My boss gave my wife and me a private dinner with Brian at home as our wedding present. Best. Wedding. Present. EVER. Brian arrived promptly at 5:30pm as agreed, and over the ensuing five hours, he whipped up a wicked four course meal while we sat back and enjoyed the show. Blackened shrimp with Creole remoloude...finger lickin' good. Jumbo lump crab cake with spiced Dijon lemon vinaigrette...heavenly. Seared baby lamb chops with mascarpone mashed potatoes and rosemary butter cream sauce...saliva inducing. Dark chocolate molten cake with quad berry sauce and lemon vanilla whipped cream...it's so fluffy I'm gonna die! In addition to his ridiculously tasty food, Brian's personality is electric. Talking to a stranger for five hours in your home would normally be awkward, but not with Brian. He had us rolling on the floor laughing with stories from his crazy life and cooking for A-list actors and athletes. He was also very inclusive of us in his cooking...explaining what he was doing all along the way and asking us to taste this and that at each stage of the meal's preparation. We highly recommend Brian for all your cooking and entertaining needs! read more

Well, in spite of the anonymous peach who posted the 1 star review, I somehow managed to be brave enough to book Brian to cook as a surprise birthday present for my girlfriend. The food was excellent, the conversation was a blast, and I would (and will) recommend him to everyone I know. read more

Yesterday, I and 12 others enjoyed a really nice dinner party with Brian at my apartment. We had seared scallops with a white wine and serrano sauce, Dijon mustard-rosemary marinated NY strip steak, and molten chocolate cakes with triple berry sauce. Brian came prepared with everything, and the cost per person for the groceries was really low. He even had modifications ready for the one vegetarian in the group. Brian was really fun and interesting to talk to, and we all learned a few tips in the kitchen as well. Everyone was happy with the meal and the experience. This experience was possible through a YouSwoop voucher I bought a while ago, and we had so much fun that we're thinking about having him come around again. Recommended! read more

Wow! It's difficult to describe what a great experience we had last night with Brian Merel. We had a group of 10 people. I expected to just have a good meal with good company. We got waaaay more than we expected. Before I could even say hello Brian came in for a huge hug as he was chopping and slicing up food. It was nonstop entertainment and we ended up eating the first two courses standing up as he showed us tips and tricks in the kitchen. Brian is a colorful and warm guy with a charismatic flair. You won't be disappointed! Our menu consisted of Seared Scallops white wine garlic butter basil sauce Spanish Style Caprese buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomato, grilled red onion, cilantro lime vinaigrette NY Strip Tagliata rosemary Dijon crust brown butter garlic shallot green beans, marscapone mashed potatoes Dark Chocolate molten cake quad berry sauce, brown sugar lemon vanilla cream I'll be sure to do this again with him! Brian is in demand and it looks like scheduling him may be a challenge but it'll be worth it. Good things come to those that wait. NPS Promoter 10 here!!! read more

What a surprise to walk into my home after work with 8 of my closest friends - and Brian - yelling "Happy Birthday!!" My husband surprised me with an intimate birthday gathering with friends and hired a private chef to prepare a delicious 4-course meal. It has always been my dream to have a private chef cook for us. Truly. So, as it was my dream, my expectations were quite high. The meal started with lamb chop lollipops...and I knew it was only uphill from there. I wasn't wrong. A delicious salad with homemade dressing, followed by a perfectly cooked NY strip and brussels sprouts (and this girl doesn't like brussels sprouts - I do now!! Oh yes, and my mouth is still watering from the steak), and topped off with a molten lava chocolate cake with a homemade multi-berry sauce and fresh fruit. Mmmmm...the perfect ending to a perfect meal. And my descriptions are amateur at best - Brian's are much better and delectably worthy of each dish's scrumptiousness. :) From the initial greeting to the moment he left, I felt like Brian was delighted to be in our home and to be part of this special experience, my 30th birthday celebration. He was interesting, engaging, talented and hit it off with both us, the hosts, and my guests. After he left, I already said to my husband, "When can we have him come again?" Thank you, Brian, for my wonderful first private chef experience. Hope to have you back again for another dinner party! Wish the best to you! read more

I hired Brian Merel to provide hors d'œuvres for an industry event I hosted and was absolutely blown away by his talent, charm and kindness. Not only did Brian attend every planning consultation and continued to exceed expectations throughout the entire planning process but also came in under budget and provided delicious portions to take home and savor after my event. I don't know what's sharper, chef Merel's creative wit or his knives. Brian is always there to lift your spirits and keeps you smiling. Through his vast industry connection Brian was able to recommend a beverage distributor for my event that offered to contribute to my function and saved me time, effort and added expenses. Brian Merel leaves clients with delicious bites in their mouth and moreso a warm place in their heart. read more

