The Dinner Party Chef

Brisbane residents can indulge in a sensational dinner party of Lebanese and world food at home for less than the cost of a restaurant thanks to The Dinner Party Chef and award-wining author Robert Bousamra, who can whip up everything from a refined European 3-course dinner to a traditional Lebanese feast.

This is without a doubt Brisbane's most unique and ultimate dinner party – one where your own private chef (Robert) arrives at the host’s house during the day and literally prepares the entire meal from scratch, before serving it up to guests with five star presentation that evening (and cleaning up afterwards).

As well as all of the ingredients, Robert also brings his own utensils and, when necessary, his own cooking equipment and the result is a truly delicious experience that all up costs under the price you would pay to dine at a restaurant. Plus you get to supply your own wine, which adds to the savings.

As the creator and author of the internationally award-winning* cookbook ‘Lebanon to Ghana – The Food I Grew Up With’ Robert's Lebanese menu has become legendary in Brisbane households but his cooking talents expand to other countries of the world. Roberts’s new book, 'Take Back Control Of What You Eat’, is a testament to his talent and knowledge of food. The beautifully photographed cookbook, not only provides fabulous tasty nutritious meals but a wealth of researched information on the interaction of food and the human body. It will change the way you cook! Both books are available on line or through Robert. 'Take Back Control Of What You Eat’ can be purchased as an E-Book through Amazon. 

Robert’s style of cooking revolves around the traditions that created cottage industries in our grandparents' times, when families made their own sauces, jams, pastries, breads, pickles, legumes, cheeses, yoghurts and cured their own meats. These traditions are the foundation of Robert's cooking style, where he prepares from scratch, sauces, marinades, dips, pastes, pates and even crackers. Most of this can be observed throughout the preparation process and Robert, who is a charming fountain of cooking tales and knowledge, is only too happy to explain as he goes.

The Dinner Party Chef‘s two styles of menu offering include Lebanese Feast and The World Menu.

Lebanese Feast comprises of two selections, Mezza and Mains. The mezza menu, an informal banquet-style setting, limited to 12 people, includes up to five different selections of hand-made delicious items made from scratch using fresh ingredient. In the mezza you may have such selections as, dips, (two as one selection), Sambousik (hand-prepared pastry filled with spiced lamb and pine nuts roasted on site), Kibbe Balls (balls of minced lamb and pine nuts, spiced with traditional Lebanese spices), the best Tabouleh you'll find in Brisbane, Lahem Bi Ahjeen (mini pizza style pastries topped with finely chopped lamb, tomato and onion) or Fatayer (vegetable pastry filled with silver beet, tomato and onion as well as smaller-sized Lahem Mishwe, (lamb skewers). 

The Lebanese Feast Mains is a traditional style home cooked meal where the guests help themselves, or the host serves up. Mains are the centrepiece, accompanied by three starters and optional dessert and coffee. As a rule, one or two mains are selected for a setting of 12 people, such as Fassoulia (a classic dish  of tender lamb chunks and red kidney beans in a rich tomato sauce, spiced Lebanese style, with a hint of pomegranate syrup), Chicken Rice or Ijie with Rice Pilaf (vegetarian oven-baked frittata with white rice and caramelised onion pilaf with a squeeze of lemon).

Delectable treats to follow include a selection of traditional Lebanese sweets, slices, cakes and pastries such as the Rose of Damascus and baklavah served with cups of traditional Lebanese coffee.

The World Food menu (for 6-8 guests) is as good as you'll find in any of the best restaurants, with a range of entrees including Asparagus Gruyère  and Leek Quiche, Duck and Pork Terrine with fig and walnut jam, delicious Baked Beetroot Tart, Stuffed mushrooms with gruyere and herbs or the highly recommended Chicken Pate & sesame crackers, which Robert makes from scratch on the day.

For Mains, choices include Grass Fed Rib Fillet with red wine sauce, tender Madras-style Lamb Curry, Salmon Steak with fresh-made Gruyère sauce, Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Caribbean Adobo Spiced Rice, Duck Breast with Cherry Compote, and three Vegetarian dishes: Eggplant and Zucchini Lasagne, Mushroom Medley Risotto or Ratatouille (in smoky paprika and tomato sauce). 

Otherwise there's Fusion Flavours such as Asian Chicken Stir Fry with tahini or Lamb Kofta Fettuccine in rich creamy yoghurt sauce or the jewel in the crown - Samkeh Harra (a modern twist on a Lebanese classic - pan-fried snapper fillet over saffron and pine kernel rice drizzled with a special tahini sauce topped with crispy onion rings).

Desserts could include Crème Brûlée, Pear tarts, Pana cotta or a French three cheese platter served with fresh fruit and Lavosh crackers.

Guests provide their own wine and Robert, who knows a thing or two about wines himself, is more than happy to recommend great matches for his food courses. 

To accompany the memorable dining experience, you can book entertainment to make the night even extra special, with jazzy ballads, pop songs and tunes performed by the amazing vocalist and solo guitarist Greg Josephson. For more information, go to the services tab and navigate to the entertainment section.

And that's not all! Robert also hand-makes small batches of his own sauces (natural wood-smoked habanero chilli sauce and a pomegranate and habanero hot sauce), dips (Hummus and Baba Ghanouj) and traditional Lebanese cakes (Semolina Date or Semolina Walnut Cakes) that can be purchased online or pre-order to pick up from the commercial kitchen Roberts works from. You can also purchase pouches of Roberts own Mediterranean and Middle Eastern herb and spice blends. Each pack has a recipe on the back for you to try. Visit his on line shop (below) for more details on what is available.

Good to know - Robert also offers fun cooking class parties of up to ten people, where you learn to cook the delicious food and then sit down with friends and family to enjoy the fruits of your labour. These are fun afternoons of bonding and group learning to be enjoyed by all.

Need to know - This is not a catering service but rather a personalised experience in which almost the entire prep and cooking process happens in the host’s kitchen. The result is a unique and memorable dinner party that everyone will be talking about for a long time. 

*Robert, a fascinating creative character with many tales to tell, spent the early years of his life in Ghana, and has worked in several creative industries, such as graphic and industrial design, commercial pottery to aromatherapy.  

Contact Robert via email: [email protected] or call 0402 030 693.