Daniel Molnar Private Chef

We hired Dan to cook a big dinner for 16 people and it was amazing. He is an excellent professional chef and the food was great. If you’re up here on a ski trip this is you’re best bet for a fantastic private dinner after a long day on the mountain.

Rather than telling you everything that worked, it’s easier to tell you what didn’t work. There was nothing that didn’t work, Dan and his team were phenomenal.
Dan catered the dinner for our wedding for 40 people and he had a monumental task. I am about as picky as they come. I am a Food Blogger, Cookbook Author and loaded with dietary restrictions. Not to mention, he was cooking in a kitchen that was made around 1920 and about 50 square feet.
He had the cards stacked against him and over delivered. All the food had to be Paleo (gluten, grain, soy free), the only dairy allowed was Raw Dairy from Organic Pastures and there needed to be kids friendly food. Oh yea, and I came up with the menu and just sent it to him telling him what we wanted. He just said ok and made it happen.
The menu he made was:
— Tomato Soup Shooters with Gluten-​free bread and raw cheese
— Caprese skewers with a Basil pesto
— Butternut Squash pizza with Sage and Goat Cheese
— Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese with raw cheese
— Twice Baked potatoes with herbs de provence, compound butter and bacon chunks
— Gluten free linguine, olive oil, garlic, chili flakes and raw cheese
— Roasted beet salad with toasted pistachios, goat cheese, and honey butter
— Roast New York steak with a chimichurri
— Mixed baby greens with candied pecans, goat cheese, cranberries and a fig balsamic vinaigrette
EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS and him and his team were ninjas. I never saw them but there was always food going around, plates being bussed and things being cleaned. They left our kitchen cleaner than when we got there, had all the leftovers stored nicely in our refrigerator and seriously no one noticed they were around us working.
The most professional, detail oriented and skilled Chef and crew of people I have ever worked with. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DAN!

Daniel catered an amazing group dinner for us at June Lake. It was three courses. He sent the menu options in advance, and we had a huge range of options to choose from. Everything was amazing. We did NY steaks for the main course which was perfectly cooked!

I have only great things to say about Dan and his staff. Working with him was a dream from the very beginning. He made planning the catering for my wedding a breeze. I had a crazy schedule so he came to my apartment to do our tasting! His servers and bartenders were friendly and worked their butts off. He bent over backwards for my crazy ideas like a s’mores bar which turned out to be a huge hit! The guests are still asking me for recipes from that night. If that didn’t persuade, just try his mac and cheese!

Dan Molnar Rocks. Hands down the best Private Chef in Mammoth, great food, great service, great pricing, great human being. We’ve hired Mr. Molnar to cater private getaway weekends for two, to corporate week long events of 50+. Always flawless.

We have been extremely satisfied with Chef Dan, our personal chef for the last three Christmas vacations. Chef Dan did more that simply accommodate our large family (nine children, meat eaters, vegans and vegetarians), HE SPOILED US. Chef Dan satisfied all our diverse needs and we are extremely grateful to have experienced a true culinary artist.
Our pallets can’t wait to be tickled again next year… Thank you Chef Dan.

Dan catered our wedding of 160 guests in Lee Vining, CA. We had amazing and beautiful buffet-​style service. Serving that many people is no simple task, but all the food was hot, cooked to perfection, and delicious. His tri tip was amazing and his famous mac and cheese was possibly even better. My family has had him cater smaller parties with the same result. I was invited to a 4^th of July party last year and his ribs were to die for. I’ve heard he can even cook for off-​the-​grid gatherings.
I give Dan Molnar my highest recommendation — and as a physician and an Eastern Sierra local, I probably have pretty high expectations. Thanks Dan!

I just threw a milestone birthday party for my wife with around 120 guests. The venue was completely unprepared for our arrival which had me very stressed out.
Dan came in and, under what I would call adverse and difficult conditions, built out his kitchen and calmly began preparing for the party.
By the way, the party was in Los Angeles, so he is not limited to just Mammoth for hire.
The food was incredible. I got so many compliments from my guests. We had several appetizers (grilled cheese and tomato soup shots, a couple varieties of white pizza and beef kabobs) Then we had a buffet dinner (short ribs and salmon and three sides).
Just outstanding. Also, he brought his own staff of servers and bartenders and they were also great to work with and as easy going as Dan himself.
I have no doubt that he would be good to go for any size party, whether you are doing a small dinner party, or a large wedding. I am already looking forward to an excuse to hire him again.
Thanks again!

