CENTRAL IOWA · SOCIAL BOX EXPERIENCES

At-home fun, by ShamHouse Chefs

Bring your
people together.
Stay awhile.

Discover Social Box Experiences for mystery, nostalgia, and game-night fun—thoughtfully presented by ShamHouse Chefs, with Chef Nija’s hospitality behind every gathering.

Explore Social Boxes Stories. Games.
Good company.

Trusted by Central Iowa hosts

4.7/ 5

★★★★★

THUMBTACK · 46 REVIEWS

91 events booked Background checked

Real hospitality. Right at home.

PERSONAL, CHEF-LED EXPERIENCESCENTRAL IOWA

CURATED MOMENTS, MADE PERSONALDES MOINES · IOWA

The good stuff happens
when you gather

Less planning.
More being there.

We bring together the details, the atmosphere, and a little something unexpected—so you can be part of the evening, not just the person putting it together.

A taste of what’s possible

Sample menus.

A few Social Box menu ideas, plus a sample for each of the six chef-led experiences. These are starting points, not fixed menus; dishes can be tailored to the season, your preferences, and dietary needs.

A few Social Box samples

Chef-led experiences

Chef-led dining & home services

And when it’s time
to gather at the table.

Chef Nija’s personalized menus and hospitality are also available for dinners, celebrations, classes, and weekly meal service.

01AN INTIMATE DINNER

The Private Table

An intimate dinner with a personalized menu and a chef in your kitchen. Made for anniversaries, birthdays, and romantic dinners for two.

For [X–X] guestsFrom $[ ]

02A TABLE FOR THE OCCASION

The Gathering

Showers, milestones, holiday parties, and bachelor or bachelorette nights—served as hors d’oeuvres, a family-style buffet, or plated courses.

Menu and service shaped around your eventFrom $[ ]

03A GUIDED TASTING EXPERIENCE

Tasting Flight

A guided progression of seasonal small plates, thoughtfully composed around your tastes and the occasion.

A guided tasting experienceFrom $[ ]

04UP CLOSE WITH THE CRAFT

The Chef’s Counter

An interactive night where guests gather around while Chef Nija cooks, talks technique, and plates in front of them.

An interactive, chef-led eveningFrom $[ ]

05LEARN SOMETHING DELICIOUS

Cooking Classes

Hands-on classes for individuals, couples, or groups—great for team-building or a fun night with friends.

For individuals, couples, and groupsFrom $[ ]

06FOUR FOUNDING SEATS

ShamHouse Weekly

Chef-cooked entrées, labeled and stocked in your fridge every week.

Four founding seats availableFrom $[ ]

Prices and guest counts are intentionally left blank until confirmed. Grocery costs are billed at cost with receipts—never marked up.

Your gathering, your way

Pick your pace.
We’ll bring the feeling.

For the hosts who want to host

Hosted with you

Our chef-led team sets the scene and guides the experience, keeping the evening flowing while you enjoy your guests. Add a shared menu or small bites to make the night feel complete.

Personalized welcome and setup
Guided activity and on-site host
Chef-led food options, planned together

A LITTLE MORE HANDS-ON

For the hosts who love the details

Self-guided, beautifully set

Everything you need to welcome your guests and get started, thoughtfully packaged for an easy, go-at-your-own-pace night.

Ready-to-use experience box
Clear setup and play instructions
Optional add-ons to make it yours

READY WHEN YOU ARE

Meet Chef Nija

Nearly 30 years
of making tables matter.

Chef Nija Lightfoot trained at Le Cordon Bleu and Johnson & Wales and has nearly three decades in professional kitchens. Her culinary path comes by way of Atlanta; she spent four years in Lewiston, Maine as a vacation chef and culinary consultant. Her experience includes Disney’s Grand Floridian, Colonial Williamsburg, Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood, and Olshan Properties.

Her food is rooted in American regional cooking—Southern, Mid-Atlantic, New England, and coastal—with a farm-to-table instinct for seasonal local ingredients and techniques that keep things delicious, not fussy. ServSafe certified and background checked, she listens first, cooks what belongs at your table, and leaves the kitchen cleaner than she found it.

“We listen first, then cook what belongs at your table.”— Chef Nija Lightfoot

A little more than a meal

Why hosts book
ShamHouse Chefs.

Thoughtful food is only part of it. The experience should feel personal, transparent, and in good hands from the first conversation to the last plate.

Fine-dining roots

Technique shaped by years in luxury hotels and resort kitchens, brought into the comfort of your home.

Menus made for your table

Every menu starts with a conversation about your guests—not a catalog of fixed choices.

Honest pricing

Groceries are billed at cost with receipts. No hidden markup in the cart.

Safety, spoken plainly

Chef Nija is ServSafe certified and background checked. Allergies are confirmed out loud before anyone cooks.

Good questions, clear answers

Q&A

A little more about Social Boxes, chef-led experiences, and planning a gathering with ShamHouse Chefs.

What are Social Boxes?

Social Boxes are curated at-home gathering experiences that bring together an activity, thoughtful hosting details, and optional food—so your group can spend less time planning and more time together.

What’s included in a Social Box?

Each experience is shaped around its theme and may include activity materials, simple setup or play guidance, and shared hosting touches. Food and drinks vary by experience and are planned separately with you.

What’s the difference between a Social Box and a chef-led experience?

Social Boxes center on an activity or shared occasion. Chef-led experiences center on personalized food and hospitality—from private dinners and gatherings to tasting flights, cooking classes, and weekly meal service.

Can the menu or experience be customized?

Yes. Sample menus and experience descriptions are starting points, not fixed packages. We’ll discuss your occasion, preferences, dietary needs, and the details that matter to your group.

Where are experiences available?

ShamHouse Chefs serves Des Moines and Central Iowa. Share your location and event idea in an inquiry so we can discuss what may work.

Can I book an experience now?

The collection is in prelaunch, so confirmed bookings aren’t open yet. You can send an inquiry to share what you’re planning; timing and pricing will be confirmed closer to launch.

The collection is almost ready

Let’s make
something memorable.

We’re in prelaunch and shaping our first experiences now. Tell us what you’re dreaming up—birthday, team night, or simply a reason to bring your people together.

Serving Des Moines, Iowa
Homes · Apartments · Workplaces

We’re not taking confirmed bookings just yet. We’ll follow up to learn more; timing and pricing will be confirmed as we get closer to launch.

A FEW DETAILS TO GET US STARTED

Bring your
people together.
Stay awhile.

Less planning.
More being there.