Chef Katie is FANTASTIC! My brother gifted me one of her in-home cooking classes, and we had the…read moremost wonderful night getting to know her, learning new recipes and (of course) eating the delicious meal she curated specifically for our group of four. Starting with our initial email exchange about food preferences, allergies and many, many menu ideas, and extending beyond the class to follow-up restaurant and recipe recommendations, the entire experience with Chef Katie was easy, effortless and fun. Everything felt accessible; communicating with Katie felt like chatting with an old friend, the recipes were as realistic as they were delicious -- meaning, we'll actually make them on a weeknight since they don't take hours to prep/use obscure ingredients -- and there was nothing stuffy or transactional about having a professional chef teach a class in our home. No doubt, Katie is as professional as they come. What's more, though, is she is a genuinely good human and a joy to be around. I couldn't recommend the cooking class experience more, and I look forward to doing it again soon!

My family has been working with Chef Katie for about a year now. I originally reached out after I…read morehad my third baby. My husband and I were in a routine of serving a "kid dinner" (e.g. chicken nuggets) for our kids and ordering takeout for ourselves. I wanted to sit down for family dinners, but I could not figure out how to work full-time, take care of my kids after school/work, and make healthy family dinners. Enter Chef Katie... our routines completely shifted with her weekly meal delivery service. Everything is prepped and ready to go so all I have to do is heat everything up at dinner time. We now sit down for family dinners most nights, and we are all eating MUCH healthier. A year ago my husband was 10 lbs heavier than he has ever been in his life, I was carrying extra weight too (for obvious reasons). I've never cared much about the number on the scale - but I do care about feeling healthy. It is kind of crazy to fast forward to almost a year later. My husband lost those 10 lbs, I am down to my weight before I had ANY kids, and am reaching into my closet for things I haven't worn in years. And I feel like I have more energy now than I have had since before I had kids. I am just amazed by the impact of eating good, quality, healthy food. Thank you Chef Katie!

I came across Gmarket from an internet search - and thought wow ALL five stars?!? And my experience…read morewas absolutely the same!! I wanted to plan a birthday dinner at my home and hadn't worked with a private chef before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The short of it is I was blown away by Frank and his team from start to finish!! Frank was very responsive after my first inquiry and subsequent (read: MANY) requests. He proposed an amazing menu while accommodating several severe allergy requests. I changed the number of guests several times, which he also just rolled with. And then (!), I realized I REQUESTED THE WRONG DATE. A major error on my part. I don't recommend doing that, but Frank was also somehow able to accommodate my date change. I was incredibly grateful for that!! The dinner itself with Chef Charley was INSANELY DELICIOUS. We had an amazing round of starters, followed by a multi-course dinner and dessert. Everything was just SO, SO good. So flavorful. Cooked just perfectly. And there was plenty of food for all of the guests. (I was worried that maybe there wouldn't be generously sized portions, but this was not the case whatsoever.) On top of that, Chef Charley himself was an awesome guy and I really enjoyed working with him. We spoke before the dinner to run through everything, he helped make the dinner layout look gorgeous with some extra props I wasn't even expecting, and his cleanup job was A+. Icing on the cake for an incredibly talented chef!!! I am truly looking forward to my next opportunity to work with Frank, Charley and their team again!

BELIEVE THE HYPE. We are a difficult crowd to impress and Gmarket soared above our expectations for…read morea 15-person Thanksgiving extravaganza. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to host our loved ones at our home. We trusted Gmarket at the helm and we are very grateful and glad we did. This team is professional, responsive and cares about their work in a way that translates to the table. Exceptional food. Our guests were heard singing the praises throughout diner, on repeat. We were a rowdy bunch and Chef Bobby and his crew knew how to handle us. By the end of the night, it felt like we were all celebrating the holiday together. We are grateful to Gmarket for the memories and I am looking for another excuse to get a caterer!

Oooh how much we love Chef D'Andre. Last year around this time, my now husband and I were looking…read morefor a Chef to create a plant-based menu for our wedding in June 2023. Thanks to Thumbtack, we stumbled upon this incredible human being. Since we preplanned with our Chef well in advance, we formed a great relationship with Chef DeAndre over time. There were a few hiccups regarding delayed communication, however, Chef did mention that was because he was going through a business expansion phase at the time. He was still professional and was very transparent during his shift in business. Chef D'Andre lol, if you are reading this, know that from the very first moment we tasted your delectable creations during the menu tasting, we knew we had found something extraordinary. The attention to detail and the exquisite flavors that you infused into each dish were nothing short of exceptional. Our guests couldn't stop raving about the array of flavors that graced their palates, and many said it was the best plant-based meal they ever had. Moreover, you took the time to listen to our preferences and dietary requirements, ensuring that every guest had a memorable dining experience. You have left an indelible mark on our hearts and taste buds, and we will undoubtedly cherish the memories of your exceptional cuisine for a lifetime. You are an outstanding chef, and we wish you continued success in all your culinary endeavors.

Had Chef back a second time to cook for my mother and her friends. He did a fantastic job as…read morealways. He is very communicative and works to make sure everyone is pleased... Cooking for older people with dietary needs can be tricky but he was willing to try and did succeed. He even made a dish i saw online and wanted to try! See you in 6 months for the next soiree!!!!

