1. Mark Nargi

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    Mark Nargi

    5.0 (49 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

    Services - Mark Nargi

    Gluten-free catering

    Kosher catering

    Vegan catering

    Mark Nargi Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Mark Nargi

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    Reviews With Photos

    Unforgettable 80th birthday dinner
    Suzanne S.

    Mark and his crew did an incredible job preparing a wonderful dinner to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday. I trusted Mark to come up with an amazing menu to serve 13 people, and he did not disappoint! We rented an Airbnb and Mark & his crew did all their magic in 1 of the kitchens. Mary's service was impeccable and it was as if they were never there. From appetizers to dessert, to his delicious savory granola, the food was out of this world! Don't think twice! Would use Mark again in a heartbeat.

    Crostini with whipped burrata, arugula pesto, charred peach, and balsamic-port-cherry reduction

    I asked Mark to make up a dinner for my husband's milestone birthday for 7 adults and three kids. The food was spectacular, plentiful, and truly delicious and fun. The kids got food so that they did not have to sit through a 5 course meal, they loved their own meal and also enjoyed tasting from our meals. We loved being surprised with each course! We were staying in a rental and he left the kitchen pristine at the end of the night. Mark was easy to work with and planned a truly special meal for us. Would highly recommend.

    Homemade pizzas with Mark's pizza dough

    With parties and gatherings on pause for the time being, Mark has pivoted and offered an amazing selection of doughs, condiments, soups, and sauces for home cooks who want a break or a little help in the kitchen. The meals that I've incorporated Mark's creations into have been some of the best! Chipotle Mole - I've made black bean and butternut squash enchiladas using Mark's Chipotle Mole twice as they were such a big hit the first time around. The sauce is smoky with just a touch of heat and a wonderful blend of traditional Oaxacan flavors. 5/5 Clam Chowder - I shared this chowder with my parents, both of whom love chowder and can be harsh food critics. The verdict is in and this is the best chowder any of us have had. Loaded with clams, not too thick or salty, perfect balance of flavors. If you have a chance... run, don't walk, for Mark's clam chowder. 5+/5 Garlic Soup - We started a meal with this tasty garlic soup. It was creamy with a great flavor that doesn't overwhelm you with garlic. A perfect start or side to any meal. 4.5/5 Pizza Dough - I made the mistake of having too much pizza dough on hand (not really a problem but that's besides the point) so I let this one sit in the fridge over night and it lost some of it's rise. Still amazing flavors but it didn't roll out the way I'd hoped. 3.5/5. (Note: I've had Mark's homemade cast iron pizza previously and they're always a 5/5.) I'm looking forward to trying Mark's pumpkin soup and roasted red pepper sauce but put them in the freezer when the heat wave started (updates to come!).

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    Emily F.

    Mark absolutely nailed it for my wedding reception! Working with him was a breeze and we were wow-ed by every dish that came out of the kitchen. Mark has a great energy, a fantastic team and exceptional food - my mouth is watering writing this and I can't wait to work with him again!

    S O.

    I contacted Mark Nargi to cater a private dinner for 10 in Montecito. Mark was very responsive and approachable. I offered a few parameters and let Mark take it from there. Mark and his assistant Elliot arrived promptly, offered greetings to our guests and immediately went to work. Every course was prepared beautifully; with the first course of cold salmon standing out as really original and delicious. Everyone thought it was outstanding. Every course was substantial and artistically plated. Throughout the evening, Mark and Elliot were very personable. We learned Mark's 'back story' as part of his presentation of each course; which added to an extremely personable experience. The kitchen was left spotless and just when we thought all was done and over we were presented with Mark's hand-crafted granola, which was exceptional and extended our great experience in to the following day! Thank you Mark and Elliot for a great dinner and evening!

    Everything that Mark and his team prepared was delicious and beautiful. Lovely fresh local ingredients with inventive flavors. Service was outstanding and really made the evening so special.

    Hors d'oeuvre spread before the big meal. The duck pate was phenomenal!
    Cicely H.

    Mark made our wedding dinner a meal we'll never forget! The vision was a family table of 20 people with good conversation, plentiful wine, and just the best food ever and Mark BROUGHT IT! He had great communication, fair pricing, thoughtful, and creative. The menu was incredible but what really shined were the ingredients he used and the care and time he put in to each dish. You can really tell he has a passion for what he does. He even took time throughout the meal to talk about the dishes which the guests really loved. The thoughtful touches (like individually bagging up extra granola as little favors at the end of the night) sets Mark apart from any other chef I've worked with. My only regret is that I don't live in SB to be able to have him cook for me all the time!

    passion fruit macarons
    Jua P.

