Chef Michelle Cirillo

Private Chef in KK

I have been cooking professionally for sixteen years, ever since leaving the nest of Ballymaloe cookery school with a distinction and going straight across the pond to London, where I worked in various restaurant kitchens across the city while continuing to study, obtaining a Diploma in pastry and confectionery from Westminster college and balancing that out by a becoming a culinary nutritional expert from The Academy of Culinary nutrition.

I was working as a chef in Centerstage Film studios since 2011. Eventually taking it over in 2017. While there I had cooked for many high profile people including Gordan Ramsey, Nobu, Jamie Oliver amongst others.

My focus has always been the quality of the produce, seasonality and most importantly making sure the menu is balanced and beautiful both on the palate and the eye.

In April 2025 myself and my family made the move back to Kilkenny where we set up our own catering and private chef company.

For me, cooking is...

a journey through flavors and creativity that brings joy to people

I learned to cook at...

Ballymaloe Co.Cork. However working with amazing chefs over the years is what really helped me understand how to cook.

A cooking secret...

A cliche, but it all starts with produce, the best you can afford. Also, give yourself time. A clear mind makes better decisions.

My menus

Spice route menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Moroccan beef cigars with hot honey

Marinated feta

Spiced roast almonds

Baba ganoush, beetroot hummus and fresh bread

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Ras el Hanout seared lamb with herb & chilli drizzle

Harissa Goastbridge trout with preserved lemon & parsley

Grilled vegetables with lebnah and nigella seeds

Bejewelled rice

Fatoush salad

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Rosewater poached pears with raspberry & sumac madelines

Orange, cardamon & almond cake with creme fraiche

Italian sharing Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Bagna càuda with crudities

Aubergine caponata

Speck with gorgonzola & mostarda

Broad beans, pecorino & mint arancini

Marinaded olives & grilled vegetables

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Fresh pasta alla chitarra with ragu alle polpette

Panfried squid with N’duja

Gnocchi with wild garlic pesto

Bitter leaf, orange & fennel salad

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu

Nemesi al cioccolato with burnt sugar praline & creme fraiche

The best of Irish

STARTER

All inclusive

Potted crab with shrimp

Orange and tarragon Goatsbridge trout gravalax

Vegetarian scotch eggs

Irish soda bread & sourdough with a selection of flavoured butters and pickles

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Rare roast beef with Guinness gravy

Spring vegetable pie with sorrel & parsley sauce

Melted leek & cannellini bean gratin

Crispy roast potatoes

Buttered seasonal vegetables

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Rhubarb & strawberry tart with creme anglise

Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream

Spring/ summer menu private dining menu

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

All served with fresh bread & whipped butter

Langoustine bisque with fried fish cake & saffron aioli

Peppers piedmontese

Buratta with shaved fennel & orange salad

Ardsallagh goats cheese, poached pears, toasted hazelnuts on a bitter leaf salad,

Orange & tarragon Goatsbridge trout gravalax with apple & celery remoulade

Chilli and garlic roast squash with ricotta

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

All dishes served with buttered potatoes & local seasonal vegetables

Roast chicken with braised pearl barley, summer vegetables & a parsely, lemon pistou

Pan-fried cod with romesco, grilled lemon & toasted almonds

Ligurian fish stew, sea vegetables, tapenade croûte

Pan fried shoulder of lamb with peppernata & grilled polenta

Onglet steak with bernaise sauce, watercress & pickled shallot salad

Tomato tart tatin with ricotta & a green olive salsa

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Basque cheese cake with berry compote

Cherry Clafoutis with vanilla ice cream

Chocolate cremeux with caramlised peanuts & creme fraiche

Fresh baked madelines with lemon curd & chantilly cream

Selection of French and Italian cheeses with home made chutneys & pickles

Autumn/ Winter menu

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Confit lamb breast with bitter leaves and anchovy dressing

Beef bon bon, cashel blue and mostarda

Mackerel tartar, crispy beetroot, pickled apple & celery

Jerusalem artichoke & walnut valoute, roasted pear and crispy cavolo nero

Caramelised shallot tart tatin, lemon & chive crème fraîche

French onion soup with Tempellgall chedder chox fritters

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Mains - all mains served with buttered potatoes & seasonal local vegetables

