My Private Chef Reviews

Tena Jones 2025.11.04

     

We had the absolute pleasure of experiencing a private dining evening for a friends surprise birthday, and it was truly unforgettable! I’ve honestly never eaten anything so amazing before, every course was perfection. What made it even more special was how the chef took the time to talk us through each dish beforehand, sharing the ingredients, inspiration, and little touches that made it all come to life. It turned dinner into such an engaging, personal experience. The flavours, presentation, and atmosphere were exceptional from start to finish. It felt like fine dining in our own home, but somehow even better! A huge thank you for making the night so memorable. I can’t recommend this experience highly enough! Thank you Fabian and your team 🥰

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Reply from My Private Chef 2025.11.17

Hi Tena,

Thank you so much for this incredible review! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the evening and that every course hit the mark. Sharing the inspiration behind each dish and turning your dinner into a personal celebration means the world to me.

It was my absolute pleasure to help make your friend’s surprise birthday truly memorable — and your recommendation means so much. I hope to cook for you again soon!

Warm regards,
Fabien

Martin Hirt 2025.11.03

     

Fabien is fabulous. Planning for a private dinner event with 15 guests was smooth, the food exceptional, and the team he brought was highly professional. What really blew my mind was how caring everybody was about the details of the dinner, the care about the venue, and the helpfulness in leaving the place cleaner than they found it. Fabien is a brilliant chef. The composition of the menu, the creativity with which he prepared the different courses, the gorgeous presentation, all Michelin Three Star quality. ..and the pre-dessert, wow! A hugely talented chef, meticulous planner, and thoughtful presenter, Fabien turned a birthday celebration into a memorable experience.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2025.11.04

Martin, your feedback is truly exceptional, and I am deeply grateful for your kind words. It brings me immense delight to know you were so pleased with my team's efforts. Our greatest satisfaction comes from ensuring a memorable experience for our guests, and it is particularly heart-warming to hear that everyone enjoyed the evening, especially your wife on her special birthday celebration. Thank you sincerely.

Kayler Kennedy 2025.10.01

     

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Fabien, and I can confidently say he is truly exceptional. From start to finish, the experience was seamless and exceeded all expectations. He is incredibly friendly and professional. Every detail was thoughtfully considered. The food was not only delicious but beautifully presented, showing true care and creativity. What really sets Fabein apart is his communication and attention to detail. The elements in each course were explained to our party from the preparation, sourcing of spices, and thought behind different protein choices - it truly made us feel like part of the cooking experience. Highly recommend for any occasion—this was an unforgettable experience, and would highly recommend for special occasions :)

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Reply from My Private Chef 2025.10.03

Thank you, Kayler, for such a wonderful review! I truly appreciate your kind feedback and am delighted that this special celebration created such great memories for you & family.
It means a lot that you took the time to share your experience.
Wishing you and your family all the very best.
Regards, Fabien

Lisa Maguire (Mrs Mag) 2025.09.02

     

I organised a private dinner with chef Fabien as a thank you to my friends for travelling to Queenstown for my birthday. It was such a wonderful evening, Fabien and his waiter took care of everything, we did not lift a finger. Food was fantastic, better than the restaurants in Queenstown. Table was set and cleared, all washing up done, bins emptied, not a thing was left for us to do. An extremely memorable night and would highly recommend to anyone travelling to Queenstown.

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Crux 2025.07.27

     

Fabien could not have delivered a better experience - his skill and service are faultless. Cannot recommend highly enough 🥇🏆

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Reply from My Private Chef 2025.07.27

Thank you, Peter! It was an absolute pleasure to cook for you and your friends on your birthday. I’m delighted to hear that you enjoyed the experience and truly appreciate your kind recommendation. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you again in the future. Warm regards.

K T 2025.07.16

     

Our family of six recently celebrated a special occasion in Queenstown, NZ, and we had the absolute pleasure of engaging Chef Fabien Simon from My Private Chef. It was, without question, one of the most memorable and enjoyable dining experiences we’ve ever had. We chose the grazing menu, and every single dish was not only exquisitely delicious but also beautifully presented—true works of art on a plate. Fabien brought everything with him: the food, cutlery, plates, glasses, serving dishes, and even printed menus. He set the table, prepared and served each course with care, and left the kitchen spotless after each round. Fabien’s professionalism was matched only by his warmth and charm. He served us with a smile and joined in on our family’s banter with ease, adding to the joy of the evening. We cannot recommend Fabien highly enough. If you’re planning a special occasion and want a truly exceptional culinary experience, My Private Chef should be at the very top of your list.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2025.07.16

Thank you, Katherine, for your heartfelt feedback. It was truly an honor to help create such a memorable experience for your family. Your kind words mean the world to me, and I sincerely look forward to welcoming you all back on your next visit to Queenstown. Warmest regards.