I have to say, having Brian Merel come and be a part of my boyfriend's surprise birthday party was one of the best experience I have had. As a fan of all things food/restaurants/cooking/you-name-it, and a huge fan of him on Season 10 of Hell's Kitchen, it was a night to remember. My boyfriend couldn't have been more surprised! First, Brian was very professional and kind, throughout the planning of the event. He responded to emails in a very timely manner, and was very flexible with the menu planning. When he arrived at my house, he was very fun and personable. I could tell right away this was going to be an entertaining evening! He fit right in with the hilarious group, and had us rolling on the floor laughing the whole time. He made sure to include everyone in the meal prep and cooking, and taught us all as he went. It was very interactive. And of course, the food was AMAZING!!!!! I would (and absolutely will) HIGHLY recommend Brian for any time you would like a fun, intimate, GREAT time and one HECK of a meal. I am already thinking of my next excuse to have him over! Thank you Brian for an unforgettable experience! You made my boyfriend's 40th Birthday EXTRA special! -Barbara H. read more

I booked Brian for my 30th Birthday Dinner Party for ten people. All of our correspondence was through email. We decided on a four course menu consisting of seared scallops, salad, sea bass and chocolate molten cake. He was also able to accommodate my two vegetarian friends. I was weary at first to have a stranger come into my home, but Brian was very professional and easy to work with. He was a very interactive chef, talking to my guests and giving cooking tips to them. Since we are only a family of two, my kitchen had very limited supplies; Brian was able to just make things work. Overall, it was an incredible experience. All my guests were so pleased and impressed by this experience. I would highly recommend Brian for any type of event you may have a need for a chef. We will definitely be using him again. read more

Brian was a lively personality and a really good cook. We were invited to a friend's house for dinner, and he prepared dinner for 10. We had a couple types of brucheta, green beans, meat and chicken, and a nice molten chocolate cake for dessert. The food was really good, and Brian was a lot of fun. read more

I purchased his services through Youswoop. I tried scheduling months in advance and he was completely booked. He said he would honor the coupon even after the date because of his schedule but never did. I can't give him more than one star because of his customer service and follow through. He recently sent an email asking for attendance and $ at an upcoming art/gallery show. Even in his mass email he called himself a "hotheaded putz." Needless to say I will not show my support by attending or throwing more $ his way. read more

Brian Merel is much more than a chef -- he's a great guy with a cool vibe who not only brings the yum but the fun. Watching him work his magic in the kitchen and then tasting his food is something everyone should do at least once. We hired Brian for a party of 10 and everyone had an incredibly great time thanks to Brian's delicious food, his presentation and his fun party time personality. It was like having a 5 star restaurant move into your kitchen. Highly recommended and worth every penny. read more

Just enjoyed Brian's incredible food at an event last night in the private home of one of my clients. Brian was personable and fun to hang out with, and every dish he made outstanding. Best crab cakes I've ever had! read more

We hired Brian for my friend's 36th birthday party and we still talk about what a wonderful time we had. The meal was phenomenal (salad, scallops, steak and chocolate molten cake). We were so pleased with the meal and also the conversation. I feel like i also got a cooking class out of this meal. I definitely recommend it for anyone throwing an intimate dinner gathering as Brian is wonderful and the man can COOK! read more

Brian cooked for about 10 friends of ours and it was honestly one of the most fun nights we had in a long time. Brian literally did everything from grocery shopping all the way down to the dishes. We had zero reason to ever get up and the food was INCREDIBLE. World class. He is lively, entertaining, and we all even learned a thing or two about little easy secrets of cooking. I couldn't believe how efficient Brian was (he was also very prompt). All of the expectations he set were underpromised and overdelivered, and that's an understatement. The only thing he had us do was approve the menu! Even that part he guided us through. He brings the perfect amount of energy in the room - he was not intrusive at all of conversation, but at the same time splashed the perfect amount of entertainment and energy into the night. There were times where it didn't even feel like he was there, but we loved when he would check in and chat with us here and there. Even though we would've loved to have him stay and hang out, he finished the last course, rapidly did the dishes, and left us to finish the night on full stomachs and a cocktail or 6! ;) I highly recommend Brian to ANY group - whether a small 2-4 person dinner to a large party. He is the PERFECT choice, and we can't WAIT to make this a monthly routine! read more

Brian did a great job cooking for 14 people at my wife's surprise 60th B'day party last night. As others have said, the food is amazing and he is very entertaining. If you are looking for a typical catered meal in your home, Brian is not the guy. But if you are up for something different and really fun, I would highly recommend him. read more

