the story of spencer + tyler
In adversity, comes opportunity. Spencer and Tyler believed just that. While having all the time in the world during the Covid-19 shutdowns, Experience "Your" Chef was created. Just as businesses think outside of the box during indifferent times, customers do too. So why not give them something unique. Private Chefs who allow you to dine in the comfort of your home, without the setup, cooking, or cleaning.
Their partnership started at a restaurant in Ellicottville, NY. They became close friends and realized they shared the same passion for food, drinks, and fun, and wanted more for themselves. They both wanted to do something really special that would create long-lasting memories for their guests, and do it their way. The most enjoyable moments from their previous jobs and experiences were the intimate settings, that allowed for great conversations, laughs and culinary learning, such as paired wine dinners, or private movie nights.
Experience "Your" Chef allows them to take what they love, and bring it to life every time they work. The combination of Spencer's knowledge of front-of-the-house operations and his creativity with menus, along with Tyler's pure passion for cooking and his talent to create amazing dishes, makes for one energetic, fun, and delicious time!
ABOUT US:
SPENCER-
Spencer has been involved in Food and Beverage and Hospitality since he was 14 years old. Starting off at a pizza place making $5 under the table, to eventually starting his own Private Chef/Catering company. Spencer really began his foodservice education at The Original Pancake House, a well-known breakfast chain, on Main St. in Williamsville, NY. Starting as a dishwasher, he worked his way up to Assistant Manager. Worked there all through college and learned his way around the business. From there, he went to Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, where he was fortunate enough to have amazing mentors there as he worked as Buffet Shift Manager. At the casino, he spent time at the fine dining restaurants on property to learn all the different operations. Continuing in the casino world, he moved to Rhode Island and worked at Foxwoods Casino & Resort, one of the largest casinos in the world! There he worked in the buffet again and fine dining restaurants as an Assistant Manager. The next step was to become the General Manager of Restaurants at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Goat Island in Newport, RI. He ran multiple operations, including room service and a Starbucks coffee shop. Spencer then moved to become the General Manager at an oyster and sushi bar called TwoTen Oyster Bar & Grill.
Feeling like he wanted to come home, he ended up moving to Ellicottville, NY, where he became the General Manager of Villaggio and Italian Restaurant in the beautiful ski town. He isn’t over yet, he then went on to manage a country club in Hamburg, NY. Spencer also serves on many Boards and dedicates himself to finding ways to help others. He serves on the Buffalo & Erie County Workforce Investment Board, Rock Autism Board of Directors, the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) and is a previous elected Village Trustee in Ellicottville, NY.
TYLER:
Tyler found his passion and love for food at a young age while watching his nana cook. She was a great sport about letting him rummage through the spice cupboards and create his own concoctions, and she always sampled everything he made. Even the most grotesque looking creations a 5-year-old could make. In his junior year of high school, he decided to take culinary arts at BOCES... mostly because he wasn't quite succeeding in any of his regular high school classes. After meeting his culinary instructor David Cacamese, and getting introduced into the culinary world, he immediately fell in love with all of it! He got his first cooking gig at 16, frying chicken wings, fish, and other usual suspects for bar food and burgers. He graduated with high honors and ended up moving to California at 19, after working maintenance for Chautauqua County and a few construction jobs. He took a road trip to Mammoth Lakes, California, and ended up living there for just shy of two years. While in Cali, he learned a lot of techniques and a lot of discipline from his chef of this cool organic Cafe. Tyler worked at steakhouses, and even an authentic Mexican joint when he first moved to town. His passion for cooking really sparked after working with Chef Karl Dawson at the organic cafe!
He moved back to western New York at 21. He worked in a few different restaurants cooking with some rad dudes until he was offered a job at Villaggio in Ellicottville, NY. He can't thank the chefs from Villaggio and Osteria 166 enough for everything they taught him. He can't wait to share this experience with our customers, and have some fun while doing it!
