Chef By Request In The NewsFour Weddings Episode on TLC
Cooking Healthy on a Budget
Chef By Request Wins "Best of Naperville" Award
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Chef By Request Wins "Small Business of the Year" AwardMay 15, 2011 – Since David Miller had already been awarded first place in the Business to Consumer category Friday night, he was more than a little surprised to find out he wasn't done collecting awards from the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber's 14th Annual Small Business Awards were held at the Wyndham Lisle. Miller won by steering Chef By Request through the uncertainties of the troubled economy in recent years. Chef By Request is a 15-year-old upscale catering firm that Miller has been sole proprietor of since buying out his partner in 2008. A full service operation, Chef By Request will not only provide meals for almost any type of gathering, but will plan customer's events, assisting with floral arrangements, photography and invitations. As its website stresses, the goal of the business is to make people be "guests at their own gatherings." Miller got an even bigger surprise when his wife, Josie, showed up to lead the applause. Normally, a spouse showing up at an awards banquet is unremarkable, but since she had only last week given birth to their son, Riley, it was the last thing Miller expected. "I knew you were going to win, baby," she told him after he won the Business to Consumer Category. But like her husband, Josie Miller didn't realize there was an overall award, so she was headed back to their Sugar Grove home when the big moment came. As for the overall award, Miller was grateful and eager to credit his customers and staff of 17. "You need people's support or you will fall on your face," Miller said. "We've survived the rough times. You endure, the business goes on and then you have a night like this." Miller also noted that the timing of the award was good. "It's a good year," he said, "to win it when we're celebrating our 15 years is special."
Good Times: Area chefs share secrets, tastes of favorite dishesApril 1, 2011 – Chef by Request hosted its second annual chef party at its headquarters at 5100 Academy Drive in Lisle. Executive chef David Miller said this year's event included chefs who represented culinary schools, local restaurants, country clubs, catering companies and more. "We had 17 chefs a year ago and have invited the same number back," he said. "This is a chance for people in the same profession to hang out and see how other people do things and maybe swap stories or pick up an idea for a dish they'd like to make. "
Chef By Request Performs "Green Audit"
The Sustainable Lisle Business Partnership is a coalition of Lisle businesses committed to meeting the needs of their customers and community, while reducing environmental impacts in the Village and beyond. View the details of the Green Audit report »
Chef By Request Voted "Best of Naperville"
View all 2010 Best of Naperville Winners »
"Your dinner was as artistic as the finest paintings in this museum. Wow!" "Thank you for making our wedding reception such an enjoyable experience – from the planning stages to the reception at the Morton Arboretum, we appreciate the attention to detail and personal service. Our wedding guests are still raving about the food, specifically the taste and presentation." "Thank you for your beautiful display. It has been the talk of The Arboretum!" |
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January, 2012 – Chef By Request's contributions resulted in a winning episode of TLC's "Four Weddings."
October, 2011 – Executive Chef Dave Miller offers a cooking demonstration on how to prepare healthy meals on a budget at the new Northern Illinois Food Bank location on October 22 in Geneva. The free event featured a tour of the facility, kids' activities, cooking demonstrations and exercise classes.
July, 2011 – Chef By Request was voted "Best Caterer" for the second year in a row by Naperville Magazine.
"I'm very surprised," he said after taking the honors for the Chamber's 2011 Small Business of the Year, "especially since I didn't know there was another award."
November 23, 2010 – Chef By Request has performed a "Green Audit" along with the 
July, 2010 – Chef By Request was voted "Best Caterer" by Naperville Magazine.
