Close-up of a black surface with a white printed text that says 'sansti.

private dinner parties

Definition of santsi: Finnish colloquial term meaning second helping, used when food is simply irresistible.

ABOUT

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A woman wearing a white chef's uniform and hat, smiling while preparing food in a commercial kitchen with red stand mixers in the background.

Chef Valerie Beery

Classically trained at the Institute of Culinary Education, I externed at Saga, a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Manhattan, and have cooked privately in New York and the Hamptons.

I grew up on Finnish cooking, foraging wild blueberries in the Michigan woods with my grandmother and baking cardamom bread. Santsi is the feeling I cook for.

My menus are hyper-seasonal, with Nordic flavors and French technique. I handle the whole evening so you can be a guest at your own dinner party.

SERVICES

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Every dinner is written for the table it's served at.

Every course is cooked and served in your home, each dish introduced at the table, and leave your kitchen better than I found it.

Tables of two to sixteen, Saturdays and Sundays, across New York City and New Jersey.

A seasonal menu of five courses for an intimate table, plated and served one course at a time.

Tasting Dinners

Family-style platters or passed bites for a bigger gathering, paced so you can stay with your guests.

Dinner Parties


Hosting and Home

Table setting, timing, wine service, and a full kitchen reset. The house side of the evening, handled.

Sample Menus

Menu

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Every menu is written for your table. These are a place to start.

Fall Tasting Menu

Seasonal Dinner Party

Harvest Table

A variety of cheeses, fresh grapes, crackers, nuts, honey jar, and a bunch of grapes on a wooden board.

Gallery

  • A plated dish featuring sliced stuffed meat, roasted carrots with herbs, and a side of mixed greens, garnished with a brown sauce on a white plate.

  • A white plate with sliced grilled meat, roasted mushrooms, and a potato rosti

  • A plate with sliced roasted lamb, potato chips, and a serving of cooked vegetables, garnished with a green herb sauce.

  • Sliced cooked meat with orange slices and a brown sauce on a white plate.

  • A piece of grilled salmon topped with microgreens, served on a white plate with green sauce.

  • A white plate of dessert featuring strawberries, cream, small pastries, green leaves, and a red sauce on a white surface.

  • Lobster roll on a white plate with finely chopped herbs and seafood filling

Client Reviews

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REVIEWS

“She handled everything, from the menu to the last dish put away. I got to actually enjoy my own dinner party.”

— Former Customer

“Every course felt thought through, seasonal, and beautiful. Our guests asked for her number before dessert.”

— Former Customer

“We still talk about the scallops. It felt like a restaurant, except we never had to leave our table.”

— Former Customer

Save room for seconds.

Tell me about your evening and I'll be in touch within 48 hours to plan the menu together.

hello@santsinyc.com

CONTACT

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People sharing a meal and drink in a dimly lit setting, with a glass of red wine and a floral centerpiece visible.