Laura is incredible! We hosted a dinner party for 10 friends and Laura helped make the evening magical! The food was delicious! The menu was thoughtfully created and wowed the crowd! We had a few dietary restrictions and Laura flawlessly created amazing food. The presentation of each course was beautiful. She makes entertaining easy! Her wine knowledge and pairing with food was incredibly helpful and only added to the enjoyment of the dinner celebration. I highly recommend Laura. We look forward to our next dinner party with Chef Laura! read more

I went to a house party my friend threw last week in Sausalito. Chef Laura was the bomb! She had great appetizers to start, and a yummy punch, followed up by super creative and yummy pork dish, and one of the best salads I have ever had. A delicious desert and espresso finished off the meal, and she handled our group perfectly. Gracious yet clear about the food, the timing and all with a beautiful presentation! 5 stars!!! I will definitely hire her or happily attend another dinner. read more

Chef Laura was awesome. She prepared a 5-star meal around a special birthday event for 16 people that was executed wonderfully. She was great to work with in both conceptualizing the menu and the flow of the evening; she had helpful suggestions and ideas, a wide range of options, and flexibility. The evening of the dinner, she prepared the meal in our home and had an associate acting as server, and they were a great team. We were thrilled with the experience and look forward to working with her again sometime in the future. read more

I was blown away with my experience with Chef Laura and Custom Creations. I received a quote for a personal chef to visit Sonoma County for a group of 12 ladies that was so affordable. Chef Laura worked with me to personalize the menu as well as suggested wine pairings for our dinner. Starter: BURRATA CHEESE, Prociutto di Parma, fig marmellata, grilled bread Salad: HEIRLOOM TOMATO, Fresh mozzarella, kalmata olives, pesto vinaigrette Entree: RIGATONI AND LAMB SAUSAGE, Red chard, soffrito, rosemary, ricotta cheese OR BAKED SEA BASS, Terrine of red potatoes, zucchini, tomato, onion, lemon-herb butter Dessert: FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE TORTE, Marinated strawberries and whipped cream She arrived on time (actually early), set the table for 12 and stayed until every last dish was clean and left the kitchen spotless - that in itself was priceless! Anyone who has prepared and cooked for a dinner for 12 knows it's almost impossible to enjoy yourself with your guests. Chef Laura took care of everything and left not a worry in the world to the host! The food was as good as it sounded/looked, and all very seasonal and fresh, which was one of my requests when preparing the menu. The portion sizes were perfect, and we all went to bed with a full bellies of great food. It was so fun to have Chef Laura serve and describe each dish, and she was very open to questions about recipes and preparation techniques. I wish I lived in the Bay Area, so I could use her for another event soon, but I will have to wait until another trip to the West Coast. I highly recommend Chef Laura and Custom Creations for your next event! read more

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Chef Laura prepared an amazing dinner for our friends! Everything was delicious, and she was SO easy to work with. We will definitely book trough her again. read more

We hired Chef Laura for a birthday brunch for my husband. We had 10 adults and 4 kids. Laura was so easy to work with! She helped customize our menu and was open to adjustments for dietary restrictions. On the day of the event, the kitchen smelled amazing as she finished her dishes. Everything looked and tasted amazing. We had an amazing time because she did all the set up, clean up, and everything was presented beautifully. We were able to focus on the party, while she tended to us. Delightful service. She comes highly recommended and we can't wait for another event to bring her back. read more

A group of friends hired Laura to cook for an engagement lunch and she knocked it out of the park. Laura was responsive and easy to work with leading up to the party. She arrived on time, was friendly, professional and equipped with all the necessary tools. The food was outstanding and reasonably priced. I've already enlisted her to handle our next dinner party. read more

Chef Laura just worked with us on a dinner party we hosted for 10 people. The crowd was thrilled with her professionalism, service, the quality of the food and her great stories about restaurant life! I'd highly recommend her to anyone--she made my life as a host much easier and I look forward to working with her again! read more

We've worked with Laura and Custom Creations for several dinner parties and events at our home and the outcome is consistently outstanding. The menus are thoughtful and creative and the food is exceptional but her approach is what makes the experience so special. Laura is the ultimate professional and is always cool and collected. She's somehow able to prepare a delicious meal for 12 guests while chatting with two guests who decided she might just like to talk a bit in the middle of the event. She's patient, accommodating and does everything she can to ensure that the menus reflect our needs and that the food and service is outstanding. Laura is our "go to" for any event that we host. read more

