Chef Matt delivered an amazing experience for 4 people! Our friend has a baby and a toddler and greatly appreciated a fine dining experience coming to her house! He brought all the ingredients and taught us tips like how to cut an onion without crying and the right way to cut a mango! The best mai tai of my life started us off. Then he made mahi mahi with chutney, and a Caribbean themed main dish of mango sauce marinated ribs and slaw. Dessert was bananas foster due to time, he had other options including flan, but flan takes too long. Generally, it's a 4 hour night with eating at the end, so plan accordingly. The perfect Friday evening hang out with friends and learn something new. Highly recommend, especially as a gift to friends. read more

9 years after getting a milestone birthday gift certificate I finally cashed it in for a cooking class with Chef Matt. What an absolutely fun day! Chef Matt takes care of everything -- the food, the cooking utensils and cookware and the cleanup. All you have to do is select a menu, pick a date for the cooking session in your home kitchen and decide how active you want to be during the class. I chose a Spanish theme so we made patatas bravas, Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp), Serrano Ham, Manchego, Pear and Carmelized Onion Puff Pastry Bites, and Vegetarian Paella. I cook and bake a lot, so it was great being able to pick Chef Matt's brain for tips and tricks to improve my skills. If you have a foodie in your life this is an awesome gift/experience for them! read more

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I love that this business concept exists, especially for people with little ones and miss the fine dining experience. Chef Matt was so professional. My family of 6 adults had a grand time with him serving an "Open That Bottle" experience. Everything was amazing and delicious. My kids asked if he could come back the next day! I can't wait to try the cooking class next! read more

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We had the BEST experience cooking with Matt! He is super knowledgeable, patient, and engaging! Our group had celiac and vegetarian folks, and he was able to create a DELICIOUS Thai dinner with multiple courses that were good for all! Roast duck mango salad, green curry, khao soi, and mango sticky rice for dessert! DIVINE! It was our first time booking a private chef cooking experience for a group of friends, and it was quite literally everyone's favorite part of the weekend! We shared fun stories, learned a ton, and ate very well. We all left feeling like Matt was one of our best friends. Highly recommend! read more

We booked Matt for a birthday celebration in our home, party of six - two senior citizens and four in their 30's. The evening FAR exceeded any expectations! Matt listened well to the preferences of the group during the planning stage, and the menu was outstanding! Matt brought everything needed and all the ingredients were super fresh and highest quality. Making pasta from scratch was lots of fun, and our chosen Pasta con Zucchini all Nerano was a big winner. The flavorful pan roasted rockfish with Mediterranean dressing was incredible. Panzanella salad so delicious! All throughout the preparation of the menu items Matt offers tons of other tips and tidbits, not to mention valuable knife skills. He is delightful to chat with - interesting and friendly with a great sense of humor. Excellent instructor. And lastly we made cannoli from scratch- amazing! It was truly an evening we will always remember- thank you, Chef Matt!! If anyone is considering a home cooking experience I strongly urge you to talk to Chef Matt - I promise you will be glad you did! read more

The pizza class was amazing. Highly informative and incredibly delicious. Chef Matt is a true professional and a great teacher. He explains and demonstrates things in such a way that anyone can begin to make (in this specific case) pizzas, entirely from scratch, in their own kitchen. Chef is very personable and makes the entire process both fun and engaging. I highly recommend this class, and we will definitely be doing more classes. Note: Chef Matt is an expert in Thai cuisine. Thanks Chef Matt. See you soon for the next one. read more

We received a gift card for a cooking class with Chef Matt, and what a great gift it turned out to be! We booked his pasta making class and it was wonderful. The process of booking the class was incredibly easy, and Matt worked with us to plan a menu that worked with everyone's tastes, allergies, etc. We had four adults and our two kids ended up joining because they saw how much fun we were having! Matt was so informative, funny, and just a pleasure to have in our home. He walked is through all the steps and was so patient and welcoming when the kids wanted to try their hands at it. The food was incredible and we were so happy with the whole experience that we will definitely book him again. Strongly recommend!! read more

Chef Matt came to our home this week to help 3 young Chefs cultivate their love of cooking! I was so impressed with Chef Matt's guidance, patience and witty insights with the three 11-year olds! They laughed and smiled the whole way through. Their knife skills visibly improved over the course of 3 hours, and they enjoyed preparing the food as much as eating it for dinner. Thank you, Chef, for a wonderful evening! We will surely do it again. read more

We had Chef Matt here this week for a group of 5. My fiancé arranged the night as a Christmas gift for our family. The event exceeded our expectations. Chef Matt arrived with everything ready to go at 6 pm and left around 10:00 pm. It was an evening of listening and watching him cook. He made the night fun for the 20 something group up to our age- the 60 something couple. He is truly a delight. He is a gifted teacher, he explained everything in an easy to learn way. We had a few menu's to choose from- there were plenty of choices. Each dish was delicious. We'd love to schedule another event with him. We want to cook the dish he prepared for us. read more