Brian was the chef at a friend's birthday dinner. He was fun, funny, adorable, and, most importantly, a GREAT chef. When I found out the menu, I thought I should fill up on the fresh shrimp appetizer since I am not a fan of either mushrooms or crab. BUT, when I tasted the first course, which was mushroom risotto, I was amazed. I wanted to lick the bowl it was so delicious. Next, the entree was crab cake accompanied by mixed greens. I figured I should be brave and try the crab, especially since the risotto was so good. Well, it too was phenomenal. The confluence of flavors and the texture were outstanding. I gobbled every bit of it, not to be polite but because it was so wonderful. Finally, Brian served dessert - individual molten lava cakes topped with a berry sauce and fresh berries. OMG!!! Delicious!!! The meal was a TEN in every way. This was the most special experience! A private chef in the beautiful intimate home setting is the most special way to celebrate an event or to indulge yourself and other important people in your life for no reason. Thank you, Brian, for making this night so wonderful!!! read more

The Brian Merel experience was AWESOME!!!! We had received "dinner by Brian" as a present and we had him over to cook for our 22nd anniversary. The whole experience was phenomenal. He arrived 4 hours prior to the meal and his personality, his sense of humor and his professional skills are remarkable. The meal was exquisite and was one of the best meals I have had in a long time (and we eat out at least 4 times a week in some of Chicago's finest restaurants) Having Brian interact with our dinner guests was a real treat and watching him prepare it was mesmerizing. Hands down this was a great experience and we highly recommend "an evening with Brian". You will not be disappointed! Thom Jenkins/Dennis Kmetz , Chicago, Illinois read more

I had Brian booked for a dinner party months in advance, only to have him cancel on me 1 week before the event with no viable alternatives. He was completely unprofessional in his exchanges with me and even admitted that he would have unapologetically canceled 2 days before the event if he had learned of this commitment with that short of notice. He was rude and insulting in his communications with me and seemed unable to take responsibility for his actions. I would HIGHLY recommend that you do not use him as he is clearly unreliable and has poor customer service. He only got one star from me rather than no stars as i was unable to post this without at least one star. read more

I purchased this Youswoop in the Fall...this guy was never available. The expiration date was near, he says don't worry about it. His emails was short and terse. After months of calls and emails, I was finally able to get a date, but it was five weeks out and on a Wednesday, but I got it. I invited 8 fellow doctors to share this experience. Guess what? I called this jerk to confirm...he says" oh, is it this Wednesday?" I am livid, sad and p@ssed off that I gave Youswoop $149 for a experience that will never happen. This guy won't call me back, won't reply to a text and answering an email is out of the question. Buyer beware. read more

We had very high expectations when we hired Chef Brian Merel and he exceeded them. We hired him to cook for 15 people to celebrate my husband's birthday. Nearly everyone we invited loves to cook and/or dine at great restaurants. So expectations were high. The food was outstanding, I cannot think of a time when I had a better meal at a restaurant. Brian was extremely entertaining as he interacted with all of our guests, explained what and how he made each course and truly seemed to enjoy the evening as much as we did. I would highly recommend him - and already have. read more

Brian came to my house and did a cooking demo. and then dinner party for 8. The lesson was so much fun and very informative. Brian was as entertaining as he is talented. The food was outstanding and we all had a wonderful time. Brian gave us some great tips and we were licking the triple berry sauce from our plates. I would definitely use Brian again, he was well worth the wait. read more

I went to a party where Brian was the chef. He was extremely friendly and personable. The food was amazing!!!

Brian cooked for our group of 8 at a dinner party. He was responsive in all communications, planning, set up, etc. You get what you pay for...truly amazing food, service, personality, and experience. Highly recommend. read more

When my boss tasked me with finding a chef to cook at a work party honoring two of our employees for their 10 years of service (a very big deal at my company) I took to the internet! I found several good options but stumbling across Brian was the best thing ever! Honestly I read a lot of reviews and saw he was funny, entertaining, on and on and that's exactly what I was looking for! Our group of about 25 for this event is quite the crowd. We all like to let loose and have a really good time so we needed a chef who could play at our level as it were:) Brian did that and more. Everybody absolutely loved him and loved me for finding him so talk about a win win!! The food was absolutely amazing from start to finish and Brian kept us more than entertained throughout the entire evening. He was an open book about his life and was more than happy to field any questions we asked of him. Some I think may find him a little over the top..he insisted on hugging every single person he met, and at times was a little all over the place, but that is right up this groups alley and we couldn't get enough! I think everyone can enjoy having Brian do an event for them but if you're looking for a stuffy chef you're in the wrong place! Everyone was still talking about it the next day at work and several people even said they would totally hire him for another event maybe they were doing. Overall a complete success and Brian I thought was great the whole time. Very prompt in his emails and answering my questions beforehand and everything went really smoothly. Hire Brian and you won't regret it. read more