The blog of a Sicilian Private Chef returning to his homeland
Reviews
Let our customers tell you about our food and customer service
★★★★★ Daniel Y. (Host) Pasta Bar – Wedding Party, Colehayes Park 16/10/2021
Fantastic food and service. We hired Sicilian Donkey for our wedding and could not have been happier with the results. They were able to crack on in the kitchen completely independently so we could concentrate on having a great time. Lovely all round, would not hesitate to recommend 🙂
Highly Recommended
★★★★★ Scott S. (Host) Family and Friends Party, Somerset 11/09/2021
We booked Sicilian Donkey to provide pizzas for an event we were hosting at a farmhouse in Somerset. Claire and Umberto were fantastic – and just couldn’t do enough for us. The pizzas were excellent and great value for money. Their wood-fired setup looked amazing too – and really added to the atmosphere. Highly recommended!
★★★★★ Ken B. (Host) Family and Friends Party, Taunton 21/08/2021
Gastronomic Delight
Claire and Umberto really excelled themselves for our party of 50 in our garden. They produced a fantastic 3 course meal of antipasti, pizzas and tiramisu and everything was absolutely delicious. Wonderful ingredients prepared by wonderful people. Right from the initial contact with Claire the communication with Sicilian Donkey was faultless and seamless and nothing was too much trouble. On arrival everything was quickly set up and the food preparation began and throughout both Claire and Umberto were so friendly, professional and very engaging with all of the guests. The presentation of the food was magnificent and it all tasted sublime. If Italian food is what you want for party catering then look no further than Sicilian Donkey.
★★★★★ Andrew M T (Host) 40th Birthday Tasting Menu for 2, Exeter 08/11/2019
I was looking for something different to a meal out to celebrate my partner’s 40th and happened upon Claire and Umberto. The idea of our own private chef, coming to our home and making us dinner was very appealing and had that extra special touch I was wanting. Umberto was great, he was very friendly and clearly loved what he was doing. He brought everything needed with him and when he left, the kitchen was spotless and the dishwasher ready for us to pop in our wine glasses and turn it on. We had a multi-course tasing menu with every dish looking great and tasting delicious. At the end it had felt like we’d been on a very enjoyable food journey. Thank you Claire and Umberto
★★★★★ David T (Host) Reunion Party, Hot & Cold Buffet delivery, Wellington 26/10/2019.
First class service from start to finish. Communication was excellent from initial contact through discussing our specific requirements and delivery. The food was fantastic as well, so all in all I would highly recommend and will certainly use them again
★★★★★ Anita A (Host) Swan Party Bath 21/09/2019.
We wanted to say the biggest thank you for last night. Your food was absolutely delicious and it was so lovely to have you both a part of our evening. Than you so much for working around us and being so so so accommodating and thoughtful. Everyone has been saying how amazing you were all day today. We would love to have you again and I can’t wait already!
★★★★★ Joy M. (Host) Annual Summer Party Windsor 7/09/2019.
A big thank you from us and everyone at the party – we all had a fantastic time and the compliments about your wonderful food continue to roll in!!! As soon as we have planned any family events for 2020 requiring catering will let you know!
★★★★★ Helen F (Host) 40th Birthday Party Cotswolds 27 & 28/08/2019.
Claire and Umberto made my family two incredible meals on holiday to celebrate my 40th birthday. Their style of cooking was perfect for us – Mediterranean and Middle Eastern inspired dishes with tons of flavour. The food was utterly delicious and their warm, relaxed manner made it a pleasure having them over. For a big family with lots of young children, they made eating in feel like a huge treat. We now can’t wait for the next occasion when we can use their services!
★★★★★ Halina K (Host) BBQ Party Bristol 17/08/2019.
This is the second time we have booked Umberto and Claire and both occasions have been fantastic – a real treat. We recently had a big family garden party and Umberto cooked beautiful Sicilian barbecue food to a very high standard for all our guests – they were all very impressed. Beforehand, Claire liaised with us about the menu choice and they both arrived early to prep food and set up the bbq. This allowed us to relax and enjoy the day. As if by magic, the whole kitchen and bbq area was then left cleaner and tidier than before they started! What we love about Claire and Umberto is their professionalism, passion for food, flexibility and charm – they are so easy to have in your home.
Great Food lovely people !
★★★★★ Mijanou B. Production Manager 3 Choirs Festival Gloucester 2019
Umberto and Claire were amazing lovely to deal with. The food was excellent quality the arancini to die for. Would highly recommend to everyone wanting a quality addition to their line up.
Wonderful
Mark E. Regular Customer at 8 day Festival in Gloucester
What a wonderful discovery you were at Gloucester Three Choirs and thank you for feeding us so memorably. It was a real eye-opener to see what you do and made us think about our normal cooking at home. Thank you especially for the treats you gave us and the Cannoli was eye-wateringly good, not just mouth-wateringly!
Delicious
Danielle W. Hen Party Bournemouth 13 July 2019
★★★★★ Lizzie C (Host) Birthday Party 21/07/2019.
We booked Umberto and Claire only 10 days in advance to cater for a birthday dinner party, after they responded to an advert I put on to ‘addtoevent.co.uk’. Their communication was really prompt and clear, and their menu had lots of choice – so much so that we struggled to narrow it down to two choices for the party to choose from for each course. They arrived on time and were really friendly and warm, but also professional. The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. We couldn’t have asked for more and wouldn’t hesitate to book them again. Thanks for a great evening!
★★★★★ Michelle L (Host) Hen Party 13/07/2019.
I can’t begin to say how amazing this company and service was …. they made a special night even more special . The whole package start to finish was amazing and even when we changed things at short notice they were brilliant . The food was fantastic and we will definitely be using this service again ! ❤️
★★★★★ Hannah (Host) Hen Party 12/07/2019.
Fantastic service nothing was too much and they left the kitchen spotless, not to mention the fact the food was amazing!
★★★★★ Alan H. (Host) Wife’s 80th Birthday Party 16/06/2019
All 12 of us thoroughly enjoyed the superb meal that you provided. It made such a contribution to what was obviously such an important day in our lives. I am sure that apart from the culinary skills that you have, the success of the evening was in no small measure down to the time you were prepared to give in discussing and advising on the menu that we finally adopted. Your preparation and presentation on the evening was exemplary. We are seldom in the South West, but if ever we are, we would have no hesitation in calling upon your services again.
★★★★★ Felix O. (Groom) Wedding 27/05/2019
Nothing short of Spectacular. Definitely Special!
Claire and Umberto were fantastic from start to finish and made our wedding that bit extra special. Having authentic Italian food was a major requirement for us and they certainly delivered. As half of our guests were Italian it was massively important. They listened to all of our requests and made suggestions of their own to help make it a cohesive menu.
They invited us for a tasting in their lovely home and provided a small feast. The Arancini they made were spot on and just as good, if not better than the ones we used to have in Rome. We have had nothing but excellent feedback from all of the guests and we could not be happier. So much so that we are looking for any excuse to plan another event to book them again.
Thank you!
★★★★★ Natalie B. (Host) 15/06/2019
I just wanted to say thank you so much again for Saturday night, the food was amazing and my mum had a fantastic time!
