Reviews
Recent Reviews
DEBBI G.
60 GUESTS
MARCH 11 2017, BERKELEY
Where do I begin? The evening far surpassed our fantasies. Every menu item you created was fresh, delicious and beautifully presented. Because of having been to another party you catered, I’d pretty much counted on that as well as your professionalism. What I hadn’t expected, was the warmth and caring that I felt you exuded in every aspect of
of your presence. It was a joy having you in our kitchen – truly poetry in motion. Thank you for helping to make our party memorable for all who attended. I hope for another celebratory occasion on which we can collaborate.
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LAUREL B.
20 GUESTS
DECEMBER 24 2016, LAFAYETTE
The dinner was AMAZING Christmas Eve. I mean, really wonderful! And we feasted on leftovers for days.
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JUDY A.
12 GUESTS
SEPTEMBER 08, 2015, STINSON BEACH
The dinner provided by Sirona and her partner, Sinead, exceeded our expectations. Her menu suggestions were just what we wanted for a family and beautifully served. We will call her again.
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CHRIS S.
80 GUESTS
SEPTEMBER 05, 2015, WOODSIDE
Sirona was great. Professional, on time, easy to work with. The food was DELICIOUS and she provided a perfect variety for our setting. I would use her again in a heartbeat!
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ALEXANDRA S.
100 GUESTS
AUGUST 26, 2015, BERKELEY
We so appreciated the thought and care that Chef Sirona and her helper, Sinead, dedicated to our event. They made passed appetizers for 100 people, as well as two dessert tidbits. The food was scrumptious and abundant (many compliments from guests!), the servers they brought with them were lovely and helpful, and they themselves were cool and collected, flexible, and professional. I would not hesitate to hire them again for an event! Thank you!
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JULIE C.
16 GUESTS
AUGUST 17, 2015, LARKSPUR
It was well beyond expectations. The food was delicious and The chefs were so kind and helpful. All the guests raved about the food!
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AARON B.
2 GUESTS
DINNER PARTY
AUGUST 13, 2015, SAN FRANCISCO
Chef Sirona prepared a perfect menu to pair with the wines I had chosen for the evening. Each course was beautifully presented, perfectly cooked, and the service was outstanding. I would highly recommend Chef Sirona for your dinner party!
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HIRO H.
27 GUESTS
JULY 13, 2015, SANTA CRUZ
Sirona and the staff were great. The menu was a great choice. Guests raved about the appetizers and the main course slow cooked pork was to die for. Sinead was great in controlling the flow and making all the guests feel at home. To wrap it up they left the kitchen spotless. I would highly recommend Sirona in team for any party event!
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ALICE R.
59 GUESTS
DINNER PARTY
JUNE 09, 2015, OAKLAND
Sirona and her kitchen partner Sinead are gems! I cannot imaging a party of 60 going so smoothly with ample, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious food. The process of working with these fine ladies was effortless. Sirona proposed a most outstanding menu and made suggestions on how to make a large party of 60 work in our small-ish home. We hired a bartender and extra server through Sirona and both Sara and John were equally wonderful. Guests complemented us all night long on the food and the friendly, professional service, and we continue to get notes of high praise for Sirona. I could not recommend this team more strongly.
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LAUREL B.
6 GUESTS
JUNE 08, 2015, LAFAYETTE
Everything from the menu, the service, the quality of the food and how spotless my kitchen was after the dinner was PERFECTION. I can’t imagine one thing that we would have changed. Excited to have Sirona and Sinead back again soon.
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FREEMAN W.
30 GUESTS
MAY 05, 2015, BELVEDERE TIBURON
Sirona is an amazing chef! From communications, promptness, organization, food prep, clean-up and most importantly quality of food are bar non one of the best culinary experiences I’ve had. I was very impressed right from the start when she immediately responded to my email questions and that lead to a wonderful collaboration between us. Sirona and her “front of the house” partner, Sinead really showed us what professionalism really is. They handled a 30 guest party with ease.
Thanks to you two for making my wife’s 60th B-Day a memorable one!
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PANOS Z.
4 GUESTS
APRIL 06, 2015, SAN FRANCISCO
She and Sinead were truly outstanding! It was the first time using tis service and I was slightly apprehensive having strangers cooking in my place and being present while I’m entertaining my guests but I was just so blown away by how discrete they were and absolute sweethearts! On top of that, they were so timely with their service and the food was absolutely phenomenal! All my guests were completely and utterly stunned by the quality and presentation of the food! They were both so professional and friendly, explaining every course while serving. Absolutely phenomenal service and food quality! Better than any restaurant I’ve been in a long time and I will be using them AGAIN and AGAIN!!! Best thing EVER!