Chef Dan collaborated with me to design a special menu for our private party of 4 and we were all blown away. Every course was plated and prepared to perfection. Some of the highlights included: mixed green salad-​rack of lamb-​blueberry gastrique
shrimp ajilo
salmon rillette– grilled flat bread
potato-​anchovie croquette
chicken breast stuffed with caramelized onions, spinach, manchego cheese
rib eye grilled cheese-​horseradish aioli, caramelized onions.
The quality of the rib eye and lamb was incredible. The lamb was so tender it
melted and the rib eye was seasoned perfectly with just the right temperature. This is our second event catered by Dan and we can’t wait to do it again!

Please note that this review is for the hors d’œuvre and four course meal Dan provided at my wedding in July, 2014.
In my humble opinion, we had the best food we ever tasted at a wedding. Perhaps better than most restaurants who touts to be Californian. The hors d’œuvre, salad, vegetable and two entrees Dan prepared for us show his professionalism, respect for ingredients and knowledge of developing simplistic yet impressive flavors.
Dan was kind and flexible in working with us to create a menu that fit our palate and budget. Our menu consisted of 9 proteins and below is my attempt of recounting them.
Chicken satay with sambal kacang
This is our special request for the wedding, prepared based on authentic Indonesian recipe. I think purist would’ve argue for spicier and less sweet sauce. I personally think this is the best satay I’ve had outside of a great Indonesian restaurant. The color, charred-​mark, juicy dark meat, flavor — everything was right on.
Stuff mushroom, chorizo and manchego
Delicious bites of flavor that paired well and did not over power the mushroom. The manchego and mushroom was nutty. Combined with the savory chorizo really got my appetite going.
Prosciutto and melon
I regrettably missed this appetizer but heard many great things about it. Many guests praised the use of quality/​sweet melon that worked wonders with the prosciutto.
Watermelon salad, mint and balsamic reduction
The use of quality produce really shined here. The watermelon was a easy choice for the season and kicked off the warm summer wedding perfectly. As sun eased off and the reception begins, the watermelon with hint of mint and vinegar cleansed our palate and readied us for the main course.
Sautéed summer squash with capers and olives
The lightly sautéed and seasoned squash paired perfectly with the short-​ribs. This simple side dish complemented both the food as well as the tone of the intimate family style dinner — unpretentious, not overly dressed, just plain enjoyable.
Braised short-​ribs
The short ribs are cooked perfectly tender — easy to eat with a fork but not falling apart. The braise is a bit light and not as complex as a traditional boeuf bourguignon but was (in my opinion) completely appropriate for the warm/​outdoor summer wedding. The taste though delicate, is a true representation of Dan’s style and that of the new Californian. The flavor profile is simplistic and not overly savory — a delightful rendition of a traditionally heavy dish on a summer night.
Paella with shrimp, halibut, mussels and squid
Together with the short-​ribs, the seafood paella delivered the perfect one-​two punch to our guests. Again, taking a lighter approach on a traditionally flavor charged dish — Dan allowed the ingredients, here the fresh seafood to stand on their own. Purist may have argued for more saffron and more variety of meat but the seafood stood well on their own. Though the flavor is not as complex or robust as Spanish paella, I really thought the dish was both aesthetically appealing and deliciously satisfying. The mussels were not as fresh, some were still tightly shut when served but the shrimp and halibut made up for it.
Overall just a delicious meal that is balanced in flavor and excellent in execution. The flavors are delicate, simplistic and easy to appreciate. Dan provided us a modern interpretation of our favorite dishes of the old world. The food really resonate with us and shared the same sentiment with the wedding — paying homage to the tradition while allowing a modern, more light hearted interpretation of the now and future.
While Dan may seemed a bit loose and free-​spirited but trust me — I have no doubt you will soon appreciate his California backcountry personality. More importantly, if you enjoy California cuisine, you will truly fall in love with his food!

Thank you Chef Dan for catering our first annual family fishing derby in Mammoth!
Yes, the food was yummy and delicious, but you went above and beyond to find us a venue on Memorial Day weekend for 35 people, designed the menu so that we had a wonderful variety and were just a pleasure to deal with in every way. There was nothing that we asked for that you weren’t able to provide with your warm hospitality.
We are grateful to have met you. Looking forward to next year!

