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

Hi Katie, Just my usual “huge thanks” for such a wonderful job. We came home to the most amazing food last night! I’m heating some up for lunch now and can’t wait to try it. I’ll work on getting over how much we appreciate what you guys do for us…but every time we come home after you’ve done your cooking we’re just floored at what you’ve done. Thank you both so much…it brings a lot of balance to our crazy schedules.

-R. Williams

Meet the Chefs

Stephanie Riley Personal Chef

Chef Stephanie Riley

Chef Stephanie Riley 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.

More recently, she has had the great priviledge of being a member of the culinary staff on Chef Emeril Lagasse's TV show, Emeril Green, which airs on the Planet Green channel. On Emeril Green, she prepares many of the foods used on the show, helps develop recipes, and works as a food stylist.

Stephanie began Life of Riley Personal Chef Service in 2005 and has been a full-time personal chef, since. In 2009, she hired her first Sous Chef, Katie Musser, and is very excited at the growth and development of the business into which she has passionately invested so much time. 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.

katie Sous Chef Katie Musser

Katie Musser has been a Sous Chef for Life of Riley Personal Chef Service since 2009. Previously, she was Sous Chef at James Beard Award-nominee, Vermillion Restaurant in Alexandria, VA, where she honed her skills in charcuterie and pasta-making, as well as oversaw kitchen operations and trained new employees. She was Chef Du Partie at Columbia Firehouse in Alexandria. And, she graduated with honors from L’Acadamie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, MD. She also has seven years experience in boutique catering in Southampton, NY.

Life of Riley Personal Chef Service is licensed, bonded, and insured.

Contact us to schedule an appointment today!