We hired Laura as a private chef for a private dinner. She made a vegetarian meal that was delicious and served us in the most timely and non-encroaching manner!Laura was timely, professional and flexible! I would hire her again! read more

Chef Laura is fantastic - we have used her for two dinner parties (9 people and 17 people). The food was delicious, service fabulous, and clean up immaculate! She was great about suggesting menu items based on our price range and desired number of courses. There was no problem in handling one offs as at our last dinner party we had one vegan and one person who only liked meat well done. She even made a separate dish for my 9 year old son and his friend (they still talk about the special mac and cheese that she made). Her special touches (printed menu) and flexibility (our larger party was delayed due to a Warriors game and she made it work) are much appreciated. She is extremely easy to work with which makes all the difference when planning a dinner party. I highly recommend Chef Laura! read more

Chef Laura recently cooked a wonderful three course dinner plus appetizers for 12 at my home to celebrate a couple of milestones. I experienced everything already said by others; you will not be disappointed with the high quality of her service, food and professionalism. Thank you Laura for making the evening so memorable - it was an event that my friends will talk about for a long time. And, for the first time in years, I actually enjoyed my own party as I wasn't stuck in the kitchen - that was priceless! read more

Laura is an incredible chef and a wonderful person. She recently cooked and prepared for 11 of us during my wedding. We couldn't stop talking about her food (especially the fish and dessert!) for days after the meal. She went above and beyond with the food preparation and serving, the curated menus for the table settings, wine pairings, and clean up. She was great to work with and her talent as a chef made for an incredible experience. I can't wait to work with her again! read more

This 2nd review of Laura is long overdue. Again, last summer Laura went above and beyond. She traveled to Tahoe with all her own supplies to cook for our family for two days in celebration of my mom's 70th birthday. She made the best of a small kitchen and produced beautiful and delicious meals so none of us had to lift a finger. We were so grateful to Laura and will use her again! read more

I recently had Laura come to my home for my husband's 40th birthday and cook a private dinner for 29 people. Everything that came out of the kitchen was absolutely delicious. This by far was the most amazing party I have ever had and I don't think I could do it any other way moving forward! She was a pleasure to work with very responsive leading up the event and helping me to plan the perfect menu!! She truly is an amazing chef and her staff was incredible!! If you are looking for a private chef she is your lady!! You will not be disappointed, I cannot wait for her to come back. read more

Laura is a dream! I was hosting my sister's bachelorette weekend in Napa Valley and we rented a house for the weekend. We thought it would be fun to bring in a private chef for a night so we could all relax and enjoy a delicious meal together. Well, "delicious" is not a strong enough word to describe the small piece of heaven Laura put together for us. The food was fantastic! Everyone is still talking about how amazing Laura's food was. The highlight of the night was the Flourless Chocolate Torte. It was TO DIE FOR!! Laura made the planning process so easy. She is great with communication. She offers a ton of menu selections. She is willing to make substitutes for your guests' food restrictions. And above all else, the food is amazing. You can't go wrong working with Laura for your event! I truly hope our paths cross again in the future! read more

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Fantastic experience with Chef Laura! We surprised our mom with a birthday dinner at home for 8 people. We had such a hard time finalizing the menu because there were so many wonderful options. We finally settled on the crispy pork belly with poached egg and cherry tomato relish for the appetizer, a roasted beet and citrus salad, the red wine braised short ribs with horseradish mashed potatoes and baby green beans for the main entree, and the almond olive oil cake for dessert. Everything was amazing. I don't think anyone left anything on their plates. She was also very accommodating to the two kids. Chef Laura was so wonderful and personable. We enjoyed chatting with her and she gave us great descriptions of the food she had prepared. We couldn't have asked for a nicer dinner event and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a special experience. Our mom enjoyed it so much that she has recommended Chef Laura to all of her friends! read more

