Our story
we're day dreamers and night thinkers. we love telling stories with food.
WHO we are
Lauren Allen is a Scottsdale, Arizona based team of skilled chefs, designers, & event planners who all share the same passion: delivering exceptional culinary experiences.
Our team background is extensive and ranges from cooking in Michelin Star restaurants, to planning & designing events for 5 diamond hotels & event venues.
We have high standards, and our recipe to success lies in our strong values of professionalism, attentional to detail, creativity, and outstanding execution.
WHAT WE DO
We plan, cater and host elevated dining experiences for social celebrations, weddings, and corporate events. Our services include:
• Intimate Private Chef Dinners
• Event Planning, Design & Catering for events of 10 – 200+
• Private Cooking Classes
We tailor all of our culinary experiences to meet and exceed our clients vision, goals, and aspirations.
our mission
- Customized, personalized menus & event design
- Locally sourced, seasonal ingredients
- Thoughtful, artistic, presentation
- Decades of industry knowledge & experience
- Best in class service
To accomplish this, we strive to provide expert guidance on menu planning, presentation, and decor, ensuring that every aspect of the event is thoughtfully considered and executed to perfection. This includes:
Customized, personalized menus & event design
Locally sourced, seasonal ingredients
Thoughtful, artistic, presentation
Decades of industry knowledge
& experience
Best in class service
inquire
meet
LAUREN ALLEN
Hello, I’m Lauren… a food connoisseur, hospitality professional, and expert event manager.
It was in Paris, France where I started my professional culinary journey. I was honored to be accepted into the prestigious FERRANDI, French culinary school, where I confirmed my burning passion for the world of food. It was incredibly inspiring to be exposed to the beautiful European tradition of connecting at the dinner table. I admire their meticulous attention to detail, high level of excellence, and artistic expressions through food. The French understand that food has the power to enrich people’s lives and bring them closer together.
Upon returning from Europe, that passion blossomed into a fruitful career. Over the past decade, I have collaborated with many immensely talented chefs and creative partners. My experience was developed through coordinating dining experiences for hotels, restaurant groups, and private event companies in New York, California, and Arizona before building Lauren Allen Culinary Events. Our team of artisan chefs and local purveyors work together in pursuit of our mission: to create delicious, engaging, and elevated gatherings.
In addition to planning and hosting culinary events, you may find me exploring new restaurants, attending food festivals, hiking beautiful trails, meditating, or traveling the world!
meet
the chefs
CHEF NICK
Hometown: KIRKWOOD, MO
FAV CUISINE: MEXICAN AND ASIAN
CHEF BENJI
HOMETOWN: MADISON, WI
FAV CUISINE: Italian
CHEF BENNIE
HOMETOWN: MEXICO and THEN PHOENIX, AZ
FAV CUISINE: thai
CHEF BRENT
Hometown: Detroit, MI
FAV CUISINE: I prefer simple straight forward flavors and primal cooking techniques
CHEF joe
HOMETOWN: yuma, AZ
FAV CUISINE: Mexican, Mediterranean, Korean
CHEF andrew
HOMETOWN: Pasco, Washington, but Phx-raised
FAV CUISINE: Anything with fresh seafood, Latin flavors, fresh pasta
meet
the chefs
CHEF NICK
Hometown: KIRKWOOD, MO
FAV CUISINE: MEXICAN AND ASIAN
I find inspiration amongst other chefs, Instagram, cookbooks, restaurants, sometimes i go the wabi-sabi route and find some inspiration amongst nature and just life in general. Emotions/life can dictate a lot on how you cook at the moment in my opinion. Whether it’s big, bold flavors, or something a little more subtle and light.
I’ve had so many amazing meals it’s hard to pick one! A few that pop into my head are:
Arca in Tulum, Statebird Provisions, per se, best friend, the restaurant at Meadowood, anything from Chris Bianco, Trois Mec, Jon and Vinny’s, Animal and of course some secret taco spots around the Valley and LA. I eat a lot!
Go explore with my daughter, hang out with friends and relax poolside! Or in the winter I like to escape to Flagstaff for a few days and get a cabin and chill in the snow.
Favorite memory is like picking my favorite meal, there are so many! All the Lake Powell trips are always fun, going to North Dakota was a blast, the LA wedding, being apart of and watching the company flourish and grow into what it is today is also always a great memory.
Where do you find inspiration?
Best meal you've ever had?
Favorite to do on a day off?
Favorite memory with LACE?
CHEF BENJI
HOMETOWN: Madison, Wi
FAV CUISINE: Italian. Nothing makes me happier than a big bowl of delicious pasta!
