Chef Joann & Co. Bespoke Catering and Event Design - San Diego, California

Greg D.

Chef Joann & Co. are truly special. Spectacular, imaginative and delicious food creations that define the personality of the evening. She and her immensely talented colleagues understand food, people and what brings the most out in events. Our chef and support for the evening were perfectly involved in conversation about the food and wine pairings, and really engaged. This in-home catered dinner matched the detail and thinking I've seen in her larger events at Victoria Ranch. Ours was a New Year's Eve celebration of the Year of the Snake. Thank you Chef Joann & Co.

Kristin H.

My husband and I were so lucky to find Joann to cater our wedding. We didn’t want a traditional seated dinner and the first SD wedding caterers we had found were not super receptive to our vision. Joann was a breath of fresh air - so supportive and enthusiastic about creating something unique to us. Joann is such an artist and all-around great person – from the first call, we knew we were in good hands. Collaborating with her through the planning couldn’t have gone better as she was totally in sync with our vision, which made us feel assured that the food and bar would come out spectacular. Chef Joann + team created a totally bespoke menu incorporating favorite dishes from our travels together and some South American flavors in honor of my husband’s family. She even helped with some of the planning beyond the food and bar, and her guidance really elevated the experience. The food was absolutely delicious, and the presentation was way beyond our expectations – everyone could really see the care and quality that went into it. So many of our guests came up to tell us how great the food was and ask for Joann’s contact info. 10/10 would go with her again. We are so grateful that Joann was a part of our wedding, thank you Joann !

jamie B.

Working with Chef Joann and her incredible team was an absolute delight for the recent ranch wedding we planned and produced. From the beautifully curated appetizers to the late-night snacks that kept the energy high, every bite was an experience in itself. The crafted cocktails were not only creative but also so delicious, leaving guests raving about the drinks all night long. Both the front and back-of-house staff were truly at the top of their game, providing our guests with such special attention that they all felt like VIPs throughout the reception. The bartending service was flawless, and the team ensured that every guest had a wonderful time. Their professionalism, creativity, and dedication truly elevated the event. I couldn’t recommend Chef Joann and her team more highly—they were instrumental in making the evening unforgettable!

Tomas E.

The event, from conception to execution, was flawless. Joann and her team’s communication was always prompt and clear. Their design aesthetic fitting and classy. Their food delicious. Their staff so friendly and professional.
Chef Joann and her team took an event that was, for me, unwieldy and overwhelming and made it a moment beyond my wildest dreams.
I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for all your work.

David G.

An extraordinary experience with Chef JoAnn's talented staff! We hosted a post wedding rehearsal luncheon at Forgotten Barrell Winery. JoAnn's staff organized every detail including exceptional food (guests raved about everything even the mashed potatoes), lovely table settings, personalized menus and capturing all the leftovers for us to take with us. Every guest went out of their way to share what a lovely event it was. We absolutely would use these talented folks again!

Cassie S.

I'm afraid to write this review because I'm not sure my words can adequately express how wonderful our experience was with Chef Joann & Co.

I reached out to a few different private/personal chefs all at once. Hands down, Chef Joann's team was the most responsive and personal (while still being incredibly professional). They own the fact that they're a "bougie option" right out of the gates and while they were definitely a bigger investment than others, I could just tell it'd be worth it.

Throughout the planning process, Dawn was very communicative. We had quite a few dietary restrictions in our group (with my own being extensive all on their own). She took the time to go through all of my questions in detail and they crafted a menu that worked for everyone. As someone who often feels like a burden because of these restrictions, Dawn did nothing but reassure me it was their pleasure to handle them.

They thought of every detail, including heaters, for our outdoor meal. We thought we had them covered at the AirBNB we rented, but the day of, discovered they weren't warm enough. One quick text to Isabela and she had it handled. Nick went out of his way to make a last minute run for us so we could better enjoy our experience.

As soon as the team showed up, they were friendly, so hardworking, and kind. They never made us feel like we were in the way even though I'm sure we were at points. Little sneak peeks at the table scape got us so excited for what was in store.

Our night started with steak frites, shrimp skewers, and the best cocktails / mocktails! We then sat down for the rest of our 7 course meal (shown in the photos) and it was delightful. Our team was ranting about how good everything was and HOW MUCH food there was. Isabela came out and described each course, making special note to be transparent about ingredients to set those of us with restrictions at ease. I have never felt so confident about a meal I didn't cook myself, which meant so much to me! What Isabela did for me / our team was more than just make delicious food - it was ensuring everyone felt equally included.

Each course was paired with a drink by Ariel and while the drinks themselves were DELIGHTFUL (made with her own infused liquors and syrups), she was also loved by our group. She was fun and engaging and fit in so perfectly with everyone! Before leaving, she even left us with remaining ingredients and taught my husband how to make a couple drinks with them for the rest of the night.

Iva was so sweet and fun to be around as well. She asked good questions as they were prepping our experience to help us make the most of it, but also never made us feel annoying or "too much" when our group got a little silly and loud throughout dinner as she was serving. And she was kind enough to take a group picture for us!

We didn't get as much face time with Nick, but he worked incredibly hard just like the rest of the them the whole time and seemed so genuine.

You know this crew is absolutely fantastic when you end the night hugging them while thanking them for all they did. Don't get me wrong. The food was tasty and beautiful. The drinks were delicious. The service was incredible. But the PEOPLE on this team are what made the night unforgettable. Thank you, Isabela, Iva, Nick, & Ariel. We hope this review reflects even a fraction of how much we appreciate you!

Alena B.

Chef Joann + her team are hands down the most talented, delightful, and inventive team to work with for any size event you want to host! We love to entertain, and usually curate and prepare meals for friends and family ourselves, but for New Year's Eve we really wanted to host an event we could fully participate in and not have to deal with prep, service and clean up. We were referred to Chef Joann and were so incredibly pleased with our entire experience. We had a vision to create a luxurious event with a unique theme and Joann took our vision and executed it to perfection! Her and her team do not disappoint and they are perfect for any size event, from a special occasion for two, to a medium size dinner party, wedding, or large corporate event. We highly recommend Chef Joann & Co. to anyone looking for a talented private chef and catering company!

Lauren M.

We had Chef Joann's team out for our Bachelor(ette) party and it was the best decision we could have made. Our team was FANTASTIC. Isabella, Thais, Erik, Nick, and Lilly were the loveliest bunch to work with and the food was WILD. Insanely good. They even accommodated our one vegan friend and she said it was the best vegan food she'd ever had and everything flowed together beautifully. Our table was amazingly decorated and the colors were lovely. I'd highly recommend adding the cocktail pairings option because the paired cocktails were perfect. We cannot rave enough about our choice to have Joann's team be a part of our weekend!