Mattias was integral in making our evening exceptional. From initial email through payment,…read moreMattias was communicative and thoughtful. We had six people for a small birthday get together and everything from the food, decor, timing of courses,etc was spot on. He accommodated our requests including making special items for my youngest daughter. He brings everything - decor, place setting, glassware. We needed nothing as he covered it all. I couldn't recommend him more highly.

10/10, amazing, fantastic!…read more We had gotten an Airbnb at a secluded beach house and booked Mattias to cook our parent's 30th anniversary dinner. Communication went smoothly from start to finish. When he arrived, he took safety precautions and kept his distance and mask on (something that I really appreciated). He brought the dinnerware, table decor, and even printed out a nice menu at our request. Food was amazing and I loved that we were able to mix and match from his Farm Table menus. We had the butter lettuce salad (could eat this everyday!), the sweet corn soup (amazing flavors- sweetness of the corn was complemented with a kick of chili oil), the petit filet, and raspberry torte (with a sparkler to make it celebratory!). Every thing was amazing and perfectly portioned. At the end of dinner, he cleaned up which is such an added plus! Mattias is very personable and made the occasion so special. Will definitely look forward to working with him again :)

Josie has been cheffing for my family for almost a decade. We absolutely LOVE her. We are self…read moreproclaimed foodies, and like healthy delicious and interesting food. She has many wonderful staples like her veggie shrimp rolls (must have)! But she is super open to trying new things. We often collaborate on the menu with Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty being one of our favorite go to books in a pinch. Josie is a wonderful warm person and can be trusted to respect your home, family and guests. She is a real professional.

Josie has been the personal chef for my clients for the past 3 years and she is PHENOMENAL!!!! Not…read moreonly is she super easy to work with, but her food is so delicious. And she knows how to cook for all types of palates, ages and appetites. My clients have an especially particular set of dietary needs and allergies that must be worked around. We have had a hard time finding a chef that knows how to adjust to those needs while keeping the food selections, fresh, delicious, and diverse, but with Josie, it's just been so easy since Day 1. They also have 2 toddlers and she always suggests healthy and fun selections for them and they LOVE it! She's also a great cooking tutor and is always happy to help and answer any and all questions. And get this...we are in Los Angeles and Josie is in Santa Barbara...but THAT is how valuable she is to us! We get her food brought down to LA from Santa Barbara. Yes. Believe it when I say Chef Josie is one of the best! When it comes to working parties and events that my clients host, once again, she makes it all so easy and her attention to detail is absolutely precise! For example...We hosted a pizza party because the house had a new wood-fired brick pizza oven installed. I discussed this with Josie, and at the time, she had never worked with wood-fired pizza ovens. However, the very next day she sent me all the information she had researched on it, and also took the initiative to find someone to show her how to work with a wood-fired pizza oven. Because of her research and initiative, she was able to show me via texting and Facetime, how to properly cure the oven a week before the party and then when it came to the actual day of the party, Josie & her assistant came down to cook and put the oven and her newfound wood-fired pizza skills to the test...and everyone LOVED it!!! The pizza was honestly some of the most delicious pizza I've had. And it's all because of the prep work Josie had done before and then when the time came, like a master at their craft, she just let her experience do the rest. And clean-up was a BREEZE!!!!! She and her awesome assistant were constantly cleaning as they were working, so by the time they had to leave, everything was already cleaned up and put away. I am SO GRATEFUL for Josie. She makes my clients very happy and that makes me extremely happy and also, my job that much easier! She is truly one of the best people you will ever work with.

We hired Ashley as a personal chef while we were in town for a bachelorette party, and she was…read moreabsolutely amazing from start to finish. She was incredibly professional, arrived right on time, came fully prepared with everything she needed, and completely took the stress off our evening. The food was so good (honestly DELICIOUS), and on top of that, she somehow left the kitchen even cleaner than when she arrived! She was attentive, kind, and impressively patient while managing our themed dinner- even after we'd enjoyed a few glasses of wine. The entire experience felt thoughtful and seamless. You will absolutely not regret hiring her!

