I'm one of those people who lives for the meals where you get to dine with incredible company and the food is so delicious that it dominates the conversation! The only interruptions between bites are the exclamations of delight, trying to communicate just how perfect each flavor and thoughtfully crafted course is as it lands on your taste buds. That's CE Saute. While visiting DC, I had the absolute joy of sharing a meal in my friend's home thoughtfully curated and served by Chef Danny. The attention to detail in table settings, preparation, description of ingredients, cooking methods, and plating was exceptional. It's a true honor to consume not only amazing food, but also the art, passion, and great conversation with an incredible chef. Looking forward to another visit to DC in the future and the next unforgettable experience with CE Saute! read more

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This will be a long review so TLDR: Danny and his staff are the best there is and their food is even better! It's truly difficult to express how amazing Danny and his staff made our wedding event. As we were working to find a chef for our small wedding reception/garden party, Danny stuck out simply because we liked the pictures of his food, but after we met with him, we knew he was the perfect chef for us. He made us feel comfortable from the start (LGBTQIA+ friendly) and understood our tastes and interests from just a 30 minute intro call. We signed our contract with him several months out from the event, but he always kept in touch to make sure our heads were still in the same place in how we wanted to celebrate our wedding. Moving to the actual event, we hosted ~22 people for a cocktail style garden party. Danny came up with an amazing menu including: - Cheese plate (very high quality cheeses; these leftovers made for spectacular girl dinners) - The popcorn project (very cute apps with a special, Danny-made seasoning I can't stop thinking about) - Guacamole three ways (fabulous) - Black bean mango salsa (so refreshing for an outdoor party) - Pimento cheese dip (if you only have one stationary plate option, you should definitely get this) - Black bean hummus (added to our menu last minute and it did not disappoint) - Gazpacho shots (refreshing and elevated) - Shrimp lollipops (perfect way to start the event) - Scallop ceviche (my wife's favorite dish) - Brisket sliders (my favorite dish) - Mini cupcakes (soooooo cute and the perfect size to allow you to try all of the flavors) - Thin mint drunken milkshakes (a perfect way to cap off the night) For drinks, we had a few signature cocktails, lots of wine, and a few non-alcoholic drinks. Danny has a knack for coming up with differentiated cocktails that still bring together all of the flavors you know and love, just at an elevated level. I highly recommend the Santero (mojito adjacent) and my wife loved his bourbon cocktail. We had a few non-alcoholic drinkers and they loved the blood orange margarita. And beyond the food, Danny's staff was perfect. Jessalyn and Camilla were so warm and welcoming and we couldn't have asked for anyone better. The kitchen was a little tight to begin with, but they made more than do with the resources they had and left the kitchen in better condition than how it started. Danny and his sous chef, Cat, were busy and possibly overwhelmed, but didn't show it at all. The cadence the food was sent out was perfect and we loved that we got to chit chat with the whole staff in between courses. When we first met Danny, we told him that with all of the money in the world, we still would want to have a very small wedding reception with a private chef. Danny's personality, food, staff, etc. etc. made it better than we ever could have anticipated. read more

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It was such a joy having Danny and his team in our home for our company's holiday celebration! The pre-party process was easy; Danny was helpful, he had great ideas and after doing this for a while, had great advice for making our evening a fun one. On the night of the event, Danny and his team were friendly and professional. The food was amazing. AMAZING. And the presentation was fun but next level. Our guests were blown away by each and every dish that came out of our kitchen. They are already asking if we can make this an annual tradition! We are all looking forward to next time. Highly recommend! read more

I've had the tremendous pleasure of attending several CESaute events and I enthusiastically recommend working with Danny. The menu is so thoughtfully developed and I always feel Danny's genuine love for his craft and desire for his guests to thoroughly enjoy themselves. I have a few dietary restrictions and consistently feel so included. It's actually fun getting to see how Danny adapts his favorite recipes to accommodate food restrictions! Some of the thoughtful touches I've appreciated: great music playlist, printed menus, the beautiful presentation of each course. He is a fantastic wine and cheese expert and blends high end with affordable because good wine and cheese can be found at any budget if you know what you're looking for. His award winning chili is truly spectacular and I haven't stopped thinking about it since I tried it! Danny truly makes any event, whether large or intimate, feel special. read more

It all started with an idea. I wanted to have a Valentine's Day dinner that wasn't in a tight space with strangers, offering a limited, high-priced menu. Enter Danny Boylen II. For over 10 years, Danny has created the event we look forward to every year, with his witty and thoughtful menus, eclectic music, and flavors that leave every plate empty. Various spin off events have resulted from his professionalism, ability to make each event unique, and his fair pricing. I would highly recommend this chef for your event and celebration needs. read more

