For over 20 years, Yum Yum has been a premier NYC boutique catering company, specializing in private chef services, full-service catering, personalized instruction, and expert consulting and development.
Our talented chef team is also a trusted partner in the media industry, providing a range of services including on-air appearances for broadcast and digital platforms, food styling, recipe testing, and culinary content development.
Vanessa Cantave
Executive Chef, Owner
Shani Porter
Sous Chef
BIOS
Vanessa is the Executive Chef and Founder of Yum Yum.
From catering the NFL’s prestigious Tailgate Party for 10,000 guests to hosting intimate private events, Vanessa’s menus are refined yet unfussy—elevated flavors designed for everyday enjoyment.
“Her food boasts high-end flavor, but in a way you’d feel comfortable eating every day.” – Uptown Magazine
She won Bravo’s Rocco’s Dinner Party in 2011 and has since become a go-to culinary expert, contributing to NY Post, Wall Street Journal, Essence Magazine, and appearing on Cooking Channel, NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, and more.
She is the host and creator of The Hostess Next Door (2016-2018) and has been a regular contributor to A&E’s Homemade series. A passionate mentor, Vanessa supports C-CAP, helping underserved high school students pursue culinary careers.
In 2024, she joined CookUnity, the first chef-to-consumer meal marketplace, connecting award-winning chefs with food lovers nationwide. She is thrilled to be able to share her cuisine with such a wide-reaching audience.
A valedictorian graduate of the French Culinary Institute, Vanessa also holds a B.A. in political science with a minor in French from James Madison University. Before pursuing food full-time, she held leadership roles in finance, marketing, and advertising at FDIC, the Federal Reserve Bank, Deutsche Bank, and Ogilvy & Mather, working with clients like BMW North America, IBM Global Services, and AT&T Wireless.
Vanessa lives in Brooklyn, NYC with her two sons, Christian (10) and Sebastien (6).
Shani Porter is the Sous Chef for Yum Yum.
Shani Porter, a native Brooklynite, got her start at the "famed" LaGuardia HS of Music & Art majoring in Fine Arts. She continued her education by achieving a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from St. John’s University. Within a few months of graduation, she began questioning her career path and searching for ways to pursue her lifelong passion for cooking.
Internalizing the age-old saying, “the proof is in the pudding”, Shani traded her business suit for a chef’s coat. She enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at The Institute of Culinary Education where she perfected her natural talents. Graduating at the top of her culinary class and landing an externship at the elite Abigail Kirsch in New York City. She continued to build her resume with several more impressive boutique companies before joining the Yum Yum team in 2010.
Shani’s love for food stems from New York City’s eccentric culture; saturated with differing ethnic backgrounds and the mouth-watering native dishes that accompany them. Infinitely inspired, it’s no surprise that with every new creation, guests take away a better understanding of what Shani stands for. Her culinary flair embodies her passion and love for food while incorporating her eclectic style.
In addition to fulfilling her ardor for meticulously made cuisine, Shani currently works for a non-profit organization, Wellness in the Schools as a WITS-in-residence chef. She has placed herself on the front lines to combat childhood obesity and promoting healthy eating within the school and the community. Shani accomplishes this by educating students and their families on the importance of eating whole, unprocessed foods, and engaging them in workshops that provide steps on how to prepare fresh meals from scratch.