I find inspiration from other chefs I have worked with in the past, Youtube videos and Instragram posts, and a wide array of cookbooks. Lately, I’ve really been enjoying Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables by Abra Berens. More than anything, I like to peruse local farmers markets, and find best local and seasonal produce that Phoenix has to offer!
This one is a tough one. I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying many delicious home-cooked meals over the years masterfully prepared my amazing mother, Jamie. Her spaghetti carbonara is still one of my guilty pleasures to this day. A recent restaurant meal that I really enjoyed was Callie in San Diego, CA. Another food memory that will always stick with me, was years ago on a family trip to the Outer Banks, NC. My dad brought home a half-bushel of steamed Blue Crabs (with plenty of Old Bay) and we hand-picked them right on the beach followed by a quick dip in the Atlantic Ocean!
When I’m not working, I love to spend time with my lovely girlfriend Nikala going on hikes, visiting farmers markets, or just hanging by the pool. Often you can find me watching sports, especially on Sundays in the Fall, or attending live standup comedy shows!
I am one of LACE’s most recent additions after relocating to Phoenix in October of last year, and I have been blessed to have been able to work alongside such a fun, talented, and professional team. I’ve loved getting to explore venues all over the area and it was quite a memorable experience getting to work the Super Bowl this past year!
Where do you find inspiration?
Best meal you've ever had?
Favorite to do on a day off?
Favorite memory with LACE?
Detroit which has such a cool food scene with such diverse culture and the largest outdoors farmers market in the country. I love going to Eastern Market in the summer. It’s such a great vibe and I love finding inspiration for a Saturday dinner with the family there. I love hole in the wall joints where they cook humble food with soul. Nothing beats the flavors of places where someone is cooking from their soul. I prefer simple straight forward flavors and primal cooking techniques….think wood fired grills and ovens. That type of flavor can’t be replicated with gas. It’s a skill to understand cooking with live fire. I love food done with respect to a dish’s origin, proper seasoning, and good technique.
This is a tough one as my preferences have evolved. What once was a favorite is now towards bottom of my list. I’d say my first time at Pizzeria Bianco was pretty eye opening.
I remember loving how good the antipasto board was. Full of flavorful veggies from the wood fired oven.
To not answer my phone. Lol. I love pizza night at my friends house and just relaxing, slanging some za, and being forced to make Caesar salad.
If I had to pick, I’d say it was the first dinner we ever did. It was special seeing a vision come to life and it’s still one of my favorite menus I’ve ever written. I’m grateful to have been a part of this team since the beginning. I’ve got to work with some really cool people and met some really awesome clients that have become friends.
CHEF BRENT
Hometown: Detroit, MI
FAV CUISINE: I prefer simple straight forward flavors and primal cooking techniques
Where do you find inspiration?
Best meal you've ever had?
Favorite to do on a day off?
Favorite memory with LACE?
CHEF BENNIE
HOMETOWN: MEXICO and THEN PHOENIX, AZ
FAV CUISINE: thai
Hunger! The one thing I love more than cooking is eating.
I always love that old poke stand at Venice Beach in California. Good refreshing food, next to the beach and good vibes makes for the best meal.
Truly? Cooking at home, then eat in the living room and binge a tv show. If not at home then I’ll probably go hiking or if I have more than one day off, drive around Arizona.
I loved our work trip to Lake Powell. A week of pure friendship and work.
Where do you find inspiration?
Best meal you've ever had?
Favorite to do on a day off?
Favorite memory with LACE?
CHEF JOE
Hometown: YUMA, AZ
FAV CUISINE: mexican, mediterranean, korean
I find the most inspiration in high quality ingredients and products. Constantly researching new products, their history and culture, and the best techniques that can be applied to them. Great product should need as little manipulation as possible and truly speak for itself.
By far the best meals I’ve had were in Lima. In restaurants and homes. Something about very simplistic applications of the freshest ingredients from all corners of a uniquely diverse country, with a just-as-diverse influence of world cultures created some of the best meals I’ve ever eaten in my life. To pick one would be doing the rest a disservice - I found meals that blew my mind in local homes equally as much as those in the world-renowned restaurants.
Exploring somewhere or doing something new. I am partial to the forest… anything camping, fishing, kayaking, or just sight-seeing.
LA brought me into the family quick, and welcomed me with open arms. Every event I’ve been to has been a blast. Never a dull moment and just a great group of people to be around and work with, with an attention to detail and style of service that is truly unmatched.
Where do you find inspiration?
Best meal you've ever had?
Favorite to do on a day off?
Favorite memory with LACE?
