Our team
Led by a private chef
Saffron Chefs was founded by someone who has spent years in your kitchen, not behind a recruitment desk.
Founder
John Penman
A private chef with Michelin-starred training, who now uses that experience to find the right chef for your home.
John began in classic fine dining before moving to Melbourne, where modern grill and deli cooking gave his food a relaxed, generous edge. His style today is seasonal Mediterranean cooking with influences from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the rest of Europe.
For the last several years he has cooked privately for families and their guests: ten weeks with a family in the Hamptons, two ski seasons in Courchevel 1850, months in villas in Antibes and Cannes, and a shooting party banquet at Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland. He has also run catering for film productions, where planning and calm under pressure matter as much as the food.
Now based in the south of France, he started Saffron Chefs to give families the same care he gives as a chef: a good listener, a clear plan, and the right person in the kitchen.
Why it matters
He knows what the job really asks
Families, not just menus
A private chef cooks for children, grandparents, guests and staff, often in the same day. John knows how to judge whether a chef will fit into a household.
The details that make a booking work
Shopping, allergies, budgets, timings and unfamiliar kitchens. John has handled them all himself, so the questions he asks chefs are the ones that matter.
A network built in the kitchen
John's network comes from years in professional and private kitchens, so many of the chefs we approach are people he has worked alongside or knows by reputation.
“I would recommend John to anyone looking for a highly skilled chef with a strong work ethic, good manners, and an amiable personality.”
Talk to us about your table
Tell us about your plans and we will come back to you personally.
Or call +44 7912 494349