Lisa Tennekoon 2025.05.26

     

Fabian created the most wonderful special birthday celebration for our family and friends. Special memories of a great evening.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2025.06.02

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. It was truly a pleasure meeting each of you. Looking forward to connecting again soon!

Larnie Ginn 2025.04.15

     

Chest Fabian is amazing! His food is to die for and absolutely delicious. The best steak I’ve ever had and with absolutely scrumptious sauce! We booked Fabian for our elopement in Queenstown and everything was perfect. Couldn’t recommend his services more!

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Reply from My Private Chef 2025.04.15

Thank you so much, Larnie, for allowing me to be a part of this special elopement. I’m so glad to hear that the dinner was a memorable experience for you, your wonderful husband, and your family. Wishing you nothing but the very best! Your warm welcome and kindness mean so much. Have an amazing trip in New Zealand!

Debra 2025.01.29

     

Outstanding experience and phenomenal food! Fabian is an amazing chef and extremely personable which made our group feel completely relaxed and we enjoyed every bite.

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Debra Chapman 2025.01.28

     

Chef Fabien catered for my 70th birthday dinner with our family of 14, with ages ranging from 16 to 76 at a private residence in the picturesque Queenstown, New Zealand. Chef Fabien's prowess in the kitchen was nothing short of extraordinary. The grazing menu we chose suited the whole family, except one person who Fabien catered for. We all agreed that the food was a gastronomical delight, with freshness, quality and quantity. From the moment we met Chef Fabien, and waitstaff, Matthew and Alice, their professionalism and warm hospitality set the tone for a delightful evening. It was such a special way to celebrate my 70th birthday with family, every aspect of the dinner was executed flawlessly. Thank you, Fabien, for providing the most memorable and fun evening, filled with exceptional food, impeccable service, and an ambiance that truly captured the essence of Queenstown's charm.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2025.01.29

What an incredible piece of feedback! I’m absolutely over the moon reading your kind words. It means so much to know that your 70th birthday dinner was a truly memorable experience, especially surrounded by such a wonderful and lively family!

And how could I forget the thoughtful bottle of champagne you left for me and my team? That was such a unique and generous gesture—it’s truly a first for us!

I’m so glad you had a fantastic evening, and I wish you an equally amazing year ahead!

Holly Welch 2024.12.30

     

We had Fabien come to our airBNB in jacks point for my husbands 30th birthday. We have young kids so it was ideal to have a nice dinner in the comfort of our own home and he did just that. That food and experience was outstanding. Thank you Fabien.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2024.12.30

Hi Holly,

Thank you so much for your heartfelt feedback! We're thrilled to hear that we could help make your husband's 30th birthday a memorable celebration. We truly appreciate your kind words and warm welcome. Wishing you a fantastic year ahead in 2025, and we look forward to seeing you again on your next visit to Queenstown!

Best regards,
Fabien

Maimiti Aussel 2024.12.28

     

Une expérience incroyable. Tout était très simple et clair pour la prise de contact, le devis, la mise en place. Le diner était délicieux, nous avons passé une agréable soirée grâce au chef Fabien. Je le recommande à 100%. Merci encore et à bientôt j'espère !

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Reply from My Private Chef 2024.12.29

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. I’m truly delighted to hear your feedback—it was an absolute pleasure meeting all of you and having such a wonderful conversation. I’ll definitely reach out if I ever have the chance to visit Tahiti! Wishing you all the best as the year comes to a close.
Amicalement.Fabien

Nicholas Fasullo 2024.11.11

     

Fantastic experience with Fabien cooking for our group of 13. He was very easy to deal with in respect of organising the event. The food was absolutely delicious, it was a big hit with everyone and he even accommodated for dietary requirements. Fabien and his staff were a pleasure to host both during and after the dinner service. We can't wait to experience it again. Absolutely recommended if staying Queenstown NZ.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2024.11.11

Thank you, Nicholas, and everyone else from the night! I really appreciate your fantastic feedback . I appreciate your warm welcome and kindness. I look forward to seeing you all again in Queenstown, or perhaps I’ll make my way to Sydney next time! Best wishes to you all.

