About Us

feast. ​was formed in 2018 by Darryl & Yvonne Shands.  We are a husband & wife team supported by family, friends and colleagues while creating fresh, high quality, delicious (yet affordable) food for our clients.

Darryl was born and raised in Philadelphia and has worked in kitchens since he was a teenager (more than 40 years of experience).  He worked his way from dishwasher to pantry prep to line cook to head line cook to Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager and Catering Chef.  Darryl spent the 1980's and 1990's in Center City Philadelphia restaurants and top catering companies.  By the early 2000's he was a Team Leader in Prepared Foods and launched the first Smokehouse for Whole Foods Markets.  In 2009, Darryl's wife, Yvonne, convinced him to accept a position on the team that was preparing to open The Sands in Bethlehem, PA, her home region.  The family relocated to the Lehigh Valley in May 2009 and Darryl was an integral part of the culinary team at The Sands for nine years.  Darryl now enjoys being the Co-Owner & Executive Chef for feast.

​Yvonne was born and raised right here in the Lehigh Valley.  After graduating from Easton Area High School, she went on to Temple University for her BA and then the University of Southern California for her MA.  After spending about 1/3 of her professional life in real estate and property or construction management and the other 2/3 in social science research management, she now enjoys being the Co-Owner & Business Manager for feast.  

​Darryl and Yvonne have spent the last 30+ years hosting family and friends in their home.  Their "gift" is hospitality.  Their "love language" is food.  The number of times that loved ones have said "You should open a restaurant", or "You should open a bed & breakfast", or "You should charge for this!" cannot be counted.  Their home has become referred to as "Chez Shands" and is the favorite "restaurant" of many.  So, when Darryl & Yvonne were enjoying a wine and cheese tasting at Black River Farms winery in July 2017, it was no surprise that a conversation about food and wine turned into an urging by their Tasting Room Manager to become a catering company.  What was a surprise was that they were finally ready to do it!  And so, feast. was born.  The name feast. is meant to be a simple command, urging everyone to not just eat, but to feast, to savor and enjoy food, family, and fellowship.