Leora is a fabulous chef. She cooked a delicious 5 star dinner for us so we could relax and enjoy our time with friends. I highly recommend her. read more

Chef Leora cooked for me and my group of 12 friends to celebrate a birthday dinner. She was a great communicator. She provided a delicious menu in advance which she executed beautifully. She was timely and efficient. She was a pleasure to work with and the food was excellent. I would happily hire her again. read more

Leora is the best! She came and created a beautiful and amazing meal to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary with a range of ages and dietary restrictions (etc) and handled it all with grace and professionalism. The food she made was incredible and she and her partner Manda were a delight to have here. Overall a perfect experience and will hire Leora again in a heartbeat next time we are on Kauai! Thank you! read more

Absolutely incredible experience! Chef Leora arrived on time, was prepared and professional! We had several dietary challenges and she addressed each one with ease and flexibility! The food was delicious! The presentation was beautiful! She cleaned up everything! The kitchen looked great! We all really appreciated the memorable dinner that she prepared for my family. Thank you very much for a great evening! read more

We hired Chef Leora for a family dinner while visiting Kauai in Feb. 2025. This meal was a true highlight of the trip! Chef Leora communicated well before we arrived to ask questions about our group, dining/food preferences. We agreed to have a surprise menu based on what was fresh at the market. I'm so glad we let her get creative. The menu was heavenly and every dish was perfectly prepared (the 4yo in our family even declared the roasted veggies her favorite dish!). Chef Leora thought of every detail and even prepared us some snacks for the Super Bowl (when we booked we hadn't realized the game would be on - so this was a fun stride surprise and absolutely beat traditional chips and dip!) The kitchen at our rental was not very well-equipped, but Chef Leora is a pro and figured out how to make a truly gourmet meal for 10 (including 2 kids) in a far from gourmet kitchen! I highly recommend her! read more

Leora made my moms 70th birthday extra special with a private dinner for my family. She was extremely communicative and I'm still drooling over the throughly of the short ribs! Best of all she was able to not only accommodate but exceed my expectations with the multiple food allergies (dairy, gluten) we threw her way. She made the most delicious cake that was allergen free. Highly recommend! read more

We had Leora cater two meals for our large party on Kauai. Her food was fantastic. Her service was professional. It was a lifesaver to have her come to us and cook two meals, because we had a large party. leora is a gem. Her food will "wow" you. And her service makes your experience one of a lifetime. Thank you Leora!! read more

Leora came to our house tonight and cooked for our family (5 members). We loved each and every dish, all very unique and visually beautiful. She's also very sweet and friendly and we really enjoyed the entire experience with her. Thank you so much Leora! read more

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Leora put together a birthday dinner for 7 of us and every person at the table said it was one of the best meals we have ever had (& we have had many meals at famous restaurants). The ingredients could not have been more fresh and the combination of ingredients was superb. We were all full but couldn't stop eating. They cleaned up after themselves and we didn't have to lift a finger. It was a treat and I would highly recommend it-not even for a special occasion. read more

Leora made an amazing dinner for our group of 19 while in Hanalei Bay. Everything was so fresh -- she did a great job of balancing a menu to accommodate a range of like and dislikes, all while incorporating local flavors. Highly recommend her! read more

We hired Leora and her sous chef to cook for us on our wedding night. The food was to die for. Like, I still dream about it to this day. She did an amazing job customizing the meal to everyone's personal likes and was very professional throughout. I highly recommend her for any event or just for an unforgettable meal. read more

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We had an incredible meal last night for my husband's birthday celebration On the beach. Every detail was perfect, decor, wines & food I can't praise this enough, truly memorable. read more

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If you want an explosion of flavors at your table, Leora is the chef to get! We used her private chef services for a romantic dinner & she also cooked for a party of 30; a fundraiser we put together. Plus, Leora is a fine lady with a great personality!! A must for your vacations on Kauai. read more

Leora Calmus - When a small budget meets a great chef! Wonderful Leora! Thx for making my friends happy! - Personal Chefs Near Me

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Wow, best food I've ever had! I've had the pleasure of having chef Leora make multiple meals for me on different occasions. She has always taken my vision of the meals and takes it to another level while incorporating local ingredients that are in season. Every time she blows me away with her creativity and the flavors. read more

Leora made an absolutely stunning meal, and provided a warm and wonderful private chef experience. We will see Leora when we are back in Kauai!fre read more