★★★★★ Heather C. (Host) 29/05/2019
We used Hungry Chefs for a special meal to celebrate my Mum’s 70th birthday whilst on holiday in Devon. It was a real pleasure booking through Claire who took the time to get to know a little more about our evening, my Mum’s background and dietary likes/dislikes. Umberto created a wonderful menu for us and came prepared with all he needed to deliver a truly spectacular meal. Delicious fresh scallops, melt in the mouth lamb and a divine light lemon pud. It was a lovely experience from start to finish. I can highly recommend Hungry Chefs for others out there looking for a delicious, high end meal served in your home.
★★★★★ Anke K. (Host) 23/05/2019
We had a very lovely dinner! And the hospitality was even better. We came home to Umberto and Claire already busy getting things ready for dinner. They were great hosts and took care of every thing so that we could really relax and enjoy the delicious food. Thanks for the great evening!
★★★★★ Emma S. (Host) 18/05/2019
“We had the most wonderful dinner party on Saturday evening for our friend’s Hen weekend and we’re blown away with how good the food and service was.
We are all big foodies and Claire and Umberto didn’t disappoint. The flavours and detail were so intricately put together, taking into consideration our hen’s favourite foods and flavours, and the service and atmosphere created was flawless. Claire and Umberto were also excellent at creating interesting and delicious choices for our vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free guests. They made the evening a very special one and was even better than going out to a Michelin Star restaurant.
The whole experience, from planning to the end of the evening was all very stress-free and the communication from start to finish was excellent.
Thank you so much to Claire and Umberto both again. We’ll definitely be using you again and recommending you to our friends and family.”
★★★★★ Nicky O (Host) 10 – 12 May 2019
Best chef in the UK
★★★★★ Halina K. (Host) 04/05/2019 50th Birthday Celebrations
We had such a fabulous experience with our chef and his assistant. The whole experience from start to end was very professional and we will never forget celebrating my husband’s 50th birthday. There was regular contact with the chef about food requirements etc., so that on the day, we sit back, relax and watch Umberto work his magic in the kitchen. What a treat. The food was amazing, Umberto and Claire were charming and my kitchen was left immaculately clean and tidy.
★★★★★ Bill D. (Host) 21/02/2019 & 22/02/2019 50th Birthday Celebrations
Thank you so much for your efforts and sheer quality over the two nights. The food really was consistently surprising and sensational, and the presence of the two of you – your friendliness, charm and effortless lack of intrusiveness (while still feeling an integral part of the company) – was appreciated more than I can say. And appreciated even more perhaps once we’d had the caterers on the Saturday night – I’m not wanting to complain or criticise them, they did a decent job in many ways, but there really was no comparison. We ate our food and enjoyed a particularly busy and raucous final night, nothing could detract from that, but we still missed you. Missed the endless references back to the food through the night and re-savouring of each element, from canapés right through to dessert (too many comments about different dishes to relay them all to you, but every last one of them emphatically in the superlative). Also, a little absurdly perhaps, considering you were there doing a job of work (if one with great skill, care and dedication behind it), we felt so warmly towards you both that we kind of wished you’d been there just to meet the Saturday night crowd, to hear the speech my wife made that night, let alone to cook for them, for everyone to be able to experience Umberto’s flair and brilliance.
Thank you again, and hope to see you another time.
***** Peter G. (Host) 05/04/2019 Stag Party for 14
Claire and Umberto gave us the most amazing evening- food was absolutely spectacular and they were great company too. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
***** Sophie B. (Host) 30/03/2019 Hen Party for 20
***** Hannah F. (Host) 15/03/2019 Hen Party for 14
I just wanted to say a massive thank you to both you and Umberto for Friday night. The food was completely amazing but what made it an even better experience was how easy you made it for me to organise it all.
So thank you again, we would recommend you to anyone!
**** Di P. (Host) 02/03/2019 70th Birthday Party for
Thank you for a fabulous meal on Saturday, it really was fine dining and was thoroughly enjoyed. A memorable fine dining meal for 8. Superb food beautifully presented. Everyone was very impressed and it’s something we would love to do again one day! Highly recommend Hungry Chefs.
★★★★★ Elaine (Host) 23/02/2019 30th Birthday Party
Claire and Umberto were brilliant! From booking to the event the communication was excellent. Claire was always happy to help with the organising of the event. On the evening, Claire and Umberto arrived and were friendly and it was a lovely relaxed atmosphere. They cooked and served the food, it was delicious! They made sure everyone was happy and they left the place spotless. Thank you for creating such a relaxed evening to celebrate my sister’s 30th. None of the group had ever had a private chef cook for them and we all said we would definitely do it again!
★★★★★ Jane & Tony (Hosts) 02/02/2019 60th Birthday Party
This was the first time I had booked a personal chef and I was not disappointed. From the initial enquiry, to choosing the menu and then final arrangements Claire was friendly and professional. On the evening of our special celebration Umberto and Claire produced a fabulous meal, tasty and beautifully presented. And they left the kitchen spotlessly clean and tidy. I cannot recommend them highly enough. They made our celebration a night to remember.
★★★★★ Amy K (Host) 01/02/2019 Hen Party
Claire and Umberto were an incredible team! They catered for all dietary requirements and gave us multiple options on dish choices. They provided complimentary canapés that Claire personally served and they were delicious and Umberto created a fantastic main course and dessert! The food was delicious and the service spot on! Well done to Umberto and Claire
★★★★★ Wendy H. 23/01/2019 65th Birthday Party
Claire and Umberto are a great team. Communication throughout was excellent. A pleasure to be able to work with Claire, when compiling our choice of menu in advance. Food inspirational and delicious, prepared to the highest standard. Wonderful imaginative canapés served by Claire prior to being seated.The three course meal equally delicious presented at the table, with full description of the food by Umberto. Service was professional, friendly and discreet. Following the meal, the kitchen was left immaculate. What joy! Our party of nine thoroughly enjoyed the event and would like to convey our delight and thanks to both Claire and Umberto for making the evening so special. Thank you Claire and Umberto.
★★★★★ Suzanne W. (Host) 12/01/2019 40th Birthday Party
Absolutely fantastic experience, we cannot recommend Hungry Chefs highly enough!
Very professional team of chef & host who were extremely flexible in creating a bespoke menu for my husband’s 40th birthday party. The food was of a fantastic standard using all locally sourced produce and I had every confidence in their delivery prior to the event due to the great level of communication. The lunch exceeded everyone’s expectations. Claire & Umberto were extremely pleasant throughout the day and were always on hand to ensure the whole event went smoothly, plus cleaning up fully afterwards!
Liz C. OMSCO – Company Christmas Party
★★★★★ Luena H. Professional Events Organiser Christmas Party 18/12/2018
I own an events company and had the pleasure of working with Claire and Umberto whilst organising a party on behalf of a client. After shortlisting them from a number of companies, I selected them on the basis of their professionalism, approachability and (of course!) unbelievably good food. From the initial communication to the pick up afterwards, everything was flawless and seamless. A true delight.
The client himself chose to keep his (rather large) party as an informal event without staff as it was taking place, so Hungry Chefs brought all items that didn’t require heat all ready to be displayed and served and provided detailed instructions for all the hot items, which worked very well.
The feedback from the client and the guests was incredibly good, so, as an events organiser and a future client myself, I’ll definitely will be coming back for more!”
★★★★★Anna K. (Host), on 15/12/2018
Claire and Umberto were fantastic. Great food, very nicely served for a party of 16. They were very professional. Very easy communication with Claire regarding the menu. There was no problem to serve a different main for children. I would highly recommend Umberto as a chef to anyone.
