flagship restaurant in Padstow for some ideas. Then for dessert I’d want something patisserie based like Mille feuille because I would NEVER be arsed to make it at home.

Mille feuille!! Love those and just getting one with the right pastry is hard. La Chouqette in Didsbury Mr MCR do excellent ones

I'm similar to TheMousePipes, I love eating fish but don't often cook it at home. I'm never very sure what to do with it and worry I'd overcook it. So it's often my go to when we eat out.

My 13yr old recently cooked scallops (for the first time) to perfection with a pea puree and buerre blanc so I'd have that to start.

Last time we ate out somewhere nice I ordered monkfish wrapped in parma ham served on a fennel and garlic risotto. It was rubbish! Really not well cooked/executed. So I'd like ask for that but cooked really well.

I'd definitely have a soufflé dessert

For mains like a lot of other posters I'd go for a fish dish

Although if you'd ask me what was one of the loveliest things I'd eaten in 2024 it was beef short ribs with a creamed corn and pak choi - something I would not normally choose at all on a menu but it was divine

I’d go for a a recreation of a meal that was special to me. Your wedding meal perhaps? Or a childhood favourite?

Rack of lamb with potato dauphinoise.

Everything is dependent on time,where she is cooking it and equipment to hand.
Also sushi and Thai dishes are not what she has trained for.
I would suggest say meats,flavours you prefer for puds like lemon or chocolate or salted caramel and let her decide.
She won't have a magic wand just because she offered to cook as a prize for charity.
I say this as a professional chef.

If she could cook for me that would be great.😁

Thanks all for your input, it has given me a few ideas. It can't be too complex and I don't want to make it a total headache for her. Will keep it simple and something I don't cook often myself (fish probably or a thai style curry or rack of lamb as suggested above).

I'd go for paella as I can never be bothered to make it. And some kind of melting in the middle chocolate fondants.