Chef Vic De Valdorf

Personal Chef in Cape Town

I've been a self trained personal chef since 2002. Have traveled and worked in professional kitchens in France, Italy and the UK (one Michelin star) plus in private homes in other European countries. I have also appeared on Top Billing, South Africa's most popular lifestyle TV program. So far I've luckily not had one unsatisfied group of guests. I have a select group of assistants to help me at certain times and we always offer service with a smile. Nothing is ever too much for us.

My main work is done at villas in and around Cape Town, with 80% being foreign tourists. I really enjoy offering them the best and freshest ingredients I can source and try where possible to present indigenous dishes or world cuisine with a South African twist. Luckily I have chefs Kaylin and/or Nosi to assist me in presenting these dishes to our guests.

I am not a prescriptive chef and prefer getting to know what my guests would really like to eat. I'm kept humble by my late start to cooking for reward, and not only remind myself how lucky I am, but always keep a critical eye out for what I might have done better.

I offer add ons like craft gin and tonic pairing, sundowners and local wine tastings/pairings. I can also recommend specialty cake bakers and decor organisers.

We look forward to cooking for you.

For me, cooking is...

A passion hence I only do it part time to keep me fresh.

I learned to cook at...

Home, with chef friends, at local restaurants, completing cooking courses, doing overseas restaurant "stages".

A cooking secret...

Not overcomplicating it and making sure it tastes damn good.

My menus

A South African food tour featuring some popular past dishes using only local ingredients

STARTER

All inclusive

Canapes served with a local aperitif

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

West coast mussels with white wine and cream sauce, home garlic bread

Cape point yellowfin tuna tartare and avocado stack, wakame salad

Local line fish, cauliflower puree, bokkom butter, green asparagus

Butternut ravioli, sage butter, crispy sage leaves, local parmesan, toasted pine nuts

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Venison or ostrich fillet, green peppercorn cream sauce, duck fat potatoes, seasonal vegetables

Your choice of cut of aged beef steak or free range chicken breast, truffle infused mushroom cream sauce, duck fat sauteed potatoes, seasonal vegetables

Local line fish as per starter, with added vegetables and savoury rice

Free range duck breast, gooseberry gastrique, red cabbage, potato bake, seasonal vegetable

Cauliflower steak, romesco sauce, seasonal (tempura) vegetables, potato bake,

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Lemon, rooibos and spekboom posset, passionfruit curd ice cream, orange tuile biscuit

Amarula crème brulee, water buffalo milk gelato, almond tuile, fresh berries

Dom Pedros a la Vic

Malva pudding, amarula cream sauce, water buffalo milk gelato

Seafood extravaganza.

STARTER

All inclusive

Seafood inspired canapes served with a local aperitif

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

West coast mussels with white wine and cream sauce, home garlic bread

Spaghetti nero, prawns, garlic, lemon and mild chili cream

Poached lobster, home made mayo, dressed leaves (R40 supplement,)

Local line fish, bokkom butter, cauliflower puree, green asparagus

Asian style yellowfin tuna tartare and avocado stack, wakame salad

Oysters raw/homemade Tabasco and tempura battered/wasabi mayonnaise

Scallops, puree, pancetta, burnt butter sauce (R60 surcharge)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

West coast mussels (main course portion) with white wine and cream sauce, home garlic bread

Local line fish with bokkom butter, cauliflower puree, mussels, savoury rice, green asparagus

DESSERT

All inclusive

A duo of locally inspired gelato, tuile biscuit

Affogato (vanilla bean ice cream with a shot of espresso), cocoa tuile biscuit

Amarula crème brulee, gelato of the day, almond flour tuile

Malva pudding, amarula cream sauce, water buffalo milk gelato

Gourmet braai (BBQ) featuring top quality ingredients. Costs for larger groups can be negotiated

STARTER

All inclusive

A selection of canapes served with a local aperitif

FIRST COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Tossed salad, 7 year aged vinegar, EVOO

Blackened corn, avocado, peppers and red onion salsa

Baby potato or pasta salad with basil pesto mayonnaise

Homemade garlic bread or similar

Ruby coleslaw

Roasted butternut and beetroot on baby spinach leaves and wild rocket, feta, toasted pine nuts, balsamic glaze

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Whole lamb rump, rubbed with garlic and herbs

Venison or ostrich fillet or 28 day aged beef sirloin, green peppercorn sauce

Boerewors (farmers sausage) made to my recipe, local relish

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

A duo of locally inspired gelato, tuile biscuit

Dom Pedros a la Vic

Malva pudding, amarula cream sauce, water buffalo milk gelato

Show me more

Chef Vic's reviews

4.71

•

149 services

Great Food and Service and very nice people!

