Reviews and testimominals are paramount for private chef services as they provide essential feedback and validation for the quality of the culinary experience. For potential clients, I hope the below reviews offer a glimpse into the expertise, reliability, and professionalism of Italba Dining and will provide you with the confidence to engage in my services. Please contact me here with any questions.

Testimonials

Nelson recently catered a company dinner for us at Stucktaymore. There was 18 of us and the food and service was amazing. Would highly recommend.

/ Andrew | corporate dinner loch tay/ JAN 2024

I wanted to write and thank you for cooking such a wonderful and special dinner for us on Saturday evening to help us celebrate Mark's 50th birthday.

It meant a lot to me and to Mark that you were able to cook for us and our family again.

The food was incredible !! from start to finish , served with warmth and kindness. It was absolutely what I hoped for - thank you!!

Please thank Michael too for his waitering/entertaining skills which were well received by all.

/CATHERINE AND MARK | 50th CELEBRATION LAURENCEKIRK / DEC 2023

Nelson came to cook for us for my parents’ anniversary dinner and it was one of the best meals we’ve had in ages! Each course was not only delicious, but also beautifully presented.
Nelson was also a pleasure to work with, very responsive and helpful ahead of the dinner and accommodating of dietary requirements.
We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him and can’t wait to hopefully eat his food again soon. Thank you!!

/Natalie | Annivesary Celebreation Perthshire / July 2023

‘Nelson was recommended to us as a Chef for our Wedding and I am so glad that he was! From the beginning to end his service was impeccable, he took our vague desire for an Italian themed Barbecue and made some wonderful menu suggestions. We had a number of dietary restrictions and requirements which he took in his stride and on the day everyone had something delicious to eat.

He sourced a number of local suppliers, and the quality of the food that he produced was second to none. His pannacotta was simply delicious and one of the best things that I have ever eaten, and he created it all in a holiday cottage kitchen, with limited equipment, and with dogs and children occasionally running riot through his space! We cannot recommend Nelson, his food and the wonderful care that he took of us, enough. He went above and beyond. He was simply wonderful.’ Once again, thank you so much for everything you did, your food is very special.

/francesca and Max | Wedding isle of mull / July 2019

Just wanted to thank you so much for the wonderful meal you prepared for us last weekend and to your waiting staff  who did a marvellous job.
Our guest are all still “raving" about the amazing meal especially the beef cheeks which were so delicious. Some had never tried them before and would now choose if they saw on a menu in future although yours will take a lot of beating!
It has been a real pleasure to meet you and to enjoy your outstanding cooking and see the passion you obviously have for locally sourced quality produce.
We shall be singing your praises for a long time to come and wish you continued success. 

/Shona and Jamie| Aberdeenshire / May 2019

Such a huge big thank you to you for Saturday night - it was all just so perfect - thank you so much for all the thought and preparation you put into the menu. 
We love the way you present appetisers. The bread, the seafood salad - the pickled carrots - all fabulous!
The monkfish was exquisite
And the puddings were perfection... 
We finished all the dips yesterday when we had party tea ... none of us could decide which was our favourite - they were all too good. 
10/10 says my dad 
Absolutely brilliant says my father-in-law. 
Your lovely demeanour takes all the stress from a family gathering... 

/ JUDY | LONDON / APRIL 2019

Your impeccable dishes were a supreme hit with all our guests and you gave my mother a Birthday lunch to remember (there’s talk about a dance for her 90th!).  Thank you so much for all your care and expertise, which made the day so special.

/ Miranda | Creiff /

Nelson cooked for us over 3 days this summer as we had 30 people staying for a family gathering. He did an amazing job (catering also for a couple of vegetarians and one vegan). The food was wonderful and varied with most sourced locally. The event would not have been a success without his great cooking, advice on wine and relaxed attitude. We will use him again!

/ William | Aberdeenshire /

 Can I say a massive “Thank You” to Nelson. He provided the most amazing BBQ for my daughters wedding near Glenshee. The food was by far the best I have ever eaten, everything being cooked perfectly, and at a pace to suit the guests. Nelson’s relaxed approach, together with his cooking skills are still being talked about by my family today ! His catering was the final touch to the day, making it so perfect.

/Simon & Michel, Natasha & Mike- England/

"Nelson’s seasonal and local menu was meticulously thought out and perfectly delivered.  I loved the duck - it was a testament to his dedicated preparation.  The quality of the food was only the beginning: the evening was a true delight, from aperitif to wondrous pudding.  I couldn’t commend him highly enough to others planning special occasions."

/  Jill | comrie  /

 "Nelson's food is outstanding ... something different and very moreish. Each part of the dish was well thought out and packed full of flavour and combined to perfection.... we can't wait for another Italba experience."

/  ross & karen | comrie  /

 "Italba's fresh and beautifully cooked dishes are simply a delight. We particularly appreciate their use of locally grown and reared food, in the true spirit of elegant Italian cuisine: from field to table."

/ Helen & Ewan (Ewan Cameron Architects) | COMRIE /

 Our night at Italba started the way the best ones always do - with a cocktail that brought some Italian sparkle to us all. Italba felt like an exciting dining adventure where we could have a memorable culinary experience surrounded by the intimate comforts of home. Basking in the glow of a warm fire, candlelight and good company, a long day at work was but a distant, hazy memory.

The quality of the food is testament to Nelson's knowledge of local sources and produce to which he adds his special Italian touch to create, for example, a mouth-wateringly delicious and plentiful array of starters. It is also a delight to palate and purse to be able to bring your favourite bottle (or, let's be honest, bottles) of wine to share with friends without having to peruse some over-priced and lengthy wine list. And you also get the chance to interact with the chef - in fact he may even share a beer with you if you're lucky!

We enjoyed our first Italba experience so much that we're planning our next ones with friends and are all loving the chance to talk to Nelson first about what we're looking for, then to let him guide us depending on the season and the occasion. The luxury of this bespoke kind of service feels like even if you live in deepest, darkest Perthshire, a cosmopolitan world is not too far away...

/ Catriona and Stuart | St Fillans /