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Count yourself fortunate to sit at a table where Danny's dishes and drinks are served and downright blessed to have him work with you to plan a meal or gathering. Danny doesn't simply cook for you - he will walk with you and get to know you to ensure that your event or occasion is everything you could hope for. His dedication to his craft is exemplary and the care, attention, and excellence he puts into his work is refreshing. Not to mention that he's a wonderful person you will be glad you met - your guests will love him! read more

Danny provided a magical evening, with top-notch food, and a charismatic personality. We celebrated my wife's 40th birthday and he made it a truly special and memorable evening. We will definitely use him again. Highly recommend!! Thanks again, Danny! read more

*****Spring Photo Phling event***** I had the honor of attending CESaute's Spring Phling, where I got to eat the aftermath of the photo shoot. The event took place at a private residence, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The hostess, Lisa of AMORE Marketing and PR, was very hospitable. She made us feel very welcomed, and kept the Prosecco and beer flowing. Danny, owner and chef of CESaute, was rather friendly and was cooking up a storm. Food was abundant and everyone's stomach was very happy and content. Here's what I tried: Barbara's Salad-Named after a friend of Danny's who I actually got to meet at the party. Although I thought it was a little heavy on the vinaigrette, it was rather light and refreshing. Fresh fruit was a nice touch. The Parmesan Frico cup it came served in was crispy and not chewy. I enjoyed breaking off pieces of it to eat with the salad. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nk3vH5ReND3W_vY6Bo-vWQ?select=HWXiuUrKZAqe3_YiPKgdRg Wild Mushroom Arancini: MmMmMm deep fried balls of deliciousness! These wild mushroom risotto stuffed buffalo mozzarella balls were ooey, gooey, and just plain make me wanna slap your momma good! Definitely took risotto to a whole new level. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nk3vH5ReND3W_vY6Bo-vWQ?select=6SQL0BJzJt-1bpjoFDcWvw Salmon tartare-Is it salmon or tuna? That was the question of the night. It's salmon, not tuna folks! Served on a spoon, this tartare was finely chopped and seasoned well. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nk3vH5ReND3W_vY6Bo-vWQ?select=muZFHpSWqGB5uBvB4CyZ7Q 55 hour ribs: Spareribs brined, dry-rubbed, braise, and smoked for 55 hours, then grilled and topped with a secret BBQ sauce...hello! These ribs were so tender that they fell off the bone easily. You could tell they were made with love. The BBQ sauce was tasty http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nk3vH5ReND3W_vY6Bo-vWQ?select=k-ZL6S0Gk8n0gymOn7--QA. It had great consistency and wasn't too sweet or spicy. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nk3vH5ReND3W_vY6Bo-vWQ?select=P-F8oLeF_GDVH-Uii2vOuA Bacon jam- Yum. Need I say more?! This jam had me at bacon! Petite "Reese's" Cheesecake-One of the best desserts I had in awhile! These mini cheesecakes (made with Belgian chocolate and candied peanut butter, with an Oreo cookie crust) were the perfect size. The warm cognac-caramel sauce topping was the icing on the cake! It complimented the cheesecake very well. I had to step away from the tray...I seriously would have ate the whole thing! Please excuse my picture, definitely doesn't do this dessert justice! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nk3vH5ReND3W_vY6Bo-vWQ?select=FZd_utcBW3VBiH0uM0GSwQ Bourbon Pie-I thought this pie would be heavy and rich, but it was pretty light. You could smell and taste hints to bourbon. It was smooth, creamy, and had a lovely crunch from the pie crust. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nk3vH5ReND3W_vY6Bo-vWQ?select=PZU6Z1MGqYD-V6kFcXLwuQ I had a lovely time at this event. I'd definitely recommend CESaute's service. Make sure to check Danny out if you are having a dinner or cocktail party! read more

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This experience with Danny was incredible. My wife flew in from California and needed a great meal after a day of airport food. The entire meal was great and Danny went above and beyond with his service! The ambiance Was incredible and felt like a gourmet restaurant! read more