Erg goed. Zegt wat hij doet. Plezierig in de omgang. Geweldige ervaring voor ons gezin

Chef VIc was great. He resonated well with everyone in our party, funny, knowledgeable and felt like family. He was in close contact with me prior to the meal to select the best and freshest fish to suit our tastes. He brought drinks, canapes, fish and dessert that were made from local ingredients and told a story. He served a nice alcohol free option and accommodated the palate of our pregnant nauseous family member :). Not to mention very nice wine selection. We really enjoyed his personality. The assistants were great too, very pleasant, worked with what we had, explained what they were doing in the kitchen and left the kitchen and dining room cleaner and tidier than when they arrived. Will definitely hire Chef Vic again and hopefully for more than one meal.

Best of the best

Wir hatten das große Vergnügen, Vic als Privatkoch für die 50. Geburtstagsfeier Feier meines Mannes zu buchen – und es war einfach perfekt! Die Kommunikation im Vorfeld war unkompliziert, schnell und äußerst professionell. Vic ist in jeder Hinsicht die extra Meile gegangen: Er hat nicht nur das Menü auf unsere Wünsche abgestimmt, sondern auch fehlende Tischdecken organisiert und uns eine sehr gute Empfehlung für den Geburtstagskuchen gegeben. Das Essen war ausgezeichnet – frisch, kreativ und wunderschön präsentiert. Besonders der frische Fisch war ein Highlight, perfekt zubereitet und mit viel Liebe angerichtet. Das gesamte Team war super freundlich und hat dafür gesorgt, dass sich alle Gäste rundum wohlgefühlt haben. Kurz gesagt: Top Service, großartiges Essen, tolle Atmosphäre – absolut empfehlenswert! Alle waren begeistert und wir würden Vic jederzeit wieder buchen.

We had a truly enjoyable evening with Chef Vic, who crafted a thoughtful menu using beautifully sourced local ingredients. He shared the story behind each dish and wine pairing, which added a personal and memorable touch to the meal. We started with a lovely butternut squash ravioli topped with crispy sage and pine nuts—rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The 28-day aged steak that followed was cooked exactly right and served with a delicious chimichurri sauce, along with crispy potatoes, carrots, and green beans that rounded out the dish perfectly. Dessert was a highlight on its own: two homemade ice creams, fig honey and spiced rooibos, both unique and wonderfully made. Overall, the experience felt warm, polished, and thoughtfully put together. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would gladly recommend Chef Vic to others looking for a special meal. Definitely book him!

Vic was awesome. We had the most beautiful meal and everyone spent the evening raving about the food. He was super adaptive to some more difficult dietaries and the kitchen looked like he’d never been there. Thank you. What a meal!

Thank you Chef Vic, what a memorable night every detail was perfect.

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Chef Vic during our stay at a villa in Blouberg, and he exceeded every expectation. From the very beginning, he went above and beyond—personally checking the property in advance to ensure everything needed for the evening was available. His communication was consistent and reassuring throughout the planning process. On the day, he and his team were punctual and professional. They even rearranged the furniture in the house to create a long, elegant table that could comfortably seat all 11 of our guests. The table setting was stunning, complete with beautifully designed personalized menus, which made the evening feel so special. Chef Vic has an incredible ability to read a group. He quickly picked up on our relaxed, “chilled” vibe, serving canapés casually so the evening never felt stiff or overly formal. Later, as dinner was served downstairs, he elevated the experience with a more elegant and refined presentation. His adaptability and attentiveness made him the perfect fit for our group, and I am confident he could tailor his approach to any style of gathering. The food itself was outstanding—delicious, beautifully plated, and thoughtfully paired with wines. Chef Vic also explained each dish and wine pairing in a way that was both engaging and easy to follow, which added so much to the overall experience. It was truly a seamless and memorable evening thanks to Chef Vic. I would recommend him wholeheartedly to anyone looking for not just a meal, but an unforgettable dining experience.

