If I could give 10 stars, I would! I searched for several weeks to find a chef to prepare a meal for my 30th birthday dinner party, and I am so glad that I found Chef Joe. Every other chef I spoke with would only do a 5-7 course menu, which is not what I was looking for. Chef Joe was happy to do 3 courses for us, and all of them were amazing. Coordination of the evening (menu, services, price, location, etc.) was seamless from start to finish, and he was very responsive and flexible any time I had a question or needed to make a change along the way. He left the kitchen of our Airbnb better than he found it, boxed up each person's leftovers if they had any and labeled the boxes for us by name, and even washed our plates and flatware when we were finished with dinner so that we would have them for the cake we planned to eat later in the evening. Not only was the food absolutely delicious, Chef Joe was also very personable and kind to our whole group. Reasonable prices, above and beyond service, and amazing food...I cannot recommend Couch Potatoes enough. Thank you, Chef Joe, for a wonderful meal and for making my 30th birthday better than I could have imagined! read more

Couch Potatoes - Very professional and personable. Thank you, Chef Joe! - Personal Chefs Near Me

See all

We had the absolute best experience with Chef Joseph for my husband's 50th birthday celebration. From the very beginning, he was incredibly responsive and took the time to walk us through menu options, answering questions and offering thoughtful suggestions. Communication was clear and seamless throughout the planning process, the day of the event, and even after. The meal itself was outstanding our guests are still talking about it and raving about how fun and memorable the entire experience was. The beautiful charcuterie to start the evening and the tableside Caesar salad were the perfect way to kick things off and really set the tone for the night. One of the biggest highlights was being able to actually enjoy time with our guests. Chef Joseph handled everything, and even cleaned the kitchen afterward, which was such an unexpected and appreciated touch. I would choose having Chef Joseph host an event in our home over a restaurant experience any day. It felt personal, relaxed, and truly special. I will absolutely be using his services again for both personal celebrations and work events. Highly recommend! read more

Joe was great! He was very communicative prior to the event, he made delicious food, highly recommend the Caesar and the salmon! The apple crumble for dessert was great too. He left our kitchen spotless! Thanks Joe for a great evening! read more

Chef Joe was so easy to work with in planning a graduation dinner for 20 people at an Airbnb we rented for the weekend. We had a number of family in our group with different food restrictions and he worked with me to figure out a menu that would meet dietary needs. The food he made was excellent- all of our guests gave him compliments on the flavors and options he provided. Thanks Chef Joe! read more

Chef Joe is THE BEST!! We hired him to cook a dinner in our AirBNB, and it was one of the highlights of the trip! He was super helpful in planning a delicious menu in advance of our event and helped us pick the perfect items. He was the nicest person and very adaptive to the situation including the limited dishware provided by the vacation rental. He just worked quietly in the background and wasn't even bothered by a huge group of girls being VERY loud lol, which was much appreciated. Joe made short rib that fell apart with a fork, cooked with handmade pasta from a local shop, and even brought dessert from a famous SD pie place for us to try. The crab puffs and Brussels with bacon were drool-worthy. Highly recommend Chef Joe!!! read more

WE LOVE CHEF JOE! Our group hired him to cook dinner for a bachelorette party. Prior to the dinner, he was communicative about his process, suggested menu items, and other options. He was willing to work with us to make sure that all of our preferences were taken into account. He came to our vacation rental, cooked us a fantastic meal, and even seemed not to mind our bachelorette shenanigans! :) Every ingredient was carefully considered; we loved that he even included a few specialty ingredients from shops local to the area. We enjoyed crab puffs, a tableside Caesar salad, braised short ribs (literally fork tender), pappardelle pasta, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, and crumb pies for dessert. There wasn't a single item we didn't LOVE. Beyond the delicious food, Chef Joe was very respectful, tidy, and prompt. He even left us with to-go containers to save what we weren't able to finish! If you're considering hiring Couch Potatoes, absolutely do it! read more

Wow! Couch Potatoes worked our four day business retreat and went above and beyond. They made fresh, delicious, and diverse foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks. We were a group of 11 and every single person greatly enjoyed the meals. Chef even accommodated food allergies and dietary preferences. We HIGHLY recommend him and can't wait to come back and use him again! read more

Couch Potatoes - Shrimp Louie Salad and mozzarella & parmesan Sammie. - Personal Chefs Near Me

