Chef John Dileo

Private Chef In Summerville

Culinary professional with Over 30 years experience in restaurants, hotels, corporate dining and as a private chef and caterer. I have spent most of my time in Manhattan but have opened restaurants and hotels in Nantucket, Key West and Moscow, Russia. I enjoy incorporating my classic French training with my Italian heritage with local and seasonal ingredients.

For me, cooking is...

Who I am and the 2nd most important thing to me after my family.

I learned to cook at...

My Great Aunt’s side, the Culinary Institute of America and along side my mentor Christian Delouvrier.

A cooking secret...

Being adaptable and drawing on my years of experience.

My menus

Bach Celebration Served Family Style

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Cilantro & garlic grilled shrimp, poblano guacamole, ancho chili spiced popcorn

Market Crudo (Best fish available day before dinner) pink grapefruit, pistachios, Sicilian Olive Oil

Risotto Cake, Shiitake Mushrooms, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Balsamic Syrup

Beef Carpaccio, Pickled Red Onions, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, Sauce Vert, Crostini

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Kale Salad Lemon | Garlic | Parmigiano Reggiano | Bread Crumbs

Classic Caesar Salad

Bibb Lettuce, Blue Cheese, Spiced Cashews, Creamy Dijon Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Achiote Chicken, Green Calasparra Rice, Squash, Brown Butter Mustard

Miso marinated salmon, Bok choy, scallion rice

48 Hour Braised Beef Short Ribs, Roasted Vegetable Risotto, Barolo Wine Sauce, Broccoli Rabe

Shrimp & Charleston Grits Cake, Local Shrimp, Chorizo Gravy, Braised Greens

Butternut Squash Steak Mushroom Hash | Pepita Gremolata | Garam Masala Crema

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée with Raspberries

Ricotta Cheese Cake with Pistachio Brittle

Tony's Warm Chocolate Cake Brûléed Banana, Pistachio Sauce

Seasonal Fruit Crisp Almonds | Ice Cream

Brunch

STARTER

All inclusive

Breakfast Parfait Housemade Granola, Greek Yogurt, Seasonal Fruits and Berries

Citrus Marinated Salmon Caper Cream Cheese, Bagel Chips, Herb Salad

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Barbeque Short Ribs, Braised Collard Greens, Baked Black Eyed Peas, Pickled Mustard Seeds

Shrimp and Grits Benedict, Poached Hen Egg, Charleston Grits Cake, Shrimp, Tasso Hollandaise

DESSERT

All inclusive

Sliced Fruits and Berries, Bee City Honey, Mascarpone, Pistachio Brittle

Steak House

STARTER

All inclusive

Seafood Platter to include chilled Oysters, Clams, Lobster, Shrimp and Crab, plus anything else I can get from the Boats in Mt. Pleasant. Served with Assortment of Sauces and Lemon

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Romaine Lettuce Wedge with Crispy Chorizo, Hard Cooked Egg, Pumpkin Seed, Chorizo Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Prime Bone in Ribeye Carved Table side, Sweet Potato and Brussels Sprouts Hash, Sauce Béarnaise

DESSERT

All inclusive

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée with Raspberries

Local Flavors Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Oyster Roast in a Shot Glass Smokey Lemon Foam, Hot Sauce Dust

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Fried Green Tomatoes Boiled Peanut Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Shrimp & Grits Charleston Grits Cake, Local Shrimp, Chorizo Gravy

Barbeque Pork Shoulder Braised Collard Greens, Baked Blackeye Peas, Mustard BBQ Sauce

DESSERT

All inclusive

Coconut Crème Brûlée Raspberries

Asian Inspired Menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Grilled Shishito Peppers, Togarashi, Sea Salt

Tori Dango, Chicken Meatballs in Rice Crust, Ponzu

Soba Noodle Salad, Peanuts, Chili, Scallion

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Spicy Salmon Cucumber Rolls

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Bo Ssam Pork Shoulder Slow Roasted for 8 hours, Bib Lettuce, Steamed Jasmine Rice, Pickled Vegetables, Kimchi, Scallion Sauce, Sambal, Korean BBQ Sauce

DESSERT

All inclusive

Warm Dark Chocolate Cake, Red Miso Caramel, Candied Ginger

Italian Dinner

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Tuna Crudo with Radish, Fennel Olive Relish, Sicilian Olive Oil

Slow Cooked Pork Belly with Pickled Mushrooms, Roasted Garlic

Beef Carpaccio, Pickled Red Onions, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, Sauce Vert, Crostini

Spaghetti with Shaved Bottarga, Crabmeat, Chives

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Romaine Lettuce Wedge with Crispy Chorizo, Hard Cooked Egg, Pumpkin Seed, Chorizo Vinaigrette

Classic Caesar Salad

Kale Salad Lemon | Garlic | Parmigiano Reggiano | Bread Crumbs

Mix Green Salad Local Greens | Radish | Tomatoes | White Balsamic Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Sardinian Semolina Pasta with Ragout of Lamb, Shaved Sheep's Milk Cheese

Braised Snapper with Fennel, Olives, Tomatoes, Roasted Potato

48 Hour Braised Beef Short Ribs, Roasted Vegetable Risotto, Barolo Wine Sauce

Ricotta Gnocchi with lobster , pickled mushrooms, Thyme Butter

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Olive Oil Cake Orange | Almonds

Mascarpone Parfait with Figs, Pistachio Brittle

Ricotta Cheese Cake with Spiced Fruits

Chocolate Ganache, Brûlée Banana, Pistachio Sauce

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Chef John's reviews

4.9

•

10 services

Wonderful experience and would highly recommend!