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JANE J.
8 GUESTS
MARCH 22, 2015, HILLSBOROUGH
Chef Sirona was truly fantastic! We had a perfect evening without worry. The Spring dinner was amazing–the homemade pasta out of this world, not to mention the lamb shoulder cooked to perfection! The kitchen was left in perfect order. I can’t say enough about what an easy lovely evening it was for me! I would have her again in a heart beat!
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ALEXANDER A.
8 GUESTS
FEBRUARY 19, 2015, SAN FRANCISCO
Great food. Some of the best pasta we’ve ever had!
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LYNETTE C.
8 GUESTS
DINNER PARTY
full star full star full star full star full star FEBRUARY 16, 2015, SAN FRANCISCO
Our dinner by Chef Sirona Skinner was outstanding. The menu was very creative and the food was delicious. I would definitely ask Chef Skinner back.
Lynette Cayson
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AMY H.
30 GUESTS
COCKTAIL PARTY
JANUARY 01, 2015, SANTA CRUZ
Fantastic! The food was absolutely delicious and Sirona was a delight.
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BIRKE R.
16 GUESTS
DECEMBER 29, 2014, SAN FRANCISCO
Chef Skinner Nixon prepared one of the most stupendous meals we have ever had at our home on Christmas Eve. One of our guests commented that the meal was better than both French Laundry and Meadowood. The food was delicious, perfectly prepared, and perfectly executed. The appetizers kept coming and were all freshly made in the kitchen, minutes before serving. The dungeness crab bisque was equally outrageous. This was the single best dining experience we have ever had in our home and we cannot recommend Chef Skinner Nixon enough!
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RUDY C.
6 GUESTS
DINNER PARTY
DECEMBER 16, 2014, LOS GATOS
Chef Skinner was outstanding! My experience is divided into two sections. First is planning the event. Second is the event itself.
Planning the event: Kitchit is a good platform to interact with several local chefs and make a decision based on several conversations. Chef Skinner was responsive and quoted a price that was fair. She wasn’t the lowest price and certainly not the most expensive. But she was a very good value and had the experience to deliver a dinner that we would expect had we gone to a very good restaurant in the SF Bay Area. Chef Skinner was full of creative ideas for the menu and worked with me to create a menu to be appreciated by all. This is not an easy task. As I explained to Chef…we are a party of six. And when we dine out, rarely are there two identical plates ordered. We went back and forth for nearly a week until we arrived at the perfect menu. The food descriptions were vivid and paired perfectly with our wine selections. THIS is when i knew Chef Skinner was the perfect choice.
The event: Chef Skinner and her business partner Sinead arrived and started preparing the five courses on the menu. When everyone arrived we enjoyed Champagne paired with 2 wonderful hors d”oeuvres . When we were ready for dinner we gave Chef a 10 minute advanced notice and was Chef was ready. We took a lot of pictures as Chef Skinner transformed our kitchen into a professional kitchen. Displaying culinary skills and plating like an artist! The food was great! several layers of flavor. A warm duck confit with oven roasted greens and Fuyu Persimmons. Then we moved onto a hand made pasta dish which made you want to ask for more. I should add Chef Skinner introduced each dish with a proper description and a bit about the inspiration behind the dish. We then transitioned to a braised Wagyu beef dish followed by a cheese plate and a dessert. Chef Skinner also took the time to take a few pictures of our dinner party. Towards to end, we were winding down and they politely excused themselves for the evening. To my surprise, the kitchen was left spotless! The sink was empty, the counters were wiped clean and the dishes were done! Chef Skinner and Sinead exceeded our expectations and I look forward to working with these two people again this summer.
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JENNIFER B.
16 GUESTS
DECEMBER 07, 2014, WOODSIDE
FABULOUS! I was VERY impressed with our dinner (which included different meals for the children and for the adults) and the presentation. The dinner was timely and delicious, and the service and meal descriptions were fabulous. My kitchen was clean and organized. I will definitely be asking for Chef Sirona Skinner Nixon again!
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JUNG C.
40 GUESTS
full star full star full star full star three quater three NOVEMBER 16, 2014, MENLO PARK
Sirona, Sinead and their team were great! It started from the moment I booked only 2 weeks before the event for 40 people. Sirona was very responsive and worked with me to create a Spanish-themed dinner which included crostini with boquerones and ricotta, pimenton deviled eggs, endive with walnuts and cabrales blue cheese, and a delicious fideua with calamari, chicken, chorizo and aioli, chick peas, roasted fall veggies, saffron rice, and salad. Yum! One of my guests said every bite was delicious. She also suggested some cocktail options and wines that went with the theme. In short, a great partner for the whole event! The dinner service was a little slow, but the team was lovely and made sure everyone had enough to drink and was comfortable. Set up and clean up were all taken care of, and our kitchen looked cleaner than when we started. It is nice to be a guest at one’s own party! I’d highly recommend Sirona and Sinead for a foodie menu that exudes comfort and warmth, and for stress-free entertaining.
