Chef Austin Brown

“Chef Austin and his team “hands down” made our family Thanksgiving in Montana the highlight of the year! From my first experience with R&D they were very responsive to emails and attentive to my requests. Chef worked with me to adjust the menu and I was so impressed by how thoughtful his recommendations were-hearty and sure to satisfy for the big eaters in the group but at the same time elevated and sophisticated for the foodies. Also, my son has an egg allergy and he made sure exclude it from the menu. During the day of the dinner this team came prepared with all of the cook, dish and serving ware. To add they made great company through the afternoon and really engaged us in the meal they were preparing. Needless to say the food was AMAZING and we will be talking about this Thanksgiving for years to come. Thank you Chef Austin and crew- you knocked it out of the park!”

“I called on Austin to do the impossible - replace an originally planned 20th anniversary celebration of 100 people or so, canceled due to COVID - with an intimate dinner for two that could still respect the monumental nature of the occasion. He and Nicole came to my condo loaded with all of their supplies, utensils, food, wine glasses, wine selection and in the space of a few hours created from scratch one of the most memorable nights of our lives. The stone crab claw appetizer, the she-crab bisque, the crushed beet salad, Lobster Thermidor, Meyer lemon posset and multiple complementary wine selections were culinary perfection in both taste and presentation. Both Austin and Nicole were a pleasure to have in our home as they prepared, served and cleaned up from the meal. Despite this being such a smaller event than I am sure they are accustomed to, they treated us with so much respect and the occasion with such enthusiasm that we always felt as important as any other clients they may have taken care of and as if they were having as much fun as we were. My husband, for whom this was a surprise, was as delighted as I was. If the scale is one to 5 stars, they deserve stars by the dozens.”

“ Austin and his team were definitely a major plus to our end of the wedding weekend. We had him come in to serve 20 of our family members as a “Thank you dinner” for coming to Big Sky for our sons wedding during this very difficult 2020 all the way from Texas. I liked Austin right away when I had called him. Delightful, friendly and totally understood what I wanted. He was eager to make everything perfect for our dinner. My husband has never cared for scallops but now he is all over them. They were delicious as well as the lobster among all the other surprises he prepared for us. I most definitely will call him again when we go back to Big Sky. Thank you Austin. You made an unforgettable memory for our Family.”

“Chef Austin catered a dinner for our family last January. It was so memorable that here I am in October writing a review of his dinner. As someone who loves to cook, and entertains frequently, I kept trying to help Chef and Nikki with their work. They were so adept at managing my “help” that I finally relaxed and let them take total care of us. It was one of the most memorable meals I have shared with the people that I love. It is obvious that Chef Austin puts his heart in his work. The food was sublime, his suggested wine pairings were spot-on and Nikki was so engaged with us as we ate. As I said, It has been 10 months since that meal, and I remember it as if were last night. There was some adjustment for serious food allergies, but it was a seamless process, and Chef Austin’s choices were superb. We are planning another visit to Big Sky and already have Chef Austin on our list of things to do.”

“Austin, we are still in awe of the incredible meal you prepared for us. The evening was the highlight of our trip to Montana and your talents made for unforgettable memories. Thank you for not only making great food, but for being a great person. When you stay in the kitchen instead of at a dining table during a meal, you know your chef is the best! One of the best meals in our lives, thank you again!”

“Thank you Austin and team for a memorable and magical night! Our farm table dinner locale was remote and had no infrastructure, a challenge for even the most experienced of chef’s; Austin rose to the occasion with enthusiasm, creativity and a “can do” attitude. Not only was the food totally delicious (we had several restauranteurs, chefs and foodies among the guests who just raved), but Austin was helpful with the music, rentals, set up and just about every little detail that made the evening so perfect and special, a true collaborator. He was a joy to work with, and so is everyone who surrounds him. We can’t encourage folks enough to let Austin use his positive energy and considerable talents to make their rustic dinner dreams a reality! During our special celebration weekend, we also had Austin deliver pre-made fare to us at the Big Sky Music in the Meadows concert. Again, the picnic was delicious, and Austin was incredibly accommodating and professional. If you read these reviews, you definitely get an accurate picture of Austin’s abilities and personality — highest recommendation ever! We feel so lucky to have connected with him, and look forward to many more culinary adventures in the future!”

“It was an absolute treat to have you cook for us and send us away on such a high note. We had such a great time in Montana but our final night together, having a delicious meal on the balcony is truly memorable. Thank you for creating such a great night for us and adhering to all of our restrictions! We definitely will be in touch again during our next trip to Big Sky!”

“Austin and his team were fantastic! We had 5 families with 21 people (ages 12-50) and everyone loved everything. We didn’t have to worry about a thing. They showed up, were completely self-sufficient, cooked an amazing meal, provided thoughtful and friendly service, and then left the kitchen WAYYYY cleaner than they found it. We couldn’t be happier.”

