quotes

Stephanie is a gem-- she transformed our family’s experience of food. For health reasons, we required a very restricted diet—so restricted that there was almost nothing I could find or think of that was both appetizing and permitted. It occurred to me that someone with greater culinary skills than I might be able to help out. As fortune would have it, we lucked out with the best and brightest in Stephanie. Her superb cooking, together with her inventiveness, her thoughtful planning, her good taste, and her simple professionalism have made eating a joy again. There is nothing Stephanie can’t do. She takes the worry out of meals, and puts the pleasure back in. You will not be disappointed.

-Jane Stanley, attorney, parent and grateful client

Meet the Chef

Stephanie Riley Personal Chef

Chef Stephanie Riley

Chef Stephanie Rii ley grew up in a large family and had the benefit of fresh heirloom vegetables and fruits straight from her family's gardens. Helping her mother and grandmother string beans and shuck corn for the dinner table their family of eight gathered around every evening gave her a sense of family bonding through food. She would like to pass that experience on to others by encouraging families to take the time to eat at their own dinner table, to sit down and talk to each other over a delicious, healthy meal they've personally chosen provided by Life of Riley Personal Chef Service.

Stephanie first made food her life calling by attending culinary school at Stratford University in Falls Church, VA, where she was a member of the Culinary Honor Society. While she participated in the culinary program there, one of her chef instructors at the school referred her to his friend, Chef Richard Beckel, formerly Executive Sous Chef at Citronelle in Georgetown, who was at the time Executive Chef at The Brass Cannon restaurant at Stonewall Golf Club in Gainesville, VA. Chef Beckel hired Stephanie to be a member of his kitchen brigade at The Brass Cannon, where her culinary education grew by leaps and bounds under his tutelage.

In 2009, Stephanie had the great priviledge of being a member of the culinary staff on Chef Emeril Lagasse's TV show, Emeril Green, in its final season. On Emeril Green, she prepared many of the foods used on the show, helped develop recipes, and worked as a food stylist.

In 2010, Stephanie became one of five co-authors of the monthly article, Field Trip For Foodies, in On Tap mazagine, an entertainment guide for DC, Maryland, and Virginia. She reviews local restaurants with four of her foodie friends, discusses food trends and the hottest new eateries.

Stephanie began Life of Riley Personal Chef Service in 2005 and has been a full-time personal chef, since. She has been very excited at the growth and development of the business into which she has passionately invested so much time over the years. The reward of seeing her clients become healthier through her services and building personal relationships with them keeps her desire piqued for innovative and healthy foods.

Chef Stephanie is a member of Personal Chefs Cooperative. She also is certified as a ServSafe Food Protection Manager.

Life of Riley Personal Chef Service is licensed and insured.

Contact us to schedule an appointment today!