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MARILEE B.
12 GUESTS
NOVEMBER 11, 2014, ATHERTON
Are experience was fabulous! Sirona was so easy to work with and fun to get to know. Everything really was perfect. I had told Sirona ahead of time that one of the couples was gluten free. Thus, Sirona planned an exceptional gluten-free meal. With one exception! We had to to have her amazing, delicious home-made pasta, so Sirona brought along 2 gluten-fee pastas for the couple – and they raved about that too! I even threw Sirona a curve ball when another couple arrived and told us they were vegans. Holy smokes – we were having beef – if I was cooking I would have totally panicked. Not Sirona! She took it all in stride and asked if she could rummage through my refrigerator and freezer. Sure, I said, thinking, “but all you are going to find are L’eggo waffles and frozen pizza for my kids.” But to my happy surprise, Sirona found some frozen fish and fresh veggies and made a fabulous, light meal for that couple! From start to finish everything was great. We ended the evening with a flour-less chocolate cake that was divine. Our 12 guests raved about the meal and it was the most relaxing dinner party I have ever hosted! Will definitely hope to use Sirona and Brian again! Thank you.
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JOSH W.
9 GUESTS
OCTOBER 12, 2014, SAN FRANCISCO
Chef Sirona was phenomenal. We were hosting a 30th birthday party with about 10 people. Sirona and her sous-chef Sinead served handmade cavatelli pasta with a wonderfully tender beef. They were wonderful to work with. Sirona was very responsive over email leading up to the event. She arrived right on time and was extremely easy to work with. Moreover, the food was excellent. We absolutely hope to work with Sirona in the future and would recommend her to anyone!
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GILLIAN M.
6 GUESTS
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014, LARKSPUR
I can only only echo the other comments I see on this site about Sirona and Sinead. We just hosted a small dinner party to celebrate a milestone birthday for one of our friends. They arrived early, and were completely unfazed by the fact I was still trying to clean up. They took over my kitchen and made themselves comfortable. Managed to fit things into my horribly organized fridge and freezer and generally were incredibly professional, calm and just great to be around, both before my guests arrived and during the dinner service and cleanup.
Working with Sirona on the menu ahead of time was a very easy process. She tweaked the menu with me, and accommodated my bacon eating vegetarian friend. And when we provided our own oysters, she offered to provide mignonette for them, and shucked and plated them for us.
Sinead also advised me well ahead of time on wine pairings, helped with table setting and was a calm, friendly presence throughout the entire evening. She and Sirona also coped magnificently with my dog who kept moseying into the kitchen during service just to see if any tidbits showed up for her!!
And apart from the wonderful food and fantastic service it was such a joy at the end of the fabulous evening to see that everything was cleaned up. The kitchen was spotless (probably cleaner than when they arrived) and all my china, crystal and silverware was stacked neatly ready to go away.
As a first time Kitchit user, I’ll be back. And I’d recommend these ladies unreservedly to anyone else. They are true professionals. and a delight to have handling your event.
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KATE D.
12 GUESTS
full star full star full star full star full star SEPTEMBER 15, 2014, SAN FRANCISCO
Sirona and Sinead were great – the food was delicious and elegant. We had eggplant soup, unbelievably good corn ravioli that Sirona makes, a beautiful salmon with vegetables, and olive oil cake. They helped, cleaned up, served nicely – it was all perfect. Sirona’s food is really special.
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DANIEL G.
2 GUESTS
DINNER PARTY
SEPTEMBER 11, 2014, SAN FRANCISCO
The experience was just perfect. The food was delicious, we discussed where the food came from, the service was like a restaurant, and I literally can’t wait to book them again!
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JULIA Y.
10 GUESTS
DINNER PARTY
AUGUST 15, 2014, SAN FRANCISCO
Wow! What a fabulous way to entertain friends and enjoy the party. This was my first Kirchit experience and we will be back. I made a last minute booking and appreciated the updates from the concierge and the direct email from Chef Sirona Skinner Nixon. We made some changes to the initial vegetarian menu and I opted to bring our own dessert to have an extra pasta course. Shouldn’t have been concerned – there was lots of food. My guests were thrilled and the food was creative and delicious. Sirona was ably assisted by Sinead who helped prep and serve the food. They are both delightful and took charge of our kitchen in an efficient but gentle way. I can highly recommend chef Sirona and my friends are already interested in their own parties.
