Chef Scott is not only an amazing chef but also an amazing person! He was so nice and explained everything to us. It was pleasure having him cook for us in our home. He's a well trained chef who has been doing this for years and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed a 6 course meal. Started off the vegetables, everything cooked perfectly. Second we had salmon, which melted in our mouths like butter. I have to say I never had salmon like that before! Next was soup and then pasta. My husband doesn't eat pasta as much and he continued raving about it! The pasta was served with a perfectly cooked egg yolk. Then we had lamb (again the best lamb we've had) and finally topped it with yummy dessert. This was such an amazing experience. We'd love to work with Chef Scott in the future again! read more

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In short, Scott didn't show up. For context, I first contacted him in October, several weeks before the dinner party I was throwing to celebrate some big milestones with my partner - his birthday, our pregnancy, and seeing his best friends again. Scott was communicative over email; we talked through the menu, adjustments needed (ie. I couldn't eat raw fish), and more. I also asked him to comment on previous negative reviews that he received during a stretch of time from 2013-2014 where he didn't show up to clients' dinners. He explained that it was a difficult part of his life and he was open to sending me referrals over email. After I sent inquiries to 2 of his referrals, one of which recently wrote a new positive Yelp review for him (Nico L.), and receiving good reviews, I felt comfortable that he was going to show up as agreed and that it would be a great event. He sent an email the morning of the dinner party assuring me he was nearby. Then, he didn't show up at all, nor did he communicate in any way that he would not be showing up. I sent him an email and called his number that night. To this day, I still haven't received any response from Scott. Hiring and working with a private chef was an exciting prospect for us, and it isn't something that is decided on lightly. Our friends were also looking forward to this experience, as well. Luckily, they were very flexible, and we ended up having ordering pizza. If you look at the bulk of his reviews, the majority are positive reviews predating 2013. This most recent situation in 2021 was frustrating and embarrassing, but not without precedent. I do not recommend working with Scott. He is unreliable, unprofessional, and, in my experience, not actually available to work with clients in a predictable, trustworthy way. read more

Men frustrate me. You ask them for their opinion and you get the vaguest answer ever: "whatever". You try to illicit a response from them and you get a "K" or "Lol". Dude, I didn't even say anything funny. *shakes fist* We use to have monthly dinners at my friend's house until we (I) decided to throw in the towel. Why? One week prior, I would ask my friends what they wanted to eat so the control freak in me can plan accordingly. The host (my friend, Steve) responds, "whatever". Fine, more leeway for me to pick what I want to cook (Burrata Cheese & Heirloom Tomato Salad, Roasted Bone Marrow and Rosemary & Garlic Crusted Prime Rib) and then ask for his approval which is as you would guess: "K". When the day comes, he says he's going to make an additional dish. And, what does he make? A Caprese Salad. I heart you, Steve but WTF...did you not read any of my messages?!?!? We now have two of the SAME salads! His response, "CHILLLLL!" Men...*SIGH* Chef Spencer to the rescue (thank you for organizing, Eric)! Hailing from the one star Michelin-rated Boulevard and Spruce, Chef Scott will eliminate the headache and frustration of having a dinner party. He shows up to your doorstep with everything that is needed to make a multi-course epicurean meal. Chef Spencer is super personable and down-to-earth. He welcomes any questions you have and is more than happy to share his cooking tips with you. He even brings his own plates and cleans up after himself. Easy peezy. M E N U Chef Spencer focuses on New American cuisine with a Mediterranean flair and personally designs a menu for your party. He will ask you about your dietary restrictions and if anyone has food allergies beforehand. You can make a special request(s) on what you would like to see on the menu. Prices vary but a 6 course meal will run you about $100/person including gratuity. 6 person minimum. Our Menu: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jgIBQSu9t_OmxMqITs34WA?select=Q4pOoPPGpN7fKq58aMHvfQ FOOD Course #1: My Garden w/ Carrots, Beets, Cauliflower, Parsnip, Radishes & Soil http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jgIBQSu9t_OmxMqITs34WA?select=O2tQZO1f1DD72z76WJO5Fg This dish along almost turned me into a vegetarian. The melding of fresh crisp textures and flavors almost made me forget about red meat. The wondrous toasted flour soil had me begging for more. Course #2: Pacific Salmon w/ Asparagus & Romesco http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jgIBQSu9t_OmxMqITs34WA?select=CBOjnmpEjub7syf1LJ5qNg Chef Spencer changed my perception about cooked fish as I never ever order fish at a restaurant unless it's sashimi. The salmon was perfectly seared to a medium rare and flaked off so delicately with a quick swipe of my fork before melting in my mouth. The romesco sauce added a savory nuttiness that still makes me salivate at the thought of it. Course #3: Carbonara w/ Farm Egg, Pepper & Speck http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jgIBQSu9t_OmxMqITs34WA?select=80I2MBNFAjwLwUDcXzsz7Q The runny egg yolk lathered each strand of the al-dente noodles making each bite sinfully good while the crisp speck added a glorious salty crunch. Course #4: Mushroom Cappuccino w/ Truffle Broth http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jgIBQSu9t_OmxMqITs34WA?select=_oAOPmU40nJLLhxjMokDjg A soulful cup of soup, the mushroom cappuccino was full of robust earthy flavors. Course #5: Blue Foot Chicken w/ Herbs, Polenta, & Buerre Rouge http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jgIBQSu9t_OmxMqITs34WA?select=Oq0EZq8g47I9fcQUTl__yg A foodgasm on the plate, the blue foot chicken breast was succulently moist and tender. The Buerre Rouge sauce (port reduction and pork syrup) hit the soft spot and had me picking up the plate to lick it clean which had my guy friends saying, "Uhhh, I hope you don't do that on a date." Um, hello? That's WHY I'm single (amongst the 1876734934 reasons)! Course #6: The Candy Bar w/ Chocolate Ganache, Salted Caramel, Peanuts & Blue Bottle Ice Cream http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jgIBQSu9t_OmxMqITs34WA?select=kkpl1evNX3K2U11qvoIFSQ A sweet ending to a perfect meal from start to finish, the candy bar was wonderfully rich and decadent with the bitterness of the blue bottle ice cream helping to offset some of the richness. It's amazing the culinary masterpieces Chef Spencer can create in someone else's kitchen. What's even more amazing is that he's a man that listens and responds with more than a "K". AMAZING. read more