★★★★★Liz C. (Host), on 14/12/2018
Thank you so much for the lovely evening. The food, service and everything was perfect. Thank you! We will definitely be using you guys again very soon, if you’ll have us 🙂
★★★★★Kavita B. (Host), on 30/11/2018
Hungry Chefs were excellent! They could not have been more accommodating to my family and I. The whole experience was amazing, the food was delicious, their attention to detail was fantastic and we definitely want to use them again. They have their service down to an art! We really loved it and it was the highlight of the weekend! We can’t stop talking about how good the food was, especially the main meal.
Thanks Kavita and family
★★★★★Bex S. (Host), on 17/11/2018
From inception to realisation this dream duo made a surprise birthday event for my wife a memory to treasure forever. The dream team made everything so easy and there was nothing that phased them even when I set alight to the chimney in the drawing room and had to nearly call the fire brigade, the guys were so professional and nothing was an issue, they were so calm under the pressure. The food is another level and it felt like we had a Michelin star restaurant in our very own home. Everything was of the upmost quality and presentation was something worthy of a master chef final! You will feel like a Hollywood superstar or royalty with these two in your kitchen. We went to sleep with our bellies full of the finest cooked produce and a wonderful story to tell for a long time. We will be doing this again that’s for sure.
Umberto treated us to a delicious 7 course taster menu for my family at a joint 50th and 75th birthday dinner party held in our home. From the very first contact with Umberto and Claire the approach was not only flexible and accommodating but exceptionally professional.
On the day, they arrived promptly and everything played out as planned, the food was not only a delight to see, so beautifully created, a real work of art, but each course also tasted divine, each and every course.
Once the meal was completed the kitchen was left spotless and Umberto and Claire quietly left us to enjoy the remainder of the evening, a complete success. One particularly nice touch was Umberto’s introduction to each course, the ingredients, the cooking technique and its history, rounding off a super experience. Highly recommended.
★★★★★ Helen V. (Host) on 15/10/2018
Chef Umberto was fantastic – cooked us an amazing vegetarian Sunday roast and crumble for pudding! A hit with all 9 of us inc. grandparents and kids!
★★★★★ Fiona B. (Host) on 13/10/2018
The whole process was made incredibly easy. Our chef Umberto was superb in every way and we wouldn’t hesitate to book him again.
Umberto was super, he was professional, his food was faultless and he left the kitchen spotless. He also handled a group of rather drunk girls pestering him very well!
The menu “Middle Eastern Delights ” was delicious and exactly what I’d hoped for. Umberto was also very accommodating to our request to cater for Vegetarian and gluten free guests.
★★★★★Claire H. (Host), on 08/09/2018
What a professional service from start to finish, to celebrate a significant birthday. I was helped through the choice of courses to ensure that all our guests would enjoy the tasting menu, even to the extent that at the last minute one guest developed a problem with milk and medication and this was accommodated for.
Umberto arrived on time and just got on with the job. Nothing appeared to phase him, coming into a rental holiday cottage with limited facilities.
The food was absolutely amazing. The presentation, considering the limited crockery selection, was beautiful. We have eaten taster menus in several high class restaurants, and all agreed this was one of the best. The portion sizes being spot on, as we were able to enjoy every single dish without feeling full, but completely satisfied.
Overall it was a fantastic experience, and Umberto left 6 very satisfied guests and a spotless kitchen. Many thanks.
★★★★★Zelinda A. (Host), on 28/08/2018
Right from the start he was so professional , always on top of emails , coming up with lots of ideas for the menu , nothing was too much trouble .
And what a chef, absolutely brilliant . The meal he cooked for us was superb, all our guests were bowled over , by the presentation , the wonderful flavours , the high standard of the ingredients , and not to forget his friendly charm which was so important .
He was happy to talk to any guests who had an interest in how he was cooking .
He came into a kitchen he did not know and cooked us a feast !
He didn’t fuss , he never intruded , it was an absolute pleasure to meet such a talented chef .
His food gave my husband a 70th birthday meal ,none of us will ever forget .
I think the greatest compliment was , after it was over, all the guests were trying to work out when they themselves could find something to celebrate in order to get Umberto back to cook again !
Whoever hires Umberto to cook for them in the future is incredibly lucky .
★★★★★Carol W. (Host), on 03/08/2018
Umberto cooked a Sicilian menu which was designed and adapted to accommodate 6 adults, one of whom is vegan, and one child. We chose to celebrate my husband’s 70th birthday at a holiday lodge with our family and were recommended La Belle Assiette. We were then put in touch with Umberto who was both flexible in designing the menu and has a good knowledge of vegan recipes. We were so impressed with Umberto’s calm and professional manner throughout the experience. He was brilliant in delivering delicious and well cooked Sicilian food, in particular the imaginative vegan alternatives.
Thank you so much for serving us such a delicious Sicilian meal. My husband was really impressed with every part of the menu and we all appreciated your calm and professional approach. You have made this celebration week-end really memorable.
★★★★★ Jenny D. (Host), on 03/08/2018
We agreed a slightly amended menu with him that catered for both gluten free and a one guest who was vegetarian.
Umberto’s food was absolutely delicious and he was lovely and friendly. He coped well with an AGA and overall it was a fabulous 70th family birthday celebration. We’d definitely recommend Umberto’s cooking to others.
★★★★★ Margaret B. (Host), on 24/07/2018
We had Umberto as our chef for a 70th birthday family dinner for 9. He arrived promptly as planned and within minutes had the kitchen organised and was calm and even unflustered by having to use an Aga cooker!! the food was delicious, well presented, the sauces were so tasty, everyone was very impressed with the standard of the meal, and the portion sizes were perfect.Umberto seem to manage being chef, waiter, and kitchen washer upper with no problem at all. I would definitely have him again his Sicilian/Italian cooking was scrumptious.
Many thanks for a super celebration.
★★★★★Sarah R. (Guest), on 21/07/2018
Excellent menu & food was beautifully presented & tasted great. Thank you!
★★★★★Iain M. (Host), on 12/07/2018
Umberto was a great chef, our kitchen was immaculate after he left. The food was great, no pressure on timing. In particular the beef main course was amazing. Highly recommended
★★★★★Mark H. (Host), on 18/06/2018
After my initial enquiry everything was smooth from start to finish… they very punctual on replying to any question I had about the food, cost etc… Chef Umberto was outstanding, food was fantastic and we also had a couple of vegan diners and their food was delightful as well. Everything was perfect, Umberto arrived on time and the food was just as he had described it. Presentation was immaculate with all the courses complementing each other very nicely. I have no complaints and would recommend his services again and again.
★★★★★Anna D. (Host), on 14/06/2018
We were really impressed with the whole service. Very straightforward to book, all questions answered. The chef was brilliant and provided a perfect menu tailor made to our requirements. He was very communicative before the event, very professional and the food was gorgeous! Everyone was really impressed.
★★★★★ Sarah B. (Host), on 02/06/2018
Umberto and Claire were a pleasure to work with. They catered for our Sports club AGM, which was hosted in a remote location in Wales. Though they already had a booking they cooked delicious arancini and arranged for delivery of the food. They were a pleasure to work with, responding in a timely manner and catering for all requested dietary requirements.
