Private Chef Chicago · Modern Caribbean Cuisine · Buttercup Hospitality
The kind of cooking that usually stays behind a restaurant door — brought to your table tonight.
Justin’s Work Has Been Featured In:
What People Are Saying
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"Chef Justin catered my 25th birthday party and I could not have asked for a better experience. He was patient when I had to move the date, full of ideas when I had no idea where to start, and thoughtful about every single guest. He knew I couldn't handle spice but my friends could, so he brought multiple toppings for the Trinidad doubles. When the night was over, he broke down the Pekin duck so it was easy to store and labeled every sauce so I'd know exactly what to reach for with my leftovers. That kind of care is hard to find."
— Trinity H.
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"Chef Justin catered my mehndi with a live counter and I couldn't be more impressed. His Trinidadian heritage brought something authentic to our Indian-inspired menu — a hit with all the aunties and uncles in attendance, which is no small thing. He arrived with his own team, equipment, and serving ware, and when more guests came than expected, he revamped everything on the spot without missing a beat. Despite all the chaos, he still made sure I was personally taken care of — feeding me himself since I had my bridal mehndi done. Truly exceptional."
— Henna K.
Pick Your Experience
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![A gourmet dinner with a rack of ribs, two glasses of red and white wine, and several artfully plated dishes on a wooden table.]()
Private Dining
Your home. His kitchen. You share the occasion, the people, the feeling you want the evening to hold. Justin builds a menu around all of it — an experience that belongs to your night and no one else's.
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![Justin holding a wooden box with ice, fresh herbs, and a large cut of raw beef steak.]()
Cooking Classes
Cook it yourself. Eat what you made. From Trinidadian staples to full tasting experiences, Justin's classes are hands-on and rooted in the same stories behind every Buttercup menu. You leave knowing why it tastes the way it does. The recipes are yours. The stories come with them.
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![Chef justin serving guests at private event]()
Pop Up Dinners
A shared table. A short run. Justin hosts intimate multi-course evenings — Modern Caribbean, rooted in Trinidad, made in Chicago. The guest list is always small. Seats go before most people hear about it. → Get on the list
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![A seafood dish served in a shell, garnished with yellow flower petals and herbs, surrounded by lemon and lime slices, with dry ice and smoke effects.]()
Gift Cards
Some gifts you just know they'll remember. A private dinner at home, prepared by Justin. A cooking class built around the food and stories he grew up with. Give them the evening — they'll handle the occasion.
“The kitchen was always the first room you walked into”
Chef Justin Gomes grew up in a home in Trinidad where the kitchen was the center of everything. You walked in, and you were already at the table. Something was always ready. That feeling — of being expected, of being known — is what every Buttercup dinner is built around.
Le Cordon Bleu trained and shaped by years inside Alinea, The Langham, and the Pump Room, Justin brings a level of craft to your home that usually stays behind a restaurant door. But the food was never the point on its own. It's the experience of sitting down and feeling like someone made this evening just for you.
Because they did
Ready when you are
Tell Justin what you're imagining — the occasion, the guests, the feeling you want the evening to have. He'll take it from there.
Your table is already set