    Mark catered a private dinner for 9 of us in Ojai for my father-in-law's 70th birthday. He had us choose between setting a very specific menu in advance, setting a general plan while allowing him some creative liberties, or just allowing him to run with it and do something amazing without any guidance. We opted for a bit of a "most popular hits" theme with creative liberties since some of the group wasn't as adventurous and it was absolutely unbelievable. Each and every dish was so beautifully presented and tasted exquisite. We had 3 kids, between ages 10-12 in our group and even they ate up every last bit of every plate. And beyond the food, Mark was so kind, friendly and easy going that his presence just put us all at ease and made the experience that much better. I can not wait to return to the area so we can have him come cook for us again!

    Yuri C.

    A few weeks ago, I spent Memorial Day weekend in SB for my friend's birthday. We sipped wine all weekend, and on Sunday, Mark came and whipped us up a fantastic meal! It was incredible how fast he set up, cooked, and left the kitchen more spotless than it originally was. The food was so delicious and I would have never thought to pair any of the ingredients together myself! I'm very fortunate to have wonderful friends with good taste in chefs and are generous enough to share the experience with me. 10/10 would hire Mark if I need a private chef!

    Handmade pappardelle with roasted wild mushrooms and fines herbes. His fresh pastas are amazing

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Mark Nargi

    Hi. Do you deliver to Ojai? Thank you.

    Hello, I travel to Ojai (or anywhere, pretty much) for on-site events, but unfortunately there are… 

    Hi Mark - is there an email address I should use to get in touch with you? Thanks!

    Hey there! my e-mail is mark.nargi@gmail.com but a phone call is generally a better way to get some questions out of the way, so I can give you the most accurate answers for your party.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Mark Nargi

    I trusted Mark to come up with an amazing menu to serve 13 people, and he did not disappoint!

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Mattias Blom - Summer Squash 
Farmers Market Santa Barbara
Private Chef

    Mattias Blom

    (29 reviews)

    Mattias was integral in making our evening exceptional. From initial email through payment,…read moreMattias was communicative and thoughtful. We had six people for a small birthday get together and everything from the food, decor, timing of courses,etc was spot on. He accommodated our requests including making special items for my youngest daughter. He brings everything - decor, place setting, glassware. We needed nothing as he covered it all. I couldn't recommend him more highly.

    10/10, amazing, fantastic!…read more We had gotten an Airbnb at a secluded beach house and booked Mattias to cook our parent's 30th anniversary dinner. Communication went smoothly from start to finish. When he arrived, he took safety precautions and kept his distance and mask on (something that I really appreciated). He brought the dinnerware, table decor, and even printed out a nice menu at our request. Food was amazing and I loved that we were able to mix and match from his Farm Table menus. We had the butter lettuce salad (could eat this everyday!), the sweet corn soup (amazing flavors- sweetness of the corn was complemented with a kick of chili oil), the petit filet, and raspberry torte (with a sparkler to make it celebratory!). Every thing was amazing and perfectly portioned. At the end of dinner, he cleaned up which is such an added plus! Mattias is very personable and made the occasion so special. Will definitely look forward to working with him again :)

    The Kitchen Door

    The Kitchen Door

    (22 reviews)

    I hired Betti to bartend for a small (20 people) wedding reception and she was excellent! She was…read moreable to bring glassware and bar tools which was one less thing for me to worry about. She also provided free lemonade and ice tea which the young folks loved. She came early, set up on her own and stayed after the guests left to clean up. Her communication was great and the price was fair. Would absolutely hire her again.

    Unfortunately, I did not have a great experience and would not recommend The Kitchen Door for a…read morelarge wedding or event. Betty has many positive reviews, which is one of the reasons I hired her, so my assumption is that smaller events may be a better fit for her business. However, based on my experience with a wedding of over 100 guests, I would not hire her again. The overall customer experience, communication, staffing, and execution did not meet expectations. Positives: * Betty was very helpful during the initial planning process. I originally reached out looking for bartending services, and she was able to provide catering, dinnerware, linens, and other items that reduced the amount of rentals I needed. * She created a beautiful custom menu and was accommodating when guest counts needed to be updated. * The appetizer presentation looked great and was well received by guests. * The enchilada soup was good. * She provided a cake knife for our cake cutting. * Food service itself was not excessively slow despite the size of the event. Negatives: * The staffing and service provided did not match what was outlined in our contract, and there was never any acknowledgment, explanation, or follow-up regarding those issues. * Our contract included two bartenders, but only one actually showed up. While the bartender who was present had a good attitude, I was told by guests that he arrived approximately an hour and a half late. I did not even realize until afterward that my friends were pouring me drinks, and guests were serving themselves drinks while waiting for bar service. * We ran out of food, despite six guests from my final headcount not attending, 14 of the guests being children, and three people that I know of not eating due to there being no food available. * There were no plates available when appetizers were first being served * We also did not have enough utensils for guests, and plastic utensils had to be used. I would have rented plates and utensils if that's what was needed. But I was told that she had them, which she did but not enough. * Communication became increasingly stressful after booking and I often felt uncomfortable asking questions or making updates. * I was contacted for final payment before the payment date outlined in our contract, which created unnecessary stress as I had intentionally planned my RSVP deadline around the contract timeline. * a little bit before the wedding, concerns regarding the venue change were raised (not kindly). I had previously asked what would be needed at the venue and was told that power was the primary requirement, so that was my understanding going into the event. There appeared to be a miscommunication regarding additional needs, including concerns about water access that had already been discussed prior to the wedding. While a solution was ultimately worked out and water was available on the wedding day, the way these concerns were communicated created unnecessary stress during an already busy and emotional time.