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Like magic. Spencer is a magnificent chef and his talents shine when he caters a meal for you and your guests. My family has enjoyed several meals over the years and each one was unique and memorable. Spencer has become a friend and a trusted provider of a special service I love having available to me. I'm looking forward to the next gathering Spencer! Thanks for serving our family and friends!! read more

Scott Spencer is a gentleman and an all-around professional who knows his stuff over the past couple years. He's made me dinner multiple times and he has never want to disappoint it. He's also very knowledgeable when it comes to food he can meet any standard you have regarding the diet nutritional needs. I recommend Scott Spencer 10 times out of 10. Give him a call you want to be disappointed I promise you. read more

If you are thinking twice about having a Scott Spencer dinner, DON'T. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. A Scott Spencer dinner is a truly memorable experience. I don't know what could be better than enjoying a gourmet meal in the comfort of your own home. In my case, a friend was gracious enough to host the dinner for us. It really was a perfect night with wonderfully prepared food and great company. What I like about Scott is that you can tell he is very passionate about what he does and it really shows when you see him in the kitchen and when he presents you with his food, which by the way is all prepared with organic or locally grown ingredients (some ingredients even from his own garden). Everything was as fresh as can be and so beautifully presented. For our special dinner he prepared the following menu: Amuse Bouche - quail egg, onion, bacon Foie Gras Cream - beets, peaches, strawberries, meyer lemon Peas and Rock Shrimp - fresh english peas, herbs Pacific Salmon - romesco, asparagus Wild Morel Soup - truffle froth Blue Foot Chicken - crispy skin, fresh grits, truffle buerre rouge The Candy Bar - valrhona chocolate, salted caramel nuts, blue bottle ice cream Honestly, everything was fantastic, but the dishes that stood out for me were the wild morel soup and the blue foot chicken. The soup couldn't be any more modest in presentation but it blew me away! I am not by any means a seasoned fine diner so it's hard for me to describe just how amazing the soup was. You'll just have to take my word for it... or book a Scott Spencer dinner yourself! ;) As for the blue foot chicken... the chicken was so flavorful and tender. And the grits? I've never had grits quite like Scott's. It wasn't grainy, but very smooth and oh so wonderful. The crispy skin was like the icing on the cake. As if the food wasn't enough, Scott brings everything he needs to work his magic in the kitchen AND cleans up afterwards. All you have to do is eat and enjoy, and enjoy you will. :) I would jump at the chance to have another Scott Spencer meal. It was quite possibly one of the best meals I have ever had and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for a unique and intimate dining experience. read more

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Great job Scott! You made my wife's birthday celebration a special evening. Really enjoyed all the dishes. Still thinking about the dessert weeks later. Look forward to doing it again in the future! read more

5 Stars... I was fortunate enough for Scott to make several meals for me. His shrimp étouffée still holds as one of the best dishes I've ever eaten. Get Scott in your kitchen and magic will happen! read more

I have been friends with Scott since we were both in middle school. 15 plus years later, he is still one of my best friends. Therefore it is obvious that my review of his business will be biased. However, as evidenced by all the praise members of yelp have given him prior to my review, a meal cooked by Mr. Spencer is something that is truly special. I have been lucky enough to have eaten his food on many occasions and have seen him prep for his dinners up to 3 days in advance. It is truly amazing to watch Scott execute a world class meal for 12 with such professionalism and attention to detail. He cuts no corners and takes so much pride in his cooking. Scott's menu is constantly evolving, and he is always searching for new ingredients, and techniques for his dishes. As of now, he is concentrating on the french technique sous vide and I believe he has recently replanted his garden with some new later season crops. Scott is a amazing chef and Spencer's Pantry is an amazing business. I would recommend him to anyone who wishes to have a unforgettable meal. Scott, I only wish you and Spencer's Pantry the best and I cannot wait till i get to eat your food again. read more