I reached out to Chef Joe about cooking for my mom and dad's anniversary. He was quick to respond and friendly from the start. He suggested I take a peek at his website for some menu inspo and it was great to see so many options. My parents don't have the fanciest of palettes, so Chef Joe was extremely flexible in creating a custom menu/substituting dishes. I came up with the idea to hire them a personal chef the week before their anniversary and after a few days of research found Chef Joe. Once he responded and I saw the Yelp reviews + menu options, I asked if he could cook for them in as soon as two days - to my surprise he said yes. I was happy that I'd be able to surprise them the week of their anniversary as it made it a bit more special. He prepared a steak entree, a salad, an appetizer and two side dishes (one of which was polenta - yum!) My parents called me after the meal and said they had such a good time -- not only was the food delicious, but the company was great. They enjoyed chatting with Joe and watching him work his magic. Bonus points = Joe brings all of his own gear and cleans up afterwards. Plus - his pricing includes the ingredients and menu items which I realized isn't the case with many private chefs. Let me save you some research and time by letting you know he is affordable! If you're in the market for a one time experience or an affordable but talented private chef - look no further. read more

See all

Chef Joe was absolutely amazing! We hired him to do our post-ceremony wedding dinner, and everything was perfect! There were 8 of us involved in the small intimate wedding ceremony and dinner, and chef Joe knocked it out of the park! The beef short ribs, which just fell apart with a fork they were so tender) and the salmon (best I have ever had) were delicious! The charcuterie was delectable, and there were so many options of meats, cheeses, veggies, and spreads! I couldn't have pictured a more perfect evening! Chef Joe brought everything in, and I had sent him pictures of the kitchen at the rental place beforehand to make things go more smoothly so he was prepared with what the kitchen had to offer in terms of set up. His professionalism and care was unmatched. You can really tell he loves what he does because the food did not just look amazing, but tasted amazing as well. Highly recommend!!! read more

See all

Was reuniting with 5 old friends from college in San Diego (Go Aztecs!). We thought it would be fun to hire a chef one night and we were not disappointed. I had never hired a chef before. Joe was very easy to work with and extremely friendly and flexible throughout the process - from request for information and ideas, to agreement, to the end of dinner. We could not have been happier with how the evening worked out and we would all recommend Joe to others and would/will hire him again our next time there. Joe's prices were lower than other quotes I'd received for more options. We had a fruit and cheese plate with some magical Humboldt cheese made by wood nymphs or something. We then had a Caprese salad with biggest basil leaves any of us had ever seen. We had both NY Steak (sous vide then finished on grill) and roasted salmon - both flawless, braised artichoke hearts with something delicious on them, brussel sprout and cauli gratin, and finished off with peach cobbler. We ultimately had enough leftover for 4 of us to eat dinner again the next night. All food was amazing and Joe took care of everything - even to packaging leftovers and cleaning up. I totally recommend Couch Potatoes for your small party (or large!). read more

See all

Joe provided personal chef services for our family vacation. He did an amazing job for breakfast/brunch and dinner for a group of 19. The menu was varied and coordinated with our tastes. The quality was excellent and the quantity was more than enough. His pricing structure is fair and reasonable. He aims to please and became a wonderful addition to our week long vacation. Thanks, Joe, for a job well done! read more

What a wonderful experience! This was our first time using a personal chef and it could not have been more positive. Chef Joe did a terrific job pleasing palates ranging from 3 years old to 86 years old. Not only were the meals delicious and varied, but Chef Joe brought everything needed to prepare the meal and he cleaned up afterward! We engaged Chef Joe's services for three days (6 meals). Each meal was prepared to perfection and on time. He came and went seamlessly and integrated into our vacation like part of the family. In fact, the group looked forward to visiting with him and watching him at work. Bravo Chef Joe! We thank you for making this vacation extra memorable with your company and your delectable culinary creations! We give you our wholehearted recommendation! read more

Joe was amazing. Great dinner good atmosphere when working in the kitchen . Very plesent to have over in your home and working your kitchen. Very clean!!! Everything tasted delicious beautiful presentation. We got to keep the left overs ! Will do this again. read more

See all

Joe was awesome!! We chatted beforehand and Joe put together an amazing dinner and worked around our groups likes/dislikes. From appetizer to dessert it was phenomenal. 10/10 recommend. read more

Chef Joe was amazing! He was thoroughly organized, extremely helpful and provided amazing food and service. highly recommend!

