- Los Angeles
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Catering - Gourmet Mediterranean Buffet
Catering - Gourmet Mediterranean Buffet
77 reviews
77 reviews This class does not have dates listed right now. Find similar experiences below:
What You’ll Do
This inventive buffet menu is created and prepared on-site by Chef Tess, a classically trained chef specializing in flavors inspired by the Mediterranean.
Chef Tess has worked with world-renowned chefs in professional kitchens and brings her expertise and creativity to this refined buffet menu. A sense of innovation shines through in the colorful trio of bruschetta and the bright shaved fennel citrus salad. The main dish of oxtail ragu over pappardelle pasta and elegant affogato are beautifully presented for a gourmet fine dining experience.
Cozymeal experiences do not include alcohol, but you can message your chef for recommendations and source separately.
Your Menu
Oxtail Ragu
With pappardelle pasta and Parmigiano-Reggiano
Rigatoni ( Vegetarian )
With Roma tomato sauce and seared eggplant
Salmon Bucatini
Bucatini pasta tossed in salmon mousse with fresh herbs and snap peas
Courses Include
Bruschetta Trio: Stewed Plum with Ricotta, Eggplant Sofrito, Stewed Tomato with Mint Pesto
~
Shaved Fennel and Citrus Salad in a Soy-Citrus Vinaigrette
~
Affogato: Espresso poured over Vanilla Ice Cream
~
Most dietary needs accommodated upon request (gluten free, vegan, etc.)
Details
- Minimum Guests 20
- Maximum Guests 40
- Meal Courses 4
- Type of Catering Private Dining
- Labels Gourmet, In Home, Italian, Mediterranean, Special Occasions
Meet your chef
Chef Tess Verified Chef
Classically trained under world-class chefs like Mario Batali, Mattahias Froeshcel and Wylie Dufresne, Chef Tess is equipped in a range of techniques and cuisines from molecular gastronomy to rustic Italian. After years in the restaurant industry and achieving second place on the Food Network’s "Chopped," Chef Tess decided to focus on her passion for teaching people how to cook simple and satisfying food. She's also been part of "Good Mythical Morning," a talk show series on YouTube.
The Cozymeal Protection®
Verified Chefs
Payment Protection
Concierge
Cancellation Policy
Flexible booking: Cancel or reschedule this event's reservation for free up to 48 hours before the event.
This experience is not refundable as it includes a meal kit.
What You’ll Do
This inventive buffet menu is created and prepared on-site by Chef Tess, a classically trained chef specializing in flavors inspired by the Mediterranean.
Chef Tess has worked with world-renowned chefs in professional kitchens and brings her expertise and creativity to this refined buffet menu. A sense of innovation shines through in the colorful trio of bruschetta and the bright shaved fennel citrus salad. The main dish of oxtail ragu over pappardelle pasta and elegant affogato are beautifully presented for a gourmet fine dining experience.
Cozymeal experiences do not include alcohol, but you can message your chef for recommendations and source separately.
Your Menu
Oxtail Ragu
With pappardelle pasta and Parmigiano-Reggiano
Rigatoni ( Vegetarian )
With Roma tomato sauce and seared eggplant
Salmon Bucatini
Bucatini pasta tossed in salmon mousse with fresh herbs and snap peas
Courses Include
Bruschetta Trio: Stewed Plum with Ricotta, Eggplant Sofrito, Stewed Tomato with Mint Pesto
~
Shaved Fennel and Citrus Salad in a Soy-Citrus Vinaigrette
~
Affogato: Espresso poured over Vanilla Ice Cream
~
Most dietary needs accommodated upon request (gluten free, vegan, etc.)
Details
- Minimum Guests 20
- Maximum Guests 40
- Meal Courses 4
- Type of Catering Private Dining
- Labels Gourmet, In Home, Italian, Mediterranean, Special Occasions
Reviews
Reviews guests left for this experience
Sam
05 Oct 2016
We truly loved Chef Tess. We ordered her catering services (full-service/chef-attended) where she prepared a delicious Oxtail ragut alongside a bruschetta appetizer, a refreshing salad and a very tasty dessert. With every dish, she would give us a short introduction which made the experience even more special - like a chef's table. I give her 5 stars for service, food, and presentation.
