Let's start with dessert. A molten lava cake with vanilla bean ice cream. It had birthday candles…read moreon it. Ok back to the front of the meal. My kids hired Chef Tim to prepare a fantastic dinner for my 70th year on earth. Seared ahi, mochi rice crab cake, mini laulau were progressive appetizers that eased the flow of wine and conversation into just the right pace. A cold soup made from fresh green herbs served as a palate cleanser for the entree: a luscious chunk of opah (moon fish) drizzled with a white sauce along with jasmine rice and zucchini cubes. The fish melted like buttah in your mouth. Just when you thought there was no room for more, Chef Tim presented dessert. It was so good my son went back for seconds. Mahalo Chef Tim and his assistant April for preparing and serving a fabulous meal!

We had a great birthday dinner with Chef Tim. He was very easy to work with and extremely…read moreaccommodating for guests 7-75. Highly recommended for any special occasions! Did I mention he did a great job cleaning up after the big meal? it doesn't get any better than that!

Sydney made our wedding catering and I could NOT be more thrilled! She was so helpful during the…read morecreative process and was open and receptive to my ideas! Her communication was excellent during the whole process and her pricing was fair! The food was astounding, unique, nourishing and unlike anything I ever had! Her knowledge of using medicinal foods paired with her natural talent for making delicious food is out of this world! Can't wait to book her again!

Thanks you! thank you!! Living Food Alchemy! You really came through for us! We thought your menus…read moresounded so healthy and tasty... and they were...and more! Delicious! We especially love all the little touches like locally grown ingredients and edible flowers. A celebration on a platter....Just what we need to sooth our city souls. Thank you for make everything seem so special. We'll be back for more next trip! Aloha

Chef Kerstin prepared three square meals a day during our retreat in Holualoa, back in February…read more There were sixteen of us there for seven days and we were all deliciously nourished. She made everything fresh everyday and even prepared special desserts when one of us were celebrating their birthday. She was already in the kitchen before dawn preparing everything and stayed late too. For our outings, she even made sure our meals were fully packed with utensils. Chef Kerstin is also a font of knowledge about Hawaii. We all took note of her tips and recommendations around the Big Island and abroad. I highly recommend her for all your catering and meal prep needs.

Chef Kerstin presented an amazing dinner party at our home. She arrived at 10am working hard…read morethroughout the day preparing and serving us an over the top meal

My daughter had great conversations with Max regarding our menu, which was absolutely delicious!…read more Every item they chose was amazing, filled wontons, short ribs, delicious fish, rice and mashed potatoes!! The salad was incredible!!! But the banana cream pie was out of this world!! Delicious the night of, and also for breakfast..:) We had amazing dinners throughout Kona, but this was by far the best! Highly recommend.. Thanks Max and Austin!!!

Amazing meal, amazing experience! Max put together an amazing Hawaiian meal for our family of 8…read moreand gave us the full private chef experience. We looked at many other private chef options and Max stood out for his highest ratings and no add on charges that many other chefs include (ie., trip charges, additional server/service charges, etc.). Not only did Max offer the best value, he and Austin were a real pleasure to be with arriving 3 hours before serving to cook and prepare the food and setting at our location. Max was very flexible with the diet restrictions/requests of a few family members. Each item served was prepared perfectly and incredibly delicious! A real impactful memory and experience for our family and I highly recommend Max!! Thank you Max!

I wholeheartedly recommend Chef Rachel Erkan for any culinary needs! If you value high-quality,…read morefarm-to-table food, she's your chef. Her expertise shines through, especially knowing many ingredients came straight from her homestead--an impressive touch. With less than a month's notice, she crafted an unforgettable dinner for my intimate wedding, blending local and Mediterranean flavors seamlessly. Communication was prompt, and she handled dietary accommodations for my group with ease. Chef Rachel was professional, leaving the kitchen spotless, and the food? Some of the best we've ever tasted. Standouts included the tender, flavorful lamb--hands down the finest my group had ever had--the unique honey-cured egg yolk, and the pickled quail egg. The lilikoi curd was a revelation, and her macadamia nut baklava outshone any I've tried. Even the kulolo, a dish I grew up with, was exceptional. Every dish and sauce left us in awe. My family still raves about the meal, and Chef Rachel's work turned my wedding into a dream, ending with us blissfully full. Next time my husband and I are on island, we will be sure to check out what cooking classes Chef Rachel has going on at her homestead. Book her--you won't regret it!

We ordered our Thanksgiving meal from Chef Rachel. Pickup went smoothly, everything packaged…read morewonderfully. Easy directions and prep. Dinner was delicious, creative (loved the purple sweet potatoes and mushroom gravy) and my wife raved about the stuffing. It was so good and yummy, I commend Chef Rachel for knocking this meal out of the park.

Chef Louie and her team delivered another unforgettable evening! From the curated menu we planned…read moretogether to the beautiful table settings and drinks, every detail felt personal. She easily accommodated a dietary restriction, and her upfront communication - menu, itemized costs, and contract confirmed by email - made everything stress-free. The food was exceptional: fresh produce from her own garden (the garnish on the chicken shooters was amazing!), tropical fruits she introduced us to and wove into the meal, and dishes I'm still thinking about days later. She even snapped photos of us during the event without being asked. Chef Louie embodies the warmth of Aloha, and she just keeps getting better - even after her Iron Chef win!

