Where fire becomes the experience.
Bespoke live-fire dining for Hudson Valley weddings, private estates and exceptional celebrations, with events across the Catskills and the Hamptons.
It started with a fire in a garden.
Chef Melissa traces it back to her grandfather's garden, on the day the family put up its tomato sauce with a fire lit outside. That day is why she became a chef.
Classically trained, seasoned in New York City fine dining and Michelin-starred kitchens, she built East Egg Culinary on seasonal Hudson Valley cooking. AURA brings it all back to where it began: good food, the people you love, and an open fire.
Meet Chef MelissaThe fire is not part of the setting. It is the reason everyone gathers.
The fire is the centerpiece.
AURA is a full dining experience built around an open wood fire and cooked in full view of your guests. The cooking becomes the evening: the smell of hardwood smoke, the sizzle on the grate, the chef working the fire.
Cooked over wood
Hardwood burned down to glowing coals, with meat, fish and the season's vegetables cooked over it the way fire cooking has always been done.
Made from scratch
Every menu is written for your event and the season. Stocks, sauces, fresh pastas and desserts are made by the chef for each gathering.
Brought to you
AURA arrives with its own fire stations and sets up at your venue, from an estate lawn to a vineyard to your own backyard, wherever the site allows an open fire.
Designed around the fire.
Every AURA evening is cooked on live-fire stations crafted by hand for this experience. They arrive at your celebration and become its centerpiece.
Fire stations hand built by OWN THE FIRE®
See the fire stationsFor the evenings worth gathering for.
AURA travels to the venue and scales to the evening, whether that is one table or a full celebration.
Occasions and service areas- WeddingsRehearsal dinners and receptions under the open sky
- Private estatesDinners at home, intimate or grand
- MilestonesBirthdays, anniversaries and family reunions
- CorporateClient dinners, brand events and team gatherings
- PartnersPlanners, venues and caterers adding live fire for their clients
Questions, answered.
Everything to know before you inquire. Anything else, Chef Melissa is happy to talk through.
Ask about your dateWhat is AURA by East Egg?
AURA is a live-fire dining experience from Chef Melissa of East Egg Culinary. The meal is cooked over an open wood fire on hand-built fire stations, set up at your venue and cooked in full view of your guests.
Where does AURA cook?
AURA is rooted in the Hudson Valley and travels to the venue, including events in the Catskills and the Hamptons. Every site is reviewed in advance to confirm it is suitable for an open fire.
When can I book AURA?
AURA debuts in Spring 2027 and is now accepting inquiries for the 2027 season. Share your date, guest count and venue through the inquiry form to start the conversation.
Who is the chef behind AURA?
Chef Melissa, founder of East Egg Culinary. She is classically trained and spent the better part of a decade cooking in New York City fine dining, including Michelin-starred kitchens.
What kinds of events is AURA for?
Weddings and rehearsal dinners, private estate dinners, milestone celebrations, corporate gatherings, and partnerships with planners, venues and caterers.
Does AURA bring its own equipment?
Yes. AURA arrives with its own live-fire stations, hand built in steel by OWN THE FIRE®, and sets up at your venue once the site is confirmed suitable for an open fire and any local requirements are met.
Can the menu accommodate allergies and dietary needs?
Every menu is written for the event, the season and your guests. Allergies and dietary needs are discussed during menu planning, and Chef Melissa confirms what can be accommodated for each event.
How much does AURA cost?
Every AURA event is quoted for its date, guest count, venue and menu. The inquiry form includes an optional budget range so the first conversation starts in the right place.
The first season of AURA is almost here.
Now accepting Spring 2027 inquiries. Planners, venues and caterers are welcome to reach out about partnering.
Inquire for Spring 2027