Unsure of what to do after college, Jeni Bergan was at a standstill.
“I was working as an office manager and would rush home every evening to watch the then-very-new Food Network, which at the time was focused on teaching people how to cook,” recalled Bergan. “I also subscribed to stacks of cooking magazines, and found myself completely fascinated by food.”
One day after “a particularly disheartening shift at work,” she came across an ad for a study-at-home course to become a personal chef. The course cost $350—far more than her budget allowed—so Bergan called her mom and asked if she would loan her the money.
Her mother immediately mailed her a check, and soon after the U.S. Personal Chef Association sent her a gigantic binder of materials, and she was on her way.
“Before long, I was cooking weekday meals for families all around Sioux Falls,” said Bergan.
The name for her company came up organically when clients constantly signed checks to her with “Chef Jeni” on the line. Along with the name sticking and becoming her official DBA, the checks went through the bank (bonus).
Soon clients began asking Bergan about catering, and as demand continued to grow she moved into a small commercial kitchen to keep up with both meal delivery and events.
“Eventually I realized I couldn’t do it all alone, so I brought in family and friends to help—and that’s how the ‘and Company’ was born,” she said.
Chef Jeni & Company has evolved since 2000, becoming one of the go-to catering companies in the state.
“We focus on creating beautiful food experiences that make gatherings feel effortless for the host,” said Bergan.
The full-service company offers an extensive catering menu designed to suit gatherings of all sizes—from casual celebrations to elegant sit-down dinners.
Popular take-out catering items include “beautifully arranged” boards and small bites such as the Farmstead Cheese Board, Pear Gorgonzola Crostini, Grilled Chicken Skewers, and Beef Sirloin Sliders. For larger events, clients can choose from cocktail-style receptions, buffets, family-style meals, or plated meals.
Menus range from light appetizers and grazing boards to full entrées such as Champagne Chicken, Grilled Steak Medallions, Citrus Sesame-Glazed Salmon, and seasonal pasta dishes, all paired with fresh salads and sides.
“We want every menu to feel thoughtful and customized to the event,” said Bergan. “Whether it’s a cocktail gathering, a bridal shower, or a seated dinner, the goal is always the same—beautiful food that brings people together.”
The Tea on Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea originated in England in the early 19th Century, when Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford, allegedly began enjoying tea and light refreshments in the late afternoon to bridge the long stretch between lunch and dinner. The simple ritual quickly became a beloved social tradition, where friends would gather to enjoy tea alongside delicate finger sandwiches, warm scones with jam and cream, and beautifully-crafted pastries. Today, Afternoon Tea is celebrated around the world as a charming and relaxed way to slow down, connect with others, and enjoy thoughtfully-prepared food in an elegant setting.
Along with catering, Chef Jeni & Company is also an intimate venue at the Four Hills Plaza on Southeastern Avenue that she says is great for bridal and baby showers, birthday gatherings, anniversary dinners, and small celebrations where people want a more custom menu and private setting.
This Mother’s Day (May 10), Chef Jeni & Company is hosting a special Morning & Afternoon Tea to create a unique experience. They’ll be offering three seatings: 9:30-11 a.m. with their Morning Tea featuring brunch favorites like Eggs Benedict, Maple Pancakes, and Avocado Toast, and 12-1:30 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. for a more traditional Afternoon Tea with classic savory tea sandwiches, warm scones, and sweets, so families can choose a menu and time that works best for them.
The event’s tea will be ordered directly from Fortnum & Mason in London, and the Chef Jeni & Company team plan to offer a selection of teas (hot and iced), coffee, lemonade, and sparkling wine beverages.
“It’s designed to feel like a special outing where people can slow down and celebrate together,” said Bergan.
This event also marks the beginning of something new for the company.
“We’re excited to begin hosting more Afternoon Tea gatherings and private tea parties in our dining room for celebrations like bridal showers, birthdays, and small group events,” said Bergan. “It’s such a lovely format for bringing people together, and it fits perfectly with the style of food we love to create.”
This model is also now part of the take-out catering options as an Afternoon Tea Take-Out Box.
“Mother’s Day is a beautiful reminder to celebrate the women who shape us, support us, and believe in us. Through these tea gatherings, I hope to share a small piece of that love with others as they honor the mothers in their lives.”
Jeni Bergan
Launching tea events on Mother’s Day has a deep significance for Bergan. Sadly, she lost her mother to breast cancer 10 years ago.
“I think of her every day and still hear her advice whispered to me all the time,” said Bergan. “Not only did she loan me the money to start this business, she was also my inspiration and my biggest fan.”
She continued, “When I had friends over for sleepovers as a kid, we didn’t have much money, but we would wake up to waffles and fresh fruit served on her mother’s best china with fancy silverware, orange juice in wine glasses, and hot tea poured into teacups. She made ordinary moments feel special.”
And that’s what Bergan aims to do for other people through food and experiences.
“Sometimes I still cannot believe this is what I get to do for a living,” said Bergan. “It may sound cheesy, but some mornings when I’m alone in the kitchen prepping, the feeling of gratitude overwhelms me that I have stuck it out all of these years through the good and the tough times. Then my friends come in after their day jobs to help finish up cooking, set the tables, greet the guests, and serve the food. It really doesn’t get any better than that for me!”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CHEFJENI.COM+
