Chef Valentina De Palma

Private Chef in Taranto

My name is Valentina De Palma, I'm an executive chef, based in Taranto, Puglia, Southern Italy. I have my own catering company, Gustodivino, and I often work as a consultant for entrepreneurs that want to start a ho.re.ca. business from ground zero. My life has changed, since I met the kitchen passion.

I am an executive chef capable of managing à-la-carte restaurants with over 200 seating tables available; I can organize caterings for 300 attendees in absurd locations, like museums and castles that do not even have a sink or an oven. I worked my way through the kitchen world, but as I previously said, my architectural background makes me feel more comfortable when I can dedicate the utmost attention to any single decoration of a main course; or to the research of the best, freshest ingredients for a seasonal soup. I am obsessive towards the details, the geometry of a plating. It is something that you can really take care of only when you work on relatively small-numbered jobs.

Before that, in fact, I was an architect. I graduated from Florence's university in the early 90s, then moved back to my hometown, Taranto. I worked all over Italy, focusing mainly on indoor design. But I knew I was made for something different, something that has a direct, instant impact on one's life; something that can suddenly show you the immediate result of your efforts.

For me, cooking is...

Be happier then ever !

I learned to cook at...

Igles Corelli michelin star chef Jamie Oliver I did several high-quality cooking classes.

A cooking secret...

Be a multicultural chef, mixing ingredients form all the countries with my italian tradition and dishes

My menus

Mediterranean Experience

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble

Crostone smoked aubergine cream, mint, dried tomatoes, cacioricotta cheese

Cheese carcuterie and home made marmelade

Sage leaves tempura

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

Apulian cacio e pepe ( with mussels and pecorino cheese )

Cavatelli with mussels and claims

Risotto porcini mushrooms and pecorino cheese fondue

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Mixed bbq local meat ( sausages, bombette )

Tender octopus on broad bean pure, caramelized onion, mint

Orange, lime and mint marinated Pork shoulder, fresh salad

Classic Aubergine parmigiana

DESSERT

All inclusive

My iconic Tiramisu

Almond and chocolate cake

Apple cake served with vanilla ice cream

Puglia Lovers

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Crostone, fresh cream cheese, figs, capocollo ham

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble, cacioricotta cheese

Classic barese focaccia bread

Classic Puglian au gratin mussels - Mussels au gratin

Peppered mussels ( sauteéd mussles )

Cheese carcuterie and home made marmelade

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella, lemon zest

Apulian cacio e pepe ( with mussels and pecorino cheese )

Orecchiette, fresh tomatoes sauce, classic meatball

Risotto, confit tomatoes, crunchy capocollo ham, pecorino fondue

Tagliatelle with bolognese ragù ( meat mince sauce )

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Bombette : typical meat filled rolls skewers served with roasted poatatoes

Apulian pork belly, pastrami served with fresh vegetables salad

Orange, lime and mint marinated Pork shoulder, fresh salad or baked potatoes

Classic filled aubergine

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

My iconic Tiramisu

Almond and chocolate cake

Puglia lovers special edition

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble

Shrimp & vegatbles tempura

Crostone smoked aubergine cream, mint, dried tomatoes, cacioricotta cheese

Rice arancini, potatoes and mussels on tomatoes fondue

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

Marinara risotto ( SEAFOOD risotto : octopus, squid, mussels , shrimp )

Apulian cacio e pepe ( with mussels ,pecorino cheese, mint )

Tagliatelle with bolognese ragù ( meat mince sauce )

Classic Aubergine parmigiana

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Local fish fillet, on tomatoes fondue, served with pickled vegetables and tender salad

Tender octopus on broad bean pure, caramelized onion, mint

Pork belly with crispy rind, fresh cucumber sauce and duchessa potatoes

Pork loin in crust of fresh erbs and orange and lime mashed potatoes

Beef stew in primitivo red wine with mashed lime potatoes

Bombette : typical meat filled rolls skewers served with roasted poatatoes

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

My iconic Tiramisu

Almond and chocolate cake

Cheese cake with fresh fruit topping

AMAZING PUGLIA

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Courgette Flowers in tempura

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble, cacioricotta cheese

Shrimp & vegetables tempura

Rice arancini, potatoes and mussels on tomatoes fondue

Cheese carcuterie and home made marmelade

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Saffron risotto, burrata, prawns

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

Calamarata ( type of pasta ) with seafood ragu

Apulian cacio e pepe ( with mussels and pecorino cheese )

Tagliatelle with bolognese ragù ( meat mince sauce )

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Seabream or branzino fillet on tomatoes coulis, fresh erbs, cappers

Tender octopus on broad bean pure, caramelized onion, mint

Beef stew in primitivo red wine with mashed lime potatoes

Apulian pork belly, pastrami served with fresh vegetables salad

Pork belly with crispy rind, fresh cucumber sauce and duchessa potatoes

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Almond and chocolate cake

My iconic Tiramisu

Cheese cake with fresh fruit topping

Healthy Puglia

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble

Mini tartare of fresh local fish served with mediterannean dressing

Steamed fish meatballs served with yogurt and curcuma mayo

Wholemeal bread crostone , ricotta , fresh figs

3 different veggie hummus served with home made bread

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tabbouleh salad

Orecchiette pasta salad ( cold salad , with yellow cherry tomatoes, basil, oil of olive, cacioricotta cheese )

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

Orange and fennel salad served with capocollo ham slices

Barbley salad with steamed and roasted vegetables, aromatich fresh herbs

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Local fish fillet, on tomatoes fondue, served with roasted potatoes