We just had Dan cater our photo shoot around Mammoth and June Lake. He was completely responsive during the entire process from menu to schedule. We had a number of changes that came up – as they do with photo shots– and Dan was really easy going and made it so very easy for us. And then there was the food which was fresh, well thought out, and lovingly prepared. He definitely knows how to make hard working people feel a moment of bliss. If you are doing any productions around the area (and he says he travels to LA to cater, as well!!) call Dan! I will again.

I don’t usually write reviews on Unilocal,however Dan’s an exceptional chef and following our wedding, my wife and I (who got married last September), felt compelled to offer our support.
We got married in a small ranch in LA and although there were no stipulations as to who we had to use, Chef Dan was highly recommended as a vendor who the venue managers had used previously. After some email discussions about preferences, we arranged a face to face meeting at our home. Dan arrived with his sample dishes prepared and got to work in the kitchen. The food that he cooked was absolutely delicious and ultimately, made our decision regarding who to use as a caterer for the big day, a no-​brainer.
The wedding itself went without a hitch, the tray-​passed apps were to die for, the salads, refreshing and the main courses (Alaskan halibut and flank steaks), simply amazing. Every guest seemed to remark on how delicious it all was, which was a huge relief and a massive complement, especially considering there were a few self-​proclaimed ‘foodies’ in our party.
Dan himself is a great guy — loads of fun, experienced and clearly very talented. There were a couple of issues with logistics in the run-​up to finalizing our exact meal choices, however these didn’t dampen what turned out to be a wonderful meal and overall experience with Dan’s organization. His staff (including the brilliant Lisa), were top notch, prices very reasonable (exceptional when given the quality of the food) and we have zero reservations about wholeheartedly recommending him.
THANK YOU Dan for all of your efforts and skill — it’s enormously appreciated and best of luck in the future

Chef Dan is amazing! I live in Los Angeles and rent a condo in Mammoth for the ski season, so we are there often. We have used Dan for Thanksgiving dinner for a couple of years now. He drops off everything all cooked and ready to be eaten — so easy and delicious! I have also been to a dinner party in which Dan stayed and cooked and served the meal — which was a huge treat!
But today I am writing about my husbands 50^th birthday celebration. He did not want a big deal and of course he wanted to celebrate in Mammoth. There is this great hike from the main lodge to the Minaret overlook and we decided to have a bunch of friends hike to the Minaret to celebrate. We had about 20 people. I spoke to Dan about bringing a «picnic» and he was all for it! Dan drove his snowmobile to the site and he set everything up before we even got there. We had an AMAZING WARM meal. We had hot soup, hot sandwiches and salad. The food was GREAT and the backdrop was beautiful! Dan is so easy going and fun to be around. My husband loved his birthday celebration and all our friends are still talking about it! I know that a few have used Dan’s services since.
When you are in Mammoth during ski season the restaurants are always so crowded, after a day of skiing who wants to cook. Call Chef Dan — you will be so glad you did!

After reading his glowing Unilocal reviews, we booked Dan to come cook dinner for us in our rental townhouse in Mammoth. He came totally prepared to serve eight adults and two young kids, including a last-​minute accommodation for our vegetarians. Living in the Bay Area where we are spoiled with amazing food, Dan surprised us with inventive and flavorful dishes. He was very professional, personable, and was actually great value when you consider the special treat it was to have a Culinary Institute-​trained, gourmet, home-​made meal cooked for you, vs going out to a restaurant. The icing on the cake was that he completely cleaned up afterward, leaving us all full, happy and relaxed. Definitely recommend and would hire him again!

We spent my best friend’s 40^th birthday in Mammoth over the Thanksgiving holiday. Her husband hired Dan to cook a birthday dinner for 12 us at our rental condo. It was wonderful. Terrific appetizers, perfectly cooked lamb, and a decadent chocolate cake with espresso cream for dessert. He creates a great atmosphere as well, in that if you want him to a part of the scene, he is charming and full of information about Mammoth, and then he just fades into the background until he resurfaces with something else wonderful to eat. He accommodated last minute vegetarian changes to his menu and was so pleasant and professional. Highly recommend him.

