Occasions By M

10/08/2026

You asked, and we're baking! 🍞✨

After requests from our private dining guests, Occasions By M is preparing a bakery preorder storefront! Coming soon: signature dinner rolls, artisan boule table bread, buttery brioche loaves, cinnamon rolls, and more.

Fresh beignets will be available for scheduled pickup only from our professional kitchen.

We're still finalizing the menu and pricing, so ordering isn't open just yet. Want the official link first? Email [email protected] with the subject Baked Sale and tell us what you're excited to try.

Read the full announcement: https://www.occasionsbym.com/post/bakery-preorders-bake-sale-update

Our bakery preorder storefront is coming! Signature dinner rolls, artisan boule bread, brioche, cinnamon rolls and pickup-only beignets. Email us with subject Baked Sale to join the interest list.

10/05/2026

As we close out summer, I keep thinking about this Airbnb dinner with Brittany and her crew. They were celebrating a friend’s birthday, and each guest had traveled around the world. I prepared pan-seared duck breast right in front of them at the kitchen counter.

What I remember most is the laughter, the conversation and the moment the room came alive after we sat down and broke bread together. Breaking bread is non-negotiable at every Occasions By M experience. It gives us a moment to pause, gather and recognize that we are sharing something meaningful.

This summer taught me to stay present through every obstacle. It also reminded me that when people invest in an experience, they help create the opportunity for others in our community to experience exceptional hospitality. We are all connected—like each strand in a loaf of bread.

The reviews matter. The service matters. The food matters. But most importantly, the moment matters.

As we move into fall and winter, Occasions By M is looking forward to serving more private dinners, Airbnb experiences, Dinner Conversations, Supper Clubs and Micro Occasions across North Carolina.

Let’s gather well this season. Plan your next occasion at www.occasionsbym.com/contact-us

09/09/2026

Who we are: a Raleigh/Triangle private chef team bringing chef-led pacing and Southern hospitality into your home. What we do: design a meal that moves - a crisp savory opener, a richer small plate, a composed fish main, and a warm individual dessert - with texture, temperature, and timing in mind. When and where: dinners booked for evenings across the Triangle and surrounding NC markets. Why it matters: pacing turns a series of plates into a memorable evening. How we do it: chef-led menus, thoughtful service, and full cleanup so you can enjoy your event.

If you're planning an anniversary, engagement dinner, birthday, or intimate gathering, tell us what feeling you want to create - we’ll help with the rest. Book your private chef experience at https://www.occasionsbym.com/private-chef-nc ✨👨🏽‍🍳🍷

09/09/2026

Breaking Bread Is What We Do First. 🍞

There is something about fresh bread that brings us back to the basics: precision, patience, perseverance—and gathering around the table.

At Occasions By M, breaking bread is becoming an intentional beginning to every Dinner Conversation. Before the courses begin, before we worry about what comes next, there should be a moment to settle in, give thanks, talk, listen, and reconnect.

My latest Food for Thought reflects on 2 Kings 4, the widow and her little oil, and an important question:

What do you already have in your house?

Sometimes what appears small is enough to begin.

Read “Breaking Bread: What a Little Oil Can Teach Us About Faith, Provision, and the Table” on the Occasions By M blog:
https://www.occasionsbym.com/post/breaking-bread-what-a-little-oil-can-teach-us-about-faith-provision-and-the-table

And if you're planning a private dinner, birthday, anniversary, intimate celebration, or another Occasion in the Raleigh–Durham area and surrounding North Carolina communities, we'd be honored to help you bring people back to the table.

Contact Occasions By M:
www.occasionsbym.com/contact-us

Chef Mike McCray
Occasions By M
Globally Inspired × Southern Hospitality

09/03/2026

Raleigh, we’re making dinner a little easier. 🍽️

Occasions By M has partnered with Cafe Orleans to offer a rotating selection of chef-prepared takeaway meals each week at 1425 Beacon Circle in Raleigh.

We’re especially grateful to Crystal for continuing to support her community and creating space for other local businesses and culinary professionals to grow.

Weekly menus will be posted, and quantities will be limited. Follow and for the next menu and stop by Cafe Orleans to take dinner home.

Fresh food. Local partnership. One less dinner to worry about.

04/21/2026

Every guest who attends an Occasions By M Micro Occasion receives Priority Booking Access and a Founders Credit toward a future private dining or experience.

04/21/2026

Our Philosophy

At Occasions By M, every experience is designed with intention.

We believe that before a guest ever invites a chef into their home, they should first experience what that truly feels like.

Our Micro Occasions serve as an introduction to our world—where guests engage all five senses through curated bites, storytelling, music, and atmosphere. Each event is an opportunity to explore flavor, connection, and creativity while experiencing our brand in a relaxed, immersive setting.

Through these experiences, guests not only discover new tastes and textures, but also gain a clear understanding of the level of care, detail, and hospitality we bring to every private dining experience.

03/31/2026

I had the pleasure to shadow my good friend with her class in