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Scott is absolutely AWESOME. He's a wonderfully personable chef to hang around and his stories are great... oh, and of course, his food is delicious, too. :-) I could talk about particular dishes he prepares... whether it's sous vide chicken from a local farm, cream of mushroom soup sourced straight from his garden, Iberico (de bellota) bacon bits he sourced while in Spain... but that just becomes gratuitous. What I vouch for is not a specific "favorite dish" of mine, but his deliverability to consistently produce wonderful plates to please EVERY member of the dinner party. read more

OK. Finally. Spencer's Pantry is a very well-executed take on a simple concept: a single chef, with experience at the world's top restaurants (Boulevard and Spruce ring any bells?) researches the freshest ingredients, grows his own organic produce, creates his own innovative menu, provides his own dishes, prepares a 7-star meal at his own home, then shows up to your place to put everything together and cook the main event while chatting nonchalantly about food over a few glasses of wine. At the conclusion of the mind-blowing food orgy, he cleans up everything, listens proudly to the lavish praise of your now-comatose guests, then takes his leave quietly. Scott simply loves to cook - that much is clear. He doesn't charge much for his services, and brings ALOT to the table. Our particular meal was 7 courses (you can tell him how crazy you want him to get), every one of which was beautifully executed. I don't have the menu with me right now, and the meal was a month ago, but I do remember everything was so delicious, so well-balanced and most of all.. so FRESH. Our fish was caught in Japan only 2 days prior to our dinner. The fois gras Scott made himself from a duck that was happily frolicking around a Sonoma farm only 5 days earlier. All the spices and produce were picked from his organic garden THAT MORNING. Needless to say, I was floored by the freshness. Honestly this idea is GENIUS - all it needs to succeed is WORD OF MOUTH. So to all Yelpers out there: you have very very little to lose - call scott up, give him a $100 deposit, have him come to your house and check out your kitchen, then let him know the date of your event and the number in your party (this would be just as amazing for a quiet date for 2 as it would for a party of 10) - then sit back, relax, and watch as you become your friends' favorite friend. I've personally been traveling recently and my schedule has been hectic, but as soon as life calms down a bit I plan on giving Scott another call - HOOK IT UP BROTHER! Scott, I wish you the best, you truly deserve to succeed. Both because you are an amazing chef but also a great person. Oh yeah : DONT FORGET THE WINE! We had a variety; for 8 people we had a bottle of chardonnay, one merlot, a cab, a magnum of bordeux, finished off with a bottle of sweet muscat. EDIT: this was all in San Francisco.. so Scott can definitely get across the bay despite this yelp listing saying Oakland EDIT2: make sure to request the flourless chocolate cake and handmade corn icecream................................... read more

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Holy Sh*t!!! Best idea ever!!! Mr. Spencer you made my birthday night!! We had Scott over on a Sat night for a small party of 5 to celebrate 2 birthdays (ugh turning older). He had come by a few days earlier to scope out my kitchen and make sure to bring things he needed. Then on Saturday he came over and was ready to go. We started with a Porcini Cappuccino Soup with a Truffle Foam. Next was Pork Belly with Truffle Grits, pea shoots and pickled beets and carrots this came with a Sherry Vinaigrette with Pickled Mustard Seeds. The pork belly was extremely tender and the vinaigrette added a nice acidity to the richness of the grits and pork. Third course was Hamachi wrapped around Israeli Cous Cous (almost looked like fish roe) with a white Miso sauce (my fav dish hands down). Fourth course was Duck Four Ways: Duck Yolk Pasta, Duck Confit, Duck and Foie sauce, a slow boiled duck egg on top. This dish was amazing! Lastly for dessert we had a chocolate cake with salted Cararmel melted inside, sweet corn ice cream (if I had to pick one element of the entire meal as my favorite, this ice cream would be it! My roommate wants to get an ice cream maker now to try and replicate it.) and a Madeline. Everything was extremely tasty, and it was a lot of fun hanging out with Scott. He drank champagne with us and was a very easy laid back type of guy (Ladies: he's also single). I def recommend him, and am now thinking of another reason to have him over and cook for us. read more

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Scott's food, service and communication were spot on. He and his partner were gracious and professional. It goes without saying that the food was world class. Everyone at the table agreed. He is a true maestro! He left our house cleaner than when he arrived. It was like they were not even here. His timing was perfect and the party flowed. Although our kitchen is open to the dining area, it was like they weren't even there. Will definitely call on Spencer's Pantry again and so should everyone!! read more