Katherine organized and provided an amazing dinner experience for our large family at our beautiful…read moreBig Island rental house, in celebration of some notable birthdays. Not only was the food outstanding, but she also arranged for outdoor seating, flowers, leis, a musician, a photographer and an after-dinner fire show. All were great. She is a friendly and likable person, with great culinary and organizational skills. She easily accommodated various dietary restrictions and preferences among our large group, and everything was delicious. Our family will never forget this memorable evening.

Chef Paul was fantastic to work with for my sister's 50th birthday celebration. He was responsive…read moreand was able to accommodate her dietary restrictions (gluten free & vegetarian). He had a special lei made for her too! Food was delicious. It is scary to book someone, never meeting them in person, but I would highly recommend Chef Paul!

We had such a great experience with Chef Paul. He was friendly, professional, and knows his craft…read morewell. He delivered an incredible 6 course meal for our group of 6 and we loved every bite of it.

Jeremy assisted me in planning for my birthday party in April 2025 with an emphasis local entrees…read more Our selections were scrumptious, delectable and well catered to our desires. We'll keep East-West Catering on our Hawaiian trips.

My wife and I work with Jeremy once per week on a chef-made dinner for our household. Turns out we…read moreare next door neighbors and didn't get to know him until recently when we trimmed our hedging. He always has our weekly dinner ready on time, with documented and clear warmup/prep instructions. His portions are big. He changes up the food flavor/region every week. The food is always fresh and tasty. Thank you chef!

Each year, our family gathers for a week to reconnect and spend time together, as we all live in…read moredifferent places (Palo Alto, Ca, Houston, TX and Asheville, NC). This year we rented a home on Keauhou Bay on the big island of Hawaii, and enjoyed a week in paradise! One of the best things we did to make our time together really special was to have Big Island Chef, Martha, and her team prepare three dinners for us: two buffet style and one drop-off. We had high expectations, but my goodness, we were blown away by how delicious the food was (and by the generous portions!). Martha had sent us menu ideas, but we simply told her what we liked and didn't like (not much) and asked her to prepare an omakase ("I'll leave it up to you") menu for us. The ingredients were all incredibly fresh, most of it local fish, meat and produce, much of it sourced from her own farm. She is an enormously talented chef who clearly loves what she does, and her clients reap the benefits of her passion for food. We thoroughly enjoyed every single bite of our dinners, and there were plenty of leftovers for a complete meal the following evening, too. She is happy to share her recipes with you, with one exception: her legendary (and fabulously decadent!) Honey Caramel Macadamia Nut Tart that she served us with homemade macadamia nut ice cream. All five adults and our two young grandchildren are still raving about the meals Martha prepared for us, and are an integral part of the afterglow we're basking in from our week in Hawaii. I would highly recommend Chef Martha to anyone seeking a private chef for any event, but especially for families who are renting a home and want a break from the kitchen. Our culinary experience with her was truly 5-star on all accounts! Mahalo, Chef Martha!!!

Martha is an incredible chef. I was lucky enough to have her cook a private meal for myself and…read moreguests. Attention to detail, delecious food, easy communication all equalled a wonderful dining experience. Appetizers, all courses plated and her incredible macademia caramel tart for desert made for a perfect evening. I look forward to my next trip to the Big Island and having Martha create another magical evening.

Very much recommend Island Thyme Gourmet! We ordered meals for home delivery to our vacation rental…read morefor our family because we wanted to eat well but avoid restaurants and get a break from cooking ourselves. The food was delicious and arrived with clear instructions on how to easily assemble or warm up. Exactly what you want to take your mind off of meal prep while on vacation. They have a variety of options on their rotating menu, generous portions and nice sides to order in addition to the main menu items. We liked stocking up on some salads. Fresh ingredients and some healthy/balanced meals. They were also so easy to communicate with and place orders. We will definitely use their service on a future trip to the Big Island.

OMGosh, I highly recommend Island Thyme! My husband and I, and our 2 teenage kids, visited the…read moreBig Island in March. We rented a beautiful house and decided we'd cater a couple of meals in to enjoy our space. First of all, Clare (who delivered our meals and the wife of Chef Dan), could NOT be any sweeter. She was so responsive via email prior to our arrival. She proposed menus for us, and she cheerfully delivered them. Our first meal: filets with sautéed mushrooms and onions and the most delicious red wine Demi glace sauce (I could literally drink the sauce), with Caesar salad, roasted local veggies, and ulu gratin was SPECTACULAR. The Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream with macerated strawberries was out of this world. The second meal Chef Dan prepared for us was Mahi Mahi in parchement (with a super spectacular leek and mushroom topping), saffron basmati rice, and sautéed garlic bok choy. The salad that night might have been my fave. The passionfruit vinaigrette (much like the red wine Demi glace, I could literally drink). Both my husband and I are still talking about the salad dressing! We are leaving this part of the Big Island and heading to the volcano area for the last leg of our trip, and I have the leftover passion fruit vinaigrette packed in the cooler! Also, Clare/Dan prepared a beautiful fruit tray for breakfast, and the Macademia Nut tarte that Clare picked up from another baker/chef ... also delish.