CHEF andrew
HOMETOWN: pasco, wa, but phx-raised
FAV CUISINE: anything with fresh seafood, latin flavors, fresh pasta
I find the most inspiration in high quality ingredients and products. Constantly researching new products, their history and culture, and the best techniques that can be applied to them. Great product should need as little manipulation as possible and truly speak for itself.
By far the best meals I’ve had were in Lima. In restaurants and homes. Something about very simplistic applications of the freshest ingredients from all corners of a uniquely diverse country, with a just-as-diverse influence of world cultures created some of the best meals I’ve ever eaten in my life. To pick one would be doing the rest a disservice. I found meals that blew my mind in local homes equally as much as those in the world-renowned restaurants.
Exploring somewhere or doing something new. I am partial to the forest... anything camping fishing, kayaking, or just sight-seeing.
LA brought me into the family quick, and welcomed me with open arms. Every event I’ve been to has been a blast. Never a dull moment and just a great group of people to be around and work with, with an attention to detail and style of service that is truly unmatched.
Where do you find inspiration?
Best meal you've ever had?
Favorite to do on a day off?
Favorite memory with LACE?
meet
the team
chelsa cohen
Event Designer & MANAGER
HOMETOWN: St. Paul, NE
FAV CUISINE: American
Where do you find inspiration?
Best meal you've ever had?
Favorite to do on a day off?
Favorite memory with LACE?
SARAH KAWA
Culinary Experience Manager
HOMETOWN: baltimore, MD
FAV CUISINE: ASIAN
I find inspiration from other event planners across the world - every country has access to different products and rentals, so it's inspiring to see what others can create with local resources. Traveling is also a big part of being inspired - from colors, landscapes, lighting, structures and sculptures - all of which can be taken in (mentally) and utilized to create uniquely constructed and eye-catching event details down the road. You never know when a trip taken 6+ years ago can come in handy!
Sitting in the countryside of Chianti, Italy eating homemade gnocchi at a boutique resort and vineyard that dated back to the late 1700's.
Scottsdale, AZ is blessed with many luxury resorts. A perfect day off would include spending a day at one of these resort's spa getting pampered and relaxing. This is also how I clear my mind and rejuvenate my soul!
Working at Under Canvas Lake Powell! This resort is considered glamping in the desert. We had to construct the entire kitchen and event space from scratch outside in order to host breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner for our clients and guests over a weekend. The weather wasn't always on our side, which made for some unforgettable memories!
I find inspiration through books, travel, food, wine, music, the incredible team I work with and of course, my amazing husband who's passion for food, wine and hospitality is unbeatable.
This is a tough one, but I would have to say the mussels my husband and I shared while in France. We were at a tiny restaurant that overlooked the pink salt farms in Gruissan. The mussels were so flavorful, the setting was beautiful and the company was superb.
Read, watch reruns of Game of Thrones, and enjoy a nice meal with my friends and loved ones. I guess that's 3 things.
I have so many great memories but I think my favorite is my first day. It was a NYE party where I met Lauren, and the entire time all at once. I had no idea at the time how important that night was and that it would lead me to a new and exciting career that I would find so much joy in doing!
Where do you find inspiration?
Best meal you've ever had?
Favorite to do on a day off?
Favorite memory with LACE?
marcy MCLAUGHLIN
Event Coordinator
HOMETOWN: Arlington, TX
FAV CUISINE: Don't make me choose one...Asian or Italian depending on the day.
My inspiration comes from those who surround me. My friends and family are artists in many ways such as photographers, chefs, writers and fashion icons. As far as individuals I do not know personally…Sophia Roe, Mike Greenfield, Adrian Per, Krissy Cela, and Giggly Squad. Big love to these few who remind me to stay present and evolve.
Tough. I’ve had amazing meals at many cool spots within the states, but what takes the cake are two particular meals in Thailand. The first being a birthday dinner in Chiang Mai.
My Work Away Host invited me to her grandmother’s house for a truly authentic Thai evening filled with drinks and laughter. Another being Jay Fai’s 4-hour wait for the crab omelet chugging chang bombers with strangers who had the same hankering. This woman cooks everyone’s meal on an open flame. It was hot, it was humid, it was incredible. Shout out Jay!
I enjoy being active and staying busy with the many options Phoenix has to offer. Cocktails with friends, golfing, camping on the Mogollon Rim, sunset hikes, maybe even a 5 hour road trip to San Diego :)
My first time with the LACE team was a road trip up to Lake Powell at Under Canvas. It was my first time experiencing event planning on this scale. I was hooked and knew this was an exciting growth opportunity.
Where do you find inspiration?
Best meal you've ever had?
Favorite to do on a day off?
Favorite memory with LACE?
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