Bringing a guy home to your parents for the first time can be an intimidating step in any relationship. Can he talk sports with your dad? Will he be nice to your mom? How are his table manners? Can he cook? Does he clean up after himself? The man in your life doesn't fit the bill? Try bringing Scott home instead. He'll satisfy all your epicurean needs and delight your friends and family too. Of the three different occasions I've taken Scott home, he's never disappointed. His menu planning is detail oriented -- paying careful attention to price points, seasonal availability, variety, and specific tastes -- never losing sight of your overall concept or goal. Don't have much money to spend? Don't fret! He's even put together backyard barbecues for me and my friends that included pulled pork tacos with pickled slaw and guacamole, fresh scallops grilled on the open flame, and a summer salad with heirloom tomato and thinly sliced watermelon. My friends were impressed and so was my accountant -- the cost came out to only $2.50 per person! A relationship with Chef Scott Spencer is one that is built to last. read more

Some friends and I recently decided to have a "Girls Night." We were thinking a low-key evening where we could all catch up without distractions and have a fantastic meal. The moms in the group agreed to leaving the babies at home with the men and not worry about bed times and poopy diapers. The single girls agreed to finish any wine that the pregnant ladies couldn't partake in. All agreed that pumping and dumping would have to happen. We discussed dining options - any new restaurants that no one had tried and could meet the needs of breastfeeding moms, pregnant ladies and single girls alike? You would think with the infinite number of new restaurants opening up on an almost daily basis in the bay area that something would make us all drool in anticipation. But nothing. And then someone had a brilliant idea inspired by what else...a Yelp review! Let's hire Scott Spencer to come cook us 6 courses of ridiculous deliciousness in the comforts of someone's house! The breastfeeding moms can pump on schedule in a bedroom. The pregnant ladies can pee whenever their bladders demand in a private, clean bathroom. And the single girls can open as many bottles as they desire without having to pay a single cent in corkage and not have to drive anywhere afterwards! It was perfect. And that doesn't even cover the food... Scott cooks unbelievable dishes worthy of the most coveted fine dining establishments in SF. He sources all the ingredients himself and can tell you where the chicken that laid that egg on your plate lives and when she laid that egg. He has an immersion circulator to make sous vide dishes that are innovative and surprising. He is sensitive to any unique needs of the group and you can be sure he knows what pregnant ladies can eat and not eat. At the end of the night, all six of us won clean plate awards and rose from the table with full and happy bellies. The hostess had a clean kitchen (did I mention that Scott also cleans up after himself?) and Scott had six new fans. I have already tried to book him for my sister's baby shower but he is busy that day. Our loss. But it is only a matter of time before we hire him again and force the dads to take on their own offspring for one more night. read more

I had a very similar experience to several others. I had contacted Scott for a special birthday, invited friends, even provided him with some French foie. The day of the event, he emailed me, not even the courtesy of a phone call, and cancelled for a serious reason. I tried to understand, but when he didn't acknowledge that my dinner was a celebration and did not return the foie, I decided there were "other" issues. I don't know if the other entries were the same event but I do believe in 3 strikes. Scott - you are talented but need to get your act together and make up for the cancellations to people who believed in you. Not fair and not professional. read more

It's a no-brainer. The best way to discern a chef's skills with food is to see and taste what they prepare. This is why many chefs offer a sampling of their wares prior to being booked for an event. Samples aren't necessity, but it's fair to say: It's impossible to know what a chef has to offer when your event has been booked and said chef cancels 90 minutes prior. It's especially heartbreaking when the event was hosting an important event in a friend's life (like a bachelor-esque party) - an event you've been planning for months. I was set as a guest for this particular event, which Spencer chose to cancel less than 2 hours before guests were set to arrive. This is not the first time, though at least this time he had the courtesy to let the planner know. Last time he allegedly "No Showed" for a dinner event she'd planned with him. Buyer Beware - There are a lot of amazing chefs in the world. Make sure you choose one that is creative and talented, but also make sure you choose one with integrity and dedication to their commitments. I'd hate for you too to be left high and dry with a group of (thankfully, and hopefully in your case, gracious) guests looking forward to an amazing dinner. read more

I have been eating Scott's food for quite a few years now and have had the pleasure of watching him and his recipes evolve. In the past it has always been a really good time hanging out with him while he cooks, learning about his ideas, and eventually tasting the food. The most recent dinner he cooked for us however warrants another review. He truly knocked this meal out.of.the.park. D even said it was the best meal he has ever had! It has been years since I have had a meal where every course was perfection. Our group licked every single plate that came our way and didn't think twice about having seconds of the mushroom soup. Scott works like crazy, shopping for good ingredients and prepping like a madman. But for those of us who have the opportunity to eat the food, it is well worth it. Just check out the photos to see the latest, most delicious dishes! read more