I'll start from the beginning when we were simply looking into the idea of having a personal chef to Celebrate my moms 50th Birthday & my parents 30th anniversary. I had no idea what to expect or ask and after Danny, very quickly, responded to my inquiry he was extremely informative and helpful. Danny even offered to help me comb through other offers. I got a couple other responses but CE Sauté gave me the most confidence by far. We probably spent a hour consulting & discussing preferences and allergies, I promptly received a menu of delicious options & we made our choices. Most guests in our 12 person party don't drink so we didn't do much with alcohol and cocktails but we did use his suggestions on wine. That was a nice bonus. I'd like to throw in there that he made us Dinner Menus too. We named the event and he put all of our final choices on a nice pieces of card stock to each place setting Danny came with plenty of time to prep for the meal, I was prepared to show him around but he took the bull by the horns and located everything as soon as he arrived & went to work! This is extremely impressive to me, he was in a foreign kitchen and just made it his work space. The party was so great. It began with appetizers. We chose the Arancini, Tapenade, & truffled popcorn. It was amazing and very generous portions ! The Arancini went over especially well. Wow it was great. One of the coolest parts was Danny's helper was dressed nice and actually serving us while we walked around and enjoyed each others company. Dinner was DELICIOUS! Every corse! It just kept coming. I requested a slower style. I wanted it to be drawn out so we can socialize, eat and enjoy every bite. We had a argument about how Age of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks and Bootylicious by Destiny's Child had (or didn't have) the EXACT same intro. But about music, you can play yours or Danny offers his own dinner music, which we went with because it was perfect. Once the party was over Danny and his staff cleaned up. I love to cook & I do it frequently & if you do too you know that no matter what its is messy. We were just partying and carrying on and i look over to just see what they were doing in the kitchen and MY KITCHEN WAS SPOTLESS! I was so thankful for this experience, everyone loved it and Danny was thankful for our business. I was impressed with this, many professionals who know their value can be arrogant but he was kind and worked hard & you can tell he was in his favorite element. It was a great event start to finish & I would absolutely do it again. read more

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Danny and the CESaute team are my go tos for everything from small dinner parties to large celebrations. The food is wonderful - and everything is super planned out. They have done birthday parties, my sister in law's baby shower, a wedding and a small dinner party to me and all have made me be able to relax and know that my guests are going to be taken care of and happy. Recent faves: the tuna mousse, the short rib Bolognese Don't forget that Danny is also a sommelier and can handle the bar - or pair your wine stash! Please feel free to message me on social if you have questions. read more

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I've had the absolute pleasure of hiring CE Saute and Chef Danny for four events over the past several years, and that choice always creates the most memorable evening for my guests. I've had guests say everything from, "best meal of my life", to "best steak I've ever had", to "this was Michelin-level service without making a reservation". His food is second to none, and his staff is very communicative throughout the entire process. CE Saute has helped me create amazing moments for people I care about, by bringing friends together to sit at a table, laugh, share amazing wine, and eat a perfect meal - put simply Chef Danny and his team create moments that allow you to enjoy the beautiful act of living well. read more

I attended a small dinner party catered by CE Sauté, and it was SO FABULOUS! Cannot recommend enough. We had a fennel soup, tuna on toast, pork belly, tomato pasta, and sorbet--all delicious. The soup was probably my favorite. I also loved the popcorn we had with cocktails; it had parmesan, soy sauce, wasabi, and truffles in it. What a combination! read more

I found danny on Yelp while looking for a personal chef for my wife's birthday party. I knew from the first call that he was our man. I invited 5 other couples and of course I was looking for a great chef who could cook a delicious meal, but I also wanted someone who would be fun to have around. danny delivered on both. And kudos to his helpers Matt and Monica, who were so nice and so upbeat. I can't say enough good things about our experience with danny and his team. Highly highly recommend. read more

AMAZING food and nice staff. I was very pleased with the food and my guests enjoyed it as well. We started planning for a graduation party; 20 family & friends for 18 May 2019. Because I am currently working outside of the DMV area, I asked my god sister to search for a caterer. She suggested CESaute; we connected with Chef Danny. Chef Danny listened to what I wanted for the party and was amicable when I changed up the menu. He suggested a menu that was just right for my guests. The costs were reasonable with no hidden extra charges. One of his associates baked a graduation cake as well for my special day. Communications were great during the initial planning but could have been better as we got closer to the event. For guests that were fasting during Ramadan I asked for their dinner to be set aside. There was enough food but plates were not prepared for two of them. So they didn't eat. However, Chef Danny was accommodating when my guests showed up late but before dinner was served. Overall, Chef Danny is an amazing chef. I will definitely consider him for all future small parties. HIGHLY Recommended for quality, delectable delicious food, presentation, timeliness, and costs. read more

Absolutely awful to deal with! Look elsewhere for a chef. I never write reviews unless it is truly warranted. I wish I could post all of the email exchanges, so whatever he writes back in response, just be warned. That guy Jonathan who also reviewed, probably wasn't wrong. You can't decide all of the sudden that your gift card is no longer valid when you have a dinner date on the calendar (confirmed via email), then the world shuts down because of Covid, then you ignore emails for months because you were a private chef in a yacht, then Danny gets Covid and then ignores emails because he no longer wants to pay out so then ignores any further correspondence. His reply to the other review I wrote on his FB page was that it had expired...no where in my emails did he mention that and I EVEN asked that question preemptively. At this point, I wouldn't even trust the food he would serve to me and my entire family. Too bad my FIL will never get to experience his 70th bday gift. read more

