At home with Chef Laurence Literally. My wife and I---and…read moreanother lovely couple---spent a morning and afternoon in her home, where she treated us to an east-going culinary adventure. In a handful of hours she shared her years of cooking experience in such a cordial, pleasant manner that even a kitchen novice could be comfortable. The more experienced in the kitchen gained tips and skills. (I can now confidently make a Beurre Blanc sauce, one of the French Master Sauces, to which we added a few strands of saffron and a generous dash of cayenne.). Beyond the food---a soft and tender halibut with the aforementioned Beurre Blanc, a fricassee of vegetables, a fresh garden salad with homemade ricotta sprinkled on it, and a blood orange upside-down cake----we dined on the presence and persona of Chef Laurence herself. Not only is she a chef extraordinaire but she is a wonderful person who shares her life as easily as she shares her home. When you sign up for her session, you get a four-course meal that consists of great food, culinary knowledge, exceptional hospitality, and an experience with a pleasant beautiful person who reminds you of the pleasures life has to offer.

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.

I purchased a basket of food for two from Nimita's Cuisine, for my daughter-in-law's birthday,…read morewhich was delivered in person by Nimita herself. My daughter-in-law is vegetarian who enjoys the types of food that Nimita makes (curries and healthy vegetables).. She loved the delicious food that she said was "perfectly spiced. She thought the food basket gift was super thoughtful and she loved meeting and talking with Nimita , a very warm and kind person.

Nimita was a pleasure to work with during my wedding planning process! She catered our Indian…read moresnacks before our ceremony in Santa Barbara. She hosted an amazing tasting for my husband and I's families and everything was so delicious! On the wedding day, her team went above and beyond to make sure all our guests were happy and we got RAVING REVIEWS from guests who LOVED the food! I got a chance to try her Samosa Chana and Pav Bhaji in the afternoon of the wedding day and they were AMAZING! Such great flavors and ingredients. I would definitely recommend Nimita and her team to anyone wanting Indian food at their wedding in the Santa Barbara area!

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.

Chef Robért was absolutely amazing. What a great experience, our friends really enjoyed the meal…read more Chef was very professional from start to finish. The presentation was beautiful and the food was absolutely delicious with every course as amazing as the previous. We will definitely do it again. It felt good to be so pampered in our own home.

From the owner: Chef Robert offers personalized menus for small groups and events. We work with each client to…read moredesign a menu to your preferences, taste and dietary needs. We firmly believe in sustainability and organic products to ensure healthy, tasty, and beautiful meals. With years of experience in Michelin level restaurants and hotels, chef Robert will satisfy the most discerning palates.

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 food is delicious and well-balanced. The dessert menu has plenty of options. Service is…read morefriendly and efficient. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming. I tried the chicken bowl, and it was great!

I'm not surprised the cafe has closed. They made it soooo very difficult to buy anything.read more

Highly recommended!Shoutout to Chef Ray Swanson of Chef 805 Catering for an absolutely incredible…read moreexperience. My wife and I attended a friend's birthday party where Chef Ray handled the catering, and the food was truly outstanding. Having spent 22 years in the food service industry myself, I'm not easily impressed--but the presentation, flavors, and overall execution were exceptional. Every item was fantastic. The bruschetta with goat cream cheese was fresh and perfectly balanced. The seared ahi tuna bites were beautifully prepared, and the shrimp spring rolls with ginger peanut sauce were bursting with flavor. Even the flatbread pizza with Caesar salad was spot-on. One great dish after another--we were honestly stuffed by the end of the night. What stood out most was the attention to detail and restaurant-quality presentation, something you rarely see at private catered events. Chef Ray clearly takes pride in his craft, and it shows in every bite. We're already looking forward to the next event he caters at our friend's house--and we'll definitely be using Chef 805 Catering for one of our own parties in the future. -- Anil

Chef Ray exceeded our expectations. He was responsive, friendly, and professional. The food was…read moredelicious! He prepared a buffet with something for everyone, including those with dietary restrictions. I will definitely work with him again. He offers luxurious food at really reasonable prices. But the best part about working with him is his wonderful, positive attitude.