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.
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.