★★★★★ Amanda D. (Guest), on 26/05/2018
Umberto cooked a fantastic dinner for us last Saturday. We were a group of five and chose the four course design your own menu. It was booked with very short notice and Umberto was very efficient in sending through some lovely choices that met our dietary requirements after a brief conversation. On the day, the food Umberto cooked was wonderful (both taste and presentation) and he was a pleasure to have around – he arrived promptly, prepared the food efficiently and he was unobtrusive. We would love to have him cook for us again and if we are ever in the same area we will certainly be in touch.
★★★★★ Felicity T. (Host), on 03/12/2017 Umberto was a replacement chef as the original chef turned out to be double-booked. Umberto was helpful and completely flexible when it came to my proposed amendments to the menu, and the food on the night was absolutely superb. He was efficient, pleasant and interesting and I cannot praise him too highly.
★★★★★ Robert D. (Host), on 04/09/2017
Umberto arrived on time and set about creating the meal in a very professional manner while cheerfully answering questions from interested guests. All of the courses were exceptional from the chefs assortment of canapes to the delicious sweat. The whole experience exceeded my expectations due to chef Umberto’s cheerful disposition and undoubted professional ability, making my wife’s birthday a day to remember.
★★★★ Charlie J. (Host), on 20/08/2017
Umberto was great and his food was amazing. He was very friendly and polite. When he arrived he got straight down to work. His food was delicious and he left the kitchen cleaner than when he arrived. There was an issue when our original choice of chef wasn’t available but Umberto stepped in last minute and did a great job.
★★★★★ Janet (host) 27/05/2017
The meal by Umberto was simply wonderful! We LOVED every bite! Umberto was the perfect chef – very well organized, served everything with the agreed timing – and graciously worked with what we had available to us there (sorry about the freezer – we actually found it in the Garden Room the next day!!)
The flavours in every dish were delightful – and everything looked beautiful too. It really was a fitting meal for George’s 90th birthday. We wanted to make the event special. He does not like too much “fuss”, but he appreciates excellent food. We really hit the perfect balance! Eating our meal out in the church part of The Priory at the dining table there was really special. I am glad that I chatted about the eating location with Umberto and followed his advice not to eat at the kitchen table.
It was a real treat to walk into the kitchen and see it perfectly cleaned up. Normally, I would not get to enjoy the meal so much, because I would be running around in the kitchen and then also doing the clean-up. I really appreciated being able to fully participate in the celebration meal (and my cooking is nowhere near as good as Umberto’s!)
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Umberto for the fabulous experience.
★★★★★ Jen (host) 03/03/2017
After a small mishap with the original booking (another chef pulled out), Umberto stepped in to be our chef for gourmet Italian evening. A complete pleasure from start to finish, he shaped the menu perfectly, suggested matching wines and on the day was warm and professional. Not to mention preparing better than restaurant quality food – amazing!!! – and leaving the kitchen spotless.
★★★★★ Lesley (host) 10/09/2016
On the professional side, Umberto arrived when he said he would, prepared amazing food, and tidied everything away … leaving the kitchen as it was when he arrived. He definitely has a passion for food! On the personal side, having Umberto around was a real pleasure. Umberto made a very special family occasion even more special.
Cooking Lessons Now Available
***** Stuart T. (Student), on 05/09/2016
Umberto was phenomenal. A truly fantastic experience and exceptional food was made 🙂 he’s an amazing chef a great teacher and all round top guy. Would thoroughly recommend him to anyone. Thank you so much for this brilliant experience 🙂
***** Clodagh D. (Host), on 26/08/2016
After our original chef had cancelled, Umberto kindly stepped in…and we were not disappointed. He arrived on time, set himself up and cooked a wonderful meal for us all. He then cleared everything up after himself (he even mopped the floor)! I would highly recommend Umberto to cater any event. He has a clear passion for food. Thank you.
***** Amy R. (Host), on 05/10/2015
Once again, Umberto’s food was extraordinarily good and attracted glowing comments from our customers. He was also punctual, professional and courteous. Highly recommended!
***** Amy R. (Host), on 15/09/2015
Umberto’s food was delicious, inventive and beautifully presented, with great attention to detail. He was also absolutely charming as well as professional. I’m delighted that he will be catering our next event as I know I won’t have to worry about anything!
***** Hannah L. (Guest), on 19/06/2015Umberto was a fantastic chef, all courses were perfectly arranged and looked beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed the food and as host was amazed at the fact at how subtle and friendly his presence was. He even did alternative courses for my friend who was allergic to more than half of the menu. Wonderful.
**** Rachel T. (Guest), on 12/06/2015The food was lush! With gorgeous weather we were stood outside with drinks and were brought our amuse bouche, which was a very delicious start to the evening. The food was delicate and full of flavour and the main with the edible flowers was such a pretty dish, I didn’t want to eat it! The guys made some incredibly beautiful and tasty food and we didn’t even know they were there….seamless service! Thank you
***** Kevin T. (Host), on 04/01/2015
The meal was absolutely outstanding. Umberto was a gentleman all through the meal and was very easy to talk to and very friendly. He served us wine throughout and the presentation of the food was also fantastic. It was a great night and I would definitely recommend this service and this chef to anyone. I will no doubt use this company again and I will also look particular to ask for this chef!
***** Superb food. Some of it is better than what you get at Polpo or Bucca di Luppo. – Sally, SE11
***** Delicious! – Anton, SE11
***** Best gnocchi and arancini I’ve ever had! Thank you! – Tim, SW4
***** Food was lovely, arrived quickly and hot. Strongly recommend. – John, SW4
***** Another great delicious meal, thanks. – Anton, SE11
***** Excellent, excellent! I told a group of friends all about it this morning. – Anne, SE24
***** Brilliant. Umberto has always some delicious surprise. Chicken was sublime. Arancino was as usual – high class. The Macco Di Piselli was delicious as well as the caponata. This is my fourth or fifth time ordering from Umberto and he is a true master chef. Thanks Umberto and until next time 🙂 – Emil, SW8
Delicious as always! Thank you for the brownies. 🙂 – maria, SW4
***** Brilliant. Umberto has always some delicious surprise. Chicken was sublime. Arancino was as usual – high class. The Macco Di Piselli was delicious as well as the caponata. This is my fourth or fifth time ordering from Umberto and he is a true master chef. Thanks Umberto and until next time 🙂
★★★★★ Felicity T. (Host), on 03/12/2017 Umberto was a replacement chef as the original chef turned out to be double-booked. Umberto was helpful and completely flexible when it came to my proposed amendments to the menu, and the food on the night was absolutely superb. He was efficient, pleasant and interesting and I cannot praise him too highly.
★★★★★ Robert D. (Host), on 04/09/2017
Umberto arrived on time and set about creating the meal in a very professional manner while cheerfully answering questions from interested guests. All of the courses were exceptional from the chefs assortment of canapes to the delicious sweat. The whole experience exceeded my expectations due to chef Umberto’s cheerful disposition and undoubted professional ability, making my wife’s birthday a day to remember.
★★★★ Charlie J. (Host), on 20/08/2017
Umberto was great and his food was amazing. He was very friendly and polite. When he arrived he got straight down to work. His food was delicious and he left the kitchen cleaner than when he arrived. There was an issue when our original choice of chef wasn’t available but Umberto stepped in last minute and did a great job.