I would give zero stars if I could. Actually, I would give negative stars if I could. I had a friend who used Spencer's Pantry for a bachelorette party and had a great experience. Based off of her experience, photos and the reviews on yelp, I booked Scott for my 30th birthday celebration. I was super excited for my party and I had even gone and rented a table that could seat 12 and chairs for my private party. Based on a few reviews on yelp (about his last minute cancellations), I had a little bit of apprehension that he would do the same thing to me. However, the day before the event I emailed him to finalize some details and he responded back saying he was looking forward to it and that he would see me tomorrow. The day of the event I was constantly checking my email to see if he had cancelled last minute and if I needed to find alternative plans but I didn't get any email so I thought I was set. Finally it was the time of my event and he didn't show up. I called him, he turned off his phone. I emailed him and left him my number (again), just in case he had any issues getting to my place. No response. After waiting for over an hour, my guests and I had to get mcdonalds chicken nuggets for dinner and order take out. Not how I wanted to spend my birthday. Spencer's pantry is super unprofessional. I never heard from him again. I would never use his service or recommend him. I wouldn't mind if he had cancelled if he had given me notice so that I could make alternative plans. I ended up spending money renting a table and chairs and buying several hundred dollars of wine to pair with my chicken nuggets. Thanks Scott (sarcasm intended). read more

Instead of our usual Michelin star birthday dinner we asked Scott to come cook for us and our friends. Would we do it again? Heck yeah! Scott brought Michelin star quality food straight to our dining room table. I'm not even kidding, I liked some of his dishes better than ones I've had at starred restaurants. And he did it on... our electric stove?! Plus, he's great company. We didn't really know what to expect, but what we got was a really cool guy with funny stories, mad cooking skills, and a willingness to share his extensive culinary knowledge with us. Oh, and he grows his own vegetables. We had a salad unlike any other, entirely from his garden. He can tell you the source of every ingredient and why he chose it. His passion and creativity was inspiring, and a few of us came away from dinner with some tasty projects and ideas to try. Amazing food and an excellent overall experience, all in the comfort of your own home. read more

There is no doubt that Scott Spencer is an incredibly talented chef (I've attended a party where he prepared the meal and it was truly amazing). But that fact is completely overshadowed by the reality that he is prone to no-showing events which he has committed to (in my case it was my friend's birthday dinner). The other reviewer who suggested that his negative reviews "hold no value" was lucky enough to have him honor his commitment. If you book Chef Spencer, make sure you have Round Table Pizza on speed dial because there's a very real possibility that you will need it when he flakes out. read more

The person that just wrote a review (tarry b) should put more faith in the comments of others. I am sure she had a great experience but when you throw a party and hire a caterer, you need to count on them showing up - you and your guests are depending on it. If you hire Spencer you are taking a gamble as the reviews show. As for our experience, my wife was in tears at 7pm this last Saturday as the party we arranged to have catered by Spencer was starting and he followed the script that others have outlined - no response to emails or to our multiple cell phone calls. He just shuts off the phone and you never hear from him again.. This was a charity event we hosted/donated and we had 15 people. He stopped by two days before and seemed wonderful. He was also supposed to bring an assistant. We were surprised because he came highly recommended by a good friend and he had done work for our school in Hillsborough. It turns out after doing more checking following our disastrous evening, at one of these events he turned up without the promised assistant and had a bit too much to drink. Its clear that Spencer is a talented individual that can do an amazing job. but he obviously has some real problems. When they surface, they cause him to go off the grid and fail on his commitments. In addition he should have the decency to call and apologize for his mistakes. Not answering our calls, never calling back and pretending that the incident never happened (I assume) reflects a lack of maturity and denial of his issues that is hurting his future business prospects as well as his clients and all the guests invited to his events. Spencer: stop making commitments you can't honor, get help within your problem, get a person to help you honor your commitments and apologize to those you have aggrieved. When you are ready, restart you're service under a different name since no one in our community will work with you again within this performance. read more

First off, Spencer's Pantry is a restaurant. Not of the traditional variety. But a restaurant nonetheless. A restaurant that comes to your own home and transforms your dining room into an amazing Michelin starred restaurant. Scott has swagger and style. And his food lives up to it. Try it. And you'll come back year after year. That's what my family and I have done. read more

Wow, I just went onto Yelp to check to see if Scott was on here so that I could refer a friend and show her how amazing he is and I saw the couple of one star reviews and couldn't believe it! Scott has catered two parties for me and has blown everyone away with his timing and talents, so these reviews caused me to worry that perhaps he was ill. I wrote to him right away to see if something was wrong, and to my dismay, he was just as surprised as I was about these reviews. I would caution fellow Yelpers that perhaps these reviews hold no value. I am sad that I didn't review him sooner, but frankly I was just too busy. Now that his reputation is at stake I feel compelled to sit down and try to do him justice with a great review. I have had Spencer's Pantry do two dinners for me in the past three months for two very different groups. The first was for my group of close friends who are food and wine snobs. One is a vintner. I owed them all a "thank-you dinner" so I wanted to pull out all of the stops. Scott knocked it out of the park with Salmon Mi Cuit and an amazing poached chicken with corn grits. He used vegetables from his own garden, and sourced sustainable meats. Everything was a five star experience from start to finish. The second meal was for my mother in-law's 80th birthday.She is a seafood fanatic, but my father in-law is a meat and potatoes, "why try it now if I haven't tried it in 80 years" kind of guy. I mentioned this to Scott, and his response was ,"don't worry, I know that guy". I reiterated that he's very picky, you can't serve him anything from the sea, but I want my mother in law to be happy. He told me to not worry, that he really had me covered, so I let my normal controlling personality go, and went with it. I was not sorry AT ALL. Every dish was amazing, and when he served my mother in-law a scallop, my father in-law had a perfect chicken medallion served the very same way. Good old grandpa slurped down the chanterelle mushroom broth with truffle cream, devoured sunflower risotto, and giggled when the prime beef with cream spinach and buerre rouge arrived. My mother in-law was a glow all night! Thank you Scott, for two of the best parties ever. You made my friends jealous that I found you first, and my mother in law is still talking about the meal you custom made for her! You are amazing. I hope no one reads this, because I don't want you to get too busy for me! read more

