Chef Simona Bonelli

Private Chef In Squamish

Passionate and accomplished Executive chef with over 20 years of experience in leading a culinary team and managing high performance kitchens. Originally from Italy, I have spent most of my culinary career working in the US, UK and Canada where I had the pleasure to work for established restaurant groups such as Oliver & Bonacini, King Street Food Co, Jamie's Italian, Glowbal Group in Vancouver and most recently, I was the Executive Chef at Fergie's & Sunwolf Resort in Squamish. Under my guidance, the restaurant and wedding venue achieved their highest ever customer satisfaction ratings and revenue growth.

I have a strong culinary background, and I am well-versed in various cuisines from around the world, although my passion is regional Italian cuisine and the heritage that comes with it. Additionally, I have extensive experience in menu planning and I pride myself on my ability to stay up to date with the latest trends in food and hospitality, and I am always eager to learn something new.

For me, cooking is...

Maintaining the right balance between tradition and innovation.

I learned to cook at...

I have cooked since a very young age and attended the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners in Castiglione D'Asti, Italy.

A cooking secret...

The elegance of simplicity and the manual skills necessary to achieve balance in different combinations

My menus

The spice route

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Asparagus filo 'cigars' with creamy labneh, truffle oil

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled albacore tuna, fava bean and black garlic puree, fennel and kohlrabi salad, preserved lemon vinaigrette

Schawarma mushrooms ( oyster, shitaki, king), tahini cream, pickles, pine nuts, zaatar faltbread

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Roasted cod, braised chickpeas ( Msabbaha) , tahini and confit garlic sauce, amba sauce ( Middle Eastern chili sauce)

Ras el hanout marinated chicken, grilled and served with brown butter and honey sauce, apple and radish tabouleh

Slow roasted lamb shoulder, smoked eggplant, tomato amba sauce, fennel yogurt

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pavlova with cassis sorbetto, currant compote and creme fraiche

Basque cheesecake with plum caramel, lemon & thyme pine nut brittle

French apple cake with miso caramel, home made burnt butter ice cream

The Italian table

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Caesar, mint, almonds & pecorino

Jerusalem Artichoke soup, foraged chanterelles, creme fraiche

Roasted Beets and mandarin salad, burrata, citrus vinaigrette, pistachio crumble

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Home made ricotta gnocchi, Genovese ragout ( beef and pork), Parmigiano

Bronze cut rigatoni 'cacio e pepe'

'Raviolo all'Uovo': egg yolk and ricotta raviolo, porcini butter, Parmigiano

Lobster raviolo, spring pea veloute, tarragon oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

'Tagliata': grilled striploin, confit Jerusalem artichokes, jus, vincotto

Market fish cooked in a medley of blistered tomatoes, basil and lemon, served with asparagus and roast potatoes

Chicken roulade, Truffle Mousse, roasted Romanesco broccoli, Parmesan polenta

Oven Roasted Halibut, leek soubise, black trumpet mushrooms, chili crunch

Pork fillet wrapped with Prosciutto, Tuscan braised cannellini beans, salsa verde

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Bombolini ( fritters) with berry compote and Lemon mascarpone

Creme Brulee, Pistachio 'Cannolo'

Classic Tiramisu, milk chocolate salted caramel cremeaux

Warm chocolate decadence torte, vanilla cream, miso/white chocolate sauce

Vegetarian

STARTER

All inclusive

Chickpea Panisse with apricot and harissa aioli, Manchego cheese

Caramelized parsnip and coconut soup with with onion bahji

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beet and Halloumi salad, basil vinaigrette, savory granola

Mushroom dumplings, lemongrass mushroom dashi, chili garlic oil

Lentil 'albondigas' with romesco sauce

Kimchi and Gruyere fritters, lime and sesame aioli

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Ricotta and preserved lemon agnolotti, summer squash, pistachio pesto

Cauliflower and fennel raviolini, golden squash cream, preserved lemon butter

Ricotta and spinach gnudi ( similar to gnocchi), tomato and basil confit, burrata, Parmigiano

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Budini-Baked Chocolate Pudding, vanilla cream

Sweet potato and ricotta beignets, five spice sugar dusting, home made salted caramel ice cream

Flourless chocolate cake, sabayon, spiced poached pear

West Coast

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Seared scallops with butternut and truffle puree, fennel and apple salad

Salmon carpaccio, lime and poblano dressing, cashew crema, pepita crunch

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Saffron and pancetta risotto with butter poached prawns and chive oil

Home made crab gnocchi: ricotta gnocchi, Dungeness crab, Venetian spice, tomato and prawn bisque

Lobster raviolo, spring pea veloute, tarragon oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan Seared Sable Fish, yuzu kosho beurre blanc, confit potatoes and Romanesco broccoli puree

Oven Roasted Halibut, leek soubise, black trumpet mushrooms, chili crunch

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Black forest verrine: Dark chocolate ganache, amarena cherries, chocolate cake, whiskey syrup, orange cream

