Chef Stefano

 I booked Chef Stefano for my wife’s birthday dinner and couldn’t recommend him more highly. The food was absolutely delicious, and he managed multiple dietary requirements effortlessly - even accommodating extra requests on the spot. Most impressively, he came in, took full control of the kitchen, needed no help at all, and left everything spotless. Exceptionally professional and talented.

It is a real pleasure to recommend Chef Stefano Leone. I’ve had the joy of knowing and working with Stefano for many years, and in that time I’ve come to admire not only his exceptional talent in the kitchen but also his dedication and passion for his craft. His food is always memorable - imaginative, full of depth, and consistently executed with great precision. Whether creating something simple or elaborate, Stefano approaches every dish with the same care and attention, and the results are nothing short of outstanding. What makes Stefano stand out even more is the way he works. He keeps his kitchen organised, calm, and efficient, which makes service feel effortless for everyone around him. His enthusiasm is infectious, his dedication unwavering, and his professionalism shines through in all that he does. I recommend Stefano wholeheartedly, without a moment’s hesitation.

 I’m delighted to recommend Stefano. His cooking is truly fantastic. It’s creative, full of flavour, and always prepared to the highest standard. Beyond his incredible culinary skills, Stefano is wonderfully organised in the kitchen, making sure everything runs smoothly and stress-free. His passion and professionalism shine through in everything he does, and I would wholeheartedly recommend him. 

Stefano stepped in at the very last minute after our chef had a family emergency, and he was absolutely outstanding. He prepared canapés on the first evening, followed by breakfast, lunch, and dinner over the next three days. The quality and quantity of the food he produced in such a short time was truly impressive. Stefano was exceptionally professional, adapted to a new kitchen with ease, and even went out of his way to show another chef around for a separate lunch booking after only one day on site. I honestly don’t know what we would have done without him. Our principals were delighted throughout, and we would highly recommend Stefano without hesitation.

We engaged Chef Stefano to cook a multi-course Christmas Banquet for our family of eight in London in December 2024. For context: we are a multi-generational family, all gourmands, (at one point I was an anonymous restaurant reviewer) with varying preferences in terms of cuisine but thankfully the common ground of the flavours of the Mediterranean, which was the brief we provided Chef Stefano. To say Chef Stefano surpassed our expectations is an understatement. Ten months later and I am still dreaming of the symphony of starters that was a beetroot gravlax with salmon, marinated sea bass that showcased the fish with a vibrant citrus and dill dressing and finally beef Carpaccio that was simplicity rendered decadent. Yes, it was thinly sliced beef and there were parmesan shavings, however, the truffle and mustard condiment was nothing short of ambrosial. The write-an-essay-about-it chicken liver pate fashioned into Christmas tree forms (the children in our number loved that touch) was smooth, rich, suitably boozy with the marsala wine and intense in flavour. And because portions were generous, it was a welcome addition to the breakfast table the following morning! For our main course we opted for Porchetta and baked salmon topped with pomegranates. The medley of sides ranged from perfectly executed classics such as roasted parsnips and carrots (which Chef Stefano made festive with the addition of a maple syrup dressing), lentils baked in a pumpkin gourd and a raw broccoli salad with pine nuts and baby spinach leaves that was a refreshing counterpoint to our other choices. Our puddings of Monte Bianco and Tiramisu were the kind of conclusion of dreams::meringue pavlova, chestnut cream, chantilly and chocolate on one hand, and layers of coffee soaked biscuits with the optimal ratio of mascarpone and chocolate on the other. Chef Stefano also prepared a lasagne for the children as an additional dish - a thoughtful inclusion in case they were picky eaters - but devoured by us all with alacrity. The effusiveness of this review is also due to Chef Stefano's professionalism. He arrived on time, plated everything beautifully and created a culinary experience that my family and I will cherish for many years to come.