Chef John helped me plan and execute a special 70th birthday dinner for my mom. From the moment we first connected he was super easy to deal with, a good communicator, and even helped suggest wine pairings to go with each course. The food quality was top notch and chef John left the kitchen immaculate when he was finished. I would highly recommend him. Thanks chef!

After a long day of traveling, my fiance and I enjoyed a 4 course meal. The food was fresh and well prepared. This was a wonderful experience at a great price.

This was such a treat for our family! We were visiting Charleston—five adults and a baby—and dinner in without having to cook was perfect. Chef John easily accommodated the pescatarian guest. We were able to enjoy each other over a delicious meal. Scallops, arugula salad, salmon, short ribs over potatoes and green beans, molten chocolate cake! ????

Charleston has an excellent restaurant scene so I was hesitant to book this experience initially. I am glad I did. Chef John exceeded my expectations-- the story telling behind the menu, the personal touch, the plating and of course the flavor of each dish! Highly recommended!

What a great meal prepared by Chef John. He created a spectacular meal with delicious food, fun conversations, different spins on food, and a contagious feeling of hospitality. I'm ready for another one John!!

What a great concept — hanging out with your friends while you have someone cook for you! I Loved it. My husband and I had a wonderful time and thank you for making the whole menu gluten free! Wow! Usually I have to make sacrifices because my partner can’t always eat what i want but not this time! No sacrifices were made and all dishes were devoured and enjoyed by both of us. Chef John was also so fun to talk to, very warm, and super knowledgeable. Loved it! Thank you Chef John!

We live in New York City which offers many options for a high end dining experience and excellent food choices. When we travel to other states, the quality of food is often not up to par with what we are usually used to, even at highly reputable places. We were pleasantly surprised with chef John DiLeo’s Local Flavors dinner. It exceeded our expectations in all aspects: the food, table setting, dish presentation and wine pairing were top notch. However, rather than feeling uptight as you would in a restaurant, it felt much more relaxed and casual because of the homely environment we shared with our friends. I would highly recommend it to anybody- it’s truly an experience to remember.

This was a culinary learning experience. The chef, John DiLeo, took us on a true gourmet journey. Not only he prepared a well balanced menu, with some of the dishes we haven’t had before, but he explained everything from sourcing to some of the preparation secrets. Which I, as an amateur cook, can really appreciate. He patience, skill and experience was present at all stages of the dinner/show. The oyster-foam broth shots followed be green by green fried tomatoes were a loud starter! The chorizo flavored shrimp with grit cakes to follow. And the main course of slow cooked short ribs with the sides of kale and baked yellow eyed beans Charleston style was spectacular. All accompanied by thoughtfully chosen wines. And in culmination my favorite dessert - cream brûlée with fresh raspberries with espresso, put the icing on this festival of foods. Thank you John and AirBNB for given us a chance to experience an event like this. Looking forward for more. Alex BORUKHOVICH.

Bravo Chef DiLeo! Loved every bit of it - especially the fried green tomatoes with Remoulade and Boiled Peanut Vinaigrette. The short ribs sitting on beautiful collards with that mustard barbecue sauce was a stunning and well-matched combination of flavors! The evening was just perfect, meeting new friends and I definitely want to enjoy Chef DiLeo’s great cuisine again - very soon. Many thanks! -JE

Im a huge foodie and Charleston offers many option to go out and taste all different types of cuisines. But when you have a large gathering, i find it always hard to figure out a reservation and place and how to get everyone there, etc. This was such a wonderful solution to all that headache and a very delicious one as well. Was wonderful to just gather at a friends house and not have to worry about anything but getting my appetite ready, some good cocktails and enjoying my friends company with wonderful selections provided by Chef John. Oh those fried green tomatoes were amazing! if i could only have them at home at all times, i would never go out. Fall of the bone ribs just melted in my mouth and who can ever pass up a creme brulee. My friends always guarantee a great time but the food was the cherry on top! Thank you!

❤️ LOVE the use of local flavors and the plating was AMAZING !!!! I am still dreaming of the oysters and the BBQ short ribs!!!

What a lovely experience it was to participate in Chef John Dileo’s table. Using colorful, tasty, and perfectly prepared food , the chef satisfied all of my expected palate desires. Being able to participate in the preparation of the meal , listening to the chef’s entertaining stories and being given cooking hints was a nice and fun bonus. Being a Celiac, I greatly appreciated that the entire meal was gluten free.

Everything was so good! Chef Breanna came prepared with everything she needed to cook our meal, and left the kitchen just as clean as she found it!

Amazing experience and like no other I have ever seen. It was a very professional and magical experience and I would love to book an event as special as this again!!!

Chef John prepared a wonderful 5 course meal for my husband and I! He followed some very specific instructions that I gave him, and even went above and beyond to speak to the chef at the restaurant we were trying to mimic. He also created some of his own inspired courses that were outstanding as well. Highly recommend this very experienced and professional chef!