We used CESaute for our downsized Covid-era wedding celebration. When our 200 person wedding became just my Wife and I plus only 2 other guests, we opted to find a personal chef to cook us a meal in our own home. Enter Chef Danny, who from the start was kind, hilarious and communicative and a joy to work with. We appreciated how COVID-concious he was and we worked together as the day drew nearer to agree upon safe choices and manage risk. Danny was especially helpful during what ended up being a somewhat eventful planning process and he rolled with every change we threw at him. He was even willing to cook a completely seperate meal for my picky eater sister so that my wife and I could have the menu of our dreams while my sister still got food she enjoyed. He was so flexible and put up with lots of little things along the way. Danny came to our house with plenty of time to prepare and made himself at home in our kitchen without me needing to give him a tour or anything, he just told me not to worry and he would figure it out. He also brought an assistant, Kat who was so lovely as well. There was a little hiccup with our oven (which I totally forgot to warn him about, my fault) which caused our main course to be delayed but Danny clearly communicated with us when it happened and set expectations appropriately for the timing of our meal, and I am sure had to really hustle to get things back on track. The menu put together was INCREDIBLE and the food was fantastic. From the cheeses on the cheese course and the incredible pairings to go with it, to the cocktails, to the melt in your mouth short ribs, even the salads, everything was so delicious. Our Wedding Week was kind of a disaster due to some health issues my wife experienced and working with Danny and Kat CESaute was a bright spot during it. Thank you for making our wedding day so special! read more

I hired Danny for a dinner with friends. He appears professional, with a contract including specific times, all counters and two shelves of the refrigerator must be cleared. After selecting the menu a contract signed where he was supposed to arrive at 3 to be prepared for cocktails and appetizers and at 5 and first course at 6:30. Danny did not arrive until after 5, and guests had arrived, and was two hours late for everything. He did not bother to call or communicate, I had to send texts that were responded to with false information ("be there shortly" 50 mintutes away). He claimed that there were "three accidents on the beltway' but apparently he doesn't know that information is available and I confirmed that he lied. He said he had someone that was coming to assist him but he lied, nobody ever showed up and he did not explain. In addition, Danny's food was below average -- his short ribs were so dry most people (even though hungry) did not eat much it. Finally, an expensive watch was missing after he departed. I would highly recommend that nobody should do business with Danny Boylen -- he's dishonest, unprofessional and without culinary talent. read more

I celebrated a big birthday with my husband and a dinner by Danny was my gift. What an amazing gift! It was memorable and delicious. Danny is a total delight and a very talented chef. I highly recommend. read more

I e-mailed Danny about a dinner for two and he promptly e-mailed me back. We spoke on the phone and he was very nice. In fact, he promised me that since I was the first to call for this particular date he was committed to serving us. He said he would have a menu for me to review within the week. I received an e-mail that asked for more time to think about the menu. And then nothing. Because he told me that he was dedicated to us I didn't schedule a backup and now that he is MIA, I'm out of time to plan. Bottom line: Danny is very nice on the phone but didn't deliver on his promise to me--definitely have a backup plan regardless of what he tells you. read more

Young Winos of DC hosts wine events around town a few times a month. One of our biggest events of the year is the annual Rosé on the Roof. (wine drinking on a rooftop, need I say more?!) Well, Danny approached us to serve light appetizers to pair with the rosé. Private chef at one of our events, hell yeah! People were very excited and anxious for the big event. The menu was planned (amazing menu at that) and tickets were sold out. The day of the event, the venue bailed. In a frantic tizzy, we contacted Danny to let him know there going to be no grills at the new venue. He had to completely revamp his menu, changing just about every item with 3 hours notice. He showed up in plenty of time to get set up with the new menu. There was no grill, no heat, and only 1 fridge in the basement. Prepping food for 60 guests in these conditions was a little stressful but amazingly he provided plenty of appetizers for our guests. He definitely rolled with the punches and was still able to serve great food with a smile! I have full faith that he can accomplish a great event no matter what the circumstances. Oh and the food...superb but I'm sure you already knew that! read more