Had a fantastic girl's weekend thanks to Matt Finarelli's cooking! The hors d'oeuvres Friday with the wine pairing were unique and so delicious! The Saturday cooking class was amazing! Learned some incredible food-chopping secrets and all- around tips. Very informative and knowledgeable, and Matt was so very approachable. He brings all the food, prepares it, and cleans up! He has a good sense of humor and a broad knowledge of food history and practical tips! I will definitely book him for our next cooking adventure! read more

For Christmas I gave my family a cooking lesson with Chef Matt - and WOW! Not only did we learn great skills, recipes, and cooking tips, Chef was super fun and inclusive of everyone! There were six of us, and everyone one participated and had an absolute blast. I will DEFINITELY have Chef Matt back for more more family lessons and Girls Night lessons! read more

Chef Matt is a wonderful entertaining cooking experience! He treated us to an interactive Italian dinner for four of us. Who knew there was a better way to cut onions! He allows you to select how much you want to be involved in the process. Next time Thai! read more

Chef Matt came to our house and cooked a great dinner for 8 guests for my wife's birthday. Matt was very responsive in planning the meal as well as the timing in the weeks leading up to the evening. He even suggested some wine pairings once we had settled on the "gondolas with gusto" menu and was open to any modifications I had in mind. Once the evening started we all learned some great tips for cooking the meal and thoroughly enjoyed Matt's company. The food was spectacular and I highly recommend having Chef Matt to your home, the food and demonstration is top notch! read more

Chef Matt provided a perfect Thai Cooking lesson. He catered to our groups varied needs, was an amazing evening and we will be doing another gathering with him....What cuisine is next? Italian , Spanish or ????? read more

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We had Chef Matt come to our apartment for a couples cooking class and he just blew us away. Not only did he make the class fun and friendly but the food he made was mouthwatering! Throughout the booking process, Chef Matt was quick to respond and always provided detailed information. He arrived promptly, set up quickly and was ready to start cooking ahead of schedule. He was patient, funny and engaging throughout the class. He even provided a printed overview of everything we covered in class. He was meticulous in his explanations and didn't rush us through the class at all. We were so grateful to have the class end up being about five hours long without any extra cost! The cherry on top of this already excellent class was that Chef Matt left our kitchen looking better than it did before he arrived. We will definitely be booking Chef Matt for another class soon! read more

My husband got me a cooking class with Chef Matt as a gift and I couldn't have been happier with the whole experience. He worked with me on a menu, he brought everything and all we had to do was be there and ready to cook. Some of us were more interested than others in the cooking / learning part, which was totally fine. But he was so friendly and personable - we really enjoyed spending time with him. And I learned a few things as well. Overall, he was excellent and I am planning to follow up with a second round - doing a Thai cooking class soon. read more

Chef Matt is fantastic! He is super quick to respond, friendly, positive, and makes cooking feel like the perfect balance between [a fun new challenge + not stressful or overwhelming!] I have taken several classes with him and each class was worth every penny. He was even great with our youth group, and the kids had a fantastic experience. They want to do another class with him! I learned so much from each class, and would highly recommend him for people of all ages! read more

WoW! What an amazing experience Chef Matt provided for my "Open the Bottle Night" wine dinner. He made my party of ten six mouth watering courses and paired it with wines my guests were bringing to share. Each course was better than the last, when we didn't think it was possible. :) He cooked and served each course in a timely manner throughout the evening, explaining each dish. Chef Matt interacted with us as well, as time allowed. He was a pleasure to work with from beginning inquiry email to the final bourbon ball devoured! I look forward to working with him on a future event and think a few of my guests will book him as well. read more

Matt Finarelli is not only a terrific chef, but he is personable and entertaining. We've had him conduct several cooking/dining experiences at our house and he never disappoints. Get on his schedule to have him come over and cook a fabulous multi-course dinner. He'll work with you on the menu and then all you have to do is invite the guests and supply the table setting and wine. Your guests can participate in the cooking as much or as little as they want. Matt will demonstrate and do everything. He even brings his own pans and cooking utensils. Matt is flexible and will work with you on just sort of dining/cooking event you'd like to host. read more

Our group of five had an amazing Sicilian feast with Chef Matt! He explained everything clearly and was such a pleasure to chat with in between cooking. He is highly experienced and made it a wonderful experience for our family. Thank you Chef! read more

I was looking to take a cooking class with some friends, but struggling to find one that touched on a few different topics. My friend found Chef Matt and he came over this week! It was fantastic! He catered the class to our needs and really engaged with us. Plus he brought everything to my house and even helped us clean up after. Highly recommend using him and loved our meal. I will be reaching out to do this again! read more

Red Jacket Cooking School - Truffle mushroom risotto and Coq Au Vin - Caterers Near Me