Laura was fantastic! Very easy to communicate with, showed up on time, super friendly and engaging. The food was amazing and everyone enjoyed it. At the end I walked into the kitchen and she had cleaned every single dish, pot, pan and utensil that was used. Just a total pro. The custom menus she created was an awesome touch. Thank you Laura! read more

The amazing chef Laura prepared an elegant four course meal for my partner's birthday dinner. We had a total of 12guests and we worked closely with her regarding the table layout and menu selection. I am vegetarian but my guests were omnivores so chef Laura took that into account and made vegetarian friendly dishes and a main course meat dish for my guests. Every dish tasted wonderful, but the we really loved the spring vegetable frigola dish! Laura was friendly, personable and very organized- I have a small kitchen so she was able to work around that and left the kitchen spotless. We would recommend Laura to anyone and would definitely utilize her skills again! read more

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Chef Laura catered a birthday brunch for 16 guests, and did a phenomenal job. Her easy communication and willingness to adapt to changes were great. The food was delicious, and everything went off without a hitch. I can recommend her and will be using her again. read more

Delicious dinner, flawless execution So thrilled to have chef Laura back to cater my dinner party. All of the guests were thrilled - the food was delicious and beautifully presented and she took charge so I could relax and enjoy our event. read more

We hired Chef Laura to do a couple of dinners for ~20 people at work. The food was out of this world. We had kale salad, roasted chicken with preserved lemon, pasta with intense mushroom based sauce, tartines of root vegis, and more. Everything had its unique and distinct flavors yet blended well together. It was a culinary version of seeing a very experienced orchestra or a jazz band make magic in your mouth. The food was whimsical, yet, soulful and health yet filling. Besides the incredible food, Chef Laura was flexible and very accommodating. We are excited to keep working with Chef Laura. Next time I will take photos and upload them here as words do not do justice to her food. read more

Laura from Custom Creations is my go to chef for VIP home gatherings in San Francisco! I am so grateful for her level of professionalism, patience and accommodation for varying dietary restrictions among guests. Laura always comes well prepared, comfortably navigating the kitchen and the crowd, maintains a positive attitude and smile throughout the evening, and is in tune with guests and their needs. In small groups with plate service, she goes the extra mile to pay attention to what wine each guest is enjoying and keeps their glasses filled. She checks in at the appropriate times, seamlessly participates in conversation and times each course impeccably. Her professionalism extends to the end of the evening when Laura does everything she can to clean the kitchen, hand wash delicates and even start the dishwasher so we can continue to enjoy our guests and wine-induced conversations without worry. The Food. Everything on her menu is made based on seasonality and indicated guest preferences. Her attention to detail down to the sauces and condiments leaves your appetite satisfied but your palette craving more. Our menu this week consisted of the following: POTATO LEEK SOUP Grana crouton and parsley oil ROASTED D'ANJOU PEAR SALAD Baby spinach, radicchio, toasted pecans, honey mustard vinaigrette, grana GRILLED FLANK STEAK Rosemary roasted red potatoes, baby summer squash, chimichuri or CAMPANELLE PRIMAVERA (for vegetarian guests) Leeks, asparagus, artichoke, peas, thyme, lemon, white wine butter broth FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE TORTE Port poached cherries Needless to say, just as always, this week's dinner was another home run. I call Laura when I want to entertain special customers, partners or visiting friends who enjoy a good meal and good company. I highly recommend Laura and her team at Custom Creations. read more

Laura cooked for a small dinner party (7 adults, 4 kids) at our home in Burlingame for my mother-in-law's birthday. She did a terrific job! Some highlights: -- Planning process was very efficient and clear. Based on my budget and preferences, she provided some sample menus of appetizers, soup/salad, and main dish. We chose fish as our main and she recommended some different ways of preparing it. -- She was flexible. Because we had our own birthday cake, she provided two appetizers instead. She also prepared simple food for the kids at a very reasonable price so we didn't have to pay for fancy food that they aren't going to eat anyway. -- Service was great. Because the party was small, Laura cooked, served and cleaned, which she did with a calm professionalism throughout the night. She was attentive and cordial without being intrusive. The pacing of the meal was perfect, our water and wine glasses were always filled, and to my surprised by the end of the meal, the kitchen was already spick and span (cleaner than before she showed up!). -- She was attentive to the details -- she brought her own pitchers for water and platters for the appetizers. She also printed out a menu with my mother in-law's name on it. She somehow found our tupperware and all leftovers were neatly packed away in our fridge by the time she left. -- And last but not least, the food was excellent! We would definitely hire Laura again for future dinner parties! read more

