Live Station BBQ with Chef: Why Quality Matters
When clients inquire about elevating their BBQ experience, especially with a slightly higher budget, we introduce them to our Live Station BBQ with Chef service. This isn't just about upgrading your BBQ event—it’s about transforming it into a culinary experience that combines quality food with professional expertise.
What We Mean by "Chef"
When we say "chefs," we mean professional chefs—not part-time cooks, students, or casual hires. These are individuals with years of experience handling premium steaks, seafood, and even high-profile events. They know how to manage everything from live seafood to course-by-course semi-fine dining, ensuring that every plate looks as good as it tastes. Our chefs bring the finesse of a fine dining kitchen to your BBQ, with food styling and proper presentation as part of the package.
Why You Shouldn't Compare Our Prices
We know price comparisons are common in event planning, but if you’re comparing our Live Station BBQ to others who quote lower rates using part-time staff, it’s not a fair comparison. Many BBQ catering companies hire part-time cooks for as little as $10-$25 per hour. These businesses rely on temporary staff, often cutting costs to deliver a cheaper product.
Here at Shiok BBQ, we could easily do the same. Being chefs ourselves, we have extensive industry connections and could easily create an agency of part-time BBQ cooks. But we don’t. Why? Because food safety and quality matter too much to us.
The Real Concern: Food Safety
Handling food at events isn't something we take lightly. It’s not just about grilling meats and seafood—it’s about ensuring your guests are served safely and with high standards. When you rely on part-time cooks or casual staff, the risks increase. They might not follow strict hygiene practices or safety protocols, and this could lead to serious food safety issues.
We’ve decided to only work with in-house chefs—professionals who are trained under our strict guidelines and have a deep understanding of our processes. Each chef knows exactly how to handle premium ingredients, and they take food safety as seriously as we do. It’s this level of care and professionalism that sets us apart.
We could have taken the easier route—hiring freelancers, saving on costs, and adding strong T&Cs to protect ourselves. But deep down, it didn’t feel right. BBQ might seem simple, but when things go wrong—like undercooked meats or improperly handled seafood—the consequences can be severe. This is why we’ve committed to working with our trained chefs only, ensuring every event is handled with the utmost care.
What Sets Us Apart: In-House Chef Team
At Shiok BBQ, we don’t just hire anyone with a spatula. Our chefs are professionals, many of whom have worked in prestigious restaurants, served high-profile clients, and have the skill to plate food beautifully and handle the heat of live events. But that’s not all—our team of chefs is large enough to handle multiple events at once without compromising on quality.
To give you some perspective, a successful catering company with 8-10 chefs in a central kitchen can generate millions in revenue annually. While we may not be at that level yet, we have 7 full-time chefs working under our brand—each committed to our mission of offering top-tier BBQ services. This makes us one of the largest private chef teams in Singapore, capable of handling 4-6 events a day. So, if you’re wondering if we’re available for your event—chances are, we are.
Our capacity means we rarely have to turn clients away, and we’re proud to offer the highest level of service, even for last-minute events (within reason). If your booking is made 3-14 days in advance, it’s typically no problem for us to accommodate your needs.
What You Get with Our Live Station BBQ with Chef
- Professionalism: Our chefs have experience in high-end dining, and that expertise translates into a smooth, well-executed BBQ experience.
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Food Presentation: Expect beautifully presented dishes with garnishes and sharing plates. We don’t just grill; we plate and present food that looks as good as it tastes.
- Safety & Quality: Unlike part-time cooks, our chefs are fully trained and understand the importance of hygiene, proper food handling, and cooking techniques. This ensures your event is both delicious and safe.
What We Don’t Do
- Table Setup: We focus on the food and the service, not on booth setups or extensive table decor. If your event is under 40-50 people, we generally don’t bring tables.
- Decoration & Styling: While we make sure your food looks fantastic, we don’t offer extensive decoration or styling services. Our focus is on delivering top-tier BBQ and ensuring it’s cooked and served perfectly.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for something that’s all about appearances, we might not be the right fit for you. But if you’re looking for quality—food that’s handled by professional chefs who care deeply about what they’re serving—then our Live Station BBQ with Chef service is the perfect choice. We might not be the cheapest option, but when it comes to BBQ, we believe that quality, safety, and professionalism are worth every dollar.
