This is the second cooking event they've had at the apartment complex i live in. Really fun and…read morethe chefs are always super nice. i had a few friends with me and some friends who live in the same complex so we had a group of about 7. Food was good and chef did a great job. We had a bbq after the class by the pool, was a lot more fun then the class, but we really all enjoyed the class too! Would go again and def recommend these guys!

Big City Chefs made my birthday dinner unforgettable! Chef Annie was professional, friendly, and…read moreamazing to work with. She created a customized menu that fit my budget, came early to set up, and stayed late to clean up. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. They even pulled it all together on very short notice when no one else could. I'll definitely be hiring them again!

This was my first experience using a private chef and I am so glad I chose Melissa. She was…read moreextremely responsive via email, but also willing to have a phone call when desired to help talk through planning. It was clear from early on she was knowledgeable in her trade and had great questions and tools to help guide us along. We wanted to do an Italian dinner for my dad's 70th birthday, and Italian showed up as one of Sweet Melissa's specialities when searching on Yelp-score! She provided me a sample menu with many delicious sounding options, but also was willing to customize to my dad's favorites. I host parties a lot and you sometimes don't really get to enjoy the event as you are working to get everything ready for your guests. Hiring Melissa allowed us to just enjoy the celebration. All we had to do was clear some space for her to work and she did the rest. She arrived about an hour and a half before the event to do her prep. She was as lovely as could be as was her assistant. The food courses were nicely timed with our three appetizers of brie and pear crostini, shrimp scampi bites, and caprese skewers ready as guests arrived and socialized. All three were delicious, but glad I listened to her recommendation on the crostini as it was so good. Everyone commented on how amazing the house smelled as they arrived. It was also fun watching her work in your house and getting freshly made food! Next was the big buffet of Caesar salad, pesto and tomato basil sauces pastas, roasted brussel sprouts with pancetta, chicken parmigiana, and Italian sausages in a balsamic reduction. The spread was beautifully presented and tasted amazing. There was plenty of food for all and I got such amazing feedback from our guests on how everything tasted. I would normally not of picked the Italian sausage in onions, roasted grapes, and balsamic wine reduction but Melissa told me it was one of her favorites dishes, and I think it turned out to be mine! So unique, so tasty and well executed. I had never had Italian sausages like that before, but hope to again. I honestly could say amazing things about everything we had. Melissa did not misrepresent herself in saying Italian is her specialty. My dad was SO happy and felt this evening was so special. Goal achieved! After the meal, she cleaned up so well you honestly would of never known she was there. This also included her boxing up any leftovers for us, which was a nice touch. Not having a big clean up to do after hosting the event was also amazing. I wish I could have a private chef everyday! But I highly suggest doing this at least for a special occasion and recommend doing it with Melissa. From looking at her website, she does all kinds of other cuisines that also sound delicious. She helped create the special, personalized, and delicious evening we were looking for!

I can't speak highly enough about Melissa and her personal chef service, but I'm going to give it a…read morego! We wanted to do something special for a milestone birthday party for our dad, and he just absolutely loves Italian food, particularly chicken parmigiana. We shopped around for anything from catering to personal chefs specializing in Italian food, and decided a private dinner made fresh in house was just the ticket. Melissa was very responsive via email, and indicated that Italian is one of her specialties. She worked with us to create a menu Dad would love, blending her own suggestions with a couple of special requests from us. On the day, Melissa and her staff arrived on time and got right to work preparing everything in our kitchen with a little help from her own tools. Throughout the event, she kept the space clean, the food line filled, and even did some bussing at the dinner table. She was exceptionally personable with us and the guests, and when she left, there was absolutely zero work for us to do. She cleaned everything, packed up all leftovers and stocked our fridge, and took out all trash. As far as the taste of the food, absolutely no complaints on this end! We had appetizers of shrimp scampi and caprese skewers while everyone arrived, and then flowed into a buffet style dinner. We opted for a ready-dressed Caesar salad, and her homemade dressing was spot on. For dinner, the highlight for dad was the chicken parm. Everyone had a wonderfully breaded chicken cutlet, adorned with fresh mozzarella and topped with a very tasty marinara. This along with her delicious take on Italian sausage in a reduced wine, grape, and balsamic sauce were amazing proteins. Pasta was plentiful as an accompaniment, both a fusilli pesto and papardelle noodles in marinara. For some veggies, she did a wonderful roast brussel sprouts with pancetta and balsamic. We had cake and ice cream for dessert, but I have no doubt if we'd asked her to do that, it would have been amazing too. All in all, I absolutely recommend using Sweet Melissa's for your personal chef and catering needs, you can rest assured you're making the right decision!