Reviews guests left for other experiences with Chef Tess
Rachel
20 Apr 2025
We had a great time at this class. Chef Tess was very knowledgeable and passionate about cooking. We are pretty beginner-level, but she gave a mix of tips for beginners and for more advanced chefs. She was also a lot of fun to work with - telling funny stories and jokes and helping the whole group stay engaged. All of the food was delicious, and she provided all of the recipes so that we can make everything at home. We would take a class with her again. :)
Ray Garcia
03 Mar 2025
She's good at explaining everything
Cameron
07 Feb 2025
Chef Tess was so awesome! We loved how casually she dropped her knowledge and expertise while making the whole experience fun and incredibly delicious! She’s great, 10/10 would 1000% recommend
Merrell
21 Nov 2024
Tess was such a delight! We had a really fun time learning how to make gnocchi and a few sauces along with asking Tess random cooking questions. Would highly recommend this engaging class!
MARIJA
07 Nov 2024
We had such a great time with Chef Tess! She really knows her stuff and made the whole experience super fun. Not only did she share tons of cooking tips and tricks, but she also kept us laughing and engaged the whole time. I’d absolutely recommend her to anyone—whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cook, you’ll have a blast and learn a lot. Thanks again, Chef Tess, for an awesome experience!
Mary
19 Sep 2024
Chef Tess is clearly a talented and knowledgeable about Asian cuisine. It was a great class.
Shannon
08 Aug 2024
We had the best experience with Chef Tess! Delicious and beautiful food, lots of simple tips and tricks for cooking, great company, and lots of laughs. Would definitely come to another one of Chef Tess’ classes.
Debbie
13 Jun 2024
Tess was amazing! Funny, engaging, and very knowledgeable. I consider myself a very experienced person on the cooking front and I learned a lot! So happy to finally know how to make a papaya salad in my own kitchen. Thanks Tess!
Kristi
01 May 2024
Hilarious. Inviting. Delicious!
Courtney
07 Mar 2024
Chef Tess was great! She is very knowledgable and I learned a lot just watching and listening. The food was amazing - I can't wait to try to make the ramen!
Edward
02 Mar 2024
Excellent experience! Very knowledgeable chef, with an engaging immersive atmosphere where we learned a lot about the food we made. Very tasty!
Tracy
01 Feb 2024
This was a gift for my son and his girlfriend for Christmas. They absolutely loved it. They felt it provided a lot of good insight on cooking and learned quite a bit.
Justine Hanlon
01 Feb 2024
Experienced, knowledgeable, and broke things down in a way thats reminiscent of a cooking show but in the best way possible.
Tiffany
25 Jan 2024
Tess was super nice and funny! Her personality is a 5 star for sure!
The reason for the 3 is because there was supposed to be a a variety of options to make ands there was only one. We ended up making an additional one that was listed because people wanted it. Also, she has a pretty foul mouth- not really a big deal for us but for others it could be.
Courtney
18 Dec 2023
10 stars. I'm honestly still full of joy from our evening with Tess. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
She is real, she is raw, she is COMFORTABLE. Aside from being fking FULL of knowledge, she is absolutely hilarious. There was not a single second where I felt out of place in my first ever cooking class. For some of us, it takes a lot to step out of our comfort zone to learn a new skill in front of a group of strangers, and not once did I worry about how others saw me or what Chef Tess thought of me as well.
I left with confidence, a full belly, and I cannot wait to cook this meal for my family! Thank you, chef. I'll be booking another class ASAP.
Eileen
20 Nov 2023
Tess was engaging, informative, and energetic. I had more fun than I expected and learned a lot.
Julie
12 Nov 2023
Chef Tess is a fun and knowledgeable teacher! The class was great and the food was delicious.
Frank
04 Nov 2023
Gacie, mille! Excellent class, terrific instruction. and fun cooking with others.
Fay
03 Nov 2023
All I can say is…AMAZING.
Enjoy with an open heart and open mind.
Chris
26 Aug 2023
Thanks!
Taryn
05 Jun 2023
Awesome class and experience. Chef Tess mixes up humor, warmth and awesome cooking tips to create a magical event!
Kate
09 Apr 2023
This class was SO fun!! Tess is extremely knowledgeable and so so fun. Perfect for a date night!
Celine
09 May 2022
This cooking lesson was a lot of fun and learning! Tess covered so much! Part cultural, part technics, we learned about the different kind of peppers being used in Mexico, the aromatics going into molé and how to process them. We also learned how to debone a chicken, how to build flavors as you saute veggies, etc, etc. All that in a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful home. I would definitely recommend it!
Jill
07 May 2022
Super fun and laid backed! Nice environment and a good place to learn!
John
18 Feb 2022
Tess is a delightful person and first-rate instructor. We learned a lot about making Thai food from the core fundamentals to how to shop for good ingredients. We also got to discuss how different cuisines from around the world are made in comparison. Her breadth of knowledge is awesome. Can't wait to take another class from her and/or see her comedy!
