Today we’d like to introduce you to Phillip Halff II.
Phillip, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Well, it started when I was at the Blind Butcher during the glory years in the beginning. I was a young, hungry cook who had just finished school in New York at the Culinary Institute of America. I was working my way up the totem pole until I reached sous chef. I couldn’t grow any further but I refused to leave to start at the bottom again at some other restaurant. I took some time thinking about what else could I do to express my creativity and show Dallas my food. During those years thankfully a Netflix series we all love called Chefs Table came out and I was hooked! I saw the food and the passion and I knew what I had to do next!
I started Halff Culinaire as a private dinner party among friends experimenting on them with new flavors but most importantly testing myself with new techniques and new concepts. I started five years ago and my dinners were small, like 4 people small. I served three courses and would be exhausted after that. I would push my limits by tackling desserts and trying to master pastries, even though I’m not a pastry chef. I would also plan and manage coursed out tasting menus that would typically last an hour.
After 2 years my wife and I moved to North Carolina and Halff Culinaire took a detour while I helped manage a restaurant in Raleigh. During that year in Raleigh the dinners were not as often but we still had freinds who were interested in my style. We moved back to Dallas in 2017 and I had a fire in my belly to make my dinners a business. Now we do at least a 9-course dinner with custom pieces from local artist and we even have a farm where we tackle growing our food and garnishes. (which isn’t easy).
Halff Culinaire provides private chef service where we can cater to your parties need’s and make a memorable experience. Our crown jewel is the dinners though, we are currently doing two dinners a month and we are working towards more. We give local chefs some dates to showcase their food with our guest chef dinner. Each chef brings new clients to the Halff Culinaire family and we give them the opportunity for their creativity. The dream is to open a small restaurant one day that focuses on making food that will redefine what Dallas could be culinarily.
Halff Culinaire is growing and we would love your support so we can be proud to be apart of Dallas.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it has not been a smooth road, but not exactly difficult. I remember nights where I was prepping till 3 AM to make sure my food was perfect for my dinners and having to go to work at 8 AM the next morning!
There were days where I was worried that Halff Culinaire is just a hobby and an expensive hobby at that. Stressing about how can I make a living when I’m doing all this out of my house.
After getting married and realizing my passion is for my wife and my food, my wife told me that she fully supports my food passion (affair). Which was a huge relief, because Halff Culinaire demands A LOT. Running a business or restaurant is like a marriage and for a newlywed that can be hard.
Halff Culinaire is getting smoother and growing with the help of the hospitality industry and all the peeps in it!
I want to say thank you to my first diners for pushing me to follow my dream!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Halff Culinaire story. Tell us more about it.
Halff Culinaire is a multi-course tasting menu that showcases seasonality in DFW and my creativity. I have a deep burning passion for food and my craft so I want to learn as much as I can. As a young chef I’m constantly chiseling my craft and building my cuisine – Halff cuisine. Halff Culinaire focuses on a natural and organic platting style; we want to pay homage to nature. It is my attempt to show and serve Michelin quality food and service to the public. I want to give top-notch experiences to everyone without them having travel to New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., etc.I wanted to make a private supper club to show Dallas what I can do; eventually to make some money to open our, that is mine and my wife’s, restaurant.
Halff Culinaire dinners happen at least twice a month and are hosted by my wife and I, with the occasional special guest chef. We invite local chefs to showcase up and coming talent in the ever growing culinary field. We encourage B.Y.O.B. because we are not wine snobs and I would rather have the guest’s enjoy their favorite beverage’s while dining with us. We believe the dinning experience is not just about the food itself but about everything that comes together to make it. Therefore, we source our food from out own garden and local farmers market’s as much as we can. We source our ceramics and dishes from local artists like Yarn & Clay Pottery and Siegal Art Wood Craft. We source our table pieces from my wife’s flower garden as often as we can. And we encourage our guests in engage in a community environment at a single table setting. Food is about community – it is meant to be enjoyed and celebrated as a community. I don’t work hard to grow my techniques and challenge myself just for my wife and I to enjoy. I want to showcase and change the way people think about food. It is an art, an edible art! It takes all of these pieces to come together in a way that I am proud of and I hope to make our guest’s proud of to experience.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Life has luck and we may have received it in some form or another but we don’t base our success off it.
We work hard and proud to deliver what you will see on that plate.
Pricing:
- Chef’s Table- seat reservation ($75 donation)
- Private Parties- starts at $65 per person
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Halffculinaire.com
- Phone: 2146211818
- Email: Halffculinaire@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Halffculinaire
Image Credit:
@jackiemariephotography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