So here's an unexpected update. I thought I had signed up for delicious food from a delightful…read morechef. But according to my doctor, what I got was a miracle cure for all of my health problems. Ok, not quite, but... I just had my first check-up in years where everything was good. All of my long-term health issues were under control and all the bloodwork was in target ranges. And I had lost 20 pounds. Chef Savvy's food was a huge part of that. Having predictably clean and healthy food every night has cut down on the junk convenience food that was clogging my arteries. I eat healthy by default, rather than trying to force myself. Consider this another reason to sign up immediately for this service. Do your doctor the favor of not having to nag you anymore.

My husband and I are busy professionals and always had good intentions of meal prepping and/or…read morecooking. However, we found that we just don't have the time which led to ordering in or eating out. Which is obviously not the healthiest. Then we found Chef Savvy. She cooks wonderful healthy meals for us every week from a rotating monthly menu that always gives us plenty of options. Everything has been delicious and made with organic ingredients. Chef Savvy is very accommodating and cooks with care. We feel better after eating her meals as we are now eating much healthier for both lunch and dinner. She also takes into account dietary preferences and modifies recipes as necessary. We are very happy we found her!

Chef T'ai is the best! He is extremely professional and makes amazing food with honest,…read morehigh-quality ingredients... everything you want when someone is preparing your meals. Our entire team was always excited for "Chef T'ai day" in the office. Also, if he hasn't made it for you, T'ai's Pastitsio is a super fun, mix of stuff and always a crowd pleaser. Thanks again T'ai for feeding our crew!

Chef T'ai was great work with!…read more Leading up to the event, he was highly responsive and committed to making sure the details of the event went well. He worked with us on building out a customized, Southeast Asian menu to our liking. During the day of the event, he and his partner for the day (Chef Justin) were timely and professional, and they brought a lot of positive energy to make for a great atmosphere for our dinner party!

"Wanting to impress my boyfriend with a memorable anniversary celebration, but knowing that he…read moreprefers quiet evenings at home, I was in a quandary, because my cooking skills are less than stellar. I considered Waiters on Wheels, but it just seemed like just another "takeout" and didn't seem special enough. Then a friend told me about this personal chef who comes to your home and does the entire dinner. So I decided to try Candlelight Gourmet. The experience couldn't have been nicer. Mac is the chef, and his service includes full cooking on premises, everything freshly made to order, table service, and clean-up. I was able to place the order online, which was nice, and they ask for an upfront deposit equal to the cost of cooking ingredients. Candlelight Gourmet lets you choose between a couple of pre-set dinner menus, or you can select your own, by mixing and matching entrees with soups and salads. I decided on the mix & match because I don't eat beef but my BF loves it. My favorite part of the menu was the Pas de Deux Salad -- gorgeous presentation, butter lettuce, heart-shaped veggies and croutons, in a really nice light vinaigrette. Oh, Mac also served appetizers, he said these vary each time, but in our case it was a tiny mushroom souffle wrapped in filo, and crisped in the oven... very light, and a nice way to get started. Since my BF is a big steak lover, I chose the fillet Mignon entree for him. He loved it -- didn't even need a knife the meat was that tender. It came with a mushroom wine sauce, and was served with rice pilaf and vegetables. I chose the grilled pork chop in mustard sauce, and it came with a light potato gnocchi and veggies. It was cooked perfectly and the sauce was really yummy. (I was afraid it might be too strong, but it was just right.) The dinner was great, and my BF was incredibly impressed. The VERY BEST part was dessert -- a fantastic chocolate fondue, served in a very romantic fondue pot shaped like a chocolate kiss. We dipped fresh fruit tidbits, brownies, and marshmallows into the chocolate bliss... and as promised, it was the perfect ending to a memorable meal. We had no sooner finished dessert when Mac came in to say goodnight and take off, leaving our kitchen (I hate to admit) even cleaner than before he got there. Overall the experience was great. I provided the wine and champagne, and Mac served it. I also was able to show off my seldom-used china and crystal, and Mac set everything up. He arrived about an 1-1/2 hours before the meal was served, and when my BF walked in the door, he could feel the magic in the air. Total pricing was about par with what I'd expect at a top-ranked restaurant, and considering that we were able to serve our own wine too, overall I'd say it was a lot less expensive since we weren't paying the markups or corkage. But it was so much nicer having everything prepared freshly in our kitchen, and served in the intimacy of our home... no parking hassles, relaxed and not rushed, and totally romantic. Would I do it again? Absolutely! P.S. I noticed the website wasn't included in the Yelp info. It's candlelightgourmet.com. Bon appetit!"

