We hired Chef Cal to create a private-chef experience for a big family trip to Miami. From the moment I connected with him on the phone to his team's prompt arrival at our Airbnb the night of the party, we were blown away. In addition to being a true master of his craft (the food was better than most fine dining experiences), Chef Cal is an ambassador of Southern Hospitality (the service was attentive, warm, and personable). This past Friday night will go down as one of the most memorable nights of all time within our family. Thank you for that, Chef Cal! We are already looking forward to next time, and if you're in the market for a private chef in South Florida, look no further (and thank yourself later). read more

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Brilliant ! His food is spectacularly plated and tastes phenomenal. Chef Calvin is one to keep an eye out for. He created his own hot sauce that is CRAACK! read more

Personal Chef Calvin - Literally goes on anything! Best truffle hot sauce on the market. - Personal Chefs Near Me

NEVER HAD BETTER! Chef Calvin and his staff knocked our socks off from the moment we reached out for a quote on yelp. The level of detail and organization to ensure that his guest have the absolute best possible experience was so impressive. Not only was the food exactly what we wanted, the presentation, ingredients, preparation and taste was better than any five star restaurant. When hosting a dinner party, having a private chef is part of the experience. When you hire Calvin and his team, that is exactly what you'll get! A total experience! They were all so personable, so fun, so sweet, entertaining, professional, and really were my favorite part of the evening! And they left our kitchen cleaner, then they found it. I highly recommend. my only hesitation is in writing this review for fear that the next time we want to hire them, they'll be booked and busy! read more

Chef Cal is amazing! We will hire him every time we do a party! The food was fabulous and his helpers were amazing. It made our night so easy. We truly could enjoy our guests! read more

I cannot begin to describe Chef Calvin. Professional, accommodating, and a fantastic chef. The menu was top notch. Starting with a liquid nitrogen cocktail that was perfectly balanced. I love fish but never loved sea bass because it was never cooked right. Chef Calvin has made me a believer! A sea bass melt in your mouth delicate with a sweet miso drizzle. Cedar smoked chicken was unbelievably tender. The truffle risotto had the absolute perfect bite, blanched broccollini and a perfectly cooked Filet. And finished up with a HOMEMADE DONUT AND HOMEMADE NITROGEN ICE CREAM. Impeccable. Decadent. Outstanding. Already planning our next night with Chef Calvin. read more

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Seriously the best of the BEST! I had the pleasure of working with Chef Calvin again for my husband and I's 1 year anniversary. What an experience!!! Highly recommend ! read more

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Working in the hospitality industry for 10+ years I've met tons of chefs ! However, not a single chef has come close to Chef Cal's talent. He isn't just a chef who makes tasteful and high quality meals , he's also pure entertainment. Having him cater at any party is a show in itself. I've been to many events where Chef Cal has blessed us with his food & his way of engaging with everyone is truly one of a kind. Chef Cal creates unforgettable memories & is one of the most reliable, talented, and positively influential Chefs Miami has to offer. read more

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Where do I start? Chef Cal and his team ALWAYS deliver a one-of-a-kind Private Chef experience. Chef Cal made the whole process so easy and put together the perfect menu for me. Yacht kitchens can be a little difficult to cook in however Chef Cal and his crew always make it work! Honestly, I wouldn't use any other Personal Chef! Definitely, book in advance! read more

Personal Chef Calvin - Delicious Tapa by Chef cal, served by Julianne on a 103' Yacht! - Personal Chefs Near Me

Chef Cal and his team did the catering for my group on the Exhale yacht in West Palm Beach, FL back in May over Memorial Day weekend. As others have said, I can't begin to describe Chef Cal and his team but let me try. They are fun, passionate about their craft, professional, responsive and go out of their way to make sure your event is a success and that you and your guests want for nothing. I have NEVER EVER EVER had such good food that was catered. I cook and my home is the "go to" spot for holidays so this is a testament to Chef Cal and his team. Everything was flavorful and seasoned to perfection. We had chicken & shrimp tacos with a spicy aioli, fruit skewers, crispy royale oysters, grilled shrimp skewers with pineapple salsa, crab stuffed mushrooms, bronzino, truffle mac and cheese, green beans and rolls. For dessert, we had the Chef Cal's Doughtnut show and we had to stuff those in but they were so good. We also add his signature drink, the Smoking Watermelon which had people who saw it posted on my pages asking me for days what was it and how did he do it. Anyone who has parties know that food can make or break an event. Hire Chef Cal and you will be blown away! I'm going back to FL in October and will be reaching out to him this week to get things set up. read more