Vic is a gifted chef who clearly loves making beautiful food for his clients. We felt we were in good hands from start to finish and had a memorable meal in all respects.

High level and good communication, very much engaged to fulfil personal wishes and expectations. Highly recommend to book! Dr.Jan

Vic was amazing! We booked him for our last night of our holiday to Cape Town and he made it so special. He was really flexible with menu options and he also brought along some added surprises too. He was great to chat to and really added to the evening with some local specialities. I would highly recommend him to anyone wanting to create a special evening!

Vic and his team was the perfect treat for Valentyns day. The small attention to detail, special surprises and engagement made it overall a great evening with Chef Vic and his team

Chef Vic cooked us a lovely meal and made our birthday so special. Will definitely recommend the experience to all our family and friends!

It was a pleasure to have Chef Vic cater for our special birthday celebration. He was punctual, had great communication before the dinner, polite, good attention to detail and the food was delicious. I would definitely recommend.

Chef Vic, Was great from when we first picked the menu he created until final clean up was done. He was very responsive to all inquires and changes during the planning and was very flexible. He arrived early to the house on the night of our dinner, introduced himself and his souls chef, explained what to expect with the dinner, and then moved on with fun. We all enjoyed everything including all the extras beyond the primary course. He was engaging, entertaining and served a great meal. I would use him again without a doubt.

I had the absolute pleasure of having Chef Vic and his assistant Chef Kaylin create a beautiful birthday dinner for me, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The entire evening was incredibly special, with every detail thoughtfully taken care of. The food was exceptional. Both chefs were incredibly kind and warm, but Chef Vic truly made the night unforgettable. His engaging personality, sense of humor, and vast knowledge about the food elevated the whole experience. He even took the time to educate us on the dishes, which made the evening both exciting and interactive. The entire night was filled with laughter, learning, and delicious food. I can't imagine having gone with anyone else. Thank you, Chef Vic, for making my birthday one to remember!

We recently had the pleasure of working with Chef Vic for a family reunion of 15 people, and he provided two exceptional meals that were a resounding success! From the very beginning, Chef Vic was thoroughly engaged and an absolute delight to collaborate with. His professionalism and attention to detail were evident not only during the planning stages but also throughout the preparation and execution of each meal. He took the time to understand our preferences and offered fantastic local suggestions, effortlessly adapting to our specific needs as they arose. The first meal was a beautifully curated three-course sit-down dinner, followed by a 'posh' barbecue buffet a few days later. Both meals were nothing short of extraordinary. The variety of dishes, the bold and balanced flavours, and the impeccable presentation all contributed to an unforgettable dining experience. All of the family were full of praise for the food, with many commenting on how it exceeded their expectations. What also stood out was Chef Vic’s transparency and integrity regarding costs. He provided a clear and detailed breakdown of all expenses, which gave us complete confidence in the value of his services. I would have no hesitation in recommending Chef Vic to anyone considering a private dining experience. His culinary skills, coupled with his warm and accommodating nature, made our event truly special. We couldn’t have asked for a better chef to make our family reunion so memorable.

Chef Vic provided an excellent service for our house warming dinner party. We chose Chef Vic because of his years of experience and attention to detail, when it came to deciding on our menu. Chef Vic was attentive and helpful with everything we needed, from providing us with a beautifully curated menu, to suite all of our guests dietary needs , to giving us advise on our table set up and even playing photographer when needed????. The food he prepared was spectacular!!Our guests thoroughly enjoyed his duo of ice cream with almond tulle biscuit, absolutely scrumptious!!Thank you Chef Vic for your outstanding professionalism and delicious food, we can’t wait to use your services again.We would definitely recommend him for anyone looking for a Chef..10/10⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much Vic! I booked Vic for my clients that were in Cape town for their christmas holiday. Because of the time of the year i was really busy (im the owner of a travel company) and Vic took all the worries away for me he took care of everything till in the detail! So i would defintly recommend booking Vic as a private chef.