Danny's came recommended to me via my sister-in-law and I would highly recommend him to others. I was hosting a 40th birthday party for a friend at my house for about 30 to 50 people (as you know people cancel the day of). I highlight this because Danny was flexible and understanding that we wouldn't have an exact number of guests until closer to the date. We wanted "finger food" and drinks (including a signature drink). (1) If you need help organizing or are super organized Danny is great. He was extremely responsive, professional, and helpful in providing insight based upon his experience. His organization and responsiveness made me feel more relaxed. If you are using Danny, I recommend following his guidance if you do not have much experience organizing events. It is less stressful and our guests loved his touches. (2) Cost: We had a set budget and he helped us select drinks and food that made the event special but stayed within our budget. He was very clear about the costs. (3) Time: Danny did not provide the plates and knives for our event but, if asked, I am sure that he would have done so. Danny offered to bring the alcohol (which we ended us receiving as a gift so we did not use him), made the cake, and brought everything that was needed. All of this is to say that you could show up at the party and he would have a 99% of things taken care of. For a little more, he would have covered 100%. Both myself and the co-host work long hours and this meant that we didn't have to worry about details or run around the day of the party. (4) I had never hired any of "caterer" for an event outside of my wedding. It took me a minute to relax and realize that Danny had everything covered and I should just relax and enjoy the party. (5) Food. Amazing. Even though it included finger food, our guests loved the food and felt that the food was substantial. There were coney dogs (the birthday boy is from Detroit), risotto balls, gazpacho, truffle fries, in addition to one other dish. Men, women, vegetarians, and meat lovers were all happy. The food was provided by servers who were professional and the timing was perfect so no one was overloaded or left hungry. (6) Cake, His pastry chef made a cake. WONDERFUL. Just wonderful. (7) Signature drink. We were nervous about the drink he suggested. HOWEVER, not ONE person had any other thing to drink until the signature drink was out. It was a HIT! Please email me if you have questions. Overall, I just felt we were in good, professional hands, and the food/drinks/service was wonderful. I will use him again and be even more relaxed as I know that he has everything covered. Cheers ****After posting the above, I read some of the other reviews. Danny was very friendly on the phone; however, on the night of the event, he was focused and not as jovial as on the phone. That said, it didn't change my rating or whether I would use him again. The food was great and my guests were happy. Reliability, professionalism, and quality were key to me. If I was having an intimate event and wanted a chef to interact with guests, perhaps it is something to think about. However, his staff who did deal with the guests were upbeat and very nice. read more

The first time I attended an event run by Cogito Ergo Sauté, I quickly realized the two most valuable differences between its personal chef service and service I'd had before: CES' careful attention to each guest in the room/space, and that delicious arancini. As a unit, CES is a versatile group of people passionate about great food and making sure people enjoy it. Have questions about ingredient choices? They have patient answers. Interested in the stories that influenced the menu? They have some great ones. And if, for a moment, you look up from the group of friends or family you're with, and manage to stop drooling over how good the salmon tartare or BBQ ribs are, you'll catch a glimpse of just how patient and attentive the CES team members are with each other too. They work together as well as what's on that night's menu, making their personal service a truly seamless experience. It all starts with Danny, though -- his thoughtfulness, and his talent. Each event I've attended has had at least 15 guests, often hovering around 30. And yet, as good as the bourbon pie and bacon jam were, even better was how he was able to prep and serve, while engaging guests, without missing a step, and without a hint of the presumption you so often find in people who make exquisite food. CES is different because of both its food and its people. You won't find a better combination of the two. read more

My boyfriend and I hosted a dinner party in March for nine friends. Danny developed a delicious menu which included ginger and curried carrot bisque, salmon tartar, wild mushroom and chicken confit risotto, sherry braised beef short ribs, and dessert. We also had a little cocktail hour that include Brussels sprout salsa. It was DELICIOUS. Danny also surprised us with fried risotto balls. The food was excellent and the presentation was nothing short of impressive. Working and speaking with Danny over the phone prior to the event was great. He seemed to have a great personality and was very professional. Once he got in the kitchen he made it his own which was great. I did expect him to be a little more interactive with my guests though, especially because they tried to make friendly conversation. A few of them actually thought he came off kind of rude and snobby. I honestly wanted to rate him three stars, but he came to cook and it's what he did and did it well. However, when you pay someone the amount of money that I paid to feed twelve people, you don't want your guests to report to you that the chef was short. He definitely did not go above and beyond. I should be the snob, not him. I and a couple of my guests who have been to other dinner parties were just a bit taken aback. My boyfriend and I love to throw parties for our friends on our roof and in our place. Unfortunately, we will not use Danny again. read more

Danny created a dinner menu that worked with food allergies and sacrificed none of the taste. Everything was delicious. He was easy to work with, so personable, and made the whole event special. I highly recommend all the appetizers too! read more

I recently attended an event catered by Cogito Erto Sauté and was more than impressed! The food was fresh and beautifully prepared with obvious care and attention to detail. My favorite treats were the caprese salad kabob, so tasty with the fresh basil and pop of the tomato, the arancini was also excellent with perfectly prepared risotto and gooey melted cheese. Everyone raved! My personal favorite was the tuna tartare, full of flavor but very smooth. Food is love and this beautiful food added to the night, compliments could be heard throughout the crowd. In addition to the quality of food the catering service was donated by CES! Lovely! If you are looking for a caterer...CALL THEM! To support a community organization and provide high quality food, could there be anything better?! Thank you CESaute, you left a good taste in all of our mouths! read more