This man knows how to cook. I really don't like Yelp and have to REALLY love a person / place to get on here and write a review, so you know Scotty's worth it for me to come on here and give him 5-stars. His food is fantastic and you will not be disappointed. read more

Although a foodie, I have a somewhat limited palette consisting of meat and potatoes. So the thought of a 6 course meal catering for 5 other gourmets with no such limitations, well, lets just say I wasn't planning on having the best of evenings. Wrong! This guy was awesome, he managed to design a varied menu to cater for all, and despite 75% of the menu being items that I would never pick in a restaurant, I tried everything.... and loved it! Scott's food and presentation rivals any Michelin eatery we've tried, and he's an interesting and amusing guy to share an evening with. He even sang Karaoke with our drunk asses afterwards. Highlight of the evening: The cat ate the grits and he made an instant recovery by creating a couscous accompaniment to go with the 4th course. Excellent experience and would highly recommend! read more

okay. really I have no kitchen skills. Chef Scott entered our kitchen of nothingness..... and showed me the way! He showed me the way to cut that onion...to shell that fresh green garbanzo bean and holy porcini mushroom!...he teaches you to make a creamy buttery mushroom soup but its vegan...yes, folks, vegan! but takes like butter. and then we move onto salmon! I have never been able to cook a piece of edible salmon in my life!!! Holy crap...Chef Scott taught me the way to cook a mmm-mmm-mmm salmon. Over all... he was awesome! i can not wait fortje next CHEF SCOTT visit to our house..... read more

We have had Scott over to cook for us more than a handful of times. I found him when I was looking to do something special for my husband's birthday. When I saw his photos on Flickr, I knew I had to have him come cook for us. Go check out his photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barcodebmx/ He is professional, knowledgeable, passionate, and fun to have over! His food is absolutely amazing and changes dependent on what is in season. I have been to many nice restaurants over the years and paid an arm and a leg for food that doesn't come close to what Scott prepares. Plus, it is so nice to have drinks and eat in your own home! 5 stars aren't enough for Scott - he's a 10 in our book. read more

OUTSTANDING. What is better than good friends, good wine and great food? Scott's food. We had a dinner party for 6 and Scott arrived and within 30 minutes (if that) we were sitting down eating an amazing 6 course meal. I love good food and this was one of the most amazing dining experiences I've had. Scott grows a lot of the produce himself in his garden, he talks you through each course (which I loved) and is an enjoyable chef to have at your party. No ego here, just a guy who loves what he does and it shows. He is truly a gifted chef and I will definitely be doing this again. Call him, you and your guests will not be disappointed. As I am writing this I would kill for just one more of his scallops and that salted caramel sauce...oh, and an added bonus, when he left, my kitchen was spotless and I had no dishes to clean up! read more

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Having Scott prepare an intimate meal for six friends (and an 11 year old) was the best birthday present idea for my 70 year old friend EVER! We were inimately settled at another friend's dining room and Scott brought out, one course at a time on elegant little plates, seven fabulous courses customized to my birthday friend's tastes. All of us, aged 11 to 70, were entranced by his stories of where the food came from (much of it grown in his own garden), how it was prepared (the beef taking 72 hours at 130 degrees, for example), and how he came to choose the combinations he was serving. He LOVES his job and he LOVES cooking and it made us all LOVE him. So it was fun. . . And also truly fabulously tasty. Elegant. Intimate. One of my best surprise birthday ideas ever (and I've had some pretty damn good ideas in the past). We liked Scott, we LOVED his food (the "candy bar dessert" might have been most people's favorite of the night, but I'm still reliving the winter salad and the chantrelle soup), and I would do this again for a special event. As my husband says, four days later, "Every bite felt special." read more

