My wife and I recently engaged Kneedachef for a promised seven-course gourmet dinner for four in our home, which we obtained via a charity auction offering. We were excited for a special culinary experience given the glowing description. Unfortunately, the reality of dealing with Kneedachef was very disappointing. One of the first surprises was the revelation of mandatory extra charges that were never disclosed upfront in the auction description. While the auction item listed 'taxes and gratuity not included', we had assumed that our charitable donation (the auction bid) covered the entire seven-course dinner experience. Instead, during our initial consultation with Chef Eric (the owner of Kneedachef), we were informed of several additional fees required before the dinner could take place. State Sales Tax - We were expected to pay state sales tax on the value of the dinner, an expense not typically associated with a 'charitable donation' by a business. Under some circumstances, a call to the charity informed us that the charity pays any associated tax on the rare donation items assessed these fees. Taxes are never added onto a charity auction balance as this would be an awkward experience for the donor when settling payment at the end of the event. Mandatory 23% "Gratuity" Fee - Chef Eric required a 23% service gratuity to be paid on the full balance. This was especially upsetting because the original offer stated "gratuity not included," which we interpreted to mean a discretionary tip we could give after the service if it was excellent. Instead, he treated it as a built-in fee of nearly a quarter of the package value, due in advance. $500 Deposit to Secure a Date - We were also told we'd need to put down a $500 deposit just to secure our dinner date. This was presented as non-negotiable and separate from the charity payment. In a charity auction context, typically the vendor donates their time and services for the amount bid; any extra charges should be clearly optional (for add-ons) or clearly disclosed. We had already paid for the package via the auction, so being asked for hundreds more in fees felt like a bait-and-switch. It gave the impression that the company was trying to recoup money or profit beyond the charitable donation, which did not sit well with us. As this dining experience involves a 12-hour preparation and service in your house, we met with chef Eric and his wife Jennifer one evening at our house. Chef Eric and his wife, who assists in the business, applied heavy pressure to upsell additional goods and services beyond the seven courses that were supposed to be included for four guests through the charity auction. For example, there were repeated suggestions to upgrade wine selections (at additional cost), hire a "wine steward" (as mentioned in the fine print, available for an extra charge), add more courses or premium ingredients for extra fees, etc. Place settings, seasonal decorations, glassware could all be brought in for a substantial fee. The tone was that of pushing a luxury catering package on us rather than honoring the package we had already paid for. The whole experience gave us the feeling of a deceptive marketing tactic: we won a "full dinner" only to be told it wasn't actually full unless we spent significantly more. It was disheartening and felt dishonest. Adding to our concern, the quality of the sample food and drink provided during the consultation was underwhelming. Considering Kneedachef markets itself as a gourmet, high-end culinary service, we expected to be wowed (or at least reassured of their skill) during our meeting. Instead, we were offered a mediocre bottle of red wine and a store-bought cherry pie for dessert -- for all four of us to share(?). The pie was literally a cheap grocery-store pastry, not a homemade or high-quality sample. This was surprising and disappointing, especially because Chef Eric's wife, Jennifer, was introduced to us that evening as an "award-winning baker." One would think if they were trying to impress potential clients (or donors in this case), they would showcase some of their best homemade desserts or at least something of better quality. The lackluster wine and dessert made us question the level of quality we would get if we went through with the full dinner. It certainly did not match the gourmet image that Kneedachef promotes. In summary, we cannot recommend Kneedachef Personal Culinary Services based on our experience. What should have been a fun, all-inclusive gourmet dinner (as part of a charity fundraiser) turned into a confusing and disappointing ordeal with extra charges and high-pressure sales. In our opinion, the way Kneedachef handled our situation was misleading and not in line with the spirit of a charitable offering or good business practice. read more