We had the most amazingly delicious meal cooked by Danny a few weeks ago. Everything was absolutely delicious--coming from me, the vegetarian who loved the crab bisque and ate all the leftovers. I would definitely recommend CESaute, if I could afford it I would hire Danny three meals a day, all year. Yum! read more

Wow, what a night! My birthday celebration was absolutely perfect thanks to Danny's incredible food and attention to detail. He graciously adapted to our laid back evening and seamlessly created the perfect pace. What we'll all remember is a night of good friends enjoying the company of one another while drinking and eating well. Standouts? Bourbon-ginger rickey. Need I say more? Duck confit tacos. Hangar steak sliders. Seriously? Amazing food. One more thing - we had some food issues like gluten-free and kosher and he wove those needs in beautifully. Everything was fabulous. Just fabulous. I'm looking for an excuse to have another party. Just saying. read more

Absolutely fantastic... in every way! In a world where outstanding customer service, attention to detail and showing pride in your work are hit and miss - Danny and his team knock it out of the ballpark. Danny is a true professional and holds himself to very high standards which also reflects in his food and the environment he creates when we steps into your kitchen. Danny takes food to another level and works on his craft every single day. Danny is confident and talented and this reflects in his food. Danny cooked for 4 of us the other night and each person had different levels of knowledge and experience with food. I think it's pretty incredible when 2 of the 4 people who consider themselves picky eaters said "I don't like beets, but I LOVE those beets" and this same comment was made throughout the evening. Danny's food is not only delicious but his presentations are stunning and portion sizes are perfect (yes, we had 7 courses). I would recommend Danny to anyone who is looking to create a different/high level yet comfortable experience/atmosphere for entertaining a loved one on a special occasion, woo'ing a client, hosting a simple dinner party or for any other reason you can think of. The beauty of it, he does this all in your own home. Does it get any better than that? I'm so excited for the next time I can enjoy his wonderful food and company. He's the whole package. Treat yourself and your guests to Cogito Ergo Saute (Danny Boylen) - you'll be so glad you did! read more

My father turned 60 a few weeks ago, and I spent months racking my brain for the perfect gift to get a guy who has everything. A mere three weeks before his birthday, it dawned on me that having an awesome 5-course meal cooked in the comfort of his home would be the perfect gift. Danny @ CESaute was the first private chef that I spoke with. He was pleasant, asked really good questions and wasn't bothered at all by the fact that my dad lives about an hour outside of DC. He worked with me on every detail of the menu (lamb sausage risotto! braised short ribs!) and was super mindful of my budget. The day of my father's birthday, Danny arrived on time and was super pleasant to my family, who absolutely adored him, and basically want to adopt him. I wasn't there to taste the food, but I come from a pretty foodie family (two brothers who are both sous chefs) - and everyone said that the meal was "one of the best ever." The next day, Danny followed up with me letting me know that everything went smoothly and that he enjoyed my father's company. My father is still talking about this meal to this day - and continues to brag about what an awesome daughter I am for being so thoughtful. Looking forward to hiring Danny again - except this time, I hope to be around for the food. read more

Just to give you an idea of how good Danny's food is - I was so full after dinner that I wasn't hungry for breakfast the next day. Danny created a spectacular menu for a few friends and I as we celebrated the glorious event known as the Kentucky Derby. He really blew us away with his creative menu which incorporated the culinary themes of the Derby; bourbon, hot browns, and mint juleps. Every single dish was spectacular, from the bourbon glazed risotto balls, to the outrageously delicious ham & biscuits, to the absurdly tasty ribs. All of the food was super flavorful, elegantly prepared, and neatly presented. In addition to being a talented chef, he was really nice and happily answered all of my questions about the food and cooking in general. I'm looking forward to my next feast! read more

Unreal attention to detail, wine pairing and just exemplary food across the board. Danny carefully curated a menu to fit the dietary needs of all of our guests, even those with restrictions. The king salmon poke on bacon and avocado buttered toast points are something ill dream about. Barbras salad- ask for it, the parmesan bowl alone is to die for and the sussigkeiten for Kimberly for dessert was a real crowd pleaser- who can say no to home made salted caramel gelato? Danny know his craft, provided an amazing service and brought along a team of fantastic and cheerful support staff. I cant wait until my next meal! read more

If I could give zero stars, I would, and I am not one to take to social media. However, I have tried every avenue with no luck. We used this company 7 years ago and had a great experience. For my Father in-law's birthday, we thought getting a gift card for him to experience a delicious meal was a great gift. All the siblings got together and purchased one for $800. When it was time to schedule something, we emailed him for his schedule. No response for months. When he finally emailed us back, we were understanding when he mentioned he was working on a private boat for a family and couldn't respond to us. Then the pandemic hit, and therefore the gift card couldn't be used for a while. Once things were opening up, we had set up a dinner date with Danny since my FIL asked us to handle it. Danny canceled because of him having Covid. Again, we were understanding of the situation. Well, we have been trying to set something back up with him for the past 8 months, and he will NOT respond to our emails, phone messages, nor will his staff when you go through the website. This is unacceptable!!! At this point, he just stole $800 from us!!!! It is evident what kind of person he really is. There are too many amazing personal chefs in the area to deal with this nonsense. Go with someone else!!! While we lost all that money, hopefully, this will save someone else from having to deal with him and a company that treats repeat customers this way. read more