Kauai isn't known for their culinary prowess but there is a shining light on the island. Leora Calmus prepared one of the most fabulous meals for my friends and me over the course of my friend's 40th birthday evening. To say the food was delicious and the ingredients fresh, would be a disservice. Ahi poke, coconut poached catch of the day, Hawaiian sweetbread, fresh salad with macadamia nut balsamic, incredible. Our kitchen was sparse, to say the least, but it didn't slow her down one bit. We ate and ate and ate and still had leftovers for the remainder of our trip. If you want spam and rice swallowed down with a super sweet Mai Tai, this might not be for you (though I did have plenty of that while on the island!). If you want a professional chef who knows how to make a damn fine meal on an island in paradise, give her a call, you won't be disappointed. read more

Leora made an amazing dinner for us and our friends! It was a birthday celebration and she created such a memorable meal for us. The ahi poke lettuce wrap was hands down the best we've had, everybody raved about it. The fish dish was sumptuous and the flavors were delightful. Three different veggie sides which were all so fresh and delicious. The short ribs were so tender. And let's not forget, the dessert - a wonderful lemon berry tart (which made for a great breakfast the next day). The meal was outstanding and Leora is an absolute pleasure. We can't wait to go back to Kauai and have another meal with her. read more

Leora was a pleasure to work with. She prepared a celebratory meal for my in-laws' 40th Wedding Anniversary (for a party of 8 adults, 2 children) in our rental home on Kauai. Everyone was blown away by the meal. We are all still raving about her ahi poke lettuce wrap appetizer - it was out of this world! Leora combined the best of Hawaiian ingredients with global flavors for a meal that was truly memorable. She and her assistant were lovely to have in our home as they efficiently prepared the meal, and they left the kitchen cleaner than when they arrived. Leora also left us with 2 prepared meals for us to reheat during our stay. This was one of the best decisions of our vacation. It was so nice to not have to think about shopping and cooking, and again her dishes were divine. My 4-year-old devoured her slow cooked beef ribs, and the family practically fought over her curried roasted carrots. She also prepared a Baked Ziti dish for the kids that the adults enjoyed throughout the week, as well. We were thrilled with all of Leora's meals and she was fun, creative and easy to work with. I highly recommend this talented chef. read more

Our group of 10 enjoyed many amazing meals prepared by Leora during our week in Kauai. She asked great questions to prepare our menu and prepared flavorful and healthy cuisine that managed to please kids and adults. She is very professional and organized. read more

Have had Leora's food at multiple events on island of varying sizes, from house parties to large business openings. Each time the menu is well thought out and very tasty. Also a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended. read more

One of the highlights of our family's Kauai vacation. My family hired Leora to cook a birthday meal for me. She arrived about four hours before dinner hour to cook and was a pleasure to chat with while she and her assistant worked in the kitchen. Her meal was even more dellightful. The appetizer of poke tuna and shrimp in lettuce leaves would have been a meal by itself. But then came the pork, bean-noodle salad (we couldn't stop eating it), green beans and salad! We had no room (although we did manage to eat) the yummy chocolate brownie for dessert.There was a lot of food left over--and we all looked forward to eating it the next day. Which we did. Gladly. I asked my daughter how she found Leora and she said, among other things, that Leora was the most responsive of all the chefs she contacted in trying to arrange for a private catered meal. She does charge by the hour, so her meal can be pricey for a family of five. But well worth it in flavor and service--and probably an even better value for a larger group. Either way, you won't go wrong. read more

We had Leora cook our Thanksgiving dinner since we wouldn't be landing until 3:30 that day. What a meal!!! There was duck, beef and turkey each with its own "fixins" as well as dessert. Sweet potatoes as well as mashed, the best stuffing I have ever eaten in my life! This was a truly memorable meal for family and friends. read more

My husband worked with Leora to stock our Villa in Poipu during our 4 day stay in Kauai. I was very impressed by how she was able to grocery shop and prepare meals for us and have them in the kitchen when we arrived. We had six people in our condo. We were very hungry when we arrived the first day so having delicious snacks available made our stay way better. Leora prepared a sweet potato and sausage hash and a goat cheese and smoked salmon frittata. There was also a green salad w lemon vinaigrette, cold Asian noodle salad and a mayo-less curried chicken salad along with other groceries. She was even able to ask us for feedback and then bring more delicious food after 2 days. I would recommend Leora to anyone wanting to eat great food and not have to worry about a thing. In fact as a large group we saved money by having our groceries and meals prepared instead of paying restaurant prices. Thank you Leora and your staff for making our trip better than expected. read more