This was our second time engaging Zac for a special dinner party and,again, he did not disappoint!…read moreHe and his fellow chef, Rory, prepared an amazing 7-course meal for 8 people including appetizers (meatballs!), salad (roasted figs!), pork loin (wrapped in bacon!), horseradish potatoes (!) and homemade chocolate cake. He is an affable guy, communication was fast and easy, his fees are reasonable, and his food is fresh & delicious. And he left my kitchen clean and tidy! I can't wait for another opportunity to engage him again. Zac is a treasure! I recommend him highly.

Zac was awesome, food was delicious, party loved the experience & every dish, will hire again!…read more An added note: we had several people with food allergies and Zac was diligent about every ingredient during his preparation.

Early in the pandemic, when all the restaurants were closed and everyone was scrambling with what…read moreto do, there was an article in the Chicago Tribune about Chef Aram Reed. Based on that article, we decided to gather three other couples and have a "Four Courses of Quarantine Dinner" via Zoom. We were given 3-4 items to choose from for all four courses ahead of time so that we could essentially select what we wanted to eat for our dinner. Aram then prepared all the food and we drove in (from Naperville) to pick it up. He had it packaged in 4 separate bags and each course was labeled clearly with what to do with each item. There was also a menu enclosed. Everything was done in a very contactless manner. I don't want to say I was skeptical going in to this experience, but I kept telling my friends not to get their expectations up too high because I didn't know what to expect. I had never heard of Aram Reed before so was going in blind. What a very pleasant surprise! Aram was extremely easy to work with and the food was absolutely delicious! We all had our favorite courses, but each one was tasty, not over seasoned, and quite flavorful. Our menu consisted of: Appetizer: shrimp and grits Soup: French onion soup Main course: stuffed pork chop Dessert: key lime pie This is just my lay description of them, they were much fancier than this! The amount of food provided was so much - I only ate half of my appetizer, half of my soup, my husband and I split one of the pork chops, and he didn't eat his dessert! We were 8 very full, very satisfied, and very happy customers at the end of the evening!

We had a surprise birthday dinner for my Mom, Chef Aram and his team did a tremendous job to make…read morethe occasion special. We reached out to a few private chefs and Chef Aram was quick to respond and accommodate all of our needs. If we need to hire a private chef again we will definitely reach out to Chef Aram!

Chef Chris Exceeded my expectation! He was easy to work…read morewith. He communicated & responded quickly! The food he served was exceptional! He help make a very special surprise engagement dinner spectacular!

The dinner party was a smash success! Everybody loved the food. It was delicious! Chef Jacob and…read moreTom were outstanding! They worked hard to accommodate the stops and starts of the party, while making sure the food was perfect when served. They did a great job cleaning up! A big thank you to both of them! And many thanks to you for being understanding and accommodating when we had to reschedule! It was a wonderful experience! Thank you Chef Chris and My Private Chef for a wonderful evening

Nina has cooked for my Father, and for my family, separately, and we have very different requests…read more Nina listens carefully to taste preferences, dietary needs, and portions. All of us are so grateful for Nina's talents. She makes the house smell delicious, clearly labels containers in the fridge, explains which items go together, does the dishes, and leaves us all feeling healthy and cared for. She is terrific!

From the owner: Take back your precious free time and allow Nina to do the meal planning, shopping, meal prep and…read morecleaning. Meals are prepared in your home weekly based on your selections. Say goodbye to processed convenience foods, frozen entrees, drive thru and unhealthy take-out meals. Feel free to request healthier versions of your favorite international cuisines such as Asian, Mediterranean, Indian and more! No more anxiety over whether or not your take-out order is absolutely gluten free! Nina is proficient in making delicious and creative meals that are GF or AIP friendly.

I have been using Lindsay for three years now and I'm a new woman. After cooking for 15 years for…read morethree picky kids and a husband with mild dietary issues (and not enjoying it) Linsday came into my life. She sends me a menu every two weeks, we agree on it, she orders my food, comes to my house and Voila, I have at least 6 meals to help me get through the next few weeks. If you need or want to know what goes into your food, are tired of paying delivery and dine out prices for mediocre food, Appetites is your answer. This isn't hoity-toity; it makes perfect sense for busy people who want to stay healthy while enjoying delicious food. Lindsay's meals and desserts are top notch and she is a pleasure to work with.

From the owner: Lindsay Jara is a Personal Chef and Caterer serving the Chicago area. Appetites Personal Chef…read moreService focuses on Meal Services for individuals and families as well as Party Catering. Meal Services A Personal Chef can take the hassle and stress out of dinner time for the busy individual or family with personalized Meal Services. You and the chef will work together to design a meal plan that fits your needs and lifestyle. The menus are tailored especially for you because special care is taken to note your likes, dislikes, allergies, and special diets. Catering Services, Dinner For Two, Fondue Fountain Your party will be attended to from start to finish. The chef will prepare the food, serve, and clean up the dinner. The host and guests will be able to fully enjoy the party and not have to worry about anything! Check out the website and contact the chef for an estimated budget. www.AppetitesPersonalChef.com