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So here's the deal, we've never had a personal chef before but because of Covid we were looking for an alternative to going out to a nice restaurant for my girlfriend's birthday. All I can say is WOW! Chef Cal and his team treat you with such VIP service and attention to detail. It all began with a smoking watermelon and at first I thought it was a little over the top but now, all I can do is think about that smoking watermelon and everything that came after. It's going to be hard going back to a restaurant and getting the basic cookie cutter service we all have come custom too. His empanadas will change your life, his fillet and lobster tail will ruin your expectations of any "fancy" steakhouse. We can't wait to visit Miami again so that we can book Chef Calvin, his team and this amazing experience; because that's what it was, and experience, not dinner. read more

Chef Calvin is who you call when you want to spoil your loved ones like they have never been spoiled before. He blew us all away with his insanely delicious food, superb service, and other amazing surprises. He changes the atmosphere with his outstanding and friendly personality. His whole crew was on point! I highly recommend Chef Calvin when you are planning for a fabulous, extraordinary event. And if you use him, make sure you have a photographer. You will get some memorable shots! And...make sure you get the smoking watermelon drink. read more

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This isn't my usual review of a restaurant, this review is for the other side of dinning....personal chefs!!!! Ladies and gents, if you're going to treat yourself and loved ones to dinner catered by a personal chef THIS IS THE TEAM YOU WANT! Let's talk my favorite subject, service!!!! This team is doing it right. The service alone is worth 5 stars. Chef Cal & Chef Angelo were entertaining the entire night, all while putting out some mouth watering dishes! Chef Cal made sure our cups were always topped with his refreshing and crisp specialty cocktails. The Chef Cal punch is a MUST, thank me later :) We were asked about food allergies prior to being served, very professional and considerate. This is truly an impressive and profesional duo. Time to talk grubbbbbbbbb!!! My mouth waters as I write this.....Steak mac & cheese empanadas!!!!! Gooey cheese filled empanadas, with chunks of steak and a hot flaky crust!!! I mean I could eat these every single day and live happy for the rest of my days! If you like lollipops, and you like lobster then make sure you request lobster lollipops on your menu! Fresh lobster covered in a light batter and fried to golden perfection. The lobster was warm and the batter wasn't overwhelming at all. It was dipped in spicy mayo of some sort, I wish I could've taken a bottle home! In true Chef Angelo fashion, a Dominican chimi slider was served! Whoooooo doesn't want un chimi slider?! The beef was cooked perfectly, the bun warm and crisp, and the chimi could've been eaten on its own!!! That GOOD! The star of the night was the tomahawk steak!!!!! This is the BEST steak I've ever had!!! Juicy, seasoned perfectly, cooked to the ideal medium temp. with a beautiful sear! You can tell the steak was rested for the right amount of time. Accompanied by truffle mashed potatoes, heaven on a plate! Fried Twinkies!!!! Yessss, you read that correctly! Our dinner experience was concluded with a sweet treat, fried Twinkies! What more needs to be said?! Anything sweet and fried is going to send your tastebuds on a field trip to la la land! Worth it! Fellow Yelpers, this personal chef duo is worth every penny! All the ingredients used were fresh, and high quality. You can tell that no expense is spared on these dishes. Very profesional, energetic, and entertaining. This wasn't just a dinner, it was an experience. The Chef Cal experience ! Enjoy! read more

Personal Chef Calvin - Tomahawk steak accompanied by truffle mashed potatoes ! - Personal Chefs Near Me