I recently had catering with Ashley for breakfast and dinner at a private home. Ashley was very…read moreprofessional, arrived early to make sure meals were cooked and served on time and the food tasted great. Everyone was extremely happy with both meals. The incredients tasted very fresh and addressed everyone's dietary restrictions. This is a high value service and Ashley left the kitchen cleaner that it was when she first got there. 100% would recommend and book again. Thank you!

Unfortunately, I did not have a great experience and would not recommend The Kitchen Door for a…read morelarge wedding or event. Betty has many positive reviews, which is one of the reasons I hired her, so my assumption is that smaller events may be a better fit for her business. However, based on my experience with a wedding of over 100 guests, I would not hire her again. The overall customer experience, communication, staffing, and execution did not meet expectations. Positives: * Betty was very helpful during the initial planning process. I originally reached out looking for bartending services, and she was able to provide catering, dinnerware, linens, and other items that reduced the amount of rentals I needed. * She created a beautiful custom menu and was accommodating when guest counts needed to be updated. * The appetizer presentation looked great and was well received by guests. * The enchilada soup was good. * She provided a cake knife for our cake cutting. * Food service itself was not excessively slow despite the size of the event. Negatives: * The staffing and service provided did not match what was outlined in our contract, and there was never any acknowledgment, explanation, or follow-up regarding those issues. * Our contract included two bartenders, but only one actually showed up. While the bartender who was present had a good attitude, I was told by guests that he arrived approximately an hour and a half late. I did not even realize until afterward that my friends were pouring me drinks, and guests were serving themselves drinks while waiting for bar service. * We ran out of food, despite six guests from my final headcount not attending, 14 of the guests being children, and three people that I know of not eating due to there being no food available. * There were no plates available when appetizers were first being served * We also did not have enough utensils for guests, and plastic utensils had to be used. I would have rented plates and utensils if that's what was needed. But I was told that she had them, which she did but not enough. * Communication became increasingly stressful after booking and I often felt uncomfortable asking questions or making updates. * I was contacted for final payment before the payment date outlined in our contract, which created unnecessary stress as I had intentionally planned my RSVP deadline around the contract timeline. * a little bit before the wedding, concerns regarding the venue change were raised (not kindly). I had previously asked what would be needed at the venue and was told that power was the primary requirement, so that was my understanding going into the event. There appeared to be a miscommunication regarding additional needs, including concerns about water access that had already been discussed prior to the wedding. While a solution was ultimately worked out and water was available on the wedding day, the way these concerns were communicated created unnecessary stress during an already busy and emotional time.

I hired Betti to bartend for a small (20 people) wedding reception and she was excellent! She was…read moreable to bring glassware and bar tools which was one less thing for me to worry about. She also provided free lemonade and ice tea which the young folks loved. She came early, set up on her own and stayed after the guests left to clean up. Her communication was great and the price was fair. Would absolutely hire her again.

Vanessa Loves Food does just that --- She LOVES food, and her passion shows in her creations and in…read moreher presentation. I have the opportunity to enjoy Vanessa's food often, and feel privileged to have her located in my home town of Solvang, CA! She is world class in every way. Using only the freshest of ingredients, everything Vanessa prepares is top notch, from fancy to casual. Having tasted her Veal Tenderloin with Figs and Grapes, aka "The Perfect Dish" -- as said by Food Network's Celebrity Guest Judge, Chef Robert Irvine...I couldn't agree more! Her casual pop-ups at local spots in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara area are incredibly fun and amazingly delicious! I'm talking Ahi Poke in Citrus avocado with wonton ribbons, Bomb A$$ grilled cheeses, Davy Brown Ale Dip smoked tri-tip sandi, Tuscan Chicken Paninis, Cubanos to die for, and yummy sides and cupcakes!! I suggest you hurry up and treat yourself to her food! Your taste buds will LOVE you for it!

I ate at Vanessa's popup twice at Fig Mtn Brew in Buellton. Both times it was amazing. Every…read moreingredient was so fresh and delicious. Everything was cooked to perfection. There were few options to choose from, but I got one of everything and loved every bite. The pork loin and ham cubano sandwich had me coming back for seconds, the potato salad was possibly the best I've ever had, and the pineapple carrot cupcake was a perfectly sweet ending to a perfect meal. I can't wait to taste what she cooks up next.

