While we weren't able to use Sarah's team for our event due to scheduling logistics, I wanted to…read moreleave a review because I was blown away by how easy it was to work with her for a short notice event. -Sarah responded to my inquiry and we were on the phone within minutes to discuss an event that was less than a week away! -She clearly loves what she does and cares to make your event 100% special and catered to food preferences and dietary restrictions. I was so impressed by how quickly she could come up with various dish ideas based on details of the event and the venue (in our case an Airbnb) -for those booking during covid, she takes safety precautions very seriously and ensures your comfort level -she sources fresh local ingredients for delicious meal combinations I'd certainly recommend Sarah and her team for catering and hope to book her sometime in the future!!

This was the absolute best catering/private chef experience I could imagine. The food was…read morescrumptious, unique, beautiful, and so, so tailored to our needs. Everything was vegan, vegetarian, and organic -- perfectly pleasing the vegans and meat eaters in the group (including one VERY picky eater). The owner is kind, thoughtful, punctual, and super creative. The team was extremely health and safety conscious. We will always remember this experience.

Chef Elise was fabulous. The food was delicious and they decorated the table in my granddaughter's…read moreschool colors. I would recommend her to anyone. They were friendly and helpful with everything. Definitely made it easy for us. Thanks again Elise.

More than I could ever hope for....Chef Lise made my 85th birthday so memorable. Food and service…read morewas fantastic ! Her assistant, Jen, added the final touches as she "worked the room"! Thank you Lise and Jen for a wonderful day.

Rob is not only an incredible chef but also a charming person and an absolute pleasure to work…read morewith. We hired him as the private chef for our wedding in Yosemite Valley for 30 guests, with the dinner hosted at an Airbnb in Oakhurst. He flew in from NYC 4 days in advance to get everything prepared and managed the challenging logistics in a timely manner. We were astounded by the amount of work and planning he did for our wedding. Communicating with Rob ahead of time was easy and seamless. In all our emails, he was always prompt to respond. As this was our first experience hiring a caterer, he helped walk us through the whole process, from providing a budget breakdown and utensil options, to curating a menu for our guests based on our preferences, diet restrictions, and budget. He was very professional in accommodating our tight wedding schedule, and made sure all our guests were served food at peak temperature and freshness. Chef Rob prepared us an incredible range of dishes in a 5-course meal, covering everything from a fancy sit-down salad and soup, to a more casual buffet hors d'oeuvres and family style entrée. The sweet & sour pork rib was A HIT!!! Not only did it taste like authentic Chinese food, but it was even better than ribs I had back in China. It almost made me cry of homesickness. The dessert was a perfect sweet ending to our wedding dinner. As someone very particular about food, I found every dish to be beyond delicious. Chef Rob was phenomenal. It wasn't just the great food (many guests asked asked for his contact info); it was his accommodation to our individual needs and timing, as well as his professional service from setup to delivery. I couldn't ask for a better caterer to partner with. I look forward to working with Rob on future events. I truly can't thank him enough and tell you what a relief it was to find him. Highly recommend. Thank you Chef Rob!!

Rob catered brunch for 10 at our rental house and I couldn't be more impressed. He arrived and what…read morefelt like mere minutes later, delivered an amazing meal including: beautiful pastries, four full courses, an absolutely delicious clementine cake and sides. The french toast - OMG, the eggs benedict - AMAZING, the chorizo and egg skillet - yummmmm, that chorizo for real. I have no clue how he managed to cook it all so fast and left the kitchen absolutely spotless. Everyone in our crew were thoroughly delighted and stuffed. Rob was kind, knowledgeable, respectful and professional. I would recommend Rob to anyone in the Catskills region looking for a delicious, local, and beautiful meal. What a blast! A+, would brunch again.

Delicious, wonderful gift! Arrived on time, fresh salad, great curried vegetables and rice dish!read more

From the owner: Dinner parties, personal chef services, partiesread more

We hired Molly to cater a small reception following a memorial service. She made things VERY easy!…read moreGreat selections & suggestions. Delivery was prepared so we were able to keep things fresh until it was time to serve, then set dishes out easily. The food was healthy & presentations attractive. We also found the cost of her service to be competitive & fair. We would highly recommend Back To Basics Cooking & hire Molly again.

Molly Johnston and her team prepared an excellent luncheon for us in May 2023. She was on time,…read moredid everything she said she would do, and the food was delicious. Kind Regards, Richard Harding

We were lucky enough to randomly find Chef Kevin and his team just recently when seeking a private…read morechef for a 1-week vacation for ~10 people at an Airbnb in a relatively remote location in upstate NY. From ideation, to custom menu design, to contract reviews, paperwork including proof of insurance, and payment, Kevin was incredibly professional, flexible, responsive, and ultimately was the determining factor in ensuring our family (with young kids) would actually be able to enjoy the vacation without worrying about cooking, ordering in, or carpooling far distances on windy, dark roads. Kevin and team were also dog and kid friendly. Beyond the professionalism, the food and service were absolutely outstanding. It was hard to believe, but each meal was better than the last, as were the quality of the ingredients used. We would recommend Chef Kevin to anyone seeking relative affordability and a great value yet making zero sacrifices around taste, quality, and service. We are happy to write this review and support Kevin. We expect when we reach out for our next family event that Kevin will have a team of 100+. There is no better - Kevin and team won't disappoint.