“We called last minute for a family party and Austin put together the most delicious and beautiful dinner for 12 with almost no direction from us—we were not responsive clients! He used gorgeous local vegetables and meats. His easy going professionalism made the night calm and special for everyone.”

“In a word...incredible! Chef Austin was one of the highlights of our group’s trip to Big Sky, Montana! Austin was fantastic to work with from the start - transparent, super collaborative, creative, and accommodating...and then knocked it out of the park with the 5 course amazing meal he prepared! From prep work to presentation to plating, Chef Austin was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, laid-back, funny, and on-point. And the food - mind blown with the delivery, creativity, flavors and taste. Our group had such a fun evening and Chef Austin and Sous Chef Nicole were the perfect partners for a “hands-off” experience for our group on vacation. We would definitely recommend his services and food- what a uniquely RAD night!”

““We had the honor of having R&D Food Mt do a private event in our home. We collaborated with Austin to create a 7-course Italian meal with wine pairings and left the creativity of the courses up to him. We are extremely thankful we did, as we were absolutely blown away! The entire family was engaged from the early afternoon as Austin prepped the final touches of the meal in our home and talked us through the unique cooking processes and locally sourced ingredients. The real fun came once the Aperol Spritzes were mixed and the first course was served. For the next three hours, we were treated to the culinary experience of a lifetime! We are extremely thrilled we were able to coordinate such a wonderful celebration dinner with R&D Food Mt!!””

“The dinner that Chef Austin put together for my family was a WOW in all respects. One of my son’s said that “the first bite of the Waygu Osso Bucco made his mouth tingle” - and that feeling was shared by all. From start to finish, this dining experience was one of the best that I have had. Chef Austin was easy to deal with on our menu selection, had great ideas on how to adjust to some food sensitivities, and was able to put together an experience that my family and I will be talking about for years to come. We started with a smoked trout pate that was amazing, followed that with a crispy Cantonese pork belly salad, and then had the Waygu Osso Bucco that was the best I have ever had. Austin had also recommended wines we could pair with each course, and his choices were great complements to the food.

But as much as the food, Chef Austin and his sous chef, Nikki, were super nice people who could be in our house and fit in - they were pleasant, fun, conversant, and helpful in all ways. What a great experience overall! We have had other private dining experiences, and none were as memorable or as enjoyable as this one. Call Chef Austin - you will not be disappointed!”

“The cooking lesson experience with Chef Austin was the highlight of our incredible trip to Big Sky this year! Chef Austin came completely prepared to teach my family of four how to create a four course AMAZING dinner. From prep work to presentation of plating properly, Chef Austin was incredibly knowledgeable and professional! His interaction with my teens was awesome to witness as well as a bit higher teaching technique for my husband. We will definitely hire Chef Austin to come to our suite in Big Sky for a cooking class again. Our entire family was engaged as he led us through the completion of preparing a four course meal. We were absolutely stuffed from eating such wonderful food that we all collaboratively prepared with the guidance of Chef Austin. He was excellent at every stage of the evening!!! For an educational, memorable, and delicious night, I recommend calling Chef Austin. You will not be disappointed with his services and food! ”

“ I worked with Austin to plan a surprise dinner for my fiancé on his bachelor party weekend in Big Sky. The guys LOVED everything. Said the food was amazing and the delivery was perfectly smooth. Austin was great to work with, very transparent with his plans and pricing up front, and then knocked it out of the park with his cooking. Austin was the perfect partner to deliver my surprise and I would definitely recommend his services and food!”

“We are still talking about all the great food . You have found your calling in this world. We will definitely call you when we get back to Big Sky.”

“Austin, I can’t thank you enough for the incredible dinners, I think it really made the trip! They were incredibly delicious and made our evenings so much more convenient without having to travel to a restaurant with several little kids. Everyone raved about the food, and we would love to utilize your company again in the future.”

“Selecting the right private chef for our three-day business ski trip was pivotal to it’s success. Thank goodness we found Chef Austin and team. He won me over right away with his listening, knowledge and flexibility. Austin, Nicole, David and Steven became an integral part of the house during the trip and our guests enjoyed their company throughout. Austin and team went continually above and beyond to accommodate. They were very creative and key to making the trip memorable. Guests are still raving about the food. We won’t forget the hand-crafted cocktails, the home-made soups, best-omelets-ever, crispy pork belly bites for apres, four-course dinner tasting menu, Nicole’s unbelievable dessert (blood orange cake soaked in bergamont with hazelnut creme) and every other menu item!

We can’t wait to get back to Big Sky to see Chef Austin & team again. We are completely spoiled rotten after our time with his team and miss them already.”

“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”