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TYLER D.
12 GUESTS
AUGUST 07, 2014, NAPA
Chef Sirona was very helpful in working with us in designing a menu for my mother’s birthday event in Napa for 12 people. She and her partner Sinead arrived ahead of schedule, were very helpful and calm in the build-up to the event, and efficient and non-intrusive in their prep. The food was delicious: they really took advantage of local and seasonal ingredients without being overly precious about it. First, they served appetizers of avocado & aioli on grilled sourdough, and tomato/burrata on toast…just delectable and perfectly-seasoned. Everyone devoured them despite there being plenty to go around. Next came a watermelon carpaccio which was totally unique, delicious and refreshing. After that they served a sungold tomato soup which was tangy and sweet — summer in a bowl. After that, Sirona showed us her pasta-making chops with a sweet-corn ravioli that melted in our mouths and was full of bright creamy freshness. Sonoma duck, braised and then finished on our grill, served with grilled stone fruit and creamy polenta, was perfectly cooked and her “pivot” to finish the braised duck on the grill was a deft and marvelously tasty touch. We provided our own dessert but they served it with the same care as if they’d made it themselves. Sirona introduced each course with a story and Sinead served with precision and grace. The clean up was spotless and the event started on time and finished when we were ready. I would highly recommend these ladies for your next event and we plan to hire them again.
Reviews From KitchenSurfing.com
19 REVIEWS FROM KITCHENSURFING.COM HOSTS
GRACE P. APRIL 4, 2014
We hired Sirona for a corporate demo and dinner for 23 guests and she was amazing! Not only was the food outstanding, she held the attention of all the guests with her pasta making demo and everyone had a wonderful time. The kitchen was left spotless too! we hope to have Sirona back soon.
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MOLLY B. MARCH 21, 2014
Sirona is incredible!!! She prepared a wonderful meal for 14 people at my home recently and the dinner was a wild success. It was a mediterranean style meal, mostly vegetarian, but with a tremendous chorizo sausage course which I had requested. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and Sirona explained each course which my guests really enjoyed. Many of them have asked for Sirona’s information because they enjoyed the experience so much. Sirona was also really flexible and thoughtful about helping me prepare the table and cleaned up very thoroughly afterward. The whole experience was a joy.
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SCOTT B. MARCH 17, 2014
Chef Sirona is superb; 100% professional, thoughtful, and perfectly executed meal (and we booked it last minute, which makes it all especially impressive). Fresh pastas are unrivaled.
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ANN-MARIE M. MARCH 3, 2014
Everything was fantastic! Sirona and Sinead are an amazing them, and made my boyfriend’s birthday dinner one to remember from cocktails to dessert everything was delicious!
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MICHAEL C. FEBRUARY 12, 2014
Simply the best. A perfect buffet that made our guests savor the great preparation of a perfect winter dinner and exclaim, ‘this is really delicious’…Sirona’s spectacular desert was gobbled up in seconds.
We adore chef Sirona and her partner Senead.
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CHINA H. FEBRUARY 9, 2014
Sirona prepared an amazing menu of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails for 20 people for my birthday. She was great to work with – very responsive, quick to answer questions and clear about our arrangements. The food and cocktails were fantastic, and because they used our glasses/platters etc. the party felt really personal. Sirona brought two people with her to help prep and serve, which made everything flow incredibly smoothly. They also cleaned up before they left, and the kitchen was definitely cleaner than they’d found it. The whole experience was fantastic, and I would love to hire Sirona again.
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SCOTT B. JANUARY 26, 2014
Sirona was professional, and a fantastic Chef in all respects. The kitchen was left cleaner than when she arrived, and all of our guests (6 of us total) were thrilled with the meal. Highly recommended!
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SHERIDA P. JANUARY 12, 2014
Chef Sirona and assistant Sinead prepared a delicious meal (winter feast) for a birthday dinner for 18 guests, served buffet style. They were accommodating with last minute guests – and with an unexpected leak in our kitchen. The food was delicious and beautifully served! Their service was perfect for a boisterous group. And best of all – they left the kitchen cleaner than when they arrived!!
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MICHELLE F. DECEMBER 9, 2013
We had a wonderful meal made by Sirona. Not only because the food was delicious and our guests loved it, but also because of Sirona and Sinead’s warmth and professionalism. They were friendly and sweet yet discreet and kept everything clipping along at a perfect pace and then left the kitchen spotless, as if we never had the party. I highly recommend Sirona.