★★★★★ Janet (host) 27/05/2017
The meal by Umberto was simply wonderful! We LOVED every bite! Umberto was the perfect chef – very well organized, served everything with the agreed timing – and graciously worked with what we had available to us there (sorry about the freezer – we actually found it in the Garden Room the next day!!)
The flavours in every dish were delightful – and everything looked beautiful too. It really was a fitting meal for George’s 90th birthday. We wanted to make the event special. He does not like too much “fuss”, but he appreciates excellent food. We really hit the perfect balance! Eating our meal out in the church part of The Priory at the dining table there was really special. I am glad that I chatted about the eating location with Umberto and followed his advice not to eat at the kitchen table.
It was a real treat to walk into the kitchen and see it perfectly cleaned up. Normally, I would not get to enjoy the meal so much, because I would be running around in the kitchen and then also doing the clean-up. I really appreciated being able to fully participate in the celebration meal (and my cooking is nowhere near as good as Umberto’s!)
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Umberto for the fabulous experience.
★★★★★ Jen (host) 03/03/2017
After a small mishap with the original booking (another chef pulled out), Umberto stepped in to be our chef for gourmet Italian evening. A complete pleasure from start to finish, he shaped the menu perfectly, suggested matching wines and on the day was warm and professional. Not to mention preparing better than restaurant quality food – amazing!!! – and leaving the kitchen spotless.
★★★★★ Lesley (host) 10/09/2016
On the professional side, Umberto arrived when he said he would, prepared amazing food, and tidied everything away … leaving the kitchen as it was when he arrived. He definitely has a passion for food! On the personal side, having Umberto around was a real pleasure. Umberto made a very special family occasion even more special.
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***** Stuart T. (Student), on 05/09/2016
Umberto was phenomenal. A truly fantastic experience and exceptional food was made 🙂 he’s an amazing chef a great teacher and all round top guy. Would thoroughly recommend him to anyone. Thank you so much for this brilliant experience 🙂
***** Clodagh D. (Host), on 26/08/2016
After our original chef had cancelled, Umberto kindly stepped in…and we were not disappointed. He arrived on time, set himself up and cooked a wonderful meal for us all. He then cleared everything up after himself (he even mopped the floor)! I would highly recommend Umberto to cater any event. He has a clear passion for food. Thank you.
***** Amy R. (Host), on 05/10/2015
Once again, Umberto’s food was extraordinarily good and attracted glowing comments from our customers. He was also punctual, professional and courteous. Highly recommended!
***** Amy R. (Host), on 15/09/2015
Umberto’s food was delicious, inventive and beautifully presented, with great attention to detail. He was also absolutely charming as well as professional. I’m delighted that he will be catering our next event as I know I won’t have to worry about anything!
***** Hannah L. (Guest), on 19/06/2015Umberto was a fantastic chef, all courses were perfectly arranged and looked beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed the food and as host was amazed at the fact at how subtle and friendly his presence was. He even did alternative courses for my friend who was allergic to more than half of the menu. Wonderful. Would use Belle Assiette again and have recommended to everyone.
**** Rachel T. (Guest), on 12/06/2015The food was lush! With gorgeous weather we were stood outside with drinks and were brought our amuse bouche, which was a very delicious start to the evening. The food was delicate and full of flavour and the main with the edible flowers was such a pretty dish, I didn’t want to eat it! The guys made some incredibly beautiful and tasty food and we didn’t even know they were there….seamless service! Thank you
***** Kevin T. (Host), on 04/01/2015
The meal was absolutely outstanding. Umberto was a gentleman all through the meal and was very easy to talk to and very friendly. He served us wine throughout and the presentation of the food was also fantastic. It was a great night and I would definitely recommend this service and this chef to anyone. I will no doubt use this company again and I will also look particular to ask for this chef!
***** Superb food. Some of it is better than what you get at Polpo or Bucca di Luppo. – Sally, SE11
***** Delicious! – Anton, SE11
***** Best gnocchi and arancini I’ve ever had! Thank you! – Tim, SW4
***** Food was lovely, arrived quickly and hot. Strongly recommend. – John, SW4
***** Another great delicious meal, thanks. – Anton, SE11
***** Excellent, excellent! I told a group of friends all about it this morning. – Anne, SE24
***** Brilliant. Umberto has always some delicious surprise. Chicken was sublime. Arancino was as usual – high class. The Macco Di Piselli was delicious as well as the caponata. This is my fourth or fifth time ordering from Umberto and he is a true master chef. Thanks Umberto and until next time 🙂 – Emil, SW8 Delicious as always! Thank you for the brownies. 🙂 – maria, SW4
***** Brilliant. Umberto has always some delicious surprise. Chicken was sublime. Arancino was as usual – high class. The Macco Di Piselli was delicious as well as the caponata. This is my fourth or fifth time ordering from Umberto and he is a true master chef. Thanks Umberto and until next time 🙂
*****
Delicious as always! Thank you for the brownies. 🙂 – maria, SW4
Umberto is always good. Arancini’s are a must have. Lamb meatballs were fresh and full of flavour and tasty. Stuffed calamari was a good surprise as it tasted really good (thought they were going to be fried, but was gladly surprised they are not!) – Emil, SW8
So delicious. Thanks! – Eimear, SW9
Excellent food. Always consistent. And we love your extra treats! Thanks. – Susannah, SW4
This is the second time we have ordered from Umberto and yet again, an outstanding meal. Two main courses was well enough for two for our evening meal. – Alex, SW2
Amazing, beautifully cooked, gorgeous flavours, so impressed. Will definitely be using Housebites again. Thank you! – Rosa, SW2
Yummy – Shelly, SE5
Great idea and totally amazing food. I can’t wait to order again. – John, SW4
Really great fresh food, well recommended – David, SW4
Thumbs up for Umberto! Great food. Delivery on time. Amazing taste and healthy feel to the food. Thank you Chef, will definitely reorder, and recommend! – Marwan, SW9
Great food. I really enjoyed the pork – it was the best dish and came in good size as well. Arancini is def good as well as the parmigiana melanzane. Only drawback that i found (at least to me) was in the filo pastry, which i found to be too full of spinach and less feta – had a little bland taste to me – maybe because I am used to the greek filos which are more with feta than spinach. Dont get me wrong..it was still good and i ate it all. The dessert i was surprised the ice cream arrived in perfect condition as well as the hot brownie covered in chocolate! Umberto is my second chef i order from on Housebites, and amazed me a lot! Def will come back – Emil, SW8
Fantastic as always. Delivered fast and was fresh, hot and delicious! Thanks. – Susan, SW8
Umberto’s food was absolutely amazing! Delicious and comforting. I had a request for a certain delivery time separate to the one I had booked for, and the Housebites team were very helpful in fielding my request and then getting in touch with Umberto to make sure that it happened. Very accommodating and generous of everyone. – Rachel, SW4
Delicious – Clare, SW9
Great stuff! the Cannelloni and Arancini are highly recommended. – Neta, SW8
Great food – arrived on time, very reasonably priced, lovely and fresh, the arancini especially was brilliant. Will definitely order from Umberto again! – Keza, SW4
This was the best Cannelloni ever! – Robert, SW11