The food she prepared was delicious. Leora is very reliable and responsive. We had a group of 17 people for a family reunion on Kauai and scheduled one night for a special dinner. We were able to mingle and connect while Leora and her team did the prep, serving, and clean up. What a gift! read more

Hawaii has no shortage of fresh food and delectable rarities, but raw ingredients alone do not make a sensational meal. A snack, perhaps, but not a meal. Leora is uniquely and preternaturally gifted to turn both stock and rare morsels into a feast; I've been fortunate to dine with her countless times and each time I've been amazed at what she's been able to whip up with simple ingredients. Is she formally trained as a chef? I truly have no idea, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if she were. She's catered for two and for twenty, each time devoting the same care and ingenuity into her fare. I've tried to watch her cook (to get ideas for myself) but she moves at such a rapid pace I can't quite snag her secrets. I've never left less than satisfied; in fact, more often than not I've been caught trying to scrape the remnants off my plate to enjoy just one more taste of a dinner well-prepared and entirely satisfying. Anyone fortunate enough to be a client of Leora's will not regret their choice, and I'm sure they'll come back for more, if not for a party, then solely for themselves. Bon appetit! read more

She cooked for my fiancé and I while traveling and the food was amazing! She was on top of all our requests --bought ingredients and made things to our liking and dietary needs (my fiancé is gluten free). She makes it all super easy--it is a great alternative if you don't want to eat out for every meal or have to deal with shopping/cooking/cleaning. read more

We hired Leora for our company retreat in Kauai. When we arrived at our rental house she was already there preparing our first night's meal. That night was a Hawaiian fusion family style dinner. Everything was so delicious! The 2nd dinner was a fancier multi-course ordeal. Each item served was tastier than the last! Very creative and flavorful cuisine. She also prepared some breakfast and lunch items that we enjoyed throughout our stay. Leora and her staff were attentive to our needs, and asked many questions before hand. She was a pleasure to work with, and I'd highly recommend her. read more

Recently my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by renewing our vows with our adult kids in Kauai. Rather than feel rushed and cramped at a local restaurant, we decided to bring in Leora to help us with dinner following our vow renewal. Leora and her sous chef arrived hours ahead of time fully prepared to make an exquisite meal. Without even knowing what was on hand at our vacation rental, they managed to put together a beautiful and very tasty dinner for the seven of us. Having never used a personal chef before we didn't know what to expect and we LOVED it! Dinner was elegant and casual at the same time. It was probably just a tad more costly than going to an upscale restaurant on island, but when you consider you can have all the adult beverages on hand along with not having to drive all over the island then the cost is downright reasonable. Also, our family thoroughly enjoyed the company of Leora and Ashley and we're all still talking about how delicious the food was. It was a perfect evening! read more

Leora is nothing short of fabulous. I had the good fortune to try a variety of dishes she prepared; everything from down-home cooking to exotic Moroccan cuisine. The only downside was I couldn't decide on a favorite as she just kept out doing herself! I was equally impressed by her professionalism, timeliness, and flexability. I highly recommend Leora, five stars and two thumbs up! read more

Leora put together an amazing dinner for us to celebrate our 40th anniversary in Kauai with our 2 kids and their spouses. We live in Arizona...far away from Kauai and worked with Leora long-distance to put together a meal plan for our family that would fit a variety of food restrictions including a vegetarian, as well as multiple non-chicken and gluten-free eaters. The result was a spectacular multi-course dinner using local fresh ingredients and flavors that included sausage or veggie stuffed-mushrooms, spicy ahi poke lettuce wraps, slow-braised miso pork with basil sauce, fresh Monchong (white fish) poached in a spicy coconut milk with crispy mushrooms (outstanding), cinnamon-spiced roasted sweet potatoes, green beans and one of the best salads I have ever eaten that included quinoa, hearts of palm, fresh herbs, macadamia nuts, avocado and a sweet miso dressing. There were 6 of us and we were very, very full by the end of dinner (leftovers were carefully packed up for us to enjoy the next day). Still...we all made room for a spectacular dessert of caramelized local apple bananas with coconut gelato. Yumm! This was such a memorable dinner to celebrate our 40th and Leora and her Assistant, Inga, made it all so easy and relaxing. We will remember this for many, many years to come. Thank you Leora! read more