Private Chef - Rustic European Surf and Turf

James

20 Jan 2023

Let me start by saying I have zero issues with Chef Lorenzo as a person. He was polite to our guests. My issue is with the food and service. We have hired over a dozen private chefs for dinner parties for friends and for business dinners. NEVER have I experienced the level of unprofessionalism and downright awful food. We had a party booked for 12 people at a cost of about $130 per person, so all in more than $1,500. He did not wash his hands (or wear gloves) before starting food service of raw fish, which made me question the handling of all of our food. The first course tasted like Ritz crackers under tuna tartar from Whole Foods. For the second course, he used our microwave to heat up the seafood pasta. It was heated un-evenly, the clams were over-cooked and chewy, and the whole dish was frankly not very good. We (and our guests) cleared our own plates because he did not bring anyone to help. That also meant there was no wine service. The main course was too fishy, as if the fish was old and going bad. The sauce/soup was bland and flavorless. People barely touched their meal. Dessert wasn’t any better. The beignets were flat and soggy because they’d been made ahead of time and brought to our house. They are the one thing I almost wished had gone in the microwave. Maybe they would have been edible. At the end of the night we were appalled at how Chef Lorenzo left our kitchen. He did not do any of the dishes (dinner plates, pasta plates, dessert plates) which were all stacked by the sink for us to do, and the stove was covered in sauce and fish grease. I’ve NEVER hired a private chef where I’ve had to spend 2 hours in the kitchen cleaning up after them. He also took one of our colanders home with him, even though he said he would bring all of his own equipment. If I wanted a catered dinner, which is what this was, I could have ordered it from a restaurant for WAY less than $130 per person. To say we were disappointed with our meal is a MASSIVE understatement. Chef Lorenzo was a complete waste of money. Ordering DoorDashed Olive Garden would have been better than our experience with him. I would give him zero stars if that was an option, but it isn’t. I wish upload pictures of our kitchen to explain the disaster it was, but I can’t. UPDATE: Chef Lorenzo has offered to provide a $250 credit for a future meal for our bad experience. Instead we will be disputing the entire transaction with our credit card company since nothing met our expectations.

Alex

16 Jan 2023

What an amazing experience! Chef Lorenzo provided such a fun and authentic class. Super convenient that he came out to our house. Anyone looking for a great gift or date night idea should consider booking Chef Lorenzo!

Beverley

08 Jan 2023

You need to improve your communication. I became very apprehensive when I sent 3 messages via your website to the chef and no answer til the afternoon of the day before the event. Then he shows up 25 min late with no forewarning. Very embarrassing and cause of anxiety for me. Lorenzo was charming, very knowledgable about the food prep and cooking, very fun. I did give him a tip as he was leaving.

Yahor

07 Jan 2023

I recently attended Chef Lorenzo's Cooking Class on Signature Italian Cuisine and it was an absolute delight! From start to finish, the experience was authentic and truly felt like a trip to Italy. Chef Lorenzo was an excellent host and his passion for cooking was evident in every dish he prepared. He shared stories about his grandmother, who was a great influence on his love of cooking, and it was clear that he has a wealth of knowledge about Italian cuisine. The class itself was very hands-on, with each participant getting the chance to help prepare and cook the dishes. Chef Lorenzo was very patient and gave clear instructions, so even those who were new to cooking were able to follow along and create delicious meals. One of the highlights of the class was trying Chef Lorenzo's grandmother's recipes, which were absolutely delicious. It was a unique and special touch that really added to the authenticity of the experience. Overall, I highly recommend Chef Lorenzo's Cooking Class on Signature Italian Cuisine. It was a fun and educational experience that left me with a newfound appreciation for Italian cooking.

Sarah

18 Dec 2022

Chef Lorenzo hosted us in his kitchen with a spectacular lineup of cheesy dishes and amazing apple cake. This menu was just difficult enough to prepare, sumptuous, and we chatted about Silician culture throughout! We had a great time, thanks Chef!

Lorenzo

22 Nov 2022

Loved it! I'm from Italy myself and this was an authentic, real italian dinner. Lorenzo was super easy to communicate with, very responsive, kind and accommodating. I will def book another class with him! Grazie Lorenzo, you rock!!

Armando

10 Nov 2022

Chef Lorenzo is by far the best host I’ve ever had! Chef Lorenzo is extremely outgoing and knowledgeable about cooking. There was not one awkward moment with him as conversations changed from cooking to other topics with ease. By far the best cooking class my wife and I ever had because of his hospitality and wisdom of cooking as he can explain how to use ingredients and why to use those ingredients. He explained cooking like I’ve never heard before. Thank you chef for an amazing class! I’ll definitely be recommending my friends and I’m looking forward signing up for more classes!