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The Secret Ingredient's home base is located in beautiful Santa Barbara,
California - affectionately known as the American Riviera. We service
all areas of the central coast from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles and
beyond. Our services are specialized, professional, detail-oriented and
more than just fun and delicious! Each menu and every event is a unique
creation and design. The successful team is organized and led by the
talented and dedicated Chef Brenda Simon (chef to the celebrities)
whose background in the culinary arts began when she was just fourteen
years old. Her journey makes for interesting reading on our Behind the
Scenes page.

Please take a moment to browse the pages of our site. Our menus will
delight your taste buds, our cooking classes will let you be the master of
your own kitchen and our Links page may help you find an answer to a
question you might have had. After all is said and done, it is our passion
and our pleasure to bring great food, good friends and families together
to share special moments!

The secret ingredient to a memorable catering event is always flexibility.
We offer just that! While all events are quite unique, we provide many
levels of service as well as custom detailing to suit your needs, preferences
and most importantly - your spending limitations. Your budget is our
guide to a successful union.

Our professional team can work closely with you to design and tailor your
event from start to finish. Whether it's a private dinner for two, a party for
two thousand, learning to cook Thai food with a few good friends,
redesigning your own restaurant's menu, planning your wedding day or
even simply providing boxed lunches, we will make it happen for you!

Discreet Private Chef Services
menu planning, shopping, confidentiality
Full Service Catering
weddings, corporate, holidays, theme parties, shows
Event Planning and Coordinating
start to finish planning for your event
Cooking Classes
adults and/or children, private or group instruction
Specialized Dietary Awareness
nutritional health, low-carb, vegetarian, raw foods, organics
Weekly Drop-Off Menus
for busy homes and offices
Charity and Non-Profit Events








	Chef Brenda and Jeanne Bergh on the set of Cooking Local.