Chef Bartolo Favaloro

Private Chef in Florence

I am a personal chef who loves to tell stories; my dishes are memories and impressions suspended between Tuscany, Sicily, and the Orient. As a private chef in Florence, I reimagine distant culinary worlds, crafting a symphony of exceptional tastes and flavors.

Together with Marta, my wife, I invite you to embark on a journey into the purest culinary art—a dance of traditions and influences expressed through a deep love for all things good. As a personal chef in Tuscany, I offer high-level recipes prepared with simple techniques and quality ingredients.

For me, cooking is...

My cooking moves between the tradition and scents of my Sicily, to Tuscany, via Japan.

I learned to cook at...

I was born and raised in the Aeolian Islands, where from childhood I experienced the kitchens of grandmothers and island restaurants.

A cooking secret...

Use ingredients from the most traditional to the most innovative to arrive at a high-quality result that is delicious to the palate and to the eye.

My menus

The Tuscan Taste Experience - Wine pairing included

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Pappa al pomodoro, with Tuscan buffalo mozzarella and basil pesto - Pappa al pomodoro, con mozzarella di bufala toscana e pesto di basilico

Zucchini flowers stuffed with Primo Sale cheese, tomato mayonnaise and capers powder - Fiori di zucca ripieni di primo sale con maionese al pomodoro e polvere di capperi

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Handmade pici with cinta senese sauce, Tuscan olives and crispy onions - Pici fatti a mano con sugo di Cinta senese, olive toscanelle e cipolle croccanti

Parmesan-style wild herb tortelli with butter and sage - Tortelli di erbette di campo alla parmigiana con burro e salvia

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Vegetable caponata - Caponata di verdure

Grilled vegetables

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisù

Grandmother cake with custard cream - Torta della nonna

Pasta Cooking Class

STARTER

All inclusive

I would like to take you on a discovery of homemade pasta with my fresh pasta class, a cooking class that will have you creating authentic Italian specialties

My fresh pasta course will take you through making doughs and recipes with the best ingredients, pasta with and without eggs, and different types of filled pastas

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cook eager to hone your techniques, an exciting home and custom cooking class awaits you

I will illustrate different dough-making methods, show you how to generate pasta shapes, experiment with fillings, and prepare sauces and dressings

My fresh pasta course evokes the origins of Italian gastronomy, to the iconic dish that cannot be missed on any self-respecting table in the Belpaese

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Potato gnocchi - with sauce TBD

Tortelli filled with ricotta and spinach - with sauce TBD

Tagliatelle and pappardelle - with sauce TBD

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pannacotta with wild berries - Pannacotta ai frutti di bosco

Tiramisù

Grandmother cake with custard cream - Torta della nonna

Apple pie - Torta di mele

TUSCAN FAMILY STYLE

STARTER

All inclusive

Tuscan Buffalo Caprese salad with fresh tomato and basil - Caprese di bufala toscana

Parma ham and cantaloupe melon - Prosciutto crudo di Parma e melone cantalupo

Mixed Tuscan crostini and bruschetta - Crostini e bruschette toscane

Aged Pecorino cheese and vegetable giardiniera - Pecorino stagionato e giardiniera di verdure

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Potato gnocchi - with sauce TBD

Tortelli filled with ricotta and spinach - with sauce TBD

Tagliatelle and pappardelle - with sauce TBD

Spaghetti alle vongole

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Grilled beef tagliata with arugula, pecorino cheese and toasted pine nuts

Peposo dell'Impruneta: The typical regional Tuscan dish made with beef, red wine and black pepper

Aubergine parmigiana - Parmigiana di melanzane

Farmyard fried chicken with vegetables Florentine style

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pannacotta with wild berries - Pannacotta ai frutti di bosco

Tiramisù

Grandmother cake with custard cream - Torta della nonna

Apple pie - Torta di mele

The apulian taste experience - wine pairing included

STARTER

All inclusive

Fried panzerotti filled with tomato and mozzarella cheese

Andria fresh burrata cheese, Cerignola green olives and taralli

Tomatoes focaccia and Martina Franca cold cuts

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Orecchiette “Bari vecchia” with turnip tops

Fresh pasta cavatelli with Murgia beans and Taranto mussels

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Apulian bombette and eggplant gratin

Stewed octopus and zucchini poverella style

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pasticciotto leccese

Gallipoli's Spumone

The sicilian taste experience - wine pairing included

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Sicilian appetizer: Eggplant caponata, panelle and beccafico anchovies

Aeolian salad - Crisp bread salad with the scents and flavors of the Aeolian Islands

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh pasta macaroni with zucchini flowers and shrimps

Pasta alla Norma - Fresh pasta with tomato, fried eggplant, ricotta salata and basil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Veal rolls with Bronte pistachio and caciocavallo cheese

Swordfish with tomato ghiotta sauce, olives and capers

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cannoli alla siciliana

Almond parfait with chocolate sauce

Pizza Party

STARTER

All inclusive

Pizza Marinara

Pizza Margherita

Pizza 4 Stagioni

Pizza salame piccante

Pinsa romana con verdure e pecorino

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pizza alla Nutella

Pizza fragole e mascarpone

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Chef Bartolo's reviews

4.78

•

237 services

Bartolo did a great job, even accommodated our special wishes. Every course was perfection, left nothing to be desired. A big Grazie mille!

