Imagine tables of friends and strangers alike, sitting together, sipping wine over jovial conversations as seven beautifully coordinated plates of food are served before them. It may be hard to believe, but this engaging scene is no longer found only at upscale restaurants in the city, but in any local Davis home, on any given night.

Kitchen Kriminal, a new in-house dinner experience, created by Sacramento native Stefen Janke and his wife, Julie, provides all the relaxation and delectableness of a restaurant in the comfort of one’s own home. After Stefen and Julie’s move to Davis more than a year ago, Kitchen Kriminal has become an entertaining favorite amongst the Davis community.

Stefen, whose background includes cooking at Aqua and the Cypress Club in San Francisco, as well as the Salish Lodge and Spa in Washington state, creates a menu for a host and about 10 to 15 guests using seasonal ingredients and a lot of creativity. The host becomes a guest as well, as Stefen brings with him everything to organize the event. “We bring everything - tables, chairs, plates, silverware. We set up and clean up. You can’t even tell we are there.”