I put in an inquiry for a private chef through Santa Barbara Chef Collective and was lucky to have…read morebeen paired with Chef Aspyn. We were a group of 8 friends and 3 babies traveling to Solvang for a weekend getaway, and we wanted to enjoy a quiet, delicious meal once the babies went down for the night. Booking through Santa Barbara Chef Collective was such a breeze--simple, straightforward, and catered to all our needs. Choosing the menu was super fun as we were given so many tasty options for each course. Chef Aspyn and her sous chef Alexis (who was so fun and sweet!) arrived right on time and quickly started preparing our feast. It was so nice how they set the table so we could enjoy an al fresco twilight dinner. Not only was every course delicious, but so, so beautifully plated. They also made us cocktails and mocktails (for the pregnant ladies), and kept our wine glasses full throughout the entire evening. It was clear that these chefs are not only skilled but passionate about their craft. To top it all off, they left our kitchen spotless - even washing baby bibs which we really appreciated. This dining experience was the highlight of our trip, and we couldn't have asked for a better meal. If you're considering a personal chef, I highly recommend Chef Aspyn!

Some of the best, most creative food and baked goods. From salads to appetizers to the absolute…read morebest chocolate chip cookies I've ever had.

If we could give more than 5 stars, we would in a heartbeat! We hired Mark for our elopement dinner…read moreand he completely blew us away. From the first conversation, he was kind, funny, professional, and genuinely excited to help make our day special and he delivered on every front. The food? Unreal. Every dish was thoughtful, beautifully plated, and insanely delicious. We're still dreaming about it. He somehow managed to strike that perfect balance between fine dining and pure comfort. You could feel the love and care he puts into his craft. But what really made the experience unforgettable was him. He was warm, easygoing, and brought such a fun, calming energy to the day--it honestly felt like having someone you've known forever cooking for you, who just so happens to be incredibly talented. Our guests haven't stopped talking about it, and neither have we. Couldn't recommend him enough. If you're looking for a private chef for a special occasion (or honestly, any occasion), he's really great!

Mark was absolutely fantastic. We had him do a 7 course pairing and everything was spot on. Every…read moredish was unique, delicious and he would go out of his way to explain his process and shared whatever knowledge you wanted about his process in creating the dishes he served. If you're looking for food that is truly amazing and totally original, look no further. He will deliver. He and Elliot are nothing short of professional and awesome Thank you Mark and Elliot you really made our anniversary special!!

Anthony and Josh deserve 10 stars! Myself and my family have used The Prancing Chef for various…read morefestivities over the last 5 years; from a rehearsal dinner to a surprise 50th birthday bash. Most recently they curated a fantastic family style meal for my birthday dinner. Each dish was so thought out and full of flavor. They did a great job listening to my specific asks, then marrying that with what was in season. Not only is the food spectacular, but both Anthony and Josh are a pleasure to work with. Can't wait for the next event to include The Prancing Chef in!

Anthony and Josh gave my friends and I an absolutely magical birthday dinner experience! We hired…read morethem for a private five-course dinner, and it became the highlight of our trip. The food was fresh, creative, DELICIOUS, and exactly what we had asked for in regards to our dietary preferences. Communication was excellent leading up to our dinner, and Anthony and Josh were so friendly and personable! Would highly recommend the Prancing Chef and would hire him again in a second!

Chef Ryan and the Santa Barbara Chef Collective were fantastic to work with for my father-in-law's…read more80th birthday dinner celebration. They were extremely responsive and easy to work with in planning everything, reasonably priced, and delivered a delightful dinner experience! I wouldn't hesitate to book them again on my next Santa Barbara visit.

We used chef Muhsin for wedding and very disappointed with the food. Chicken was so tough and rice…read morewas so hard to swallow.

So easy, so fun, such a great experience! Using A La Carte gave our Christmas in July party such…read morepizazz. The snowballs were fun, delicious, and a treat for all ages. Thank you Madison & Crew!

Such an amazing experience working with A La Carte for our brand event in Santa Barbara. The candy…read moreproduct was high quality and every aspect of working with Madison was seamless! It was a really elevated and fun offering for our guests.