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It's been almost one year since our first review of Chef Matt, that we are now working with him yet again, in 2019. Our event took place last night, after scheduling and planning it for the last 3 months. We pressed Chef Matt pretty hard as we were demanding and knowing exactly what we wanted. In addition to the food, we had Matt coordinate most of the entire night: the setup, the flow, moving and setting up furniture. We were even particular about his bartender choice and cocktails to be featured and served. Additionally, for particular reasons having to do with my guests, I even asked that Matt find a way to incorporate Bourbon into a dessert! He did it all. The night was amazing, easy on my wife and I, letting us enjoy the entire time with our guests. His knowledge of food, planning, and his fluid movement around the kitchen are all really something to behold. read more

Chef Matt provided a lesson and Thai dinner to a group of 15 people in our home to celebrate my birthday. He was very responsive to all my questions prior to the event. During the event, he was engaging, entertaining, knowledgeable, and most of all, the food tasted great! Afterwards, he left my kitchen spic and span. All my guests loved him, his tips, and his cooking. You will learn a lot and eat a lot! We had a fabulous time and I would not hesitate to hire him again next time. read more

Matt helped us host a Cajun cooking night at our home with 8 other guests and everyone had a phenomenal time! My husband won't stop raving about the experience and we can't wait to host another event with him! Not only was the food great but the whole cooking experience was fun for everyone (cooks and non-cooks alike) with jokes and cooking tips along the way. Matt was also great with accommodating dietary needs (vegetarian). I would definitely recommend him to anyone wanting to host a fun and unique event at their home and can't wait to plan my next event! read more

I am forever grateful that Chef Matt helped my fiancé pull off the most wonderful surprise engagement this past Saturday night!! He worked with him for weeks to pick out a venue, customize the menu to all of my favorite foods, and plan out the logistics for the surprise proposal (a blindfolded "champagne tasting") at the end of the evening. After the surprise, he even catered a full dinner for both of our families! Chef Matt was so passionate about making the evening unforgettable for us, and he definitely succeeded in that. The food was incredible as well- make sure to request his famous cacio e pepe pasta and homemade limoncello!! He is so personable and friendly and I couldn't have asked for a better person to play a huge role in our special night. I can't wait to recreate this meal on all of our special occasions :) Thank you Chef Matt!!! read more

I have now participated in three of Chef Matt's personal cooking classes. Each experience was better than the last. On top of being an amazing cook and teacher, he is also so fun and personable. We are already scheduling another event with him. highly, highly recommend chef matt to anyone looking for an personal cooking class! read more

My husband and I just attended one of his couples cooking classes and he was a terrific teacher. We are not chefs, but we're not novices in the kitchen, either, and we still learned a lot of neat tips and tricks that I can't wait to try. I'm going to look for an excuse to book him for a birthday or to give his class as a gift for a friend. read more

Wow!!! I had read the reviews here, which were a large part of the basis of my selecting Chef Matt, but even after that, he exceeded all expectations. From my initial contact, Chef Matt was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. Our event was a 78th birthday celebration for both my parents; I wanted to have Chef Matt teach a class to my nieces and nephew (ages 13 and 16), my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and me. Based on a little input from me, Chef Matt came up with a great menu (making pizza and pasta!) that worked for all three generations, down to our picky younger eaters. The entire process was so easy... he arrived on time, set himself up on the schedule he provided in advance, and then the fun began! Chef Matt is personable and engaging; he worked with all three generations with equal ease and provided instruction at the appropriate level and provided tips and tricks that were helpful for all of us (even those of us who actually cook!). The kids all had a fabulous time tossing the pizza dough and rolling, cutting, and shaping the pasta... so much so that my nephew is now considering becoming a chef! And let's not forget that the food was all delicious. Thank you so much, Chef Matt, for an experience my family will not soon forget... you already know I'll be in touch for future events for my company, family, and friends! read more

Chef Matt gave a Thai cooking class in our home for 8 of us. We all absolutely loved it! His class was very educational and practical. The food was the best Thai food I've ever had. We will definitely do this again and learn more about other types of cooking too. I can't recommend him highly enough!!!! read more

Chef Matt is absolutely amazing! I have been using his personal chef services and I can honestly say that he has been a blessing in our life. I first learned about Chef Matt on an online community of moms in Old Town, Alexandria. Because I had a small baby and no time to cook, I decided to order our Thanksgiving meal from him. I was so happy I did - the food was absolutely fantastic and everyone at the dinner table raved about it. In fact, it was the best Thanksgiving meal that I have ever had. Since then I have been ordering from him on a regular basis. Chef Matt's food is fresh, healthy and out-of-this-world delicious. His recipes are very diverse and incorporate a lot of international influences, which I love. Everyone in my home is so excited when we get the food from Chef Matt. I wish I knew about him long time ago, especially after we had our baby and struggled with finding the time to cook. I know that he teaches cooking classes and I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to learn how to cook amazing food directly from Chef Matt. I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for personal chef services! read more