Dan
08 Feb 2022
We had a good experience with Chef Tess. She was entertaining as well as knowledgeable and a good teacher. The class was hands on for everyone in the group, and the food was good. We learned useful techniques and nuances to everyday cooking tasks in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Recommended.
Sean
30 Jan 2022
First experience on cozy meal and a great one at that
Madeline
29 Jan 2022
Chef Tess is hands down one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. Between her deep and worldly knowledge of cuisine, to her open and hilarious demeanor, she truly made our first couples cooking class an experience to remember! Will definitely be back- and will be going to one of her comedy shows soon!! Do yourself a favor and book with her!!
Steven
08 Jan 2022
My husband booked a lesson with Chef Tess for he and I as a Christmas gift. We had such an amazing time learning how to braise meat and use our cooking tools properly. Chef Tess entertained us with humor and delightful anecdotes of her culinary past. We laughed throughout the coarse and learned valuable tricks of the trade. I am already looking forward to booking another session very soon as everything turned out delicious. The cherry on top was the fun dessert. Thank you for the wonderful and unforgettable experience!
Ellen
03 Jan 2022
My daughter and I really enjoyed the Thai class. Tess was fun to learn from and gave us some basic cooking tips that were very helpful!
Wendy
30 Dec 2021
Chef Tess invited us to her beautiful home, and made us all feel welcome right away. She was flexible with our team showing up at varying times, and gave us all time to chat and catch up. She was hilarious, entertaining, and informative. The food was fun to make and was just as delicious. I learned a whole lot about the foods going into my meal and would absolutely do this again with Chef Tess! If you are even considering booking, go ahead and do it - it was a wonderful experience!
Donna
28 Dec 2021
Really fun and educational hands on cooking class for friends and family , highly recommend
Mary
22 Dec 2021
What a fun time! Chef Tess was terrific - organized, knowledgeable, outgoing. There were seven of us butterflies to heard, and she pulled it off with aplomb. Everyone learned so much and had a great time doing it. The meal we prepared was plentiful and delicious, and every single expectation was exceeded. There will definitely be another booking real soon.
David
14 Dec 2021
The evening with Chef Tess was amazing! 8 adults, 2 children, and she didn’t flinch at the pandemonium! She was very helpful with her teaching techniques as we created a five star dinner. This experience is one the family will talk about for many years to come!
Thanks Chef Tess
Tina
09 Dec 2021
Absolutely incredible evening. Tess has a huge personality and her teaching was easy to follow and we have lots of take aways to use in our everyday cooking. Tess is 5 stars all the way.
Jason
11 Nov 2021
Amazing experience! Chef Tess was a riot to cook with, my team said every team event now requires Chef Tess to come with us. We will definitely be back and look forward to next time!
Gary
13 Dec 2019
Both me and my wife had an excellent time cooking with Chef Tess. She is inviting, funny, warm, and knowledgeable. The food we were guided to prepare was amazing... so many layers of flavor. Although we took a Thai class, I do believe Chef Tess's techniques and people skills would make any class she teaches fun and delicious. I would recommend Chef Tess to anyone looking for these things. Congratulations and best wishes with the pregnancy!
Amber
12 Oct 2019
What a wonderful meal! Tess is the best! She's funny and she teaches you why you're doing what you're doing with each recipe! So confident that I'll be able to try these recipes at home!
Hollee
05 Aug 2019
Tess was absolutely wonderful. Not only did we really enjoy her teaching but the food was AMAZING. We will definitely be hosting a dinner party soon with this amazing menu. Highly recommend! Thanks Tess!
Karen
19 Apr 2019
Good food, good company! What a fun night and I learned a lot! I can make my own gnocchi now! Thanks Chef Tess!
Simone
17 Feb 2019
Really fun date. Thank you chef Tess for being so entertaining and teaching us a whole lot!
Jared
29 Sep 2018
Chef Tess was an amazing instructor, host, and entertainer and the food was delicious. We had great time and highly recommend taking a class with her.
Evelyn
26 Sep 2018
Chef Tess was amazing. The food was delicious and learned so much from her. Learned how to make Gnocchi and Meat bolognese from scratch. Hands on class. Boyfriend and I had a blast. Can’t wait to book another cooking class with her! A definite must do.
Brent
24 Sep 2018
Chef Tess did a great job with our group. Everyone got involved in cooking and we all learned a bunch. Many of us want to do more classes with Chef Tess specifically! Amazing experience... and the chicken mole was bomb diggity!
