JACKitchen & Events
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Private chef · catering · prepared meals

Make room for the good part.

JAC Kitchen & Events brings thoughtful food, effortless execution, and a custom experience to tables across Nashville Proper, Downtown Nashville, Davidson County, and Middle Tennessee.

Plan an experience See the ways we cook

For the dinner you keep talking about, the gathering that matters, or the week that needs a little help.

Food with a sense of place.

Serving Nashville Proper · Downtown · Davidson County

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Private chef dinnersCatering & eventsPrepared mealsMenus built around your peoplePrivate chef dinnersCatering & eventsPrepared mealsMenus built around your people

A custom experience

Be the host who gets to relax.

We handle the behind-the-scenes work so you can stay with the people you brought together. Guests settle in, the meal finds its rhythm, and you get to be part of the celebration.

Custom, not complicated.Menus start with the people, the place, and what you want the occasion to feel like.
Handled from here.Planning, cooking, service, and the details between courses stay in experienced hands.

Ways to gather

Choose your kind of table.

From a quiet dinner for two to a room full of people you want to feed well, JAC builds the experience around the occasion.

01

Private chef

A composed dinner at home or in your chosen venue, from the first course to the last plate.

Private chef by JAC Kitchen & Events
02

Catering & events

From a backyard gathering to a company dinner, the food and flow are handled with intention.

Catering & events by JAC Kitchen & Events
03

Prepared meals

A weekly menu of ready-to-enjoy meals, breakfasts, sides, and sweet treats.

Prepared meals by JAC Kitchen & Events
Prepared meals arranged for a JAC Kitchen & Events household

Prepared meals

A better weeknight is a kind of hospitality, too.

JAC can prepare food around the way your household actually eats—something warm for tonight, something ready for later, and nothing that feels like an afterthought.

  • Menus shaped around your preferences
  • Clear reheating and storage notes
  • One-time or recurring support
See prepared meals

Event menu starting points

A few ways the menu can unfold.

These sample menus are here to help you picture the possibilities. JAC builds the final menu around your occasion, people, setting, and season.

01Steakhouse MenuFamily-style · a classic steakhouse progression

A menu built for a table that wants to settle in: a few opening bites, something from the sea or grill, generous sides, and a proper finish.

Appetizers · Pick 2
  • Crab Cakes
  • Bourbon Chipotle Grilled Oysters
  • Shrimp Cocktail
  • Nashville Hot Shrimp
  • Seared Ahi Tuna
  • Beef Tartare
Soup or Salad · Pick 1
  • Lobster Bisque (MKT)
  • Crawfish Chowder (MKT)
  • Wedge Salad
  • Caesar Salad
  • Steakhouse Chop Salad
Entrees · Pick 2
  • New York Strip
  • Filet Mignon
  • Ribeye
  • Top Sirloin
  • Bone-in Pork Chop
  • Roasted Butter Chicken
  • Catch of the Day (MKT)
  • Lobster Mac and Cheese (MKT)
Steakhouse Sides · Pick 2
  • Brown Butter Bourbon Mushrooms
  • Asparagus with Hollandaise
  • Grilled Broccolini
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Mac & Cheese
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes
  • Classic Creamed Spinach
  • Loaded Baked Potato
Dessert · Pick 1
  • Creme Brûlée
  • Layered Chocolate Cake
  • Cheesecake
Sample composition · confirm the current menu with JAC
02Classic Southern Comfort MenuFamily-style · a table built around comfort

A generous Southern spread with something warm from the oven, a pair of center-of-the-table entrees, and the sides people come back for.