Really delicious, really enjoyed it. Cannelloni was particularly good. Pasta perfectly cooked. Enjoyed the cycling delivery person! – Jonathan, SE5
Utterly delicious and very, very welcome at the end of a long week! Many thanks. – Abbie, SW9
Awesome – Rebecca, SW4
Really delicious, will definitely order from Umberto again. – Alex, SW2
Food was great, really enjoyed it 🙂 – Temi, SE5
Grazie Umberto, molto buono Ciao phil – Phil, SW2
Once again fantastic Umberto – especially the ravioli. Thank you! – Bethany, SE5
The parmigiana was delicious. Just what I wanted as I was feeling a bit under the weather. My boyfriend had the pork and the potatoes, which I didn’t try but he seemed very happy. All in all a lovely meal. Grazie! – Lara, SW4
Quite possibly the best take away I have ever had in London and I am notoriously hard to please. It was fresh, tasty and exceeded all my expectations. Compliments to the chef. – melissa, SW9
Delicious, massive portion, really tender lamb, amazing dessert. Would definitely order again. – Catherine, SW9
Excellent meal. Made our valentines day. Is getting a bit embarassing how often we order from umberto now! And that’s coming from someone loves to cook. – Rebecca, SW4
enjoyed it very much. thanks – ROLAND, SE24
Lovely meal delivered on time. – Steven, SE24
we loved it. delectable and such a delight to have it brought to our door. the washing up was 3 plates and we had an amazing meal. generous portions and very well seasoned good quality produce – Rebecca, SW2
Food was excellent. Great combination of flavours with food portion sizes. – Sean, SW2
Amazing!!!! Thank you, delicious and plentiful. – Austin, SW9
Delicious ravioli – absolutely packed with tender beef and accompanied by a delicate, creamy sauce. Generous portion of Tuscan Pork, with perfectly roasted potatoes and a surprise addition of crackling! The Zucca Fritta was crisp but not greasy on the outside with soft, tasty pumpkin. Great aioli also. Thank you Umberto! – Anthony, SE5
Amazing meal! Fantastic food, couldn’t fault it in any way. The pumpkin fritters were unbelievably good, the pork brilliant and the brownies and espresso ice cream off the scale. My wife doesn’t like coffee flavoured desserts but said it was the best ice cream she’s ever had. Just gutted that its the first time I’ve tried Umberto’s food as we’re moving house just wish he covered our new postcode! – Nick, SW2
Utterly delicious!! Even before the food was out of the bag, the aroma was making my taste buds dance! Exceptional flavours, generous portions and very prompt delivery – will be coming back again. – Abbie, SW9
Great food, delivered hot and fresh, right on time. – Susan, SW8
This was a great experience: an Italian chef who learnt cooking from mom & grandmom, cooking offal to perfection. Ox cheek was one of the most tender meats I’ve ever eaten, it was in a dense and tasty jus. Pasta was cooked al dente and tasted great. Will definitely try other dishes as well! – Deniz, SW9
Lovely meal. First time I’ve had arancini, thought they were delicious. Pork was tender and the potatoes were also very good. Zucca fritta were unusual but I’m glad to have tried them. I look forward to trying your other dishes in the future 🙂 – Alef, SE5
Delicious! – Susie, SW2
Excellent meal , really enjoyed it thank you! The lamb in the greek stew was lovely and lean and tender and the stew was very yummy and went well with the creamy mash! The Zucca Fritta was ADDICTIVE especially dipped in the absolutely gorgeous garlic sauce , can I have some more of both please? lol It is hard to describe how good they were , hot , lovely and crispy on the outside with stunningly fresh tasting soft pumpkin on the inside = fabulous! The home made bread was equally divine , tasting traditional , fresh and with that home made fresh out of the oven taste , superb all round! – Carole, SW9
Fantastic quality food as usual, Umberto never disappoints! For those of you checking this out for the first time and wondering whether you should give it a go or not – do give it a try, I promise you will not regret it. I am very picky and don’t give 5 star reviews often, trust me. Make sure to try the arancinis! Thanks for another fantastic meal Umberto, and thank you to the lovely blonde girl (sorry, I don’t know your name) who sometimes does the delivery. I almost felt guilty ordering today knowing you’d have to cycle around in this weather! – maria, SW4
The stew was delicious! The sauce was rich and the homemade flat bread was perfect for mopping up the plate with. The meat was chunky and tender and I loved the aubergine in it too. Would definitely order this again. Thank you! – Philippa, SW9
Amazing as always – nic, SW4
Delicious food especially the meatballs. It arrived very quickly and hot too – Clare, SW9
Fantastic! The best housebites so far. I have enough left over for dinner so tommorow and it was super scrumy. Three thumbs up – Catherine, SW4
Unusual but delicious recipe. Will definitely have it again. – Nick, SW8
This was so good! The portion size was huge and the food was delicious. – lauren, SE5
Best takeaway I’ve ever had. Food was excellent. Five min after placing order polite woman called to inform me that unfortunately my dessert had walnuts, which was not highlighted in the description. She offered an even better alternative I had not seen (with no nuts) ! Order arrived hot within 45 min. Brilliant! – January, SW4
meatballs were awesome . lamb stew too . it came with mash and the mash was so yummy i ate the mash all by it self , as i couldnt stop eating it. overall very good , i will be ordering housebites in future. ken – Ken, SW9
Well made and tasted fresh with good quality ingredients. Exactly what I wanted. Thank you. – Robert, SW4
Great meal! – Sarah, SE11
Wow! When I first saw all the 5 star reviews prior to ordering I must admit the cynical side of me assumed that you had only published the positive reviews and censored the rest – surely not all customers could be that pleased? After having tried Umberto’s food myself however, I see why. Food arrived on time, piping hot and was absolutely fantastic, bursting with favour. Best arancinis I have ever had hands down and the rucola, parmesan and pomodorino salad with that gorgeous honey mustard dressing was fantastic. This is not a takeaway people, this really is restaurant quality food just as promised. I am so excited to have discovered this service and will definitely be ordering from Umberto again. Please don’t move Umberto! 🙂 – maria, SW4
Absolutely fantastic. The food was superb – restaurant quality, delivered to your door! And very good value. I’ve always been a big fan of Deliverance for their quality delivery meals, this is better by far. The food was hot, fresh, delicious and delivered right on time. – Susan, SW8
THE best meal I’ve had yet through Housebites. Not only was the starter out of this world but the main was wonderfully tender and flavourful – I will absolutely be trying out some of Umberto’s other dishes! It was lovely to actually have him deliver the food too – a crowning glory to a champion meal! Thank you Umberto 😀 – James, SW8
Bisque was very yummy! Meal was a real treat! – Shelly, SE5
Excellent pork, really delicious and perfectly cooked. Could have benefitted from some cabbage or carrots, or some sort of veg. – Richard, SW9
Gorgeous. Brownie exceptionally lovely with the coffee ice cream. Thank you! – Rachael, SE5
How can I rate this order as very good?… This food was absolutely sensational! As a devout carnivore, I was sceptical about the vegetarian starter but it was probably the best veggie dish I have ever had. Amazing.. bursting with flavours of garlic and herbs and beautifully crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. But then the main dish.. Simply the best pasta dish have ever had! The pistachio works so well.. an orgy of pleasure for the tastebuds. The brownie was a real guilty pleasure and the espresso ice-cream. I am lost for superlatives! Umberto, you have really outdone yourself – please keep it up! – Ade, SW2
