Union County caterers bring chefly skill to area events and homes

BK Private Dining + Catering, owned by two chefs, can customize meals for vegan spreads, special diets, meat-focused barbecues and everything in between.

As a teenager drawn to the kitchen, Brian Kirpan landed a job at Chili’s in Clark, learning to send out burgers, steaks and salads with lightning speed.

It was among cooking jobs that gave him real-world insights when he entered the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park. Many of his classmates had never known the rush — adrenaline and otherwise — of Saturday night food prep at a highly recognizable chain restaurant on a busy major thoroughfare.

BRIAN KIRPANWith a branded epicurean education, he moved into country clubs in Colts Neck, Scotch Plains, Metuchen, Plainfield and elsewhere, mastering haute cuisine to satisfy the refined appetites of each area’s golfing elite. Rising to executive chef, he managed operations and developed stand-out event menus.

When he wasn’t cooking, he worked part-time for about 10 years at John’s Meat Market in Scotch Plains. He stood out as much for his red butcher coat as for the bits of meal-enhancing advice he’d parcel out along with carefully wrapped steaks, racks and chops.

In 2012, Kirpan, who lives in Garwood, realized he had the chops to break out on his own as a caterer who could produce superior food with exceptional service. Six years later, BK Private Dining + Catering would join forces with a master baker, Stephanie Avitable, a Culinary Institute of America- trained pastry chef, now Kirpan’s fiancée.

In her own business, Avitable was assembling cake, frosting and fondant to sculpt edible handbags, Guinness kegs, sneakers and giant wrist watches. She also builds glorious, flower-studded towers to be cut by newlyweds, new moms, well-seasoned birthday celebrants and others. To follow BK Private Dining + Catering on Facebook is to eat with one’s eyes a constant diet of truly amazing baked goods and catered fare, all executed with skill and passion.

The culinary couple, who first met at Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, recently put their efforts into the third annual Farm to Table Benefit Dinner for Scotch Plains Farmers Market, which raised funds for homeless veterans while showcasing the best New Jersey Fresh fare.

Since 2012, BK Private Dining + Catering has catered the popular afternoon teas at Liberty Hall Museum in Union. With their team, they trim away bread crusts and fill trays with the dainty tea sandwiches and pastries that are served with properly poured teas for the luncheon. BK Private Dining + Catering also offers full service catering for home tea parties. A complete menu of finger sandwiches, such as  tarragon-mustard chicken salad, roasted pepper and pesto, cucumber and watercress with herbed butter, and many others are listed on the company website. 

Yes, this really is a cake. It is among amazing baked creations made by pastry chef Stephanie Avitable of BK Private Dining + Catering.Brian Kirpan is known as a guy’s chef, staging  barbecues, poker parties and pig roasts. He’s taught clients how to get the best of prime meats from the grill, the oven or the stovetop. But he’s just as likely to adapt his numerous menu offerings for those who require vegan, low-carb or gluten-free meals.

“We customize the menu for every customer’s needs,” he says. Prices are listed at BKCaters.com, so there are no surprises. Additionally, they can provide custom cakes, cocktails and rentals for corporate events or weddings. “We bring all our lifts so everything will look gorgeous.”

Kirpan is an event planner who pays attention to details that he says define the difference between eating and dining. “When you are dining, you’re not just satisfying hunger, but having an elevated experience," he notes. 

BK Private Dining + Catering offers full-service catering ranging from dinner parties to corporate events to weddings or other receptions at rented halls. Trays of the company's menu options also can be delivered to area homes and other locations for holiday and family gatherings as well as casual affairs. See menus and prices at BKCaters.com.