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This is the best and most delicious at home catering service you could ask for. We hired Chef Calvin for a dinner party and it was awesome having him come and prepare food right in front of us. He was really accommodating to all the different type of requests given. The food was delicious and all our guests were thrilled with the food.  Between his customer service and his delicious food, I will definitely be recommending Chef Calvin to everyone and can't wait to have him in our home again! read more

In town celebrating my mother's 60th birthday at an airbnb in town. Chef Calvin was unbelievably unprofessional and ruined her birthday. We confirmed sunday dinner on Thursday and even discussed the menu extensively - "good choice on the steak tartare, it's fire." I subsequently spent over $800 on wine to pair with the meal. Saturday night at 7pm he sends a message stating he has booked another client and does not respond to any more messages. There was never a mention that another client was thinking of booking him that night during the entire booking process as subsequent discussions about the menu. It's unfortunate when you sacrifice your character to make a couple extra bucks on a Sunday night. I get it - a high end client probably hit you up and you "couldn't say no." However, you can't run a business without integrity which clearly Chef Calvin has not learned. Thanks for nothing man. In response to chef calvin's reply: On the contrary, we asked at the time of booking Thursday if we could give you a credit card for a deposit to secure the reservation (my sister who you spoke with literally had one in her hand). You ensured us that would not be necessary - that we could wait to settle the day of service (Sunday). It's clear to me more than ever that you were just waiting for a better option to present itself. If that's the case, please decline upfront so we can both make other plans. Even when you make an error in judgement you can't admit to wrongdoing. The only reason you even contacted us is because I left a detrimental yelp review which you wanted removed. read more

MY APOLOGIES - reviewed wrong business. Please disregard this review - IT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR CHEF CALVIN. I will remove it , however I wanted to make it clear that I made a mistake and his business does not warrant the initial review I sent! See below: Asked for a quote - gave specifics - got one - asked for the quote to be redone to my specification He never called me back. Who does business like that? MY SINCERE APOLOGIES AGAIN read more

Chef cal and his team were on time, and made some of the best food I've ever had in my life on top of that when they left they left the kitchen completely spotless and in better condition then at the start of the day, cannot recommend this team enough you will not regret it booking chef cal read more

I had the most amazing experience with Chef Calvin's team for my Birthday! Chef Pitter and Cam were very professional and down to earth! The menu was AMAZING just an overall beautiful and yummy experience! I would definitely recommend you book with them the next time you're in the Florida area! Thank you for making this a birthday to remember! read more

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Tuna tartar tostados are to die for!! The guys are super friendly and welcoming and were kind enough to let me have a few bites before the table was even ready! Fantastic food and service! read more

Personal Chef Calvin - Personal Chefs Near Me

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Personal Chef cal is the best private I have ever experienced. He has a signature drink called the "smoking watermelon" this drink blew all of my guests away. His team is outstanding, Chef Roman has catered a few of my brunches and the food and service is still 5 star. My favorite tapas are his crab cakes, crispy rice with tuna & the home made crispy hamachi tacos with jalapeños. Can't wait to have him back! Love you chef cal. He also does yacht charters. read more

If there was a Chef Calvin fan club (who knows, there might be?!) I'd be the president. Since my first dining experience with Chef Calvin, I was hooked. I was pretty confident that the evening would be filled with amazing food, but I had no idea that it would be filled with so much entertainment and so many laughs, too. Dining with Chef Calvin is truly an unforgettable and unique experience. He comes fully equipped with a drone to document the evening, a custom set of badass knives, and his famous 'Smokin Watermelon' drink to get the party started. He also brings his trusty sidekicks to make sure that the Chef can focus on what he does best, and so that you won't have to lift a finger throughout the process. From steak tacos to tuna tartare martinis, the night started off strong- and that was just the beginning! Next up Chef Calvin blew our minds with a custom burger topped with bacon, mac n' cheese and a fried egg. UN-BELIEVABLE. Last but not least, Chef Calvin turned things up by re-creating a club scene in my kitchen with sparklers, music, donuts and more. Casual, right? Sure, plenty of personal chefs can make a bomb meal, but with Chef Calvin you get A+ food, creative cocktails, big time personality and an experience that will leave you wanting more. Whether you opt to call Chef Cal for a special birthday dinner or even a fun brunch, believe me when I say you are in for an amazing time. read more