Kevin
10 Sep 2018
Chef Tess Was Amazing she was so cool at explaining everything very informative information made it fun for everyone I took my girlfriend who came from South Korea to her first cooking class in LA chef Tess made it super comfortable made us laugh the whole time with her impressions and her dog Bowie is adorable , really food experience from the cooking class I left feeling full satasfied with my experience and a little sad it had to end time flew by when your surrounded by a good instructor and group ! I would definetly recomend her thanks chef Tess !!
Josh
09 Sep 2018
We had an amazing experience!!! Chef Tess welcomed us into her home with incredible hospitality and a waâ€rm and inviting personality, Not to mention she is SO FUN to not only learn from but to just hang out with. She also offered lots of practical insights and tips on the colonary arts taken from her own funny experiences, which was super entertaining and didn’t even feel like learning:) .Getting to meet new people from different places and backgrounds and work together to make a glorious feast was also really cool and created a sense of teamwork! Would highly recommend this to any couple looking to expand their skills and meet awesome people! Especially Tess!
Emily
28 Aug 2018
Chef Tess was amazing! Very personable and relatable - great conversation and super friendly! She walked us through each step, but yet still "cooking on the fly" which personally, we love (I never follow recipes). Everything turned out wonderful and I am greatly looking forward to testing my hand at some of these recipes. Excited to book another soon!
Monica
01 Jul 2018
Awesome evening, educational and fun. Will definitely book Chef Tess for our next special occasion, she rocks!
Monica
28 Jun 2018
Chef Tess was awesome! I booked this class as a birthday gift experience for our dad, and we had such a great night. I will definitely make her delicious, healthy recipes again. We learned some new cooking tips while enjoying great conversation and stories with Chef Tess. She has learned some great techniques from working at European restaurants, which we loved learning about. Thank you so much! We'll definitely keep her in mind for our next special occasion event.
Olea
26 Sep 2017
My coworkers and I had an absolute blast! Chef Tess is a great chef and entertainer. We even asked if she had other classes that she teaches, we would love to have her teach us again. I have learned so much about food and preparation, the gnocchi were delicious, the appetizers we made were incredible. Even Tess' kitchen is as so homey and complimented the Italian meal experience.
I would highly recommend Tess and this gnocchi making experience to my friends and family. And will be trying to make gnocchi with my husband at home :)
Andrew
12 Sep 2017
Chef Tess was great. The food was delicious. It was a fun night!
Chef Tess was funny and informative. She has a lot of cooking experience and had stories about working in hectic kitchens. She had some great advice when it came to cooking and the meals we made was delicious!
We highly recommend chef Tess.
Judy
11 Sep 2017
Fun, informative evening, learning how to cook healthy French dishes ending in a scrumcios meal. Chef Tess is a brilliant, personable artist with a bright future!
Karen
20 Aug 2017
My daughter and I had the most wonderful experience with Chef Tess. She is an amazing chef and instructor! We had the best time with her! We enjoyed learning how to make gnocchi and have successfully made it on our own since our lesson. I would definitely recommend Chef Tess to all of my friends and family. She's amazing!
Philip
23 Jun 2017
Chef Tess was really fun! We arrived a little late but she did her best to accommodate us with the shortened time and still was able to cook everything! Delicious food, explained the steps and how it differed from traditional French cooking and made it an overall great experience.
Kathy
03 Jun 2017
We had a wonderful time! The food was amazing.
David
24 May 2017
I purchased time with Chef Tess as a Mother's Day present for my wife. Myself, my wife and our 14 year old daughter all went to her home in Los Gatos.
Pros: Chef Tess is very personable, knowledgeable and patient with newbies. She explained everything she was doing and why she was doing it. The food was fantastic and it felt great knowing we had a hand in making the food so delicious. We even came home and purchased our first whole chicken and broke it down expertly a couple days later thanks to the instructions of Chef Tess.
Cons: The kitchen was VERY small for 5 guests plus the chef. Through no fault of Chef Tess, it happened to be one of the hottest days of the year, and unfortunately the home had no AC. I thought the knives were dull and could have used some sharpening, but that might be on purpose so us newbies don't chop off a finger. :) The dessert didn't come together, again due to the hot weather and challenges associated with it being one of the hottest days of the year.
Overall I highly recommend Chef Tess though and have given 5 stars to this experience.
Mathai
22 May 2017
Wonderful experience - thank you, Chef!
