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 :)

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.

I put in an inquiry for a private chef through Santa Barbara Chef Collective and was lucky to have…read morebeen paired with Chef Aspyn. We were a group of 8 friends and 3 babies traveling to Solvang for a weekend getaway, and we wanted to enjoy a quiet, delicious meal once the babies went down for the night. Booking through Santa Barbara Chef Collective was such a breeze--simple, straightforward, and catered to all our needs. Choosing the menu was super fun as we were given so many tasty options for each course. Chef Aspyn and her sous chef Alexis (who was so fun and sweet!) arrived right on time and quickly started preparing our feast. It was so nice how they set the table so we could enjoy an al fresco twilight dinner. Not only was every course delicious, but so, so beautifully plated. They also made us cocktails and mocktails (for the pregnant ladies), and kept our wine glasses full throughout the entire evening. It was clear that these chefs are not only skilled but passionate about their craft. To top it all off, they left our kitchen spotless - even washing baby bibs which we really appreciated. This dining experience was the highlight of our trip, and we couldn't have asked for a better meal. If you're considering a personal chef, I highly recommend Chef Aspyn!

Some of the best, most creative food and baked goods. From salads to appetizers to the absolute…read morebest chocolate chip cookies I've ever had.

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.

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.

If we could give more than 5 stars, we would in a heartbeat! We hired Mark for our elopement dinner…read moreand he completely blew us away. From the first conversation, he was kind, funny, professional, and genuinely excited to help make our day special and he delivered on every front. The food? Unreal. Every dish was thoughtful, beautifully plated, and insanely delicious. We're still dreaming about it. He somehow managed to strike that perfect balance between fine dining and pure comfort. You could feel the love and care he puts into his craft. But what really made the experience unforgettable was him. He was warm, easygoing, and brought such a fun, calming energy to the day--it honestly felt like having someone you've known forever cooking for you, who just so happens to be incredibly talented. Our guests haven't stopped talking about it, and neither have we. Couldn't recommend him enough. If you're looking for a private chef for a special occasion (or honestly, any occasion), he's really great!

Mark was absolutely fantastic. We had him do a 7 course pairing and everything was spot on. Every…read moredish was unique, delicious and he would go out of his way to explain his process and shared whatever knowledge you wanted about his process in creating the dishes he served. If you're looking for food that is truly amazing and totally original, look no further. He will deliver. He and Elliot are nothing short of professional and awesome Thank you Mark and Elliot you really made our anniversary special!!

We spent a long weekend in Montecito/Santa Barbara with five other couples celebrating my wife's…read more50th birthday, and it was absolutely perfect. One of the highlights of the weekend was the meals prepared by SB Chef Collective. They handled breakfast each morning, lunch one day, and dinner on our final night--and "amazing" would be an understatement. We truly appreciated their professionalism and their flexibility in accommodating our group's wide range of dietary preferences. A special shout-out to our breakfast chef, Kelly, who even whipped up Bloody Mary mixers at the last minute one morning. I would highly recommend SB Chef Collective to anyone planning to spend a few days in the area.

Our recent getaway to Solvang was made even more memorable thanks to the personal chef experience…read morewe had at our Airbnb. After a fun-filled day of ostriches and wine tasting with our group of eight friends and three little ones, we were excited for an al fresco twilight dinner while the babies were tucked in for the night. Booking through Santa Barbara Chef Collective was such a breeze--simple, straightforward, and tailor-made for our needs. Choosing the menu was super fun as we were given so many delicious options for each course. Chef Aspyn and her sous chef Alexis arrived right on time and quickly started preparing our feast and setting the table. Not only was every course delicious, but so, so beautifully plated. They also made us cocktails and mocktails (for the pregnant ladies), and kept our wine glasses full throughout the entire evening. It was clear that these chefs are not only skilled but passionate about their craft. To top it all off, the chefs left our kitchen spotless - even washing baby bibs which we really appreciated. This dining experience was the highlight of our trip, and we couldn't have asked for a better meal. If you're considering a personal chef, I highly recommend Santa Barbara Chef Collective--they will without a doubt exceed your expectations!

As a birthday present, we did a cooking class with Kathryn and had the best time. We chose the…read moreSyrian menu and Kathryn taught us so many fun facts about the region and food. She is a true delight and the meal was excellent. Those spiced potato cakes were to die for! I would love to try one of her other menus or wine pairings in the future. This makes a great gift or special experience when guests visit. Highly recommend!

Kathryn made my 10th wedding anniversary such a wonderful experience. We celebrated in Pismo Beach…read morewith our kids and my mother in law, and rented an AirBnB right on the beach. From the moment I reached out to Kathryn, she was warm and friendly, detailed, upfront, responsive, and very communicative. She even worked with me to offer something new for the main course which was a new recipe she just tried for a recent event, and asked lots of questions to ensure that the food she was going to make suited our preferences. Kathryn accommodated our request to have dinner on the patio, and her presentation was amazing! Kathryn's warmth and friendly personality extended to the evening of the dinner as well. Kathryn's food was SO delicious!! Everyone gobbled everything up, and my kids couldn't get enough of the tzatziki! The wines that Kathryn chose for the courses paired very well. The fish was soooo good that there was nothing left on anyone's plates! Everything was delicious - shrimp fritter, tzatziki / pita, pomegranate salad, orange roughy with veggies and cous cous, and the chocolate mousse that was so light and yummmmmy! We had the full service meal option, and Kathryn explained all the courses and the wine nicely throughout. A huge plus was that our kitchen was spotless at the end of the evening, which was so nice not to have to worry about cleaning up at the end of the night. What an amazing experience - thank you Kathryn for making our anniversary dinner so memorable! If you are vacationing in Pismo Beach, or even if you live in the area, I would highly recommend that you reach out to Kathryn!

I made initial contact with Debby about a week before a wine tasting event I was curating about…read morepreparing dishes to pair with the wines. Everything about my experience with her was 5 Stars. She is professional, responsive, caring and passionate about her work. More importantly every dish she made was beautifully presented and delicious. The lobster shooters especially stand out but meats cooked to perfection. She and her assistant chef Elizabeth did an amazing job, left the kitchen spotless and I would not hesitate to use them for any private event in the future.

Chef Debby is amazing. So easy to work with, super sweet, will do anything for you and the food…read morewas so good. I hired her to do food for bridal and groom get ready rooms the day of my daughter's wedding. Everything was so beautiful and delicious. She was such a great find, highly recommend!

I absolutely adore this shop!! The vibe is very charming, intimate, and warm. I have never seen so…read moremany different infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars before. I really appreciate that you can taste the products. I found so many I loved and tasting the notes helped me better envision what I could use each one for and how it fit into my cooking style. I also like how they offer each product in two sizes. The people here are so warm, friendly, and knowledgeable as well. They were so ready to help and give information about their store and their products.

I love olive oil stores, especially the ones in California have wonderful products. Viva Oil on…read moreState Street in the heart of Santa Barbara didn't disappoint! The store has a nice decor, airy, it's welcoming, has a wide variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars with nice flavors (some fruit based - fig anyone?), nice staff and reasonable prices. Great place to shop at, you can get a set for a nice gift or a couple of bottles for dipping and salads at home!