Culinary artist.
Serious lover of feeding people.
Meet Lauren.
My name is Lauren Furey, and I create special culinary moments throughout the Lowcountry by providing personally curated dining experiences and authentic, in-home cooking classes!
Charleston, South Carolina is filled with bustling kitchens, never ending sunshine, and creative minds. I fell in love with Charleston and it's soulful cuisine the very first time I visited.
Since then, I have been lucky enough to work in several high profile local restaurants where I learned enough to offer private chef services and inspiring cooking classes. You can catch me around town hosting pop-up restaurants which always incorporate the delicious, local ingredients from our Low Country water and land.
I accredit Chef/Owner Carlo Demarco of 333 Belrose Bar and Grill in Radnor, Pennsylvania for initially encouraging me to jump into the culinary arts and giving me the opportunity to work side by side with him as his culinary intern in high school. We are still in touch weekly and he continues to provide valuable advice and support. I am proud to call him my friend and mentor.
Chef Bob Waggoner, previously the Executive Chef at the Charleston Grill, who currently owns "In the Kitchen with Bob Waggoner" was kind enough to hire me when I first landed in Charleston.
Working with other amazing, high-profile chefs at local restaurants taught me the techniques necessary to thrive in high-pressure environments and the many ways I could deliver thoughtful cuisine, seasoned with plenty of love. While I will always be grateful for those experiences, I realized that working as a cook in a restaurant didn't allow me to connect with my guests as much as face-to-face cooking does.
I pressed on to Williams Sonoma, where I taught entertaining culinary classes on King Street here in Charleston.
I most recently apprenticed with Nathalie Dupree, a James Beard award-winning chef, author and cooking show host who works primarily with American Southern cuisine. Nathalie taught me to always season with love and is instrumental to my confidence in the culinary arts.
Lauren Won "Runner-Up" As Charleston's Best Private Chef 2022 (via Charleston City Paper)!
Events
At your dinner party, you can actually party. What a concept. I will provide you with the meal and the entertainment that you have been dreaming about.
Bachelorette party? Vacation dinner? Birthday party? It doesn't stop there!
Past and Upcoming events:
-Collaborative pop-up with Marcus Amaker, Charleston, South Carolina's poet laureate, called "Poetic Plates"
-Five-course seafood dinner in Palmetto Bluff
-Collaborative Italian pop-up with Blair Machado of Farmstead at The Daily
-Riverside sunset grill-out party
-Clothes store opening brunch party in Bluffton, SC
Home Cooking Lessons
The table is more than a place to eat, and the kitchen is more than a place to cook. It does not matter how old or how young one might be. Let me teach you how to prepare and present meals that will give you more confidence in the kitchen .
Examples of previous lessons:
-Al fresco Italian appetizers
-Thanksgiving potluck preparations
-Kid-friendly seafood dinners
-Healthy dips and crisping tricks
"She is an amazing talent from the culinary mecca of Charleston! She is creative, flexible, and innovative. She is available for hire for special dinners, events, and help! She is wise beyond her years, sweet as sugar, and a true delight. Call her if you need someone to help with all of your festivities! Or surprise your sweetheart with a romantic dinner.... Seriously, thank you. I could not have pulled it all together like that. You are a gem." - Resident, Palmetto Bluff
"The food was DELICIOUS. I loved the balsamic cream sauce over the pistachio chicken entree. The slaw was the best and freshest I've ever had and the herbed pasta was amazing. A huge hit all around with my family." - Vacation Rental Guest on Isle of Palms
"Lauren is a fabulous chef and delightful company. Thanks again Lauren!" -Resident, Palmetto Bluff
"Lauren is amazing chef. We loved all of the meals she cooked for our extended family. She is a joy to work with! Highly recommend!" - Vacation Rental Guest on Isle of Palms
"The chef was a lovely person and it was fun to watch and learn from her in the kitchen. I would be happy for my friends to know about her." - Vacation Rental Guest on Isle of Palms
"The lasagna was delicious!We all really enjoyed; it was very pretty and so light; thanks so much for sharing your talent."-Resident, Palmetto Bluff
"Lauren was excellent. She worked with 16 students and was able to plan healthy meal options in a short timeframe.
Kids were engaged and Lauren was great. Kids appeared to enjoy it very much. " - Executive Director, Kid's Summer Camp