Wow! Our catered dinner for eight was a Christmas gift from our son and his family. What a gift! From start to finish it was a wonderful event. Danny is charming and talented. He developed some wonderful menu choices and we could not have been more pleased with our final selections, from a delightful and perfect-for-the-season melon and tomato gazpacho, to his amazing "Barbara's Salad in a parmesan frico cup, the perfect cooked lamb loin with artfully paired baby potatoes in an amazing sauce, to the chocolate and peanut butter mousse. He even accommodated our one guest who is a vegetarian with perfectly paired salad and entree. Danny was a delight to work with, we loved watching and chatting with him while he prepared the dinner, and our guests enjoyed him immensely. It really was like he was a member of the family and our group of friends by the end of the evening. And he did all of this solo as his assistant was injured earlier in the day and the rest of his staff were working other venues that evening. Definitely a 5-star experience and we will do this again! read more

My husband asked CESaute to develop a surprise dinner for me at our house for our anniversary. Danny and Alicia put together an absolutely stunning event and were lovely people to boot! The menu they created was delicious and worked around my seafood allergies and my husband's gluten intolerance. The flavor combinations were bold and savory, exactly as I like food to be. Fresh ingredients were used with care. The presentation of each course was gorgeous and imaginative. And throughout it all, Danny and Alicia were kind, personable, and just terrific. Oh, and did I mention they left my kitchen cleaner than they found it? They made our anniversary more special than it would have been with any other private chef. Do not pass go or collect $200; if you are planning an event and you need a private chef, go with CESaute! They are excellent! read more

Our first time to engage a personal chef and, thanks to Danny, a complete success! The occasion was a personal family dinner to celebrate an anniversary and birthdays. Since we just had our first grandchild and did not want to leave her, going out to a nice restaurant was not our best option. We selected CESaute instead to come into our daughter and son-in-law's home to prepare a special meal for us. From the beginning, Danny was easy to work with. We had a budget and he was resourceful in helping us stay within it while providing some excellent choices. Every bite of our five course meal was delicious and interesting - each of us had our favorites but everyone enjoyed it all. What we liked best was Danny's unobtrusive approach. He was approachable, knowledgeable and personable but low key. Most importantly, he recognized our desire to have a nicely presented but informal dinner - and absolutely hit the mark! We are indebted to him for a lovely family evening that allowed us to enjoy time with all our family, especially our precious granddaughter! I recommend Danny wholeheartedly - he did all that he promised and more than expected. read more

My organization was seeking a caterer for our organizations 20th anniversary major donor reception held at the Josephine Butler Center. We secured popular "star" as our host and wanted to make the event extra special. We contacted CESaute based on a high recommendation from a friend, and were pleased to find out that he could work with our crowd size of about 75 attendees. We are so happy that we chose to work with this personal chef service instead of a caterer! As opposed to the traditional passed appetizers, our guests enjoyed beautiful, exquisite tasting, hand crafted food. It was a pleasure to leave one of the most important parts of the evening in Danny's very capable hands. From planning to service, Danny was wonderful to work with. He responded to dietary restriction requests with enthusiasm and our guests are still talking about wild mushroom arancini and the tuna tartare. The menu selection and planning process was fun, with Danny going over our options and giving us an idea of how the service would work over the 2 hour reception. He was open to questions about the food and the menu, and was able to make suggestions to ensure that our vegetarian and vegan guests had options. Contract signing and payment were all electronically handled and painless. Danny was professional and approachable, between contract signing and day of the event, always available to answer questions. In fact, he actually made a few suggestions and helped us think of things that we otherwise might have missed. I was especially impressed that Danny was able to accommodate a last minute jump in our ticket sales (75 guests) without a problem. The day of the event, things couldn't have run smoother. Other than that wonderful food came streaming out of the kitchen as soon as our first guests arrived, we barely knew he was there. After the event, the warming kitchen was left clean and spotless. Danny's staff fit in perfectly with our event and were always "right there" sharing something wonderful to eat. CES Saute made our VIP event the extra special occasion we were hoping it would be. I would highly recommend working with him. read more

