About us

Our chefs share a burning passion for cooking, but their backgrounds are as diverse as they can be. Learn about them and why they do what they do.

Personal chef  Elia Donati stirring a pot in the kitchen

Elia Donati

From childhood curiosity to a lifetime devotion.

My passion, curiosity and interest in cooking goes all the way back to my childhood when I was a 5-year-old with my Nonna and Mamma. I was always curious to see what was happening in the kitchen. Cooking has always been at the centre of my attention. There is something about it that I love and I guess it is also that food is a way to show your love to other people.

As a 22-year-old, in 2013 I moved to Melbourne to extend my culinary experience over the ocean and by doing so, I also learnt English. In the past few years I have worked/studied as a Chef in Melbourne, successfully obtaining a Diploma in Hospitality Management and experiencing and working in different kitchens from all cultural backgrounds, from Asian to Italian, Spanish to Australian and Latin American.
Last but not least, I dedicated half a year as a butcher learning all the cuts and barbecue techniques, also seeing them in action by taking part in some of the main BBQ competitions in Melbourne.

For me, becoming a private chef was inevitable. Cooking is 'at the heart of Italian Culture'. A way to show love to other people. I love food because it brings people together, stimulates your senses and promotes bonding time.
This is exactly what I intend to provide to my customers.

I learned to cook at home! It is where it all began.
My curiosity, my love for food and cooking for people is second to none.

Laura Njeri Zapparoli

A multicultural chef sharing flavours of Italy, Kenya, and India.

Ciao I'm Laura, I would say that I’m Italian but that would be too easy. I'm half Italian, quarter Kenyan and quarter Indian. I was born in Kenya and had the chance to spend lots of time with my family there and was able to experience the different foods and flavours; with my mom I used to cook Kenyan dishes, and when spending time with my great-gran mother I was able to experience the Indian cuisine. I loved helping out and of curse I loved eating with them.

A few years down the line I happened to move to Italy, and there, my passion for food exploded; both thanks to the environment that surrounded me every day, but in even greater measure thanks to the cookery school I chose to go to. That's where I got my first diploma in Hospitality.

Now I've been in the hospitality game for a long time and I love it. Throughout the years, I have covered positions of every kind: from bartending, to waitressing, to cooking, although my biggest passion remains the latter.

I love every aspect of it, especially how this simple act can unify completely different people. Soon after coming to Australia, I fell in love with this country and my journey brought me back to school, that's when I obtained another Diploma in Hospitality. Now I’m ready and excited to bring all my experience into your home and share my love for food with you.

Personal chef  Laura cooking

Ready for the party of the year?

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