About the chef
Meet Chef Jennifer Cornell.
Classically trained, island seasoned, and cooking for the Florida Keys since 2001.
The Small Chef at Large
Classically trained chef Jennifer Cornell graduated from the New England Culinary Institute in 1993. Originally from Vermont, she has spent 38 years traveling throughout the Caribbean, Central America and the Florida Keys, cultivating her craft.
Chef Jennifer also pursued her love of the sea, working as a chef aboard a luxury live-aboard yacht throughout the Caribbean.
Small Chef at Large Catering, a full-service catering company, opened its doors in 2001 and has been catering to the Keys ever since — private dinners, yachts, special events, festivals and everything in between.
Chef Jennifer loves to design a specific menu for every client and is happy to accommodate any food preference. She seeks out food that is in season and seafood that is currently running, to make your meal absolutely delicious.
A brief history
Three decades of good stories.
From the Grateful Dead to a world-record swim, a few highlights from a career spent cooking at large.
- 2020–24
Catering at the award-winning Key West Food & Wine Festival
- 2019
Food stylist for the film The Laundromat, starring Meryl Streep
- 2013
Provided all food and service for Diana Nyad and every boat on her team during her world-record swim from Cuba to Key West
- 2012
Hosted former White House Chef Walter Scheib in her kitchen, and catered a dignitary party at The Little White House
- 2011
Judge at the St. Croix Food Festival
- 2009–13
All food & bar service for the Key West Literary Seminar — 350 guests
- 2001–15
Food styling for periodicals including Southern Living, and Kraft Food Services for catalog shoots including J.Crew
- 2001
Opened Small Chef at Large Catering in Key West
- 1994
Chef at The Russian Tea Room in New York City; worked a catered party featuring Hillary Clinton in New Haven
- 1993
Graduated from the New England Culinary Institute — and cooked for Jerry Garcia & the Grateful Dead
Recognition
Featured, trusted & well traveled.
Television, magazines, a Meryl Streep film, festivals and famous kitchens — a few of the names Chef Jennifer has cooked with and for.
Food Network
Featured on
Southern Living
Featured in · food styling
The Russian Tea Room
Chef, New York City · 1994
The Laundromat
Food stylist · 2019 · Starring Meryl Streep
Festivals & events
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KW Food & Wine · 2024
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KW Food & Wine · 2023
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KW Food & Wine · 2022
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KW Food & Wine · 2021
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Food & bar service · 2009–13
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Judge · 2011
Kitchens, clients & collaborators
The team
A crew that feels like family.
Chef Jen works with a trusted team of chefs, servers and bartenders — the same friendly faces our guests mention by name in their reviews. We set up, we serve, we keep a watchful eye on what needs replenishing, and we leave your kitchen spotless, so you get to be a guest at your own party.
“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
Let’s plan your menu.
Tell Chef Jennifer the date, the crowd and the occasion — she’ll design a menu around what’s in season and what’s running.