"Un Regal" , which means "A Feast" in French. When we started planning for our Anniversary dinner, a friend of us mentioned we should hire a Chef. Such a possibility never crossed my mind and I nearly forgot about the suggestion. But as we were getting closer to the date, we started to give more thought and decided to contract Sophie Le Doré for our party, or should we say "feast", as this was really a feast in more than one way. From the discussion about our menu, to meeting Sophie in pers to the preparation by Chef Sophie in our kitchen: everything went very smoothly and exactly as expected. And then, once we sat down, we were in for a real treat. The food was just delicious: "Un regal" ! Beautiful plates with delicious food, all prepared fresh from ingredients Sophie picked that very morning. Our guests were delighted, we were delighted to be able to spend this time with them instead of toiling in the kitchen. This could not have been a better decision. We would hire Chef Sophie again without any hesitation. read more

Chef Sophie has been our personal chef for 10 months now. More than a versatile chef, she has become a part of our family. Each week she was with us, she would prepare a delicious menu of items which fit our highly restrictive dietary needs. With us working with a dietician and a physician, we'd try different menu items to see how the food improved our health over time. Some weeks it would be purely vegan, other times a Mediterranean diet, and still others as we tried balancing pescatarian cuisines. Chef Sophie needed to experiment with different milk substitutes, evening finding a way to make delicious chicken marsala with oat milk! The breadth of her cooking expertise is vast, and we were the great beneficiaries of her talents and kindness. She was extremely accommodating; with each change dietary change, she would whip-up delicious and nutritious meals. Each session, would include a pre-set meal with some proposed items from us and other selections from Chef Sophie. She would arrive to our home with bags of organic and highly nutritious diverse vegetables (all colors of the rainbow!). After preparing the meals, and placing them into storage containers, she would clean-up the kitchen and wash the dishes as needed. We would always know when Chef Sophie was over as the entire home would smell like a restaurant. Chef Sophie has brought tremendous joy to our lives. They say "you are what you eat", and with Chef Sophie, we were in great hands! We would highly recommend her to anyone. You will not be disappointed! read more

Sophie is the only chef that I know of who takes the time after meals to hand write her own menu for guests when she is finished cooking. That and the food is primo. Sophie knows her nutrition. Highly recommended, especially due to her culinary flexibility. She makes an effort to cook within personal health guidelines, whether you are allergic to gluten or looking to just avoid sugar. I learned how to bake veggies, and my mom bakes bread every weekend. That and other things might happen if you hire a French chef. read more

My family and I found Chef Sophie via Yelp, and 4 weeks later we are very happy we did. For a family of 5, it's hard to imagine the concept bringing in someone to prepare weekly meals for everyone (you'd think that quality would be sacrificed for the quantity), but with Chef Sophie that is FAR from the case. I'll start by saying that our entire family thrives and enjoys quality food with quality/healthy ingredients, and that was the #1 priority when we were looking around. Thankfully, Chef Sophie shares these same values when it comes to food, and you can taste these values with every bite. I could get into the various dishes that she has pleased us with, but I'll let the pictures speak for that. We love the diverse culinary skill that Chef Sophie brings. While she specializes in French cooking, she can literally do anything; 2 weeks ago she prepared one of the best asian-inspired dishes. There is also nothing better than the fresh baked bread smell you're greeted with after her cooking. She provides you with careful re-heating instructions via email/labeling and will also make sure that your kitchen is the way you left it (if not cleaner) once she finishes preparing her meals. I think the true treasure is that she selects every single ingredient you consume; it is this thoughtfulness that separates Chef Sophie from other chefs you might come across. This shows the degree of quality that I was referring to earlier in my review. Additionally, Chef Sophie does a great job of curating her menus to you and your family's liking. She takes feedback in stride and will take the time to learn about each and every family member's pallet. Finally, if you value and appreciate good food, you can appreciate the time, effort and thoughtfulness it takes to prepare a meal. I think when it comes to a meal, whether it be home-cooked or dining-out, there is a level of care you must provide. Chef Sophie brings that experience into every meal she creates for you and your family, and she does it in a way that brings the "home" into home-cooking. read more

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Sophie was great! We hired her to surprise my sister at her bachelorette party and teach her bridesmaids how to make pistachio and raspberry macarons. She brought all the ingredients and even a mixer, all we needed was a stove and oven! She made it very simple to follow along and learn her technique. She was very patient and would definitely want her back to teach us other french delicacies! Highly recommended! read more

Sophie Le Dore - Raspberry Lime Macaron we made in the lesson by Chef Sophie - Personal Chefs Near Me

Sophie was a wonderful, warm presence in our home, cooking us tasty, healthy meals with the freshest ingredients. She is flexible, thoughtful, and happy to iterate based on your requests. We loved everything she made - from the chicken to the soups, the fish and the delicious no-sugar apple crumble. I would highly recommend Sophie to anyone looking for an in-home chef; she's very talented and a lovely person to boot! read more

