PRIVATE CHEF SERVICES
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Meet Private Chef
Aaron Gardner
Creating unforgettable dining experiences
that delight the senses and forge lasting memories.
A self-taught chef of over a decade, nothing makes me happier than preparing diverse and nutritious food. Whether it's an intimate dinner for two or a special occasion for the whole family, my mission is to create unforgettable dining experiences that delight the senses and forge lasting memories.
My culinary philosophy revolves around celebrating the harmony between seasonal and local ingredients. Each dish I prepare is a testament to the flavors that only fresh, locally sourced meat and produce can offer. Being a farmer myself I take great pride in partnering with other local farmers who practice humane and sustainable methods.
From Mediterranean to Asian inspirations, every meal I craft is a vibrant palette of flavors, textures, and aromas.
I welcome the opportunity to provide culinary experiences where the seasons dictate the menu, the ingredients are locally sourced, and every dish is an ode to the beauty of diversity and my love of cooking.
Learn about my extraordinary purveyors below.
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Meet Gardner’s Harvest’s Extraordinary Purveyors
Aaron is proud to be sourcing ingredients and supplies from these outstanding local purveyors of grass fed and pasture raised meats, fresh produce, flour, and cut flowers. They enable me to provide you with an exceptional farm to table experience unmatched anywhere in the Shenandoah Valley. Learn about their interesting histories below.
Fine meats:
Freshest vegetables:
Polyface Farm refers to itself as America’s premier non-industrial food production oasis. The farm took root in 1961 when the Salatin family transformed a worn-out farm near Staunton, VA, using innovative practices. They raise pastured pork, grass-fed beef, pasteurized poultry, and more. Learn more: polyfacefarms.com
Anathallo Acres means “to flourish anew” or “grow-green again” in Greek. The farm has been in the Moore family since 1925. They specialize in 100% grass-fed and finished beef, non-GMO pork, lamb, and pastured poultry. Learn more: a-acres.com
Autumn Olive Farms has received Michelin 1-3 Star restaurants as weekly customers, and their meats are featured at the James Beard House and other Private Events | My Site (gardnersharvest.com)Mid-Altantic restaurants. Committed to the best animal welfare, they offer AOF Berkabaw pork and Ossabaw Island Hogs. Learn more: autumnolivefarms.com
Poplar Ridge Farms owners have been farming in the Shenandoah Valley since 2004, and grow a wide variety of produce from arugula to zucchini to heirloom tomatoes and microgreens. They are known for the exceptional taste and quality of their greens. Learn more: poplar-ridge-farms.com
Malcom’s Market Garden grows over 70 different homegrown vegetables and fruits, plus dozens of varieties of flowers over the course of Spring, Summer and Fall seasons. They grow in a sustainable, safe, and beneficial way to plant, animal, and human life. Learn more at: https://www.malcolmsmarketgarden.com/
Freshest vegetables
Beautiful Cut Flowers
​Project GROWS is an educational, nonprofit farm with a mission to grow a healthy community by connecting all people to nutritious foods. It was formed in 2010 by a group of nine area human service agencies representing at-risk populations. Learn more: projectgrows.com
Waynesboro Education Farm is an outdoor learning lab for children in K-12 to support the development of the whole child and families. The farm produces a large amount of organic food for school cafeterias and community pantries. Learn more: waynesboro.k12.va.us/page/waynesboro-education-farm/
Sunrise Farms specializes in all-natural meat from chickens, turkeys, cows and hogs that range freely on 150 acres of non-GMO, pesticide-free pastureland. Animals are fed all-natural non-GMO feed milled on-site. Learn more: sunrisefarm.net
Beautiful Cut Flowers
Quince & Burdock is a cut flower farm in Staunton, VA that believes in the power of local efforts to build community. Eco-friendly practices include no pesticides, no till method to capture more carbon, compost everything, with unplanted areas for birds, snakes, and deer! Learn more: quinceandburdock.com