I had the pleasure of doing an audition in LA with Chef Cal. After the audition a few of us went back to his Airbnb, where he had all of his equipment with him. We arrived with a solid 5-6 people and chef catered to us all. Let me tell you as a vegan for a chef to whip me up a vegan meal on the fly and it be delicious was a true treat. Not only was chef very professional, he had his own tools with him, delicious food, and catered to 6 people with just ingredients he had on hand. The next time he is back in California I will definitely be giving him a call. read more

Chef Cal offered the absolute best service, experience and food for my event. This is the chef you want to hire! The food was amazing & truly an unforgettable night. read more

This review is a year late. Prior to Covid last year we had Chef Calvin and team prepare a sit down dinner for 15. What we thought would be a good meal turned out to be a great memorable experience. Cal and his team arrived and I told them to make themselves at home in the kitchen. I was able to entertain my guests and not have to worry about the meal being prepared. Shortly after our guests arrived, Calvin presented the smoking watermelon. The drink was both entertaining and delicious. But the best was yet to come. The first course was an amazing salad of mixed greens, fresh vegetables and topped with crispy chicken tenders. The next course was 30 oz. Tomahawk steaks (that were so large they almost didn't fit on the plates) and a crab cake. The steaks were melt in your mouth tender and both seasoned and cooked to perfection. We are from Maryland and know crab cakes and Calvins were better than most we have had. Roasted potatoes and broccolini were the perfect accompaniments with it. For desert we chose to have the Chef Cal Doughnut Show! Doughnuts and Liquid Nitro ice cream freshly made right in front of us. Dinner AND a show, what more could we ask for? After dinner the team cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and it was as clean as when they arrived...maybe even cleaner. Cal was a pleasure to work with, he was very responsive, made suggestions, communicated both timely and professionally, and has a very friendly and warm personality. His team are so professional and also very friendly and our guests loved all of them. I wish I could give them more than 5 stars, it was a 10 star evening. Again, a big THANK YOU to Cal and team and once this stupid virus is over we plan on making this a yearly event. read more

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Chef Cal & his team were amazing! A group of friends & I hired Chef Cal for a surprise birthday dinner party. The chef was very helpful from start to finish. We weren't exactly sure what we wanted on the menu, he was extremely patient and offered us an array of menu ideas. Chef Cal was even able to cater to the guest who were vegan and gluten free. The food was better than amazing! It was well presented and beyond flavorful. We were very impressed with the entire experience from start to finish. The Chef & his team were super friendly and helped bring the party to life. I would definitely hire chef Cal again and recommend him to all of my friends! read more

I'm going to start off like this.. If you even know someone who hires Chef Calvin you need to be there. Seeing his art posted on social media is one thing experiencing it firsthand mind blown. I am very impressed with his professionalism and talent. I actually posted his images up on my social media and I keep going back to look at it. And it makes me hungry each time. So if acquire his services just know you will eat well. Because if you don't know a great meal always comes from a great soul. read more

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I met personal chef Calvin at a friend's luxury car dealership event and was amazed by every bite that came out of the kitchen, all bites were perfect sized and some of the tastiest food I've had. Then, with some time I was able to have chef Calvin prepare the best dinner I've had in a very long time. He simply asked what my allergies were and then surprised me with the dinner of a lifetime. Whether it is a large event you have or you want to surprise your love one with a romantic dinner... chef Calvin is your #1 choice! Oh and his meal plans? Talk about having gourmet meal plans delivered to your house. AMAZING! read more

Personal Chef Calvin - Personal Chefs Near Me

We've been using chef cal for over the past year now for all our private events and hands down I don't think it gets any better. His food, is mouth watering and the service, what a show! Just an overall pleasure! If you need a personal chef his your man. read more

