Intimate. Seasonal. Unforgettable.
Boutique private chef dinners, intimate cooking classes, and elevated in-home dining experiences throughout
Charlotte & Lake Norman.
Private Dining • Retreat Chef Experiences • Seasonal Culinary Classes • Chef-Crafted Meals
From intimate dinners and boutique in-home cooking classes to chef-crafted meals for your retreat or special gathering, The Tiny Chef curates thoughtful, seasonal experiences rooted in connection, craftsmanship, and joy.
Proudly serving Charlotte, Lake Norman, and surrounding communities with elevated cuisine inspired by local farms, global travels, and nearly two decades of culinary expertise.
Hi! I’m Susanne,
Your personal chef!
Welcome to The Tiny Chef, where food is rooted in seasonality, storytelling, and soul. I’m Susanne — a chef, sommelier, and longtime culinary creator with a heart for connection and memorable dining. My work blends classical training in Italy with nearly two decades of private-chef experience, wine education, and joyful cooking.
From buzzing hives to heirloom tomatoes, every ingredient has a story — and it’s my joy to bring those stories to your table through intimate private dinners, hands-on cooking classes, and thoughtful wine pairings. Here, meals are more than recipes; they’re meaningful experiences crafted with intention.
Let’s cook something unforgettable together.
As Seen In
At The Tiny Chef, we craft bespoke culinary experiences designed around your vision—whether you're hosting an intimate dinner, a celebratory gathering, or a weekend retreat.
We specialize in multi-course plated dinners, elevated family-style meals, curated cocktail experiences, and seasonal culinary classes—each thoughtfully tailored to your tastes and needs.
More than a meal, we offer a complete dining experience rooted in hospitality and sense of place. Ingredients are carefully sourced from local farms, small producers, and our own community in Gold Hill, North Carolina.
From personalized meal prep to full-service retreat catering, The Tiny Chef transforms every table into a story worth savoring.
Our services
Personal Chef Services
Experience the luxury of a personalized dining experience—crafted in your home or at your event space. As your private chef, The Tiny Chef creates custom multi-course menus using seasonal ingredients sourced from trusted NC farms and producers.
Whether it’s an intimate plated dinner, a relaxed family-style gathering, or an elevated cocktail soirée, every dish is prepared with creativity, craftsmanship, and soul—turning each moment into a memorable dining experience.
Now accepting a limited number of private chef bookings for Masters Week in Augusta, Georgia.
Private Cooking Classes
Bring the joy of cooking into your own kitchen with hands-on classes led by Chef Susanne Dillingham. Designed for beginners and seasoned cooks alike, each class is tailored to your skill level, culinary interests, and occasion—perfect for families, couples, corporate teams, or small groups celebrating something special.
Using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, you’ll cook, laugh, and learn in a relaxed setting that feels both fun and elevated.
We proudly offer in-home cooking classes throughout Charlotte, Waxhaw, Weddington, Badin Lake, Lake Norman, and Mooresville, NC.
RETREAT & EVENT CHEF EXPERIENCES
Bring the restaurant to your retreat, celebration, or destination. From weekend wellness retreats and bachelorette gatherings to milestone celebrations and seasonal farm-style dinners, Chef Susanne crafts immersive culinary experiences wherever your event takes place.
Enjoy curated multi-course menus, elevated family-style feasts, seasonal small plates, and thoughtful wine pairings—each designed with intention, creativity, and nearly two decades of chef expertise. Every detail is handled with care to create a seamless, luxurious dining experience from start to finish.
Available throughout Charlotte, Lake Norman, and surrounding regions—and for destination travel across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and beyond. National and international travel available upon request.
life on the farm
Life on the farm in Gold Hill, North Carolina is a beautiful rhythm of growth, care, and connection. Here, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers flourish under careful hands, nurtured from seed to harvest. Each day begins with the scent of earth and the soft hum of bees working patiently toward golden honey.
This land offers more than ingredients — it offers inspiration. Every harvest adds a vibrant, seasonal touch to the dishes we create, grounding each meal in the place it came from and the story it carries.
Tiny Farm Honey
Tiny Farm Honey is a golden gift from our land — crafted with care by the bees we lovingly tend. Each jar captures the flavors of the wildflowers, herbs, and blooms thriving across our Gold Hill, NC property.
More than a sweetener, it's a taste of the season: sunshine bottled, wild and fragrant, harvested with intention. We love our bees, and we know you’ll love their honey.
Farm Events
Where nature meets the table, our intimate farm gatherings bring people together for unforgettable seasonal feasts. Surrounded by gardens, flowers, and the quiet beauty of Gold Hill, NC, guests enjoy thoughtfully prepared dishes made with ingredients grown just steps away.
It’s an immersive dining experience — connection, flavor, and storytelling woven into a magical evening under the stars.
FROM THE GARDEN & HIVE
Farm-to-table isn’t a trend here — it’s the heart of how we cook. We grow a variety of seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers right on our farm in Gold Hill, NC, ensuring each dish is crafted with freshness and purpose.
From crisp greens and juicy heirloom tomatoes to fragrant herbs and honey from our hives, every ingredient is harvested at its peak and handled with care, creativity, and love.
Areas We Serve
The Tiny Chef proudly serves Charlotte, NC and surrounding communities, including Lake Norman, Cornelius, Mooresville, Waxhaw, Weddington, Concord, Badin Lake, Winston-Salem, and the greater Piedmont region. We also travel for select culinary events, including Masters tournaments in Augusta, GA.
