A private chef in the Cotswolds bringing the taste of Ancient Babylon and the elegance of a fine dining restaurant to your own home or venue.
A private fine dining experience for you, cooked by me.
Hello, I am Salim Drouiche, and I’m a private chef based in Cheltenham, providing exquisite and affordable private fine dining experiences for clients.
I named Babylon Dining in honour of the rich culinary history of Ancient Babylon, which I emulate in my preparation, cooking, and service across Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol and the Cotswolds.
My passion for cooking first began with my mother. She would spend hours preparing beautiful North African dishes for our family in Algeria.
These rich culinary roots nurtured me in childhood and inspired me to study Professional Cookery at the University of West London, where I learned classic and contemporary European cooking techniques.
Over the years, I’ve worked for some of the best fine dining restaurants in the UK, such as Michelin-star Pied à Terre and the five-star hotel, The Landmark London. It was at these places that I honed my skills and took my cooking creativity to the next level.
Now, I’m delighted to bring my passion and cooking capabilities to the comfort of your surroundings. Although based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire I can travel up to a 150 miles range to your home or venue.
Whether you’re looking for a private chef for a dinner party, family celebration, or special corporate event, I build every dish from scratch to suit your preferences and serve an unforgettable culinary experience.
Take a look at a selection of culinary creations you could enjoy if you hire me as your private chef for the night.
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With Babylon Dining, you can forget the hassle of cooking and focus on the entertainment. As your dinner party private chef, I’ll create a range of stunning dishes from scratch to wow guests, based on preferences and dietary requirements.
From private party functions and family occasions to intimate meals for two, you can expect five-star restaurant quality within the comfort of your home.
Visit the services page for more information about hiring me as your private chef at home or send a direct enquiry for a quick quote.
Enquire now
Delectable food served with elegance and professionalism
Five-star experienced cooking, cleaning, and service from a Michelin-star-trained chef and his team
A specialist fusion of dishes and flavours from European and North African-inspired cuisine
Nothing gives me more joy than seeing satisfied clients, empty plates and glowing reviews. So, in case you require more persuasion to hire me as your private chef, here are some client testimonials.
''Absolutely brilliant experience with Chef Salim. Lots of choice of dishes, incredibly flavourful and well cooked dishes, the best sticky toffee pudding we have ever eaten! Chef Salim was very polite and worked quietly in the background, leaving the kitchen spotless! We would definitely recommend him.''
''Salim did an incredible job as our family chef for an entire week. The exquisite cuisine he prepared for breakfast, appetizers, teatime, and dinner were unforgettable. Chef Salim's culinary creations were my favorite part of our family vacation in Wales because he went the extra mile every time to make each dish fresh, flavorful and perfect, whether it was a beautiful breakfast spread or a 4- course wedding dinner feast. I give Chef Salim a shining 5-star rating for his hard work and culinary talent. After traveling from the US, we were very tired, but Chef Salim illuminated our family celebration with his consistently cheerful, eager attitude and his fabulous dishes that beg to be savored 'til the very last bite. Our vacation and my brother's wedding would never have been the same without him.''
''Chef Salim was exceptional. The food was incredible and the service was outstanding! He listened to our brief and created the most perfect menu for us! Even when the over in our Airbnb stopped working, he tried to help us resolve the problem, however when we worked out it was an issue that a professional would have to come and fix, Chef Salim did not let that phase him and was able to quick adapt to still make us the most amazing food! I would 100% recommend any would 100% rebook! Thank you!''
"Chef Salim D. was amazing. He was punctual, organised, polite and very friendly. He took charge of my kitchen and produced the most beautiful plated food which matched in taste- absolutely delicious."
"A truly great experience. The chef (Salim) was courteous and pleasant, he sorted everything for us. The food was exceptional, it was a real memorable experience. We will be doing it again."
"We had a fantastic evening by all our party; The communication before hand was great, the food and service on the night was excellent!"
"Salim cooked us a fantastic three-course meal for a family's 60th birthday. I wish we could give more than five stars! the food was absolutely delicious. A few amendments were required for dietary reasons and these were wonderfully catered for."
"Salim was professional and personable, telling us about the dishes and serving them absolutely beautifully. The presentation was wonderful, and the taste (unbelievably!) even better."
"Chef Salim was brilliant! The food was delicious and presented beautifully. Not to mention I think when he and his assistant left it looked like he had never been."
"Best meal I've had in a long while! The flavours and quality were excellent. The staff were very accommodating, friendly, professional, polite and helpful. Lovely friendly people, who ensured everyone was happy with everything, and the food really was superb."
"Polite, friendly, professional and a meal fit for royalty. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will definitely do this again, Highly recommended!"
"A wonderful experience for a New Year's Evening Party of 10. Salim made a beautiful 4-course meal with an additional 4 bespoke amuse bouche/canapés to start. Would definitely ask Salim again for another event."
"Everything was beautifully presented and tasted delicious. Salim and his partner were also so courteous and polite and went above and beyond for us, always checking we were happy and if we needed everything. Salim also left our kitchen spotless."
"Excellent service from start to finish! The communication throughout and the flexibility on the menu was perfect. The chef and waitress were very polite and provided excellent service on the night."
"Wonderful food beautifully presented by a friendly, professional chef. Thank you so much for making our family celebration very, very special. I highly recommend it and would definitely book again. Absolutely superb. "
"The atmosphere created calm with an amazing presentation of food and tastes just fantastic. The two staff worked so hard politely explaining the different dishes and left the kitchen immaculate at the end. Superb experience to enjoy with our lovely group. Thank you."
"The atmosphere created calm with an amazing presentation of food and tastes just fantastic. The two staff worked so hard politely explaining the different dishes and left the kitchen immaculate at the end. Superb experience to enjoy with our lovely group. Thank you."
''Salim very kindly catered our pre-wedding dinner and he did not disappoint! The food was delicious and plentiful, everyone raved about the family-style spread, and we had plenty of leftovers! Do not hesitate to book Salim for your catering, he and his serving team were super special!''
''Salim and his team were incredible. The meal was so impressive. Every one of my guests was so delighted by the presentation, the many options and the quality of each dish. We felt so taken care of and so special to have Salim in our kitchen, a rental, sharing his fabulous culinary skills and artistry. I can't recommend him enough.''
''Salim and his team were absolutely fantastic. We had a brilliant meal - every course was delicious and it was an excellent evening. The food was excellent, the presentation was beautiful and the kitchen was left immaculate. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.''
Not everyone can afford or is willing to experience fine dining at restaurants. So, why not bring the experience to you?
Choose from wide-ranging recipe options, including bespoke tasting menus and authentic North African flavours infused with contemporary European favourites. But remember, my team and I believe in making your home fine dining experience as unique as possible.
We'll listen to any suggestions and preferences and create an outstanding ambience for your home or venue.