    Josie Hoffmann - Wine and Cheese, Santa Barbara Style
 
 Vacation Rental Friendly!

    Josie Hoffmann

    (14 reviews)

    Josie has been cheffing for my family for almost a decade. We absolutely LOVE her. We are self…read moreproclaimed foodies, and like healthy delicious and interesting food. She has many wonderful staples like her veggie shrimp rolls (must have)! But she is super open to trying new things. We often collaborate on the menu with Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty being one of our favorite go to books in a pinch. Josie is a wonderful warm person and can be trusted to respect your home, family and guests. She is a real professional.

    Josie has been the personal chef for my clients for the past 3 years and she is PHENOMENAL!!!! Not…read moreonly is she super easy to work with, but her food is so delicious. And she knows how to cook for all types of palates, ages and appetites. My clients have an especially particular set of dietary needs and allergies that must be worked around. We have had a hard time finding a chef that knows how to adjust to those needs while keeping the food selections, fresh, delicious, and diverse, but with Josie, it's just been so easy since Day 1. They also have 2 toddlers and she always suggests healthy and fun selections for them and they LOVE it! She's also a great cooking tutor and is always happy to help and answer any and all questions. And get this...we are in Los Angeles and Josie is in Santa Barbara...but THAT is how valuable she is to us! We get her food brought down to LA from Santa Barbara. Yes. Believe it when I say Chef Josie is one of the best! When it comes to working parties and events that my clients host, once again, she makes it all so easy and her attention to detail is absolutely precise! For example...We hosted a pizza party because the house had a new wood-fired brick pizza oven installed. I discussed this with Josie, and at the time, she had never worked with wood-fired pizza ovens. However, the very next day she sent me all the information she had researched on it, and also took the initiative to find someone to show her how to work with a wood-fired pizza oven. Because of her research and initiative, she was able to show me via texting and Facetime, how to properly cure the oven a week before the party and then when it came to the actual day of the party, Josie & her assistant came down to cook and put the oven and her newfound wood-fired pizza skills to the test...and everyone LOVED it!!! The pizza was honestly some of the most delicious pizza I've had. And it's all because of the prep work Josie had done before and then when the time came, like a master at their craft, she just let her experience do the rest. And clean-up was a BREEZE!!!!! She and her awesome assistant were constantly cleaning as they were working, so by the time they had to leave, everything was already cleaned up and put away. I am SO GRATEFUL for Josie. She makes my clients very happy and that makes me extremely happy and also, my job that much easier! She is truly one of the best people you will ever work with.

    Market Forays - Focaccia with herbs and lemon

    Market Forays

    (25 reviews)

    $$$$

    We attended Market Foray's cooking class in January, and it was one of the most enjoyable and…read moreeducational experiences I've had in the kitchen. We started with a trip to the farmer's market, where Laurence pointed out different items and talked through the differences in different types of food (green garlic was new to me!). We later met at her home, and the cooking began. She did a good job of rotating the tasks throughout the group, and explaining the techniques as she went. We got to taste as we went, and after all the chopping was done, wine was served. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the other participants were friendly and engaged, making it a fun, social experience as well. And, of course, the best part was sitting down at the end to enjoy the fruits of our labor. The dishes we prepared were full of flavor and creativity, and I walked away feeling incredibly satisfied and inspired to keep cooking. I highly recommend this class to anyone who loves food and wants to expand their culinary horizons. Whether you're looking to learn new techniques, discover fresh ingredients, or just have a fun day out, Market Forays is a fantastic choice.

    Amazing experience! It was great shopping and cooking with Laurence. She opened the group up to a…read morewhole new world of ingredients from the local farmers market and fish market. We made a whole array of dishes and they all were so simple to make yet so delicious. I would highly recommend taking one of her classes and I would happily do it again

    Mark Nargi - catering - Updated September 2026

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