Very tasty, wholesome meal. Incredibly tasty. Loved it. If pressed, the only slight flaw I can give it was that some of the meat chunks were a tad fatty, but this may have added to the flavour. – Hormuz, SW4
Excellent! Britalian brownies and ice cream was the highlight, but the chicken sauce was rather good too. Will be ordering again. – Jason, SE5
I wasn’t sure what to think of Housebites, it promises a lot! But the meal I had was fantastic. Unlike usual takeout services, the food arrived on time, delivered by a lovely cycling delivery guy (I do feel a bit sorry for him cycling in the cold, though!), and the food itself was amazing, the pork was tender and so tasty, the vegetables lovely and garlicky, and the salad Olivier was a great side. The free espresso ice cream was a really lovely touch as well. I won’t hesitate to order again from Umberto and have already recommended to half my friends and family! – Alex, SW9
As always Umberto cooks really delicious food and gives great service Thanks from two very satisfied customers. – Seamus, SE5
Very good is not a good enough description; it was a wonderful meal, full of flavour. You can tell that care was taken in the preparation and delivery. – Vikki, SW8
Delicious delicious delicious – Seamus, SE5
Excellent as always. – Chayter, SW8
I’ve used Housebites many times before, but I have to say that this meal from Umberto is the best so far! So tasty that I could’ve eaten it twice! Thanks very much. – Martyn, SE5
I’d go above very good and say excellent. Yummy gnocchi. And the best brownies we’ve ever had! Really, really tasty! – Shelly, SE5
Amazing food, hand-delivered significantly earlier than we expected (which was a bonus as we were hungry!) The gnocchi was exciting, the ravioli divine, the brownies truly exceptional and the espresso ice cream was literally the icing on the cake. As take-away should be: the quality of food you expect when dining out, for the same price, but delivered to your door by a local chef. 100% recommended. Don’t hesitate to order from Umberto. – Ian, SE5
EXCELLENT FOOD! Parmesan and artichoke arancini balls were particularly delicious and I could have eaten a million of those brownies! Highly recommended! – Lauren, SW4
We loved the arancini, Tuscan pork and anything to do with potatoes. The complimentary brownie was sumptious as well. Although the order arrived bang on time the Beef Braciole coating was a bit limp and the slaw did not quite live up to our expectations from the description. Umberto can clearly cook but on this occasion the result was a little patchy. – Robert, SE17
Delicious meal. The brownie and espresso ice cream was exceptional. We definitely will be ordering from Umberto again. – Jenny, SE22
Really excellent food. Lots of it and full of flavour. – Carl, SW4
It was delicious! Umberto’s arancini did not disappoint. Top marks! – Rachel, SW2
Outstanding. Great quality food… the pork was UNBELIEVABLE! I’m salivating now just thinking of it! – Gus, SW2
As always Umberto has delighted my taste buds, everything was seriously delicious, the Avocado Ice Cream was surprising subtle and refined a real treat….Thanks Umberto – Seamus, SE5
The food was excellent, easily the best take-away we’ve ever had!! The arancini and zucca fritta are highly recommended. – Craig, SW4
Great pork – David, SW9
Really impressed! Great home cooked food, still hot when it arrived & just the right portion size. We will definately be ordering again, many thanks – Camilla, SW8
Excellent, thank you very much! – Karen, SE24
Incredible food! Thank you Umberto – arancini were delicious as was the pasta! And the espresso ice cream and brownie was wonderful – yum! Will definitely be ordering again it’s such a fantastic new takeway website! Won’t be ordering from your average takeaway anymore! – Ellie, SE24
My boyfriend and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The food arrived promptly, was still warm, and most importantly delicious. The pasta was a bit on the soggy side, but I know how hard it is to keep pasta al dente, especially fresh pasta. The wild boar sauce that came with it was incredible so it really didn’t matter. The arancini in particular were delicious. Really hot and crispy. The chorizo and bean stew was also lovely. I wasn’t expecting so much chorizo! We got two enormous sausages which were really meaty and tender. To top it all off we got some incredible brownies as well, which went down a storm. Will most definitely be ordering from Umberto again. – Lara, SW4
🙂 – Joanna, SW2
Delicious meal from Umberto. First time using Housebites and will definitely be using them again. Really impressed. – Susie, SW4
Loved the ribs! Beautifully made. Everything arrived hot and onetime The portion sizes were very generous, one sticky toffee pudding was enough for 2 Loved it all Thanks x – Tanika, SE5
Absolutely delicious, the chocolate brownie with espresso ice cream was one of the best desserts I have ever had. – Sarah, SW4
Umberto really delivers with his food in every sense. Service with a bike and a smile but his sensational food speaks for itself. The sticky ribs were truly a guilty pleasure. The chorizo stew was great but surprising – the whole chorizos were possibly the biggest sausages I have ever seen. The ice cream was lovely and thanks so much for the free brownies – delicious and probably the best I have ever had. – Ade, SW2
Umberto is always great. Fantastic meal and fantastic freebies. Thanks so much. – Marc, SE24
Excellent! Great food, punctual timing, service with a smile. – Edmund, SW4
I really can’t believe that i have had such a well prepard meal as a delivery meal. Awesome. – Anthony, SW9
I suspect the meal would have been delicious. Unfortunately it arrived over an hour late so by that stage the food was cold and I was too hungry to care how it tasted. – Benjy, SE5
Everything was amazing!!! Exactly what we expect from House Bites – a good home cooked meal! Portion size was perfect. One of the best meals we have had!! Thanks, will definately be ordering again! – Fiona, SW4
Great hot food delivered on time, will use again – nick, SW9
We thoroughly enjoyed our House Bites yesterday evening. The food was delicious, well above your average takeaway, and was refreshingly different. The chef was clearly top quality – thank you very much. We`ll be back for more – get some more chefs in our area for Saturday night please! Ruth – Ruth, SE24
Umberto is an artist, the food was really delicious and surprising, I will definitely be coming back for more. Thank You Umberto and housebites – Seamus, SE5
This was the first time I have ordered from Housebites.com I was concerned that the food would arrive cold or not on time or that the portions would be small. I must say I was not disappointed. Food was awesome, sufficiently hot and he arrived within the time slot. The delivery guy had a bit of a problem finding our place which he could have been solved with some research on google maps before setting out but other than that it was a great experience. Not quite the price of a pizza but you can’t beat the quality of the food. Next time I’ll pretend to my friends that I cooked the great food! – Kola, SW2
Absolutely magnificent. Ordered only 90 mins before I wanted to eat. Food arrived promptly, still piping hot, and was tastier than the picture / description could convey. I will be ordering again very soon. – Rob, SW9
Delightful food, thanks Umberto for keeping it real! – Filippos, SW9
Simple menu choice but often these things can be delivered and still be awful, but NOT in this case. I read the blurb and it suggested it was like home cooked food just the way his ‘Italian Mamma’ use to make, and it was true. The Arancini was amazing and the best I have ever had – very very tasty and perfectly made – I am very critical so trust me on this one. Again, the meat balls were brilliant but to be honest, I had filled myself up on the 3 Arancini – I did ask for it to be spicy and I think he may have considered this sacrilege to his mothers recipe and I got a little bowl of chilli sauce (I think but it was not spicy enough for me). Still, it was lovely and tasty. I really recommend these dishes. – Terry, SW4