Pork chop with morels, leek and cheddar croquette cream & cider sauce

Corn fed chicken, with glazed grapes, grilled polenta & calvados sauce

Pan fried Goatsbridge’s trout with risotto milanese

Spinach & ricotta gnudi with sage & beurre noisette

Pan fried duck breast with puy lentils, confit duck tart & cherry and port jus

Braised beef featherblade with shallot, carrots and herb crumb

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate nemesis, burnt sugar praline & crème fraîche

Pecan tart with whiskey cream

Peanut butter semi freddo, chocolate sauce & cookies

Red wine poached pears, madeleines & chantilli cream cream

Selection of French and Italian cheeses with home made chutneys & pickles

Buffet style dining - menu to be served all together

STARTER

All inclusive

Home made focaccia

Riversfield organic mixed leaf salad

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Garlic and rosemary roast baby potatoes

French bean, toasted hazelnut, dijon dressing

Courgettes, almonds, mint, lemon dressing

Panzanelle salad

Smashed cucumber, dill and shallot salad

Potato salad with cornichons, capers, dijon, crème fraîche dressing

Fregola with roasted summer vegetables

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Aubergine parmigana & Toonsbridge mozzarella

Beef and pork ragu lasagna

Chicken and leek pie with a puff pastry lid

Cauliflower mac and cheese gratin with smoked scamorzza & crispy lardons-

Leek & wild mushroom pie

Lamb Tagine

Grilled salmon on Niçoise

Mutton hotpot

Slow roast onion & gyurere tart

Traditional fsh pie

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tirmasu

Chocolate brownie with salted caramel

Sticky toffee pudding with whipped cream

Apple tart with custard

Bread and butter pudding with pouring cream

Treacle tart with crème fraîche

Poached pear and almond tart with clotted cream

Orange and almond cake with crème fraîche

Feasting Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Tomato, basil, garlic olive oil brusetta

Grilled fresh sardines & chilli tomato salsa brusetta

Grilled courgette, prawn & lemon aioli brusetta

Pea, mint & pecorino brusetta

Wild mushrooms, garlic & parsley brusetta

Ricotta, grilled peach, basil & hot honey brusetta

Grilled chicken, tapenade, garlic aioli brusetta

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

All dishes served with buttered potatoes & local seasonal vegetables

Goatsbridge trout with lemon burre blanc

Strozzapretti (Like a bread gnocchi) with tomato sauce & fried sage

Roast mediterranean vegetables with lebnah and dukkah

Corn fed roast chicken with morels, cream and cider sauce

Crispy pork belly cassoulet with gremolata

Paccheri pasta with squid and tomato

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate pot with caramlised peanuts

Poached pears & frangipane tart with vanilla ice cream

Pavlova with strawberry and caramelised almonds

Fresh baked madelines with lemon curd & chantilly cream

Apple crumble with creme anglaise

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Chef Michelle's reviews

4.67

•

22 services

Michelle cooked a fantastic meal for eight of us having a weekend away Kilkenny. Her communication was excellent and she was very helpful selecting a mostly vegetarian menu for us. On the night she was very professional and friendly, the food was delicious with lots of flavours. It was clear a lot of effort went in to preparing and cooking the meal and I would absolutely recommend Michelle!

We had a incredible evening with Chef Michelle, she cooked a delicious meal for a large group with vegetarians and every person was raving about the food. We were all stuffed by the end. She was very pleasant to work with and left the place absolutely spotless. Would highly recommend Chef Michelle

Chef Michelle was absolutely fantastic, we opted for a fully vegetarian menu and variety of flavors in the dishes she prepared was top notch. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Would highly recommend her for any occasion!

Michelle was absolutely fantastic. She added so much to a great trip. Highly recommended and the food was delicious. I can honestly say her roast potatoes were the best I have ever tasted

Michelle came to cook a meal for a group of 10 for my sisters hen party. The food was absolutely fantastic and all the girls loved every dish. We had a mix of bruschettas to start followed by a chicken dish with lemon butter for the meat eaters and aubergine parmigiana for the veggies. Would highly recommend Michelle to anyone planning an event / group dinner. Brilliant experience over all!

Such an incredible dinner. We were blown away by the meal Michelle prepared for us as part of a hen party. Would happily seek Michelle's services again!

Excellent service. Dishes were delicious and well presented. Very personable, engaging and professional. The experience was just fantastic. Would def do again. Thank you!