I already knew I'd love the food, but what I was impressed with was how easy it was to have someone else cook in my home. The concept was uncomfortable for a control freak like me, but the fact I got to focus my attention completely on my guests was liberating. The evening was easy and delicious. read more

From the moment she walked in the door she took control and made sure that my wife and I, and our guest, relaxed and enjoyed a fantastic dining experience. The food was off the charts fantastic, she took control of the evening and was accommodating with timing of appetizers and courses, mindful of the wine pairings, and left the kitchen as clean as she found it (maybe even a bit cleaner). In fact, we found Chef Laura as we were fortunate enough to be invited to a friend's dinner she catered and immediately knew we wanted to have her do similar at our home. So, this review is technically for not one, but two, memorable and amazing meals. As evidenced by the fabulous messages we received from our guest the following morning, they felt the same. read more

Chef Laura is amazing. I was looking for a chef to come in and cook a nice meal for 8 of us for my 40th birthday. From the first conversation to the menu to the cost, all of it was so easy and great. She is great to work with, she is very friendly, and a great chef!! Everything was timely, she had great communication, she cleaned up the kitchen and my guests and I walked away from the meal full and happy. I will use her again and again!!! read more

I can't thank Laura enough for creating a delicious 3+ course dinner for my group of 15 for my husbands milestone birthday. She was easy to work with, responsive, accommodating, and fair on cost. Her short ribs and shredded duck salad, to die for! read more

This was my first time hiring a personal chef and it was a great experience. I looked on-line and read reviews before reaching out to Laura. She responded immediately and we set up a call for that evening. We discussed our needs and Laura sent us some sample menus. We weren't limited to what she sent, but we chose from the samples anyway and were delighted. The food all came to the table hot although we were eating outside and it was a bit chilly. We never felt rushed and just let Laura know when we were ready for each course. From the appetizers, to the salad, to the main course, to the desert everything was amazing. It was a lot of food and yet everyone ate everything on their plates. It was all delicious. And what a pleasure it was to come back into the house and find the kitchen cleaner than when she got there. I would highly recommend Laura if you are looking for a personal chef for a private party. We'll be hiring her again, and soon! read more

I was at the same birthday party as Claudia below. The whole evening was perfect, thanks to Chef Laura. Her pacing, her great appetizers and signature drink in honor of the birthday girl, the exquisite meal, with service and clean-up - it all made for the most festive and fantastic of evenings. And meant that our hostess and birthday gal could totally relax and enjoy the wonderful evening with good friends. Let me emphasize how good the food was! 5+stars!! read more

Laura is a wonderful chef. She has been the highlight of my annual spring dinner party for the last couple of years. She's easy to work with, very professional and cooks yummy, yummy food! read more

If I could give Laura and Custom Creations more than 5 stars, I would! We hired Chef Laura to cater a reception for ~20 people in honor of a dear friend who passed away suddenly. She was absolutely professional and easy to work with. She guided us with developing a wonderful menu, organized all the rentals and on the day of made everything run smoothly from set-up to clean-up. It was absolutely what we needed for a larger event and especially such an emotional one for us. She was so gracious as our dinner started late due to guests trickling in late from the memorial, and therefore also ended later than anticipated. Our guests absolutely raved about all the food, and I am still getting comments from friends about how delicious everything was even now ~1.5 months after the reception! Without hesitation, I would give my highest recommendation for Chef Laura for anyone looking to for a private chef to cater their party! I'm keep trying to think of an excuse or an occasion just so I could hire her again! read more

Laura created the perfect setting and meal for our rehearsal dinner at Sunnyside Conservatory. It was no easy feat to feed 20+ people by herself with no kitchen, and the meal was incredible. She didn't miss a beat-the timing, set up and the food was impeccable. We will definitely be reaching out to Laura for any private dining experiences we want to have in the future. We had guests from all over the world meeting for the first time, and everyone praised the evening, service and food. You must hire Laura if you want an amazing private dining experience. read more