Booked late so the main courses I wanted had sold out so had a couple of starters. They were very good so I will definitely book early next time! – Linda, SE17
This meal was absolutely excellent. It was the right portion and was light yet creamy with a great balance of flavours. I highly recommend this. – Jasmine, SW9
Very nice food, delivered hot and on time. You can’t ask for much more than that. Lovely grilled veg salad was my personal fave! – Ross, SE24
A Sicilian work of art! The stuffed chicken legs were delicious. Who would have thought chcken stuffed with pistachio nuts would work but it did. The mange tout and marsala sauce complemented it all very well. Not the cheapest Housebites meal I have had but one of the best and most adventurous. Deserts ran out on the menu but thanks for the free little cakes! – Ade, SW2
Great again. Love it – nic, SW4
Great meal and Umberto was very friendly – would definitely recommend (or have again…) Greek salad was good, and quite enjoyed the Tzatziki. The rump steak was perfectly cooked (Umberto called to check how I wanted it done!), and came with Dauphinoise potatoes which had the right balance of creaminess but were slightly too crunchy for my taste. – Jan, SW4
The pork cheeks were very delicious and my boyfriend said the glazed carrots were the best he’d ever tasted! However the salmon risotto was sublime & I wish I’d ordered that instead! Was v.jealous of my housemate who had it. All the portion sizes were good. Thank you! Will definitely be ordering again. – Philippa, SW9
what a brilliant meal, will definitely order again. Thank you very much – Karen, SE24
Maybe gnocchi was a little heavy for a hot evening but that was my choice. Overall it was good, meaty and would be excellent for a winter evening. Tzatziki again very tasty. MB – Martin, SW8
Great meal – thanks Umberto. Choc arancini is amazing! – Adam, SW9
Fantastic meal – thank you so much The Arancini were unbelievably good! Would definitely recommend – Alexandra, SW4
The food was excellent. I was seriously surprised. We had spaghetti ad meatballs. The tomato sauce was rich and tasty a the meatballs were juicy and just right. It arrived pippig hot and with rear attention to detail – leave of basil shredde on top and tiny containers of grated cheese. They also included two additional chocolate ball deserts that were ridiculously good! – Clara, SW4
Delicious and hot. We particularly enjoyed the stuffed artichokes. – Catherine, SW9
I really enjoy cooking myself, but now i feel like I can have a cheeky take-away and feel great about the quality of the food, thank you. – Louis, SW9
Completely delicious, wonderful food. Arrived piping hot – the chocolate arancini are my new favorite food, thoroughly recommended. The quality goes way beyond that expected from any take away, it is top restaurant quality food delivered to your door. Thank you Umberto & housebites.com – nic, SW4
Lovely food as always – and thanks for the little desert freebie of gorgeous little cakes. – Ade, SW2
Wow… Amazing – Gus, SW2
Nice tasty food and plenty of it. Delivered punctually. Perfect at the end of a shattering day when I didn’t want to cook. – christine, SW9
Outstanding meal. Delivered right on time. Better quality than any takeaway. The meatballs really were as good as my Italian Mother used to make. Very pleased that there was a small side of cheese for the spaghetti. The portions were very generous. A great meal and would order again. Thanks. – Scott, SW9
It was Amazing! Especially the pasta with prawns was delicious! It was my first time on housebites and it was incredible! Grazie Mille! – Arianna, SW2
All was delicious, with prompt delivery. Arancini were especially good. – Melanie, SW4
Genuinely great quality – Phillip, SW9
Excellent chicken, really like the veg & mash also. Definitely recommend it – David, SW9
Sicilian stallion Umberto’s food is pretty outstanding. Possibly the best ravioli I have ever had – huge pasta parcels packed full of pork in a delicious sauce full of chunks of asparagus and mushrooms. The multi-flavoured signature arancini rice balls were a nice touch… and the tzatziki, although not so Sicilian, was a joy – rich and packed full of fennel and all sorts of goodies. Only problem, the food sells out a bit too quickly so Umberto – you better stock up with more rice balls! – Ade, SW2
I was dubious, but the meal was very good. Not cold, not dry. Very impressed. – Simon, SW4
Excellent raviolo and the eton mess was gorgeous! – Kathleen, SW4
Another goor meal! Especially the aubergine and chickpea dish was amazing. And thanks for the chocolate arancini, they were a big hit with adults and child! – Linda, SW2
Delicious, clean, fresh summery flavors delivered hot and on time. Just what I felt like, thanks! – Chris, SW9
very tasty meal. loved the arancini! – Franziska, SW4
The food was absolutely delicious. We can honestly say the arancini were the best we’ve had. Will definitely be ordering again. – Carrie, SW8
Good quality food! – Mandip, SW9
AMAZING!!! Soooo delicious…..i had the ribs and beat balls and they were dreamy. Thank you so much for a quick, friendly and tasty service. Everybody should forget normal take aways, this is the future. Fresh food, talented chefs, supporting local economy not unhealthy food giants. This is the way forward 🙂 Well done. – AUSTIN, SW9
Absolutely delicious, keep up the awesome work! – Chayter, SW8
Very impressed. I’ll certainly use the service again. – David, SE5
Prompt delivery. Excellent food – especially the arancini. The beef stew and mash were fantastically tasty. The portions were extremely generous. I would definitely order from this chef again. – Kathleen, SE11
Really tasty, generous portions, arrived hot and on time. They even threw in a desert for free. Definitely be ordering again! – Luke, SW2
Tasted so fresh … very healthy portions too 🙂 – Patrick, SW8
Everything I ordered was really delicious, fresh and good quality. Will definitely be ordering again. Grazie Umberto! – Linda, SW2
Amazing home cooked food, was absolutely delicious AND he brought us a free dessert! YUM! – Stuart, SW4
Absolutely lovely. Loved the stuffed artichokes. :O) – Stephen, SW2
Excellent meal…sooooo much better than a take away. Didn’t know what to expect but was incredibly pleasantly surprised! – Perrin, SW9
It was delicious and tasted like being in Italy. – Eva, SW8
Quite simply, superb. Everything. – paul, SW2
I am so excited to have discovered this brilliant alternative take-away! How wonderful that Umberto cycled my food over himself – and that it tasted so GOOD! I may be cooking alot less and dialling a lot more from now on. Delighted. – Petra, SW9
Excellent! One of the best take-away meals in London!Thank you!!! – margherita, SW8
Absolutely excellent, especially the Funghi and the Arancini. And the brownie… what can I say? buonissimo! Thanks Claire and Umberto! – James, SW2
Fresh, tasty food delivered exactly on time – Andrew, SW4
Excellent quality. Will be ordering again. – Chayter, SW8
Delicious in all points. Thank you, Umberto! – Caroline, SE5
Excellent food, great service. amazing! – Josephine, SW8
Arancini – Sicilian street food
Sicilian Donkey is a catering business specialising in Sicilian cuisine. Chef Umberto Caltabiano offers his services in Bristol, Somerset, Devon and Wales as a personal chef, caterer, cooking teacher specialising in Italian food. Businesses can also book him as a relief chef for businesses who want to employ temporary chefs directly.
Umberto grew up on the beautiful island of Sicily where he learned to cook with his mother and grandmother. He has worked as a professional chef throughout Europe for over 18 years. Sicilian food is totally unique. It is the product of a vast array of culinary influences, including Greek, Roman, Arab, Spanish and French cuisines.
Sicilian Donkey arancini are a big favourite with clients and Chef Umberto emerged as the victor in a head to head contest with Carluccio’s Caffe in which his arancini were proclaimed the #BestBalls!
Sicilian Donkey - Tales From Sicily 