WOW 5 STARS! Chef Calvin and his team are amazing! They arrived to my home right on time and have such a positive attitude. Chef Calvin made a 5 course meal for my birthday party in Miami! You have to try the smoking watermelon, the steak taretar crispy rice & his mini burger sliders are heavenly as well. The hard part is booking him bc everyone wants him in Miami. He also brings a professional photographer with him. This was the best birthday dinner I have ever had. Can't wait to book him again. read more

Personal Chef Calvin - Personal Chefs Near Me

I have professionally known Calvin for 7 years and the first characteristic that comes to mind in perfectionist. He has always had his eye set on delivering quality in a perfect package. His food never disappoints and his service matches the same quality. If you're interested in booking an event to impress I would say congratulations, you have found the best in Miami! PS- one of my favorite things about him is how clean he leaves your kitchen after an amazing feel. Can't beat that! read more

Chef Calvin is the best! He made sure every detail was right and it made me less stressed about throwing a dinner party. He arrived on time with his team and was so much fun to have. We had a three course meal which had mini tacos, steak & lobster, and donuts. It was so delicious and had such a beautiful presentation. He cleaned up and left my kitchen spotless! I can't wait to hire him again for my next dinner party. read more

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I met Chef Calvin while shopping at my neighborhood Whole Foods! I had my parents coming to Miami for my father's 65th birthday and since we have eaten everywhere in town I wanted a more personal, low-key, private dinner, so I approached him. I'm so glad that I did! He followed up with me later that day and presented a menu to me based on my dad's want for fresh seafood. We set the date and he came out to my family's condo in North Beach to cook everything for us on the spot. I was BLOWEN away! Seared salmon, avocado, heirloom tomato, with champagne citrus vinaigrette was my favorite! I attempt to recreate it all the time ;) More than just the food was great, Chef Calvin was fun, personable, and made my dad laugh the whole time. He helped us create one of my favorite memories and I tell all my friends about him! Thanks Chef read more

Personal Chef Cal knows how to make your taste buds dance! His sliders paired with his famous watermelon drink just can't be beat. If you're looking for a personal chef to come into your home and cook, don't hesitate to make that call. read more

There's nothing like a meal prepared by Chef Cal! Besides the amazing food, he always makes sure that everyone has a great time! It's all about the experience with him.. he really gets it. We had him prepare a BBQ brunch for our house party. Couldn't be happier! Thanks, Chef!! read more

Phenomenal evening with talented chefs!! Food was inventive and incredibly delicious! Energy and entertainment all night long! Professional and personal---we had an amazing birthday celebration!! read more

Truly the best chef in Miami. He was so nice to speak to on the phone. Some of the other private chefs were rude when I was getting quotes but Calvin was friendly and accommodating to all my dietary needs. The smoking watermelon drink was a hit for my party. The tuna martini is one of a kind. We loved his steak and lobster entree as well. His camera man "Wavylord" is soo too. I'm wish I could have them make me dinner every night. I will book him on my next Miami trip. read more

Chef Calvin and Chef Angelo were the highlight of my bachelorette party in Miami. These guys are not your typical chefs. Not only are the extremely talented but they are cute and charming and all of my girls loved them. They are very busy and we got lucky to secure them with only 3x weeks notice. Let's start off with the drinks!!! The smoking watermelon was soooooo good! We had chef cal make it like 3x during dinner. Now let's talk about the food! The spicy tuna crispy rice is better than NOBU, MAKOTO & ZUMA. The mini burgers were the best I ever had. These guys really take pride into every dish. They wouldn't even let us eat anything that was left out, they always made us fresh new tapas. It felt like we are at a 5 Michelin star restaurant. Our entree was a crab crust filet mug on with seafood rice & a whole lobster tail (FIVE STAR). Lastly they cleaned up the entire kitchen & took out the trash. This experience was sooo much better than going to a restaurant because we could actually move around and stand up to social rather than being seated at a table all night. My party consisted of 15 girls and we all loved it. I would highly recommend chef cal's services. I can't wait to see my video ( did I mention he has a professional video team?) Ok I'm done. read more

