Chef James Karanja

Private Chef in New York

88Services completed

4.67 / 5Based on 24 reviews

Spanish · English · French · German · PortugueseLanguages

New YorkI travel up to 100 km

Get to know me better

dedicated private chef crafting bespoke culinary experiences through personalized menus, uncompromising excellence, and seamless, professional service

"I am an interactive fine dining chef driven by a philosophy of creative transparency and relentless refinement. By combining a straightforward professional approach with a deep passion for detail, I transform high-end gastronomy into an engaging, personalized experience. I believe that culinary excellence begins with absolute honesty in one’s craft, welcoming every challenge and critique as an opportunity to elevate the standards of your next meal."

More about me

For me, cooking is...

"For me, cooking is more than a service; it is an interactive craft rooted in transparency and dedication, where I use constructive refinement to push

I learned to cook at...

I was fortunate to learn Culinary by Sofitel Hotel München

A cooking secret...

My secret in the kitchen is the balance of ego and humility: the confidence to innovate with bold creativity, and the discipline to let the natural qu

Types of cuisine I prepare

Chef's special
Mediterranean
Local
Italian
Seafood/Fish
French
Japanese

Show me more

Chef James's reviews

4.67

•

88 services

I booked Chef James for my clients’ wedding dinner, and they had a great experience. They loved the beautifully presented, delicious food and said it made their special evening even more memorable. Overall, they were very happy with the experience.

Chef James was wonderful! He made the first night of our trip so fun and memorable. The food was absolutely wonderful!

I can’t say enough good things about James. He is exceptionally talented. The meal James cooked for us on our ski trip was one of the highlights of our trip!

We had an amazing experience with our chef James at my wife’s 40th birthday celebration. The food was absolutely delicious, beautifully prepared, and perfectly suited for our family of 10. Every course was cooked to perfection, and James was professional, friendly, and attentive throughout the evening. It truly made the celebration special and unforgettable. Highly recommended!

It was an incredible night with James. Thanks cooking for us.

Unsere Gäste und wir waren uns einig: 5 von 5 Punkten für das Menu und die zubereiteten Gerichte.

James ist ein toller Koch. Er hat uns einen schönen Abend bereitet.

James cooked for us for a birthday party and did an excellent job. The food was delicious, beautifully prepared, and perfectly timed. A talented and professional cook — highly recommended!

James served a delicious menu and was friendly and courteous throughout. He let the food take center stage, which jived well with our group of people. Would recommend to other friends looking for a an indulgent evening.

This person is amazing, experienced, and extremely professional. I would highly recommend them.

I had the pleasure of having James prepare and serve a Japanese dinner for my business colleagues last week, and it was truly an outstanding experience. The food was absolutely delicious – both in taste and presentation. Every dish was beautifully crafted, reflecting James’s attention to detail and deep culinary expertise. Beyond the food, James himself was a delight to have around. As the kitchen was directly next to the dining area, it made a real difference to have someone so professional, friendly, and discreet present throughout. He created a calm and welcoming atmosphere, which added to the overall experience. What also stood out was how tidy and organized he was. After the meal, the kitchen was left spotless – a level of care and respect that we greatly appreciated. Highly recommended – thank you, James!

We had the pleasure being hosted by Chef James for our Summer Soirée - a dinner for 12. Chef James is blessed with a delightful personality making everyone feeling good around him. The presentation of each course was outstanding, his cooking skills exceptional (in particular this tender beef fillet paired with tiger prawns - delicious). All of our guests enjoyed this evening - many thanks, Chef James! Briefing, communication before and during the event was on point. To sum it up, we were happy that we tried this private chef experience.

James was on time and on task! He was very professional and engaging. We hope to use his services again someone in the world!

We enjoyed the dish James cooked for our party very much. We had great communication ahead of the evening and he arrived even one hour ahead just to be sure things work out. The food tasted great and we had super variety in the plates. We'd be happy to engage you again!

James cooked for us during a Dinner Party with friends at our home. We were absolutely thrilled with his service. He is an excellent chef, everyone was very happy with each of his courses and also really good at organizing the kitchen, coordinating the service and leaving the kitchen spotless as well! He made our evening with his food and vibe unforgettable!

Wir haben schon zum 2. Mal James als Koch genießen dürfen. Und auch dieses Mal war es phantastisch. Ein unglaublich netter und herzlicher Koch. Auch diesmal waren wir begeistert von der Qualität und dem Geschmack seines Menues. Alle waren begeistert, von unserer 9-jährigen Tochter über uns bis zur 86-jährigen Oma (deren Geburtstag es war). Auch die Menüverschläge waren schön vielfältig, sodass ich für uns genau das richtige auswählen konnte. Ich kann nur sagen, James Karanja immer gerne wieder. Danke James für diesen wunderschönen Abend!

Great service and good - would hire again.

Es war ein sehr schöner Abend. Unser Koch James Karanja war ein toller Koch. Äußerst freundlich, tolle Kochkunst, wunderschöne Präsentation der Gerichte.... und die Küche war im Anschluß makellos. Auch auf Sonderwünsche ging James top ein. Vielen Dank für Alles, James! Eindeutig eine herzliche Empfehlung wert.

Our group of 14 traveled from USA to experience Oktoberfest. We thought having a down night at our rental was exactly what we needed for rest and fueling our bodies with great nutrition was in order. All being foodies, we were so happy with our decision of hiring him. He sent our tastebuds spinning with a delicious 4 course meal and left the kitchen clean. Choosing Chef James will be a culinary experience you cannot go wrong with!

Lovely meal, just what I wanted. Many years ago I was shown how to make an Apfelstrudel properly. I have eaten many okay ones over the years since, but I have never since been offered one with paper-thin pastry and thin layers of apple properly rolled. Usually it is a few layers of pastry interspersed with chunks of apple. I was able to tell my guests that they were eating the Real Thing, and to enjoy it! Every course was delicious and worthy of praise, but the Apfelstrudel was exceptional. Thank you very much, James!