Biscuits or Cornbread · Pick 1
  • Buttermilk Biscuits
  • Buttermilk Cornbread
Entrees · Pick 2
  • Fried Chicken (serves 3-4)
  • Nashville Hot Chicken (serves 3-4)
  • Fried Pork Chop
  • Meatloaf
  • Chicken Fried Steak
  • Fried Catfish
  • Pan Seared Rainbow Trout
Southern Hot Sides · Pick 2
  • Collard Greens or Turnip Greens
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
  • Mac & Cheese
  • Fried Creamed Corn
  • Pinto Beans or White Beans
  • Squash Casserole
  • Hushpuppies
Southern Cold Sides · Pick 1
  • Sliced Heirloom Tomatoes and Pickled Onions (Seasonal)
  • Cucumber & Tomato Salad
  • Black-eyed Pea Salad
  • Grilled Red Skin Potato Salad
  • Pickled Beets
Dessert · Pick 1
  • Banana Pudding
  • Sour Cream Pound Cake
  • Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sample composition · confirm the current menu with JAC
03Party Crowd MenuFamily-style · generous food for a room full of people

A flexible spread for a gathering with room to move: boards to graze, salads to brighten the table, substantial entrees, and a finish worth passing around.

Grazing Boards · Pick 1
  • Charcuterie Board
  • Mezze Platter
  • Antipasto Board
  • Afternoon Favorites
Salads · Pick 1
  • Citrus Green Salad with Charcoal Vinaigrette
  • Beet Salad with Whipped Feta
  • Smoked Trout Caesar
  • JAC House Salad
Entrees · Pick 2
  • Catch of the Day (MKT)
  • Greek Chicken Skewers
  • Preserved Lemon Cavatelli with Scallops
  • Bistro Steak
  • Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Vidalia Onions
Party Crowd Sides · Pick 2
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Grilled Broccolini
  • Bourbon Brown Butter Mushrooms
  • Twice Baked Potatoes
  • Harissa Roasted Carrots
  • Whipped Potatoes
  • Dijon Red Skin Potatoes with Arugula
  • Grilled Vegetable Medley
Desserts · Pick 1
  • Lemon Cheesecake with Raspberries
  • Brown Butter Chocolate Cookie Skillet
  • Hummingbird Sheet Cake
Sample composition · confirm the current menu with JAC
Friends gathered around a JAC Kitchen & Events meal

The story

Two chefs, one full table.

John and Cassie Lasater met in 2021 as chefs trying to find their way through the restaurant shutdown. Their shared instinct was simple: make food that brings people closer, then make the whole evening feel cared for.

They founded JAC Kitchen & Events in 2023 after years in Nashville kitchens, hospitality, and culinary rooms around the world. Today, their work moves between intimate dinners, larger gatherings, and the everyday meals that make a household feel looked after.

John LasaterChef · co-founder
Cassie LasaterChef · co-founder
Meet John & Cassie

The difference is felt

Not just food. The feeling around it.

JAC Kitchen & Events

Basic catering service

A menu built around your people.

A list of dishes chosen for convenience.

The room stays yours.

The host is still coordinating the room.

Planning that listens first.

A format that asks you to fit the package.

Chefs who stay close to the table.

Food arrives, then the relationship ends there.

See the full comparison

Before you reach out

Good questions belong at the table.

Where does JAC Kitchen & Events serve?

JAC Kitchen & Events is based in Nashville and serves Nashville Proper, Downtown Nashville, Davidson County, and nearby Middle Tennessee communities, including 37076 and 37212. Tell us where your gathering is taking place and the team will confirm fit and logistics.

Can you create a menu around dietary preferences?

Yes. Preferences, allergies, dislikes, and the feel of the gathering belong in the first menu conversation. The final menu is confirmed directly with the JAC team.

Do you offer private chef dinners for small groups?

Yes. JAC offers private dinners for intimate groups through larger gatherings, with plated or family-style service depending on the occasion.

Can I order a fixed menu from the website?

Yes. Prepared meals have their own weekly order menu with rotating offerings across Grab & Go’s, Breakfast, Entrees, Complete Meals, and Sweet Treats. Event menus remain custom and are confirmed directly with the team.

How do I start planning?

Share the kind of gathering you have in mind, your preferred date if you have one, guest count, and the best way to reach you. JAC will follow up with the right next questions.