Chef sophie cooked for delicious meals using very high quality ingredients. We asked for her to prepare a keto approved meal and she was able to accommodate that. read more

Delicious food, professional service and wonderful presentation. Restaurant quality food in my home kitchen! Okay, so here's my experience with Sophie: I had a luncheon (actually a tea party) and hired Sophie to prepare the food for 12 people. We discussed the menu over email and Sophie provided two different full menus at two different prices. I chose one with some changes - Sophie was flexible and responded to my comments and concerns (we had a vegetarian attending). As agreed, Sophie arrived several hours before the party fully equipped to prepare the food. Having a stranger in your home can be awkward - Sophie is intelligent, friendly and easy to welcome in. She went about her work, prepared the food which filled the house with wonderful smells. She cleaned up my kitchen after she was done. When the guests arrived, the food was ready to serve. Lots of oohs and ahhhs from them. She left before we started, which was too bad - everyone wanted to tell her how good the food was. Was I happy with the experience - Yes Will I hire Sophie again - Yes Will I recommend Sophie to others - Yes read more

We had an intimate dinner party for some extinguished guests and Sophie fit the bill perfectly. Sophie was a delight to work with and extremely professional and competent. She listened to us and took our vision for food to another level. The gazpacho, fine cheeses, homemade bread, perfectly seasoned fish, perfectly cooked meat, was all fantastic. I would recommend Sophie for any event, big or small, that desires quality food and service. read more

Sophie gave us a class and organized a dinner for my team at work. It was extremely well organized, lots of fun, and a great way to spend an evening with colleagues. We all cooked our dinner and then had a great time eating it! The food was great, wine pairing suggestions were perfect. Strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to have delicious food, with a professional chef and fun at the same time. read more

Sophie cooked dinner and taught a class for a small company gathering of ours. I think it was fantastic. The cooking class timing was perfect, the team had fun while they cooked the soufflé, even though she did all the work on dinner. Sophie had a great sense of timing - knowing when to interject and when to instruct. The food was incredible and she was a pleasure to meet and learn from. Will definitely re-hire her! read more

Sophie's cooking is delicious and versatile. She manages to navigate our allergies while keeping the food interesting and appetizing. Highly recommended! read more

We had a wonderful culinary experience with Sophie Le Dore last week. She prepared a fabulous French dinner for my husband's birthday party. Everything was perfect. The menu included "amuse bouche" (petite peas veloute; roasted sea scallops...), an entree of salmon with pureed carrots and early potatoes, a cheese assortment, and homemade baguettes. This was topped off by a delicious pear, almond and chocolate tart along with Parisian macaroons. Needless to say, we had a delightful evening. In terms of logistics, we planned the menu in advance via email, which was very convenient. The cooking was done by Sophie in my kitchen. She brought all the ingredients and cleaned up everything. This is a great way to host a memorable dinner party for friends, especially if you have a busy lifestyle. I highly recommend Sophie and would definitely use her services again. read more

Sophie lead a cooking demo along with cooking a teambuilding dinner for a group of 17. She was super easy to work with before the night of the dinner, was able to bring almost all of her own supplies, and was a DELIGHT the night of the dinner. I heard nothing but great things about Sophie the next day. On top of all of that, the food was amazing! She was able to seamlessly incorporate options for anyone eating gluten free or vegan in the group. I wholeheartedly recommend Sophie for any personal cooking you might be looking for. read more

We were fortunate to have a large basket of Sophie's bread at our recent open house. It was presented in a rustic basket and included an assortment of different breads, stuffed bread, plain, with nuts. The bread was delicious, better than any bread purchased at a store or bakery. My husband is French and can attest to the authenticity of this French bread-in flavor and texture. We would definitely recommend Sophie and her services to all. read more

We won a week of meal by Chef Sophie at a silent auction a few months ago. Sophie's service definitely serves a purpose for busy and overscheduled young professionals and families. The way it is organized (Sophie cooks everything in one day for the whole week) is very creative and efficient. Sophie is such a pleasant enthusiastic person, extremely easy-going and accommodating. I don't think "no" is in her vocabulary! I loved how balanced the weekly menu she created for us was, mixing veggie dishes, fish and meat, and exotic and western dishes. My favorite dish was her dal, so easy to warm up and have with rice or just eat on the side. Yum! read more

Fantastic food and fantastic service! We hired Sophie for an offsite planning event. She prepared breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch and mid-afternoon snacks: Everything was perfect! read more