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MICHAEL C.NOVEMBER 15, 2013
Ours was a last minute birthday that simply was delicious–best soup we ever had~~followed by a really tasty gluten-free bronzino perfectly crispy and moist. What’s else great about Chef Sirona is the positive energy and calm she brings to her preparations. The kitchen was spotless and her sous-chef a delight. The first of many.
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SHARI H. OCTOBER 28, 2013
Sirona should be welcomed into anyone’s kitchen with open arms! She cooked an amazing mediterranean dinner for 26 people and it was flawless. The menu was gluten and lactose free per several dietary restrictions. The homemade lamb sausage for the salad was a perfect consistency and full of complex flavors that were ideally paired with the greens and dressing. The duck was crisp on the outside and exquisitely moist on the inside and the parsnip puree accompaniment was the perfect balance. There was nothing left over by any of the guests. To end the meal, we had a moroccan spiced pear which was a wonderful way to finish – not too heavy but enough sweetness to leave you sated. The wine pairings she brought were also spot-on.
Sirona runs a perfectly organized event and leaves a sparkling kitchen when she’s done. We had originally intended for the dinner to be plated but when the guest count went over what I originally intended, she easily switched it so that the salad course was plated and the duck served family style. Top this off with reasonable rates for having a professional dining experience in your home and you can’t go wrong. All the guests were raving about Sirona and the Kitchensurfing concept. It was a perfect evening all around!
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KAREN H. AUGUST 12, 2013
We hosted a sit down dinner party for 23 and Sirona was our chef. She brought along a sous chef as well, Jenny. Sirona was a pleasure to work with, helping us craft the perfect menu. Sirona and Jenny arrived on time with all the food in tow — they hauled food for 23 people on on dry ice on multiple subways and metro north out to Westchester in 95 degree weather! Sirona took control of the kitchen, cooked the food, and served it family style, and introduced each course. The menu was creative and delicious – interesting salads, handmade pear and pecorino pasta, three perfectly grilled meats each with a unique sauce. My father is still raving about the duck, which he will tell you (repeatedly) that he usually doesn’t like because it’s often too dry or too greasy, but Sirona’s duck was the best he’s ever had. At the end of the evening, we had a spotlessly clean kitchen and they left as quietly as they arrived. The party was a fabulous success. Sirona and Jenny were charming, our guests loved them, and I didn’t have to spend any time in the kitchen before, during, or after the party. I recommend Sirona without reservation and hope to be able to enjoy her delicious food again soon!
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ADI S. JULY 23, 2013
Sirona was perfect. She not only prepared amazing food, which my guests all loved and raved about, but was also the consummate professional to deal with, flexible, creative, agile and making things happen every step of the way. I look forward to hiring Sirona again.
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JOSH A. MAY 18, 2013
Sirona is great! Last night was the second time we had her cook at our apartment… different menu, but equally delicious!
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ELEANOR G. APRIL 30, 2013
[GUEST]
We loved our Moroccan themed meal and Sirona’s ability to work with us quickly when we all wanted seconds on the salad. We had a group of 7 –they included a wide age (82 to 28) and taste span and everyone was pleased.. The sides made it possible for the dishes to be spicey or not. Freshness of the food was obvious in the flavors.
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BERYL B. APRIL 30, 2013
Sirona’s meal was fabulous; very fresh, springtime, and flavors marrying with each other in ways I wouldn’t have expected. Her specialty is pasta, but we had fun planning another Mediterranean menu. I gave her a few words and she came back very quickly with something that she would love to cook. And it was perfect — just what I was looking for.
Sirona is a gracious professional; she made it so easy and comfortable to communicate with. She cooked such a wonderful meal with apparent ease.
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CHRISTOPHER M. APRIL 28, 2013
[GUEST]
I knew Sirona did amazing pasta, but the menu she did last night for family and friends didn’t include pasta—and everything was fabulous. The flavors were North African—she did a lamb and made her own harissa, a fresh spring salad of pea shoots, shaved asparagus and every other delicious seasonal thing you could imagine, and barley dish with nuts, dates, cumin and everything else. She was calm in the kitchen and made an anxious host calm. The coursing was perfect—allowing the 8 person party to relax and move at their pace (no trying to “turn” the table). All in, fantastic experience.
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DAN G. APRIL 18, 2013
Dinner for our team was excellent! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
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MELISSA P. APRIL 7, 2013
Sirona did a great job with our dinner party. She was easy to work with and the food was delicious. The vegetarian options were equally good which was appreciated. She definitely delivered on everything we agreed upon and helped make our night very special.