We really enjoyed our experience with the chef. The food was delicious and all 12 guests enjoyed the meal. While it may not have been the most exceptional food we’ve ever had, everything was well prepared, enjoyable and suited a large group with different tastes and dietary requirements. The table was beautifully laid out, the chef and waiter arrived punctually, and the clean-up afterwards was exceptional- the kitchen was left absolutely spotless. The waiter was very attentive throughout the evening. We didn’t have much interaction with the chef directly, and perhaps a little more explanation of the dishes or an introduction at the beginning would have been nice, although there may have been some language barriers. Overall, the experience was lovely, relaxed and completely stress-free, which made for a very special evening.

Chef Bartolo and Marta were a wonderful team who really added to our Tuscan experience! They were professional and at the same time relaxed, and they allowed us to just enjoy our dinner completely. The food was absolutely delicious, the wine pairing was excellent, and they left the kitchen sparkling clean. I highly recommend them for creating an excellent dinner experience. I should add that they were excellent to communicate with in the lead-up to the dinner and made the organization of the evening very pleasant. Thank you!

What a great meal!

I can’t recommend Marta and her team enough. They prepared an exceptional meal for our group in Tuscany and exceeded all of our expectations in the very best way! Everything from the menu options, the food quality, the attentive and warm service, and the cleaning up was 10/10. Thank you so much Marta and team! This was the highlight of our trip and something we will cherish forever.

Thank you! Staff arrived on time and work very independently - we were able to just relax! Dinner was flowing so easily and the food was delicous! We would recommend them! Thank you so much for this special experince. P.S. The kitchen was super clean after the dinner :) Five star service!

Chef Bartolo and Marta provided wonderful dinners and are also wonderful people. Our need for a private chef was driven by our granddaughter’s severe food allergies, so Chef Bartolo prepared four unique superb and safe dinners without using eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, or shellfish. Meticulous care was required and executed. Our granddaughter was able to freely enjoy multiple new dishes and desserts. She was happy and we were delighted. She was grateful to feel included in every new dish as well.

Bartolo and Marta were amazing. The food prepared was incredible and the service was phenomenal. We highly recommend them!

They were very warm. They told us the story behind each dish. It was a wonderful experience.

Our Thanksgiving in Italy became an unforgettable memory thanks to the incredible work of the two chefs who joined us at our villa. From the moment they arrived, both demonstrated professionalism, warmth, and a genuine passion for their craft. They worked together seamlessly—almost like watching a perfectly synchronized team—each bringing their own strengths, creativity, and attention to detail. Every course they prepared was exceptional: beautifully plated, thoughtfully seasoned, and full of authentic Italian flavor while still honoring the comfort and tradition of Thanksgiving. Their menu felt intentional and elevated, transforming a familiar holiday meal into something truly special. What stood out just as much as the food was their presence. They were gracious, friendly, and engaging without ever being intrusive. They made us feel taken care of in every sense—from customizing dishes to suit our group, to keeping the kitchen spotless when they left. It felt like having a private fine-dining experience in the comfort of our villa. Celebrating Thanksgiving away from home could have felt strange, but thanks to this talented duo, it became a highlight of our trip. We are still talking about the meal, and we would welcome them back without hesitation for any future event. Their work turned a holiday dinner into an unforgettable experience.

Chef Bartolo and Marta were excellent chefs! Great menu, very punctual and the food was delicious! We very much enjoyed their experience.

Flexible and very professional! Recommend

Amazing meal ! Made our first day in Lucca a relaxing enjoyable success . Grazie Mille

Chef Bartolo was amazing. Food selections were extensive. Each course was delicious with attractive presentation. Leftovers were packaged up and placed in frig. Lucky for us to have a repeat meal to reflect on the dinner Chef Bartolo prepared for us If the review offers a four star evaluation—-we give Chef Bartolo FIVE stars. The dinner was a high light of our visit to Tuscany! Thank you for a memorable evening. Best regards Irene & John and family

Amazing food, amazing experience. They were very attentive, required little support and insisted we relax while they figured everything out. They didn't rush us when we weren't quite ready yet for the meal, and they cleaned up so the kitchen was far more spotless than when they arrived! Each dish was delicious, and plentiful. Highly recommend!

We had booked this experience for my dad's special birthday. The experience was absolutely incredible! We picked two dishes per course which was fantastic to try traditional tuscan food. Each course was delicious and there was plenty of food for the 8 of us. The communication was excellent and unfortunately we had to move villas and they were accommodating for this. They set up and cleaned up and you would have never have known they were there!! It was a 10/10 experience and would definitely recommend.

I would absolutely recommend Chef Bartolo, it was an incredible experience that was tailored to each person.

They were amazing - our villa was remote and there was storm but they arrived at time and did an amazing job. They accommodated for all our wishes and the food tasted amazing. I have to add that our villa didn’t have all the promised utensils, so they showed a remarkable degree of adaptability, professionalism and flexibility to create the menu. Overall an amazing experience and I would love to dine with them again!

Fantastisk toscansk menu. Alle retter var lækre. Flot servering og oprydning. Samlet set en super oplevelse

Bartolo and the team were fantastic. Very clear messaging in the menu choices and providing flexibility with 2 of our group being celiac. They turned up well in time to prepare and presented a fantastic range of dishes which were all delicious with the best local ingredients. All the team were exceptionally polite and I would recommend them to anyone. Thanks for making a memorable evening. Best. Paul