Finding fun restaurants in miami has never been an issue, however, retaining a personal chef that maintains a standard of quality and professionalism is a rarity. Of all of the previous personal chefs that I've retained over the years, Chef Cal is BY FAR the best! His magic is in his name. Chef Cal's artistry is specific to his personal touches. He uses unconventional tools such as smokers, liquid nitrogen, and elaborate gadgets that makes his clients ooh and ahh. To date, he's hosted over 20 of my events; so I saw it fit to write this review. Per usual, he's outdone himself and merits a shoutout. To my amazement, I never get tired of his food. That is because his courses are never the same. He puts a spin to every dish and sends my tastebuds on a trip. He uses influences from various countries when flavoring his food. That flavor profile is another key to his success in the kitchen. If you want a luxury dinner experience consisting of the highest quality of food and a million dollar personality to match, hire Chef Cal for your next gathering! read more

I was in a predicament a few weeks ago. I had a crazy schedule with work, 3 closings lined up and several buyers and sellers that I was still helping, and I knew I didn't have a chance to stop and make something to eat, and as I am trying to get in shape for season, I couldn't afford to wreck my temple with garbage at a restaurant or slow my metabolism with doing without. I decided to try a personal chef that I was recommended to by a fellow colleague in the business. This guy works almost exclusively on referrals, so lets just say he passed around more than an Indian peace pipe, & with good reason as the food this guy produced was incredible. He was even able to stick to my strict dietary needs. The morning he showed up on time and within 15 min had the most elaborate spread of oatmeal (vanilla or bland is what I thought too) but it was with like a caramelized banana and apple spread with a la 'orange concoction that was so good that I found myself asking something that I never thought I would in my lifetime and that was for some more oatmeal. It was such a nice breakfast that I found myself wasting time, after snapping out of it. I preceded back to the office. 3 hours later Chef Calvin brought me back a Glass of juice, but it was displayed so nicely in my Riedel grand cru red wine glass with fruit sticking out upon placing it on the table he explained what was in it. He said "I just threw something together with things you had in the fridge" it had beats, apples, spinach, ginger and carrots. It looked so festive and tropical with a thinly sliced strawberry on the rim and a few other fruits displayed. I took my first sip and, sweet nectar of the gods it was delicious. He left me to do my work only coming back to pick up my glass 15 minutes later and ask me what time a I wanted lunch to be served, and questioned if it was okay if he set up a spread outside, as it was a lovely day. I had a few errands I had to run and do but 2:00 couldn't roll around fast enough. I stepped into the door and a fantastic smell hit me in the face. It was the most pleasant my kitchen has ever smelled. I walked out to the patio and lunch was sitting in front of me within 15 seconds rack of lamb with a mint yogurt dill sauce and a spinach salad. Incredible, was the only way to describe it. I have never had lamb taste so good and as I ate it I almost felt refreshed. I scarfed it down and left back to my work. Dinner was the same way served when I asked and was so incredibly good I forgot what I ate, as it was only on my plate briefly. I think it was some type of fish but it almost had a steak flavor to it. Before leaving Chef Calvin cleaned up and left, but the next morning when I opened my refrigerator chef Calvin left me a very nice letter and he took the liberty to clean out my refrigerator which I am sure he did because he was at my home all day. I was very impressed with Chef Calvin's services and professionalism, and I will be sure to book him again if I can get an appointment, the next time I need my refrigerator cleaned. read more

Simply amazing! Chef Calvin is so professional yet approachable. I used his services for my sisters birthday and we all loved the food! When my friends saw the photos of the food and the video his videographer made, everyone was impressed. 100% recommend if you're looking for great food, great service, and a lot of fun read more

Just had my Bachelor Party in Miami this past weekend. Chef Calvin was hired to cook breakfast our last morning there. If I could give him 6 stars, I would. EVERYTHING was great. Best grits I've ever had! The whole party felt the same about his food. He even went outside and grabbed a couple pieces of Palm tree leaves for some decoration. Highly Recommend Chef Calvin as a personal chef. read more