Tuna tataki in poppyseed crust, primitivo wine jelly, tahina sauce

Lamb tajine with almond and steamed fruits and vegetables

Local roasted marinated chicken, served with orange and coconut mashed potatoes

Classic filled aubergine ( Imam style) vegan

DESSERT

All inclusive

Carrot and dates cake

Almond and chocolate cake

Apple cake served with vanilla ice cream

Lemon Wedding Party

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Mini tartare of fresh local fish served with mediterranean and lemon dressing

Rice arancini, potatoes and mussels on tomatoes fondue

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tuna tataki in poppyseed crust and lemon zest , primitivo wine jelly, tahina sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

My iconic Tiramisu in limoncello ( sweet lemon liquor/ spirit )

Pizza class & pizza night

STARTER

All inclusive

Pizza class , making pizza's dough togheter

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Pizza experience, tasting of 5 pizza kind

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

My iconic Tiramisu

Almond and chocolate cake

Puglia meets Japan

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Apulian sushi roll with local raw and cooked fish

Sushi bagel with fresh local seafood

Kakiage Tempura

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Home made shrimp gyoza

Puglia seafood Udon

Chicken teriaky udon

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tuna tataki in poppyseed crust, primitivo wine jelly, tahina sauce

Garlic & miso chicken served with stewed veggie

Katsu chicken bowl

Ponzu beef tataki

DESSERT

All inclusive

Japanese sweet potatoes creme brule

Japanese pancake served with custard cream

Tokyo cheese cake

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Chef Valentina's reviews

4.78

•

79 services

Valentina cooked for our party of 17 as we celebrated my husband's 50th birthday. She was really friendly and flexible with our party of adults and children and cooked really delicious, local food. I would recommended her to anyone looking for a professional and friendly chef in the region.

Valentina and Rafaella were incredible, the food was fantastic. They were so charming, polite and professional. Would highly recommend!

Valentina has made our experience in Puglia extra memorable!! Highly recommended!!

LA PRIMA ESPERIENZA CHE NON SCORDEREMO MAI essendo nata da solo 1 mese nostra figlia, per l'anniversario di Matrimonio ho pensato di organizzare in casa una cena a sorpresa a mia moglie. Era la prima volta che invitavo uno Chef a cucinare a casa ed i dubbi erano tanti. Grazie al servizio e alla cucina impeccabile di Valentina è uscita una sorpresa oltre che gustosa anche molto apprezzata.

Valentina was wonderful. I true delight and her cooking was amazing! Would highly recommend

Our meal was perfeto! Lorenzo and Valentina were wonderful with history, kindness and presentation. We were entirely charmed by Lorenzo. Highly recommend!!

The lovely meal created and served by Valentina was a birthday present given to me by a friend. I was visiting Lecce, Italy and Valentina brought the gift to the AirB&B where we were staying. The food was fabulous and so was Valentina. She was friendly and professional. We wholeheartedly recommend Valentina for any dinner or other events for which you need great food prepared! Also, an amazing gift for a friend or colleague.

Chef Valentina was an absolute professional. The food was local, fresh and delicious - exactly what we'd asked for. We even had leftovers to make a delicious pasta for lunch time the day after. Wouldn't ever hesitate to recommend Valentina and will be contacting her when we're next in Puglia.

It was wonderful!

Valentina and her assistant Alba gave us a meal to remember. The food was delicious and Valentina took the time to explain them to us. We wouldn't hesitate to use take a chef and Valentina again if we are ever lucky enough to be back in Puglia.

That was a memorable evening, the menu and the meals were so good and exactly what we were expecting. Valentina and Alba are so nice and warm.

Valentina was excellent!!! She made everything on the previously discussed menu impeccably and provided a bunch of amazing extras...Her presentation, professionalism & personality were only surpassed by her meticulously prepared food. It made all of our nights!!!

Chef Valentina è stata perfetta in tutto, ha reso il nostro momento unico con piatti straordinari. La sua personalità traspariva dal servizio ai gusti incontrati, non solo la consiglio, la reputo una certezza anche per occasioni future 5 stelle+

Chef Valentina was absolutely incredible! She brought her son to help prepare the meal and serve us. She did everything from setting our table to doing the dishes. She explained every meal and spoke to us about the area and gave recommendations. She made the evening so memorable and we would book her again in a heartbeat! One of our favorite nights in Italy.

Valentina è super professionale e attenta a tutti i desideri o esigenze di ogni singolo ospite. La sua esperienza come chef è palpabile in ogni piatto che propone. Super consigliata.

Esperienza sbalorditiva, un vero viaggio nel gusto. Lo chef all'altezza della situazione.

Amazing experience! The chef was Great!! Excellent cooking and professionality! The food tastes so good!!! Recommend to everyone! ♥️

Lovely food, friendly service, very happy

We invited Domenico and Francesca in our holiday home and we had the best time. Both of them are super friendly and prepared the most delicious meal for us. They told us about their lives, the region and they created a lovely atmosphere. It was like we were going out for dinner to a restaurant... but better. They even left the house super clean! Clear communication and flexible about the agenda because we needed to reschedule. Also perfectly on time. We highly recommend to book these professional chefs for a great experience.

Our group had a great experience with Chef Valentina! She made us a custom meal and even brought us some extra appetizers to try food unique to the Puglia region. The local cheese and figs (she picked fresh on her way over) were delicious. She even made a special fig jam that she left with us as a gift. Would book again!