Pavlova with cassis sorbetto, currant compote and creme fraiche

Budini-Baked Chocolate Pudding, vanilla cream

Seafood

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Sockeye salmon crudo, blood orange, salsa matcha, pinenuts

Lightly Seared Ahi Tuna hazelnut cream, citrus ponzu vinaigrette, dikon ribbons

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Prawn and Ricotta agnolotti, confit celeriac, creamy vin jaune velouté, crushed almonds and fresh herbs

Saffron and pancetta risotto with butter poached prawns and chive oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Oven baked cod with roasted onion cream, bagna cauda, artichokes

Olive oil poached salmon, Castelvetrano olive & miso emulsion, caper brown butter

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Creme Brulee, Pistachio 'Cannolo'

Pavlova with cassis sorbetto, currant compote and creme fraiche

Sweet potato and ricotta beignets, five spice sugar dusting, home made salted caramel ice cream

Taste of Mediterranean

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Braised chickpeas ( Msabbaha) , tahini and confit garlic sauce, amba sauce ( Middle Eastern chili sauce), home made pita

Chickpea Panisse with apricot and harissa aioli, Manchego cheese

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Burrata & winter squash delicata & honeynut squashes brussel petals, sage-walnut pesto, pistachio dukkah & sourdough crisp

Spiced grilled prawns, babaganoush, macademia dukkah, harissa oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Zaatar crusted beef steak, crispy Jerusalem artichokes, pomegranate sauce

Pappardelle pasta, winter chanterelles, Parmigiano and truffle cream

12 spice braised lamb shank, white bean puree, broccolini

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Basque cheesecake with plum caramel, lemon & thyme pine nut brittle

Crème brûlée with pistachio biscotti

Rhubarb Meringue, bee pollen yogurt, honey, spiced crumbs, hibiscus syrup

Italian Sapori

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Seared scallops with butternut and truffle puree, fennel and apple salad

Grilled albacore tuna, fava bean puree, kohlrabi, preserved lemon vinaigrette

Classic beef carpaccio, arugula, Parmigiano, pickled Jerusalem artichokes, focaccia crostino, preserved lemon aioli

Beet and burrata salad, salted hazelnut, basil vinaigrette

Canapes included in the meal

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Anolini Di Parma: Traditional meat ravioli from Parma, with parmigiano sauce $

Prawn and Ricotta agnolotti, confit celeriac, creamy vin jaune velouté, crushed almonds and fresh herbs

Home made duck tortelloni, roasted squash, braising jus, Parmigiano

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

'Tagliata': grilled striploin, confit Jerusalem artichokes, jus, vincotto

Seared halibut with sauce vierge, spinach and pickled fennel

Pork fillet wrapped with Prosciutto, Tuscan braised cannellini beans, salsa verde

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Budini-Baked Chocolate Pudding, vanilla cream

Pistachio creme brulee, lemon shortbread, crystalized pistachios

Sweet potato and ricotta beignets, five spice sugar dusting, home made salted caramel ice cream

Flavors

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Kimchi and Gruyere fritters, lime and sesame aioli

Grilled cauliflower, golden raisin and pine nut emulsion, cauliflower hazelnut cream

Red butter lettuce, bacon, gorgonzola, cured egg yolk, hazelnut vinaigrette

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Albacore tuna crudo, blood orange, salsa matcha, macademia nuts

Cauliflower and fennel raviolini, golden squash cream, preserved lemon butter

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pork fillet, pork belly croquetas, Swiss chard, gochujang pumkin sauce

Grilled beef kebabs, smoky cherry glaze, warm flatbread, burnt butter labneh, grilled zucchini salad

Grilled lamb rump, pomegranate glaze, caramelized red onions, tamarind and parsley sauce, roasted fingerlings potatoes

Roasted cod, chipotle romesco sauce, sunflower dukkah, smoked almonds, arugula

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Rhubarb Meringue, bee pollen yogurt, honey, spiced crumbs, hibiscus syrup

French apple cake with miso caramel, home made burnt butter ice cream

Olive oil chocolate cake, vanilla cream, plum caramel

The spice route

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Asparagus filo 'cigars' with creamy labneh, truffle oil

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled albacore tuna, fava bean and black garlic puree, fennel and kohlrabi salad, preserved lemon vinaigrette

Schawarma mushrooms ( oyster, shitaki, king), tahini cream, pickles, pine nuts, zaatar faltbread

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Roasted cod, braised chickpeas ( Msabbaha) , tahini and confit garlic sauce, amba sauce ( Middle Eastern chili sauce)

Ras el hanout marinated chicken, grilled and served with brown butter and honey sauce, apple and radish tabouleh

Slow roasted lamb shoulder, smoked eggplant, tomato amba sauce, fennel yogurt

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pavlova with cassis sorbetto, currant compote and creme fraiche