Irene
13 May 2017
We had an awesome time, not only did we enjoy a delicious meal, we learned some great techniques. She made us feel really comfortable. Definitely will take another class with her
Linda
01 May 2017
Great experience !! We all learned so much and had fun doing it. Tess and her husband were very knowledgeable - our group had all levels of expertise and we all left with new techniques to try. We had a BD party the next day and made 15 individual pizzas and everyone raved about how great they tasted-Thanks Chef Tess
Beatriz
27 Apr 2017
Cheff Tess was amazing! Definitely recommend her class.... She's awesome! Can't wait to take another one of her classes.
Sam
20 Apr 2017
I loved this class. Tess shows a level of mastery and experience in her class that I have not seen anywhere else. Her knowledge about cooking is not jot deep, it is filled with passion. She has amazing stories to tell at the table.
Erin
10 Apr 2017
Chef Tess was so much fun! She is an amazing cook and keeps you entertained all night long with her jokes. We had such a great meal and such a wonderful experience!
Eddie
01 Apr 2017
Amazing! Made my wife and I feel very comfortable! Chef Tess was a great teacher with patience and knowledge! Everything turned out absolutely delicious from appetizers to dessert! We didn't know gnocchi could be some simple and so delicious! Highly recommend Chef Tess!!
Rebecca
01 Mar 2017
Our cooking class with Tess was excellent. She's a real artist. I learned 20 new things about cooking while immersed in a very pleasant cooking experience. I would highly recommend her class.
Ben
21 Feb 2017
Thank you Chef Tess, food was great and we learned a ton! Deglaze, deglaze!
Maurice
17 Feb 2017
Chef Tess was an extraordinary teacher and dynamic personality. We all felt engaged, learned some new things, and enjoyed each other's company. I highly recommend a private lesson with Chef Tess.
Note: Tipped in-person
Allana
09 Feb 2017
Chef Tess was amazing! We learned how to make four very tasty dishes and were happily entertained the entire time. Great hospitality and an awesome, patient teacher!
Stephanie
19 Jan 2017
Chef Tess is AWESOME--we had her in our home in SF for a cooking class with my husband and I. She's respectful, funny and accommodates to your level of skill of cooking. She's an easy conversationalist and a great teacher.
Booking through Cozymeal is not so awesome, but if you are willing to stick with it to finally book the event you want than it's worthwhile and ask for Chef Tess!
Liza
09 Jan 2017
We had a great time in Chef Tess' kitchen. We made the Paella dish, which was challenging for our group, but Tess made sure I came out great.
Travis
15 Nov 2016
Chef Tess is absolutely amazing. From her flexibility in scheduling to her casual but information lacked teaching style. The class was one of the most fun evenings me and my wife have had in a very long time . I would recommend any of her cooking classes as a perfect date night treat for any couple . She made us feel welcome and a part of her family, and treated us as such. Three cheers for Chef Tess we can't wait to schedule another great session with you.
Denise
28 Oct 2016
Our family had an amazing experience with Chef Tess! She came to our home and expertly taught us how to make gnocchi and the other items on the menu while entertaining us with her grace and wit. We learned some great cooking tips while working hands in in the kitchen together and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. Lots of laughter and fun--and good food! This was a birthday gift for my foodie husband and he was super excited! Have to say - great experience all around.
Stephanie
07 Aug 2016
I signed up for this class with my mom for mothers day. We have done cooking classes in the past but this was our first cozy meal class. The experience was awesome. We made pizza outside and was able to collect fresh herbs from the garden. Chef Tess was really nice and we learned some tips for making pizza in the future. The atmosphere was relaxed and perfect. We would sign up again.
Alrie
25 Jun 2016
Great teaching, short cuts and no measuring,
Cook to taste, correcting seasonings along the way, under a shady grape arbor with a gentle breeze blowing! What could be more fun or more delicious!
Steve
09 Jun 2016
Chef Tess was completely prepared and prepared an amazing healthy Mexican dinner for five. She included my teenage niece and nephew in the preparation and was very patient in teaching them technique and flavoring. It was a most memorable, relaxed and tasty family-style gourmet dinner. She is very modest about her extensive experience with some of the best chefs in the United States. It was an unbelievable treat to have her in our home.
Tim
04 Apr 2016
Tess was awesome with the kids, they cooked a delicious meal (I managed to score 2 cookie for myself...). The kids really enjoyed themselves and they even learned a thing or two. Highly recommend.
Michelle
10 Mar 2016
Chef Tess is as talented with food as she is charming and funny. She made everything seem really approachable, and it was great to ask her questions about techniques and ingredients (without feeling silly). I couldn't stop eating the pizza! Her tomato-chile jam with burrata was also incredibly delicious.