Wow...Chef Spencer is simply stellar..I am vegetarian and he made sure to make me special veggie dishes using vegetables from his garden!!! SO MANY FOODGASMSSSSS OMGGGGG Ok, the golden beet-carrot-baby parsnip salad with meyer lemon dressing was to die for... The pea soup was sprinkled with baby squash that seemed so perfectly infused with salt, I wanted more!!!! Next came the freshly laid egg with this amazing red pepper sauce that I just love, it has such a nice kick to it...with the BEST asparagus I have EVER had...so sweet and tender!!!!! The mushroom soup was so flavorful and just...PERFECT in every way, I love mushrooms but am not a fan of mushroom soup per se, until now...it was rich in flavor but not overly creamy...served cappucino style with truffle-milk foam!! Wow!!! OMG the next course just blew me away...morel mushroom stuffed with morel-onion saute...served with baby carrots, and slow cooked fresh corn grits..I am in no way a fan of grits, but this was so delicious I could have eaten a pot of it...I am not kidding... Dessert was so impressive...chocolate fudge with sea salt caramel and peanut topping, and strawberry ice-cream made with strawberries from his garden!!! Ok so I love strawberry ice-cream and this was amazing,...and I usually can't do chocolate because it keeps me awake, but I had to taste it, and it was so decadent!!! Chef Spencer is a class act, and a man who has found his calling in life...what a pleasure to experience his talent...pure joy!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!! read more

I've now hired Scott twice to put on fabulous multi-course meals at my place. He's been such a hit that many of my guests went on to hire him themselves. Most recently he started us out with light and refreshing summer salad with all ingredients grown right in his own garden. He followed that with an spring risotto dish with intese flavors including truffle, egg yolk and peas. This was a new dish he was testing out on us. Let's just say he's more than welcome to test others in the future if they turn out like the risotto. The wild morel mushroom soup is one of his specialties--be sure to ask for this. He rounded out the courses with a seared scallop with uni butter, shellfish broth and assorted grains, and then pork belly cooked sous vide, which was absolutely heavenly. Much oo-ing and ah-ing at the table for this dish. His signature "Candy Bar" dessert is the perfect ending: chocolate ganache &shortbread with salted caramel and peanut butter powder drizzled around the plate with home made Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream. We had a guest bail last minute, and I was happy to go in for seconds on this one. I couldn't help but laugh when I watched one of our guests meticulously cleaning his plate of all the last caramel and powder. It's great to have this kind of dining experience in a restaurant, but to get top restaurant quality food in your home is really special--not to mention that there's no corkage fee. Oh by the way, he brings his on dishes and cleans everything up when he's done. read more

Scott made an incredible dinner for me and 7 friends at my house. I can't say enough complimentary things about the food...it 's definitely in my top ten meals ever! Not only does he choose top quality, fresh ingredients--many from his own garden--but he knows how to bring out the unique flavor of every item. There was definitely a lot of ooh-ing and ahh-ing when he brought out each course and described how he prepared it. Also, a lot of stunned silence as the flavors and textures hit our tongues. Days later, we were still talking about the slow-cooked egg yolk on the risotto. Wow. But did I mention he comes over to your house and cooks for you???? How amazing is that? Not only do you get to sit and enjoy your guests' company, rather than stressing about cooking, but you also have an unofficial extra guest at your house, ready to regale you and your friends with all sorts of culinary knowledge. Not to mention the beautiful, beautiful food! Truly the best part was having friends over and feeling that sense of pride and satisfaction of being able to offer them something unique and memorable. Even if I didn't cook it myself! read more

Why go out to a five-star restaurant, when the chef will come to you! Scott Spencer uses home-made ingredients from his own garden and his own home, brings his own quality plates and servingware, and creates masterpieces that give you long lasting memories with close friends and family. He served a six-course meal for our party of eight with precision timing, and I look forward to him cooking a private meal for my girlfriend and me in the near future. read more

I've had great meals before, but this one finally inspired me to join Yelp and tell others about it. It was truly one of the best overall meal experiences that I've had - the food was incredible, and it stretched out over several hours with good friends and lots of wine in the comforts of a home. Why go out for a fancy dinner when a fancy dinner can come to you? The food was truly spectacular, with highlights including baby vegetables grown by Scott in his garden and a mushroom soup so good that my tastebuds could now die happy. All six courses were delicious and beautifully presented. On top of that, Scott was humble and friendly, and cooks as though he really loves what he's doing. I highly recommend Spencer's Pantry for a truly memorable culinary experience. read more

Just had my second Scott Spencer dinner, and he cooks up some seriously great food (and a spottless kitchen afterwards). We had a party of 10 at my house and Scott cooked up food he had grown in his garden and sourced through his local connections. The whole experience was fantastic (again). The menu he prepared was: hamachi stuffed with jeruselam couscous, seared scallop over risotto with fennel, duck raviolo, mushroom soup (my girlfriend hates mushrooms and practically licked the 'bowl' after finishing), and beef tenderloin over rosemary potatoes. And of course each dish incorporated vegetables grown in Scott's garden. There's something really special about the storytelling of the food, enjoying the meal in the comfort of your own home, BYOB!!!, and the cool techniques (Scott sous vide the duck confit for 18 hours after curing overnight and then put in the raviolo with truffles - yum!!!) used. I wish I could cook like this, but am perfectly happy to settle for Spencer's pantry! read more