Chef Joe was a delight from first contact. I was renting a home for the weekend in the area to celebrate my 50th with 16 of my friends. I wanted a casual BBQ meal and Joe delivered perfectly. Everyone loved the food and there was plenty of it. There were plenty of leftovers for the next day. Chef Joe did everything from shopping to clean up. He was professional but not stuffy very personable. I felt the cost was vet reasonable. I would defiantly use him again. Thank you for making my 50th birthday weekend so special. read more

See all

We had a small destination wedding September 8, 2019 in San Diego and hired Joseph to prepare our after-ceremony dinner. He was extremely professional and very communicative throughout the whole process as we planned our meal for approximately 30 people. I didn't want a formal sit-down dinner and opted instead for food that could be eaten easily either standing up, or with a plate on your lap. The menu we came up with consisted of beef tenderloin sliders with horseradish sauce, salmon skewers roasted with five spice powder, mushroom ragout on polenta, vegetable paella, prepared and presented in a paella pan, Caesar salad with house-made dressing, antipasti display (roasted, marinated, and raw veg, cheeses, charcuterie, marinated olives & feta), an assorted fruit tray, strawberry lemonade & herbed water. He and his staff arrived at the home while we were at our ceremony, and when we arrived, the food was ready. They were extremely professional, courteous, and the food was presented beautifully. The best part was the taste. The food was DELICIOUS! Our guests raved about the food! There was plenty leftover, which Joseph and his staff packaged up for our guests to take with them, and they left the kitchen spotless! Sadly, I was too busy with everything and didn't get any photos I can share, but I HIGHLY recommend Joseph and Couch Potatoes! read more

Chef Joe cooks three meals a week for us and they are simply amazing. Since we are so busy we often eat horribly by eating out or cooking frozen food. Chef Joe cooks us healthy meals that are ready in 30 minutes or less and there are left overs for lunch. read more

Couch Potatoes - Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo - Personal Chefs Near Me

This is the second Thanksgiving Joe exceeded expectations. We have a few gluten-free family members, and Joe delivered the most amazing and delicious traditional, gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family, that we could ever have dreamed or imagined. From turkey to dessert, the entire meal was devoured and not one person left without wanting to take leftovers. None of us could ever guess this meal was gluten-free, it was so mouthwatering. Not only is Joe reasonably priced, he is on time with delivery, available for questions, and provided a timeline so I knew when to heat up the turkey, put the cranberry relish in a bowl, warm the rolls, etc. allowing our meal to be hot and ready to eat all together. Joe brought extra sauces and provided helpful hints to keep the food moist and tasty. It's obvious Joe is passionate about what he does by the love he put into this meal, that made our mouths water. Our Thanksgiving meal has never been better! Thank you Joe! Jeanette A read more

Just had our first experience hiring a personal chef and we were so happy we went with Chef joe. He made delicious food, brought all his own equipment and cleaned up afterwards. He gives menu ideas and works with allergies and special requests. Thanks joe for a great dinner! read more

Joe is phenomenal. This was my first time booking a private chef and it couldn't have been better. My boyfriend loved the experience. Joe delivers a delicious meal - even with leftovers! Highly recommend and plan to book again. read more

Chef Joe was so great to work with, his menu is varied and interesting without being too intimidating. Our family enjoyed having a more relaxed vacation with Joes help, and did I mention Delicious?!! read more

Wow! What a treat! Chef Joe was amazing from start to finish. My husband and I were traveling to SD from the east coast and had the last minute thought to book a private chef for a group of 6. To be honest, I called around a few different chefs/companies and not a single person responded to me (I knew I was cutting it close with our timeline of less than 1 week out). Chef Joe not only responded but he was on vacation... on a cruise.... in Alaska! Talk about 5 star service! He communicated with my husband over the course of the week to decide on the menu. We also had him pair our courses with wine and beer. We chose the baja shrimp (on his recommendation) and it did not disappoint! We followed it up with the corn chowder - delicious! The short rib was amazingly tender. And with sides of glazed carrots and cauliflower au gratin - he knocked it out of the park! He brought all of his own supplies and left the kitchen in better shape than it was when he started - which was important because we were in a rental for the week. We chose to sit outside but this is the kind of chef who is personable and easy to chat with. I wouldn't have minded or felt awkward having him cook right in front of us or for just my husband and I. Finally, I felt that his pricing was fair and affordable. I only wish we had gotten our act together more in advance because we would have loved to have him come back again before we left. We will definitely use him again and look forward to returning to San Diego. read more

Wow I have never had event catered before we had about 40 people and the food was excellent he was done and cleaned up and gone before the last guest left. The nice thing is the food was incredible not like most events I have been to and he made it so easy. read more

Our family of 9 has used Chef Joe now a handful of times over the last 7 years. We initially used Joe for the BIG birthdays (60s, 65s and my grandma's 88) but now it seems he has become a yearly birthday request. He never disappoints. His food if amazing (better than any restaurant I've ever been to) and he makes an effort to accommodate my husband's gluten free diet. He is so engaging and pleasant ~ a welcome additional to our family gatherings. I HIGHLY suggest his chicken picatta, stuffed french toast with roasted strawberries, panzanella salad, lemon verbena chicken..he also makes a mean cheese/fruit platter and a killer homemade cheese pizza for the kids which I always request extra of. Needless to say, Chef Joe is a 5 star player! read more

Joe was amazing, the food he made was exactly what we hoped for, and he was perfect mix between a friend and a total pro!