Sophie is an outstanding chef! She is mixing the best recipees from France with her international experience. She will go beyond duty to make your meal a real feast. I savored the Galette des Rois at Sophie's home, a French delicious tradition made with marzipan. Sophie Galette was outstanding. Another great experience was the superb meal Sophie prepared for us: exquisite Thai soup with perfectly cooked filet mignon and as desert one of her favorites, Sophie's famous macaroons. I am recommending Sophie as a personal Chef. You'll get the best in the Valley! Paul read more

We hired Sophie for our small intimate wedding reception in Montecito, Ca and we couldn't have been more grateful that we did. From start to finish- working with Sophie was amazing. The selection and quality of food was delicious and beautifully presented. She not only listened to our requests but exceeded our expectations. Her attention to detail, taste, and the overall menu was perfect. We absolutely loved our wedding dinner and received many compliments. Not only was the food amazing- but Sophie was delightful to work with- she listened carefully, offered suggestions when appropriate, answered all our inquiries in a timely manner, and was very supportive in every way. We highly recommend her for any of your catering needs! Thank you- Sophie! The Jenkins! (catered wedding reception, September 2011) read more

I had a wine and cocktail party recently and had Sophie prepare all the food. The food was delicious, of high quality and presented very well. My guests and I were all very happy. The overall experience with Sophie was excellent. I look forward to the next time I will have the pleasure of enjoying Sophie's culinary creations. read more

Chef Sophie was a one-woman show and did everything right from the time she arrived with supplies and cartons of food until she left 8 hours later with all the dishes done. In between she prepared and served a dinner for 8 that was absolutely delicious. The meal began with hors d'oeuvres of mini Tomato Tartin with tapenade and individual spoons of ahi tuna with avocado and wasabi, followed by poached cod - perfectly cooked - lemon risotto and roasted vegetables, homemade rolls, a mesclun salad served with generous servings of three cheeses, then lovely desserts of fresh berries and cream, chocolate tarts and Madeleines fresh from the oven. It couldn't have been a more wonderful dinner and the cost was reasonable. Big plus: Chef Sophie is a lovely person with a warm, gracious personality. She was always relaxed and in control. We look forward to being beneficiaries of several more Chef Sophie masterpieces. It was a heavenly treat. read more

We Just hired Chef Sophie for a Bachelorette dinner party. She was amazing. Slowly cooked lamb, mushroom risotto, homemade puff pastries with salted caramel sauce and the favorite of us all, homemade bread with various cheeses. She was punctual, professional and at ease cooking while we crowded around at times watching her work her magic. Highly recommend her for your dinner party. read more

Sophie prepared a dinner for 10 to celebrate a special occasion. I am both a fairly critical gourmet and an experienced amatuer chef, so Sophie had to achieve something more than special to impress me! She nevertheless prepared a multicourse dinner that met all of my highest expectations! The multicourse dinner combined novelty elements (sea scallop and shrimp ravioli served in lemon grass flavored coconut broth) and traditional elements (beef tenderloin, cooked cuit à point), a dessert of Pavlova for all but a special eggless dessert for my friend allergic to eggs, and food that was neither too spicy for my wife and food that was sufficiently spicy to meet my needs. All of this was done in our own kitchen with ingredients that Sophie shopped earlier that day. She was easy to work with, prompt, responsible, and quite personable. The dinner party was therefore a great success and the preparation for the meal over the preceding 6 hours was thoroughly enjoyable as well. read more

We are so lucky to have found Chef Sophie! She cooked a fabulous dinner for 8 for a special occasion at our house. We had a very special French menu that we planned with her in advance by email. She did everything she said she would do, showed up on time, cooked everything to perfection, and was very pleasant to deal with. Our gourmet guests gave her several rounds of applause. read more

I was the mother of the bride for the wedding mentioned in Montecito, Ca. I have to say Sophie took such an interest in my daughter's desires, she went far beyond what our expectations could ever have been. Since the event was not in the bay area, Sophie took the time to make connections with vendors in the Santa Barbara area that carried the quality of meats, cheeses, and seafood she wads looking for. The presentation was superb. Having Sophie in the kitchen of our home that we rented for the event was a joy. You will not be dissappointed. read more

We had a cooking class with Sophie over my friends place. After I initially contacted Sophie, she offered us several options to choose from, including bread baking class, pastry, meets and souffles. I gathered opinions from my friends who were all pretty experienced cooks, compiled them into what we would like to have and shot them back at Sophie. She offered yet a more narrowed down menus. We chose and set the date. Sophie arrived five or ten minutes prior fully equipped. She had everything including the chef's scales. We asked Sophie to teach us do eggs cocotte and she showed us several different options and three types of souffle. As I mentioned above, a couple of people in our company were already well versed cooks and we wanted to pick up on nuances of more or less familiar things (like eggs and salads), which she gladly provided. Overall it was a great and fun experience and I can't wait for an occasion to have her over for a class again or to hire her for an event. Highly recommend! read more