Her catering company, Peas & Carrots, elevates every meal into a masterpiece

By Katie Coakley

Ask Chef Carrie Grenier about her food and the ensuing conversation focuses more on feelings than on fish, fennel or figs. Grenier started Peas & Carrots PCS in 2013, creating unique and memorable experiences for special events, weddings, families and individual clients that fill more than just stomachs. A personal chef with experience in kitchens around the country, Grenier demonstrates that each meal is an occasion, whether it’s for a crowd of 400 or 4.

Originally from Wisconsin, Grenier’s culinary passions blossomed early. She received an associate degree in Culinary Arts while working full time at The American Club, a AAA 5-Diamond resort situated in the Village of Kohler, Wis.

“I got to really sponge and grow with these amazing chefs and amazing experiences,” Grenier said. “I took on Garde Manger, which is just amazing, going from ice carvings to all the big seafood buffets and learning and experiencing the presentation and display of different buffets.”

Grenier then went coast to coast, searching for what she calls “hell’s kitchen,” getting into the trenches and working in the high stress, high reward kitchens of Michelin star chefs. It was intense, she said, but being able to push through and prove her worth and be the best that she could be was her ultimate goal.

“I (learned to) take all the good and leave the bad and that really helped me drive to be the chef that I am today,” Grenier said.

After stints on both the east and west coast of the country, Grenier made her way to Colorado and Splendido at The Chateau at Beaver Creek, honing her skills and reinforcing the “new school” chef she wanted to be: a member of the team, not an over-the-top tyrant like she had seen in other kitchens. And though she enjoyed a season working at Beaver Creek Resort, she said she wanted to be a chef, which brought her to Boulder and the Boulder Country Club.

At Boulder Country Club, Grenier focused on high-end, specialty events, working as chef de cuisine up to executive chef in her seven-year tenure. After fulfilling several requests for private events, Grenier realized that though she loved working at the Boulder Country Club, she could make her own business work. Thus, Peas & Carrots PCS was born.

“Peas & Carrots represents an eclectic creative culinary experience focused on a visual display of colors, textures and tastes,” Grenier said. “It’s all about satisfaction with a kiss of comfort that always incorporates a sense of love between the food and people that makes you want to come back for more.”

One of the distinguishing characteristics of Grenier’s culinary style is its artistic nature.

“From the beginning, I really got involved with cooking and got inspired by all of this through art,” Grenier said. “So as you experience using my services or you’re eating the food or coming out to an event, you’ll definitely see eating with your eyes first is very important.”

Grenier has created magic for a variety of events from weddings, birthday parties and corporate events to pop up restaurants and intimate gatherings in homes. She’s always working to take the experience to the next level, whether that’s incorporating edible glitter or airbrushing to create “eye candy,” or stimulating the five senses by providing scented sticks to sniff before sampling. Each menu is different and personalized for every client, allowing Grenier to push the boundaries and remain creative in her work.

Though much of her business with Peas & Carrots has been with larger events, Grenier said that she’s focusing on her weekly meal service and in-home, personal chef business. Working with clients to create personalized menus and produce gourmet food that can either be enjoyed immediately or later in the week allows Grenier to a create a different level of culinary magic.

“I feel so fortunate that I do what I love to do,” Grenier said. “When it all comes down to it … Peas & Carrots is as fun as it gets. Looking forward to the next event is really, really fun; an event that no one will forget is what you really want to shoot for.”

To learn more about Peas & Carrots PCS, visit peasandcarrotspcs.com, or call 757-254-1049.

Katie Coakley is a Denver-based freelance writer who focuses on craft beer and spirits, travel and outdoor adventures — the best stories combine all three. You can see more of her work at katiecoakley.com.