“Tim is a gift to the Highlands.…
He is a delight to have around – organised but relaxed and leaves the kitchen immaculate…
And all with a big smile and attitude that nothing is too much trouble…”
Tim Maddams Private Chef Scotland
Good food, properly cooked, in your own space.
I work as a private chef across Scotland, either personally or alongside my small hand-picked team of trusted collaborators, cooking for small gatherings, celebrations, holiday stays and the occasional excuse to get a few people around a table and eat something memorable.
Restaurant-level cooking without the restaurant. No taxis, no noise, no rushing for the bill… just properly sourced ingredients, thoughtfully prepared, and the time to enjoy them.
A genuine food experience…
Hiring a private chef shouldn’t feel like hiring catering.
It should feel like someone who genuinely cares about food is turning up, taking over the kitchen for a few hours, and feeding you and your guests properly.
Sometimes that means a multi-course dinner.
Sometimes it’s a generous table of dishes to share.
Sometimes it’s simply cooking things that taste far better than they have any right to.
The important bit is that it’s built around you — your guests, your kitchen, your occasion.
Gatherings Big and Small
Most of the time I cook for small groups — dinner parties, holiday stays, celebrations and weekends away where food plays a central role.
Occasionally things get bigger, or I’m already booked elsewhere, and that’s when my small, hand-picked team of trusted collaborators step in to help deliver the same style of food and service on a larger scale.
The aim is always the same: good ingredients, cooked properly, and a relaxed atmosphere around the table.
Based in Moray, Available Across Scotland
Tim is based in Elgin, Moray, but regularly cook across the Highlands, Inverness, Aberdeen, St Andrews and further afield when the occasion calls for it.
Holiday homes, lodges, retreats and private houses — Tim will do his best to help make your event as tasty as possible.
A Celebration of Scottish Produce
Scotland offers one of the most exciting larders in Europe — from hand-dived scallops and langoustines to Highland venison, heritage vegetables and small-batch cheeses.
Tim’s cooking honours these ingredients without overcomplicating them. Expect vibrant flavours, intelligent combinations and beautifully presented dishes that feel both grounded and refined.
Why Work With Tim?
When you invite a private chef into your home, it helps if they know what they’re doing.
I’ve spent more than two decades cooking professionally, most of that time in kitchens where standards are high and mistakes are noticed quickly. The upside of that sort of training is that when it comes to cooking for people properly, the fundamentals are well drilled in.
Experience counts
Years spent in serious kitchens mean the food is thought through, balanced and properly executed. No unnecessary tricks, just dishes that taste as good as they should.
Menus built around you
Every gathering is different. Some people want a long relaxed dinner with several courses, others want generous dishes for the table and a glass of wine in hand. The menu adapts to the occasion.
Ingredients first
The best cooking starts with the best produce — whether that’s vegetables grown on the croft, seafood landed locally or ingredients from producers who care about their work.
Hosting made easy
I take care of the cooking, the kitchen and the details so you can spend your time doing what you should be doing… enjoying time with your guests.
Food worth remembering
In the end, that’s the point of it all. Good ingredients, cooked properly, shared around a table.
Planning Something?
If you’re gathering people together and would like someone to take care of the cooking, get in touch and we can talk it through.
Good food tends to make most things better.