For those of you looking for a personal chef to facilitate either a formal dinner or a canapé party, you must read this review! I hired Cogito Ergo Sauté for a 25-person party in June of this year. I've also attended other events during the last couple years that utilized the company's services. The event I hosted started with the idea of replacing birthday cake with bourbon pie. It's an excellent alternative to traditional white cake with buttercream frosting. However, bourbon pie quickly became a surprise canapé party for my boyfriend. He's an incredible person and I wanted to do something special for him. Danny, owner and chef of Cogito, created an innovative menu that accommodated all of my guests, which ranged from those with sophisticated palates to those who never progressed further than PB&J without the crust. He also helped me pick the venue, and provided decorations and music. Despite a tremendous amount of preparation (I'll spare you the details), I felt completely overwhelmed the day of the party. The venue had to be changed from an outside rooftop to an indoor space due to the weather. The stereo system wasn't working. It felt like time was quickly running out, and things were falling apart. Danny kept calm, and created solutions as each issue arose. I left to get ready and returned to find everything done. Blues music was emanating around the beautifully decorated room, tables were set, lights were dimmed, candles lit, and the aroma coming from the kitchen was intoxicating. It was perfect! Danny had two assistants. They were well-dressed, polite, and professional. Hors d'oeuvres were served in an organized sequence throughout the evening, glasses were never empty, and the chef himself brought out an elegant, personalized birthday cake near the end. The event flowed seamlessly. Everyone was thoroughly impressed by the food and still talk about it to this day. Most importantly, the guest of honor had a wonderful time. I think it will be a night we all remember for years to come. I don't typically write reviews. This is actually my first Yelp review. I was motivated to write this one because Danny has consistently gone above and beyond. He made my event a success, and his personal dedication to quality is something I admire. For these reasons, I highly recommend Cogito Ergo Sauté. Danny and his delightful assistants can elevate any occasion from mediocre to extraordinary. read more

While I have been lucky enough to get invited to a few dinners and cocktail parties where Chef Boylen was hired to provide all things food and and drink, I have started to felt remiss if I didn't write about some aspect of my experiences and let people know about the professionalism and quality of service in all aspects of his company. The most recent dinner I attended was a Kentucky derby themed party for about 15 and was well beyond our expectations. The first course was a wonderfully bright Greek salad accented with orzo, sliced almonds, and a delicate light oil dressing. This was followed by a well-balanced guacamole with tortillas chips made to order. and the food just kept rolling on: succulent ribs, comforting hot browns, risotto balls bursting with flavor, luxurious desserts, oh my! Regardless of the dish, several things were always present: quality of ingredients in both freshness and flavor, professionalism of both the chef and staff, and a true passion that came across in both knowledge and demeanor. Unlike other reviewers experiences, not only did the Cogito Ergo Sauté staff clean up after themselves, they helped clean things that they didn't use to leave the kitchen area cleaner than it began. I think it is a rarity when a company not only meets expectations but exceeds them because they want to and not because they have to. Chef Boylen truly loves his job, giving his clients the best experience possible, and seeing those clients happy after a great event. It is no surprise that Cogito Ergo Sauté is in high demand as there are few companies that bring both talent, level of service, and passion to the table like they do. I would highly recommend him for your next event. read more

I met Danny at a work social event and we hit it off. My annual non-denominational no-stress holiday gathering was coming up and I really wanted to take a break and enjoy the party rather than spend my evening in the kitchen. So I thought why not see if Danny can put his money (or food) where his mouth is and let Cogito Ergo Saute deliver the goods. We emailed ahead of time to establish a menu within my budget and timeline that would work for my gathering, having a few veggie eaters attending. My guests, my husband, and I were blown away. Menu: Maple Chipotle Cashews for noshing, Truffled French Fries, Leek & Black Truffle Arancini, Grown-Up Tomato Soup, Mini Grilled Cheeses, Brown Shugga Brownies, and alcoholic and NA Hot Spiced Cider. There was a ton of food, everyone had plenty to drink and eat. He was brilliant working in my small, galley Hill kitchen, and his staff was friendly and accommodating when passing the food. If there were questions about timing of things or amounts of food, they were tactfully addressed, and we found an easy way to keep my two small dogs from being underfoot for him in the kitchen but around for the party. My only tiny critique was that there could have been more discussion ahead of time about what kind of dishes we'd supply versus what he would supply. The cups he brought for the hot cider ended up being used for the soup because I was having my guests use mugs and glasses for their beverages and didn't have anything appropriate for the soup. We are friends and get along well but I can see how some folks might find his personality "prickly" and his socializing lacking. He does a great job of preparing the food and presenting it. It was made quite clear in the contract that is his priority. I didn't pay him to schmooze and chat up my awkward friend in the corner. Final verdict: Danny did what he promised to do: prepare and serve delicious food and drink. For the first time in years I was able to enjoy the evening with my guests instead of splitting my time. I had no qualms tipping him and the staff for a job well done and I'm looking forward to booking him for a taco party for my next birthday. read more