From the owner: Romantic dinners by candlelightread more

Beverley was the most gracious, accommodating, and kind chef! When I shared my (many) dietary…read morepreferences, she effortlessly adapted the menu with delicious adjustments. She was extremely responsive and communicative in the days leading up to the meal, so we knew exactly what to expect. Beverley arrived right on time, prepared all the courses, and left the kitchen spotless. Most impressively, the quality of the food was outstanding. My husband and I were blown away by how fresh and flavorful everything was. It was better than restaurant quality--honestly, the chicken might have been the best I've ever had. From the very first bite to the final course, each dish was a visual masterpiece--artfully plated with care--and even more exquisite in flavor. I can't recommend Beverley enough and look forward to working with her again!

We had a fantastic meal with Beverley. Great service, attention to detail and timing of the…read moreplating/courses. She was a great communicator, super easy to talk to and be fussy with, and really took our food and tasting requests seriously. Will definitely be hiring her again! Thank you!

Plentiful Kitchen is such a godsend. The food is delicious and nourishing and they take exquisite…read morecare to have their ingredients be fresh, organic, gluten free, free of unhealthy processed seed oils/etc. It's been such a huge help to me as I recuperate from an illness. Not having to think about my diet. They have 1000% earned my trust and I'm so grateful for the service they provide.

I have tried a few food delivery services because I really struggle to make time to feed myself…read more There was a time when I was losing weight and it started to really worry me, and I knew I had to find a solution to not only thrive but just stay alive! I was intrigued by Plentiful Kitchen's borrowed motto, that food will be thy medicine, and liked the idea that I could pay up front now for the best food available, that someone else would put thought into and prepare, and that in the long run it could help me fight off disease for as long as possible. I like this food the best out of the services I've tried. I love that Inbal uses glassware and reuses it. I know this is healthier and better for the world, so it feels like it is consistent with the values and intention behind this kind of eating. I love having a fridge full of food on Wednesdays and that it just makes it easier to feed myself. It is a big investment financially for me - I am not rich so I do feel the sting of the cost - but I know it is keeping me nourished and I think that needs to be a priority for me. The testament to what she is doing becomes extra clear at my workplace. I often grab a dish on my way to work and whenever I'm eating it in the staff room, my colleagues who pass by take note of it and ask me about it. People remark that it looks beautiful, did I make it myself? Clearly so many people are hungry and hustling and ill-prepared most of the time; we live a fast paced life. So I have shared this information with many a co-worker, and I'm not sure any have tried the food yet (other than what I've shared with them from my own plates) but I think if you're on this page, reading this review, it is likely that this would make your life so much easier. And Inbal is a great cook. Not too salty, never uses dairy (which I love and will inevitably eat on my own, so this helps me keep more vegetables and non-dairy things in my stomach, which I think is good).

I ALWAYS stop here to stock up! I bring a cooler and fill it up every time I come to the Bay Area…read more The Pork Potstickers, Pork with Napa Cabbage Dumplings and Green Onion Pancakes are my top 3 items. I have paid $300+ to have a fully filled freezer and food for weeks! It's pretty simple, you don't even walk in. Walk up to the table in the doorway, get greeted like an old friend because you've been there so many times before and the nice ladies remember you, pick your items, get handed the items, pay your monies, go home and enjoy your yummy food! The nice ladies are always happy and kind and working hard at wrapping dumplings and potstickers!

I ordered to-go recently from this restaurant, and it did not disappoint…read more Their fried rice was simple but satisfying, and a good portion of ingredients and vegetables compared to rice. It wasn't overly greasy, and it had a classic savory taste that I enjoyed. The seafood pancake was crispy on the outside and softer on the inside. There was a good mix of seafood and batter, and texture contrast made it really enjoyable!