Chef Joe is not only a great Chef he is also a member of our family. He is a really great Man and our family enjoys the food he prepares for us every week. Best ingredients and fresh meat and fish. It is a pleasure having him as our personal Chef read more

Chef Joe was amazing! He prepared an amazing steakhouse dinner for 11 girls for a bachelorette party. He was so accommodating and helpful when it came to setting the menu. He made amazing side dishes and the steak was cooked perfectly. The wedge salad was delicious and the peach cobbler dessert was perfect! Everyone loved their meal. Joe was super friendly and easy to talk to. He did a great job and explaining everything and making sure everyone enjoyed their meal. He brought all of his own supplies and was very professional. I would highly recommend! read more

Chef Joe was the perfect blessing after 9 months of chemo, a transplant, nausea, vomiting, altered taste buds, GI tract issues, and added food aversions to my formerly already sensitive stomach. An angel of a friend gifted us with 3 dinners a week with Couch Potatoes Personal Chef. I was cautious about trying new foods, but Chef Joe created dishes that were not only in line with both my own long list of neutropenic (low bacterial) diet restrictions AND my husband's lactose intolerance...but they were also SO TASTY!! We quickly added to our list of "favorites" each week. It has been so nice to actually have an appetite, be excited about food again, seeing what was on the next week's menu, and to be able to enjoy something safe for me to eat without having to do all the thinking ourselves. Chef Joe is SUPER kind, accommodating, and creative. He respected and adhered to my doctor's food preparation guidelines and restrictions for my weak immune system, without sacrificing flavor. He even did his own research on neutropenia--SO sweet!--and incorporated options for me on each subsequent menu. You can tell he loves what he does and has a lot of experience creating meals from flavors around the world. It was also a HUGE treat that he brings all of his own pots and pans and leaves the kitchen spotless afterwards. I haven't had much strength or mobility after a year of cancer treatment, so after being sooo fatigued (both me and my full-time caregiver/working husband), it was a relief to not have to worry about groceries, meal planning, cooking, and cleaning. We wish we could have him all year long! =) We highly recommend Chef Joe for all of your meal preparation needs! Maybe one day in the future we could have Couch Potatoes Personal Chef again for a private romantic dinner or a big catered game night with friends! read more

See all

Chef Joe was amazing! He was so helpful and collaborative during the entire planning process. One of the girls in our group had severe allergies and Joe was incredibly accommodating. We had Chef Joe for my best friend's bachelorette party and all the girls gave him 5 starts! read more

Two years ago, for Christmas, my daughters gave us a gift of two weeks with Chef Joe. After two delicious weeks we signed him up to prepare three meals a week and have been enjoying his healthy, tasty food and friendly interaction ever since. My wife has some diet restrictions that are challenging. One of the more difficult is no garlic or onions, a staple of most cooks. Chef Joe did some research and found an Indian spice called Asafetida. I wasn't familiar with it so I Googled it. Part of the description was "tastes like garlic and onions". He has continued to find creative ways to solve or avoid all of her restrictions. He even has me eating veggies that I had previously shunned. We have also used Chef Joe multiple times to cater dinners for family and friends. In addition to his great food, he is an asset to the dinner party. He entertains by describing what and how he is cooking and joins in conversations. If you are looking for a very special dinner, try his prime rib. Giant cuts seasoned and cooked to perfection. In short, you can't go wrong with Chef Joe. He is professional, friendly, flexible, accommodating and, a GREAT chef. read more

Wow, we were blown away! The meal Joseph made for us was to die for! Loved every bit of it and can't wait to use this service again! Truly amazing and highly recommend! Great price for the service and quality! read more

Joe was great!! My husband and I needed an intro for some of our new appliances and Joe was so accommodating! We got to choose the menu items and he was super friendly and relaxed as we went over knife skills and kitchen appliances. Totally recommend Joe for awesome cooking and teaching! read more

I wanted an extra special evening and celebratory dinner for my spouse's birthday and contacted Chef Joe. He arranged a custom designed meal that exceeded our expectations and was fantastic in every way. Chef Joe is professional and affable and a pleasure to work with. Highly Recommended! read more

My family and I rented a beach house in La Jolla for the weekend and hired chef Joe for a dinner party for my mom's birthday. It was an absolutely wonderful experience and such a fun evening for my family. My mother was so happy and everyone truly loved the meal and every single dish. The food was phenomenal and great service. It was an easy and pleasant experience to work with Joe, I highly recommend using Couch Potatoes! read more

Just had a twenty year wedding anniversary catered by Chef Joe and can not say enough good things about the amazing food, the service and the value. Many, many thanks to Joe and we hope to have him back very soon! read more