Elie Assaf is a chef of many hats. Along with being the head chef at Williams Eatery as well as one of the brains behind the cult burger pop-ups, Five Boroughs, he has also recently launched his own private catering business, Dime Catering. Promising a seriously good spread, Assaf creates delicious menus for private parties or events, and his wholesome, flavourful food is set to be a universal hit. 

“Dime started as a way for me to cook with no restrictions and share with people the quality food that I love,” Assaf tells me. He adds, “and in the current climate while the world is changing and the hospitality industry with it, I wanted to do something to adapt.”

With Dime, Assaf works alongside his clients to design bespoke menus to suit their occasion, whether that be a romantic degustation dinner for two, a long lunch for 10 on Waiheke or even an extensive spread for a wedding celebration. His food not only packs a tasty punch but is designed to bring people together, and his innovative but eminently practical approach is one of the reasons he has found such success as a chef.

“The response so far has been incredible,” Assaf says, “Dime is at that exciting stage where we don’t quite know how it is going to grow, but it’s been a great space for me to create good food, host some incredible people and be a part of some special moments. I’m looking forward to the events and private bookings we have coming up this year.” Certainly one to watch.