Nicholas Fasullo 2024.11.10

     

Great Experience. Fantastic Chef. And Great Person. Fantastic experience having Fabien cook for our group of 13. He was very easy to deal with to organise our dinner. Then we get to the cooking... His food was absolutely sublime, 3, courses of sensational flavours.. And accommodating to dietary requirements. Fabien and his staff are a delight to host both during and after the meal. Would absolutely recommend Fabien for a fantastic private dining experience..

Date of experience: 09 November, 2024

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Erika Cote 2024.11.02

     

Fabian came to our rental and cooked a delicious meal for four of us. The food brought in local ingredients and flavor but with an elegant twist. He was incredibly kind and so easy to have in the house with our guests. Would highly recommend him for any private chef needs in Queenstown or NZ.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2024.11.06

Thank you so much, Erika! It was an absolute pleasure to cook for all of you—such a fun experience! I hope to see you back in Queenstown this coming summer!

Justin Britt 2024.10.22

     

Chef Fabien created a memorable event for our family in Queenstown. We had the 5 course tasting menu and each dish got better as the night went along. It is truly an experience we will never forget and would highly recommend Chef Fabien to anyone in the Queenstown area.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2024.10.23

Thank you, Justin! I truly appreciate your fantastic feedback. I’m delighted to hear that you had a memorable private dining experience. You were certainly a wonderfully welcoming group! Wishing you a safe journey back to New York. I look forward to seeing you on your next visit to Queenstown!

Will T 2024.05.25

     

Outstanding food and quite creative cooking to accomodate for various dietary requirements in our group (some gluten free, some vegan, and some meat eaters). I thoroughly enjoyed the service and explanation of each menu item from our dinner, which gave insight into Fabien's careful choices in creating such a lovely evening. Our family had the best time using Fabien as a private chef for a special evening in Queenstown, and I would love to enjoy his cooking again.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2024.05.25

TThank you, Will, for sharing your experience. I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed my dish selection! Thanks for allowing us to be part of these special moments. Looking forward to your next visit to Queenstown. Cheers, Fabien

Katja Riedel 2024.05.22

     

I had a cooking class with Fabien, which was amazing. I asked him for tips how to elevate dishes and he prepared several pages of recipes and variations for me. We cooked a 3 course French meal which was delicious. During the cooking Fabien gave me tips on how to make vegetable cutting easier and how to use special ingredients (Porcini mushroom powder, black garlic). I thoroughly enjoyed my morning of cooking with Fabien and highly recommend him.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2024.05.22

Thank you so much, Katja! I'm thrilled to hear you had a wonderful time and were able to enhance your cooking skills, knowledge, and understanding of flavor combinations. I look forward to the opportunity to share our love for food on another occasion. Safe travels to Antarctica!

Alex Shaw 2024.05.21

     

I highly recommend Fabien for the best dinner party ever. 5 stars just isn't enough for the experience he created for our family. The food was delicious, inventive and amazingly presented. Fabien is a delight, and he made the evening stress free, memorable and fun. Thank you Fabien and Alice, look forward to using you again.

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Reply from My Private Chef 2024.05.21

TThank you so much, Alex, for your kind words! We greatly appreciate it and are thrilled to have turned your moments into cherished memories. We look forward to welcoming you again on your next visit to Queenstown.

Reg Cowie 2024.04.04

     

Thank you Fabien for making the 50th birthday celebration unbelievably amazing. All the food is locally sourced and delicious. Thank you for explaining each dish to us and taking the time to answer our questions and get to know us. Your food is exceptional and you take care in every step of the preparation and serving. Shout out to Alice for all her efforts and impeciaciable service. ❤️ thanks again. 😊 Regina

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Reply from My Private Chef 2024.05.21

Thank you, Regina, for your wonderful feedback! We greatly appreciate it and are thrilled to have contributed to making your 50th birthday celebration memorable. We look forward to welcoming you again on your next visit to Queenstown. Kind regards.