My wife and I love food, She loves cooking, and I love eating. We approached Dan with a flexible strategy; much of our menu would be dictated by what was fresh and of high quality at the time of the wedding. Dan worked well with this approach, tweaking things where he felt necessary, but sticking mostly to what we had previously tasted and approved.
During the wedding, Dan was nearly invisible. I did catch a glimpse of him, while I was tucked away before the guests arrived, giving the staff a pep talk. He was professional, kind, and in control of his staff. I enjoyed the food, and observed it’s timely distribution to all guests. While I was a bit caught up in the event, I did notice that the food was served hot. Of all the weddings I’ve even been to, I can seldom recall an event in which the food was served hot. Lastly, the food was fresh, light, healthy and delicious. During the event, of the many things a wedding couple can worry about, we never once had to give a thought to the food. It was handled.
One of the most impressive things about Dan’s work were the compliments from our guests. Rarely has anyone recalled the wedding without mentioning the food, and how pleased they were. Dan even temporarily converted an 8 year vegetarian to the carnivorous side, with his lamb — true story. Multiple guests have subsequently requested Dan’s contact info for personal parties.
Dan and his staff get our highest recommendation for an enjoyable, stress free wedding or event.

We were in Mammoth during the President’s Day weekend which also happened to encompass Valentine’s Day as well. We had two families of 4 in a Snowcreek House. The four kids were 5 and under.
I thought it would be a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a stress free environment. Anyone with little kids knows how stressful it can be to take kids out to eat, even at family friendly restaurants.
By hiring Chef Dan to come in and prepare, serve and clean up the food, the adults and the children were able to just relax. Chef Dan first served the children gourmet chicken fingers and veggies. Once they were fed, they could watch TV or play while the adults began their culinary experience. That evening I was thinking I should have hired him for the whole time we were there!
Chef Dan’s food was exceptional. We had 3 appetizers, chicken quesadilla, pizza (he even made the crust), and lamb satay. For the entrée we had new york steak with mashed potatoes and broccoli. For dessert, a chocolate cake. It was so delicious. Everyone couldn’t stop talking about it. And on the next evening, we had «left overs» night where we combined his leftovers with some other left overs that we had. So while it may seem expensive to some people, when you factor in that you won’t be paying for dinner the next night, it’s pretty reasonable.
I would hire Chef Dan again in a heartbeat and if you have a chance you should hire him too. I think he’s Mammoth’s best kept secret.

Dan catered our wedding in Los Angeles in 2012. He was a pleasure to work with and his food was excellent! Everything came out fresh and hot. In fact his mini chicken and waffle appetizer is still talked about today by our friends and family. His prices are very reasonable too!

After an exhausting day on the slopes nothing beats a cooked meal in the comfort of your own cabin by an awesome private chef. Trust me, I’m a professional eater…
A group of 13 of us were up in Mammoth celebrating a friends bachelor party. We thought how cool would it be to hire a chef for an evening to prepare appetizers and a seated dinner. Specifically we were looking for a chef who could prepare sushi. Not sure what a long day of snowboarding does to the cravings of food, but let me just say raw fish surrounding seasoned rice and nori just sounds so freakin good!
Daniel, the chef, arrived on time, came prepared, and was very professional. The mere fact that this was a rented cabin with god knows what kitchen items were provided/​available, Daniel made it work without a hiccup. He was fun, excited to cook, and we could tell he took pride in his work.
We started out the evening with a flat-​bread pizza of pulled pork and goat cheese. It was really good. Sweet, salty, warm, and comforting. After we quickly devoured the flat-​bread he went on to prepare the sushi. He brought, tuna, salmon, shrimp, fried salmon skin, and all the accoutrement. Anything with the fried salmon skin was amazing. Every roll and every piece of sushi was cut right in front of us. He would make a handful at a time, plate and serve. This went on for at least an hour while we chatted, relaxed, and drank lots of beer. It was very fun and chill. We all agreed the sushi quality was exquisite.
After the myriad and cornucopias rounds of sushi came time for our seated dinner. Daniel set the table and served first a salad, then an entrée, then desert. The salad was an Asian chop. Really tasty with the spinach, cabbage, bean sprouts, mandarin oranges, and sesame seeds. It was light and fresh way to start the meal. For the meal Daniel served NY Steak stir fry. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare, and sliced over a bed or rice pilaf and vegetables. We all loved it. For desert Daniel served a chocolate fallen soufflé cake, espresso cream, and berries. Let’s just say we all licked the plates clean. What a meal!
After all the cooking, plating, serving, and chatting with us Daniel cleaned up and then he left. The entire kitchen was spotless and we were very full. Daniel even took the liberty to put away all the leftovers in the fridge for us. We had a great time, and we all would recommend his services to anyone in the Mammoth area either celebrating a bachelor party, wedding, or just life.