There are not enough adjectives to describe the wonders of Laura. My husband and I first experienced her fabulous cuisine last year at a holiday party given by our friends. This year my friend and I were planning to host a baby shower for my daughter-in-law. I contacted Laura and she graciously accepted to provide the wonderful cuisine that is Laura. My darling grandson decided to arrive early which meant a change of date. Laura was terrific and adjusted her schedule. She arrived early fully prepared. We had made the choices through email and phone contacts a month before. Such a spectacular day. Laura cooked, cleaned up as well as served. I can't wait to use her again. read more

We really enjoyed Chef Laura for our party of 10. She came to our house, prepared the meal, served us and cleaned up. Was a great treat - especially for us moms who need a break on vacation. We had a beautiful cheese platter with fresh figs, a spinach salad and shortribs. She was able to customize our menu based on the group's likes/dislikes and was very easy to work with. I would definitely recommend her! read more

I've never hired a private chef before but decided to try it for my salon's holiday party at my home in Fremont. I stumbled across Laura and Custom Creations on Yelp and I'm so glad I did! Communication was very clear and prompt while we were ironing out the details. She helped me pick out a menu and even facilitated the rental of dinner and glassware. She arrived early with custom printed menus (at no extra charge), set up the table and started cooking! Her personality and energy is great and she meshed very well with my staff of 10. Now on to the food- we couldn't have picked a more perfect menu everything was AMAZING! We decided on the Potato Leek Soup, Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs and the Apple Blueberry Crisp. I can't even talk about it without wishing I had a plate in front of me! My staff is still raving about it! The portions were perfect, everything was served at the perfect time and everything came out hot and fresh. She even helped us do the mannequin challenge! I also really loved how we never felt rushed. She gave us our space and allowed the party to flow naturally and she was there from start to finish. Another great thing about Laura is that she works in a very organized manner and cleans as she goes. We thought our small home was going to look like a hurricane passed through it after the party but we were pleasantly surprised we were able to get things back to normal in a matter of minutes thanks to Laura being so clean and neat. Our party couldn't have been more perfect. Thank you so much Laura! My mom and clients are even asking about booking her and as for me I will definitely be using her again in the future! One last thing - a lot of you may be thinking hiring a private chef is out of reach but considering everything she provides and the quality of her food I found her to be very reasonable. Hire Laura for your next gathering, party or event. You WILL NOT regret it! read more

Such a fabulous experience - can't imagine how it could be better! Laura is a delight to work with in every aspect of entertaining - so accommodating and just generally a pleasure. And her food is delicious! She expertly cooked, served and cleaned up for 17 of us in our home and it was all wonderful. So relaxing as a host to have Laura there. Can't wait to work with her again! read more

We hired Laura to come to our home to cook a Mexican feast for 15 people. Laura came, completely prepared - and created the most delicious Mexican appetizers, dinner and dessert! We had 3 kinds of tacos for the taco bar including rice, beans, salads and all the fixings. We finished the meal with Mexican chocolate brownies with a dulce de leche creme - pretty amazing. Laura was fun to work with, on time, everything looked gorgeous and there were plenty of leftovers. The best part was that Laura cleaned everything up and left our kitchen spotless! We honestly couldn't have had a better experience and the food was better than restaurant quality! read more

I contacted Chef Laura to come cook for my family when we rented a house in Sonoma a few weeks ago. Laura was great to work with. Her response emails were quick and informative, and she went above and beyond to accommodate us for one vegetarian and then on the day of when we were having too much fun in Sonoma and asked her to push the dinner back by an hour. She came completely prepped and prepared and we got to relax and enjoy our hot tub while she put the finishing touches on the meal. The food itself was so delicious! We all loved the steak, pasta and shrimp diavolo. At the end of the night she had cleaned the grill and kitchen spotless. It was such a treat and a great experience for my whole family. read more

Laura is definitely as good as it gets! We were lucky to find her in our search for a chef for one of our nights on vacation in Napa! Friendly, professional and so helpful in picking the menu and pairing! We enjoyed having her sit with us for a bit when we were finished and the food served was absolutely amazing! It was just Laura, and the food from appetizers to dessert was served timely manner between courses. And the kitchen was spotless when she left! We enjoyed her company and her delicious meals! read more