We had Chef Kevin handle a special private dinner for our daughter's graduation from Skidmore…read moreCollege. We were staying at an Airbnb in Saratoga Springs and after a busy graduation day there was nothing better than relaxing in our Airbnb with family and celebrating. Chef Kevin cooked us the most incredible dinner. It was the highlight of the weekend and I recommend Chef Kevin 100%!!

Just had the Lemon Parm Arancini from the food truck. It was amazing! The breading was light and…read morecrispy and so much flavor inside. Highly recommend!!

great service and great food !! , If comfort food had a dream team, this lineup would be it. Each…read moreitem brings its own personality to the plate, and together they make one seriously satisfying , we enjoyed the Beef & Cheese Empanadas Golden, flaky, and packed with flavor--these empanadas hit all the right notes. The seasoned beef is rich and savory, perfectly balanced by the creamy, melty cheese inside. Every bite delivers a warm, hearty filling wrapped in a crisp shell that holds up beautifully. Comforting, bold, and incredibly easy to love. Garlic Parm Chicken Bites Tender, juicy chicken coated in a garlic-forward parmesan crust that brings both crunch and flavor. The garlic is assertive without overpowering, and the parmesan adds that salty, nutty finish that keeps you reaching for the next piece. They're addictive in the best way. Maple Bacon Mac & Cheese Croquettes These are pure indulgence in bite-sized form. The creamy mac and cheese interior is already luxurious, but the hint of maple sweetness paired with smoky bacon takes it over the top. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside--each croquette is a little pocket of decadence. Parmesan Truffle Fries A standout side on their own, these fries hit that perfect balance of crisp exterior and fluffy center. The truffle aroma is inviting without being overwhelming, and the parmesan provides a salty, umami-rich layer that ties everything together. Elevated yet comforting. Overall This entire selection delivers a mix of comfort, creativity, and crave-worthy flavor. Whether you're in it for the bold, the cheesy, the crunchy, or the indulgent--there's something here that's going to win you over.

Great things are big reasons to celebrate! Birthdays, a 200th review and becoming an Elite All…read moreStar!! So, in honor of all these accomplishments, I'm dedicating my 200th review to Chef Lance, who helped make my birthday on Jan 27th perfect, very special and exactly what I had hoped for on many levels! From my first conversation with Chef Lance, I knew I found a wonderful Chef, and person! He replied to my initial contact within an hour of messenging him. Through our many emails and texts, together we created a menu that well exceeded 5 stars!! My birthday dinner was prepared in my home for my family, 6 people total! Dinner was called for at 7:30 and Chef Lance arrived at my home around 4:00 to set up and begin preparations. He was so cordial, knowledgeable and his stories of becoming a chef and all his experiences through the years fascinated me! Now for the good stuff, my menu.... Coconut Shrimp appetizer, Penne alla Vodka, Salad, Chicken Francaise and Honey Glazed Carrots. The entire night felt like we were eating in a very cozy restaurant! Chef Lance plated every dish and we enjoyed it all tremendously! Everything was just delicious! I have to point out certain things that stood out to me: the chicken was purchased from a butcher, jumbo shrimp were used and so incredibly fresh and succulent! The coconut was toasted beforehand and the homemade dipping sauce was nothing like anything I have ever had before. It was fruit based with an Asian twist, just fantastic! Because Penne alla Vodka is a favorite in my family, an extra batch was made so everyone could take some home to enjoy again! After dinner, my kitchen was completely cleaned and all dishes, pots, etc were washed. My daughters BF bought a cheescake for dessert so at that point it was time for Chef Lance to leave. From start to finish, he was in my home for almost 5 hours! I can't rave enough what an experience having a chef prepare an intimate dinner was like! If you are looking for someone who will exceed every expectation you may have, Chef Lance is who you should contact. There's no doubt I will be seeing him in my home again! Chef Lance, thank you for a birthday dinner experience I will never forget!!

Chef Lance did a fabulous job cooking a dinner party for 6 people celebrating some milestone…read morebirthdays. We did have some food/allergy issues with the group and Lance worked with us to create a menu that would work for everyone. It was truly a magical evening and I highly recommend him!!

I've had the pleasure of taking three of Chef Raquel's cooking classes. Two were in a large group…read moresetting and one was a small private class. Chef Raquel makes everyone feel comfortable and confident in the kitchen. She's instantly likable, fun and knowledgeable...all while managing to keep everyone engaged. Her recipes are delicious! I've made some of my favorites again at home. I'd highly recommend booking a cooking class with her and her team. You will have a blast, learn something new and have a delicious meal!

Chef Raquel is amazing! She catered my 40th birthday celebration and 3 weeks later my guests are…read morestill raving about the food! Seriously EVERYTHING was absolutely delicious! I'm still waiting on that herb baby potatoes recipe. Thank you again!