Dining with Dee to host delicious lunch menu at Pour Brothers

CHAMPAIGN - Chef Dee is offering a special catered lunch menu on January 22 at the spacious Pour Brothers Craft Taproom in Champaign. The meal will be served starting at noon and reservations for the event are required.

A graduate of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, DeAngelo Newsom, known as Chef Dee, will serve two-day brined chicken served with a charmula sauce along with herbed rice pilaf, and winter vegetable kale salad. Diners will also enjoy a homemade herb and olive focaccia.

"We are holding the event on January 22 as part of our monthly events," explained Stephanie Astorina-Newsom, DeAngelo's wife and partner. "We are wanting to spread the awareness of Chef Dee's cooking and our business, as well as showcase other small businesses in town by having a door prize raffle that consists of items donated by small, locally owned businesses."

The couple hosted a "Dining with Dee" in December and catered multiple private dinners, weddings, and birthday celebrations. The also served meals for Christmas events both in the client's home or at an event center. Astorina-Newsom says what sets their business apart from other caterers is that they are a husband and wife team.

"We do everything from start to finish together," she said. "We communicate with the clients the throughout the entire process, do whatever we can to provide the desired vision of the host, and often become friends with those who have hired us and continue to hire us."

She emphasized the meals they create are from "fresh ingredients, never frozen, and almost everything is made from scratch."

For example, the salad to be served next Sunday includes roasted beets, sweet-pickled radishes, olives, and crispy onions served with a housemade red-onion vinaigrette.

"Chef and I both have a passion for cooking and catering to those around us. Chef often says, 'the best part of catering for people is to see them eat his food'."

Chef Dee and Stef take personal satisfaction in making their clientele's culinary experience extraordinary, introducing flavors and textures never sampled before to their guests. Chef Dee has assisted preparing meals with the legendary Guy Fieri, American celebrity chef Emeril John Lagassé III, and has cooked for recording star Drake.

"Most of the food we prepare is often food that our clients have never tried before. It's an amazing accomplishment and feeling to widen someone's taste palate," she added.

Reservations cost per person is $25. Drinks are not included. For more information or to make a reservation email Chefdeemealprep@gmail.com, visit Dining with Dee's Facebook page, or call (217) 493-0198. Reservations are required by January 20.