Basque cheesecake with plum caramel, lemon & thyme pine nut brittle

French apple cake with miso caramel, home made burnt butter ice cream

The Italian table

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Caesar, mint, almonds & pecorino

Jerusalem Artichoke soup, foraged chanterelles, creme fraiche

Roasted Beets and mandarin salad, burrata, citrus vinaigrette, pistachio crumble

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Home made ricotta gnocchi, Genovese ragout ( beef and pork), Parmigiano

Bronze cut rigatoni 'cacio e pepe'

'Raviolo all'Uovo': egg yolk and ricotta raviolo, porcini butter, Parmigiano

Lobster raviolo, spring pea veloute, tarragon oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

'Tagliata': grilled striploin, confit Jerusalem artichokes, jus, vincotto

Market fish cooked in a medley of blistered tomatoes, basil and lemon, served with asparagus and roast potatoes

Chicken roulade, Truffle Mousse, roasted Romanesco broccoli, Parmesan polenta

Oven Roasted Halibut, leek soubise, black trumpet mushrooms, chili crunch

Pork fillet wrapped with Prosciutto, Tuscan braised cannellini beans, salsa verde

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Bombolini ( fritters) with berry compote and Lemon mascarpone

Creme Brulee, Pistachio 'Cannolo'

Classic Tiramisu, milk chocolate salted caramel cremeaux

Warm chocolate decadence torte, vanilla cream, miso/white chocolate sauce

Vegetarian

STARTER

All inclusive

Chickpea Panisse with apricot and harissa aioli, Manchego cheese

Caramelized parsnip and coconut soup with with onion bahji

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beet and Halloumi salad, basil vinaigrette, savory granola

Mushroom dumplings, lemongrass mushroom dashi, chili garlic oil

Lentil 'albondigas' with romesco sauce

Kimchi and Gruyere fritters, lime and sesame aioli

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Ricotta and preserved lemon agnolotti, summer squash, pistachio pesto

Cauliflower and fennel raviolini, golden squash cream, preserved lemon butter

Ricotta and spinach gnudi ( similar to gnocchi), tomato and basil confit, burrata, Parmigiano

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Budini-Baked Chocolate Pudding, vanilla cream

Sweet potato and ricotta beignets, five spice sugar dusting, home made salted caramel ice cream

Flourless chocolate cake, sabayon, spiced poached pear

West Coast

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Seared scallops with butternut and truffle puree, fennel and apple salad

Salmon carpaccio, lime and poblano dressing, cashew crema, pepita crunch

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Saffron and pancetta risotto with butter poached prawns and chive oil

Home made crab gnocchi: ricotta gnocchi, Dungeness crab, Venetian spice, tomato and prawn bisque

Lobster raviolo, spring pea veloute, tarragon oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan Seared Sable Fish, yuzu kosho beurre blanc, confit potatoes and Romanesco broccoli puree

Oven Roasted Halibut, leek soubise, black trumpet mushrooms, chili crunch

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Black forest verrine: Dark chocolate ganache, amarena cherries, chocolate cake, whiskey syrup, orange cream

Pavlova with cassis sorbetto, currant compote and creme fraiche

Budini-Baked Chocolate Pudding, vanilla cream

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Chef Simona's reviews

•

8 services

Chef Simona Bonelli was excellent in all categories. She was easy to work with in terms of the final menu and the food was excellent. I would highly recommend her for any similar chef services.

Chef Simona was an incredible chef, I would highly recommend her. Our experience started with planning the menu with Chef Simona. We worked together to come up with a perfect menu for my 60th birthday celebration. She and Vanessa (her helper) showed up on time and had us eating right on time. They were extremely pleasant to talk to and were happy to engage in conversation. The meal was amazing, just a lot of food but it was great the next day for lunch. They cleaned up the kitchen better than when they arrived. Overall, we had a great experience and would definitely have them back next time we are in Whistler.

Chef Simona was absolutely lovely. From the very beginning, she was prompt and professional in her responses, and she had an excellent sample menu to present. After finalizing the menu, she arrived to our Airbnb a few days later on time and prepared. It’s obvious she loves what she does, and she puts her heart into everything she makes. She has a kind nature, and she was very respectful of the Airbnb’s kitchen space. I would love to hire her again for future visits to Whistler.

What an awesome experience Simona and Ricardo gave our family! Every course was incredible and the presentation was beautiful! From little kids to grandparents, everyone was VERY impressed! I

Chef Simona Bonelli was excellent in all categories. She was easy to work with in terms of the final menu and the food was excellent. I would highly recommend her for any similar chef services.

What an awesome experience Simona and Ricardo gave our family! Every course was incredible and the presentation was beautiful! From little kids to grandparents, everyone was VERY impressed! I

Chef Simona Bonelli was excellent in all categories. She was easy to work with in terms of the final menu and the food was excellent. I would highly recommend her for any similar chef services.