Great idea for all foodies or people who just enjoy food. I went to a small dinner party of 7 where Scott came to give us a cooking lesson on a 3 course meal while serving us food. It was very entertaining and informative and I definitely learned some new things about cooking at home. We had the hamachi balls over salad, the seared scallops with truffle butter grits and dessert was a flour-less chocolate cake with salted caramel and homemade ice-cream. Scott is very friendly and it just felt like having a friend over to cook you some really great food while you learn some useful cooking tips. The price was very affordable and I will definitely have to book him for another dinner party again. read more

I attended a dinner party of 8 where I was happily surprised to meet Scott and try out a "Spencer's Pantry" menu. I love how Scott printed out menus and then with each course shared the thinking behind dish as well as what went into the prep. I appreciate his attention to detail and use of the best of the best products including ingredients from local merchants and his own backyard garden. Everything about the preparation, menu selection and even plating was done with extreme thought and care but without any ounce of pretentiousness or ego. This is an amazing way to bring friends who enjoy food together in the comfort of your own home with not only a great chef but a down to earth, fun person. I enjoyed it so much that Scott is going to be my birthday dinner chef. Can't wait! read more

I took a pasta making class from Scott about a month ago, so that's what this review is about. It was a great experience that I'd recommend to anyone who likes to cook and learn while doing. The class was 10 people at his place in Piedmont. Scott bought all the materials ahead of time and taught us all about the fundamentals of making pasta from scratch, from his favorite dough recipe (perfect) to making butternut squash filling for ravioli. We formed teams of 2 and 3 people and worked as he demonstrated in front of us. He showed us how to use an Atlas pasta machine to roll out our own dough, how to cut noodles by hand (for those without a machine), the best way to make ravioli by hand, why you should salt the pasta water, and innumerable other tips and tricks that you can only learn from experience. Total class time was about four hours. Plus, we got to eat the results. Everything tastes better when you make it yourself, and this was no exception. "Teach a man to fish..." Bonus points for Scott wearing a Three Unicorn Hippo Moon t-shirt during the class. read more

Three words: OVER-THE-TOP. I had heard of Scott Spencer's culinary talents from close friends a few months before, and decided that it would be a good idea to contact him and make a reservation. I was not disappointed. With myself, my partner and 6 friends in attendance, it promised to be a fun evening. With Scott Spencer giving us gourmet restaurant service within my own home, it promised to be zero effort on my part. What could be better? He arrived with a multitude of neatly packed bundles and proceeded to set up shop in my kitchen. Soon, the gas burners were alight, and good smells were emanating from the kitchen. Course #1 quickly arrived - an amuse bouche comprised of parsnips, carrots, beets and cauliflower in a preserved lemon dressing. Wow! Simply fantastic - light, yet substantial, and delightfully complex. Four additional dinner courses followed, all appropriately spaced... dayboat scallops, a home-made carbonara pasta with an exotic Spanish ham and an organic egg cooked in a "thermal bath", a chanterelle mushroom / truffle froth soup (very addictive), and finally an organic ribeye steak cut into strips and served with a port reduction sauce. All of us consider ourselves very much part of the Bay Area "foodie" crowd - organic / natural ingredients, fusion cuisines, eager to try new restaurants, always the right wine with the right food - and Scott's magical talents with food, presentation and service demonstrated that he is clearly part of what we consider the high-end culinary landscape. After 5 courses and a range of wine pairings from our cellar and from our friends, we were completely satiated. But then came dessert... yes, a 6th course. This was Scott's signature dessert creation, which he dubs "The Candy Bar". It consists of chocolate ganache, shortbread, almonds, salted caramel and coffee ice cream from the good folks at Blue Bottle. Absolutely magnificent. It should be patented. (and it may be) We lingered for a while after dinner just as we would at a restaurant, and barely noticed that the kitchen was suddenly clean and Scott ready to depart. Unlike the typical restaurant experience, we could continue to stick around after the restaurant "closed". An added bonus! Scott calls his business "Spencer's Pantry", and it could easily be a restaurant of the same name. It occupies the gray zone between a restaurant that has a fixed location and a catering service. Since there is no fixed location, he must come to the customer, so it isn't exactly a restaurant. Since he prepares the meal in front of you (he'll even let you watch and loves to describe what he is cooking), is isn't really a catering service either. When one considers the high-end ingredients and Michelin-star quality of the food, it becomes clear that Spencer's Pantry is more akin to a restaurant, is leagues above a catering service, and probably deserves to place in a couple of different Yelp categories simultaneously. For whatever reason, Yelp currently omits the "restaurant" designation from its classification for Spencer's Pantry, which makes him a little harder for people to find. Once you do find him though, he is definitely worth a try if you are in the market for an amazing gastronomical adventure. We are already looking forward to our next dinner with Scott. Yum! read more

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