Chef Ionel Panaite

Chef At Home In Ródos

I am an International professional chef with 22 years of experience from five star hotels in Greece to Buddha Bar and catering at event venues and a private Hurlingham club in London. I love experimenting with different ingredients and I’m an expert in Mediterranean, Italian, Pan-Asian and British cuisine.

Whether you're looking for beautifully grilled fish or fresh sushi, you'll fall in love with the taste, presentation, and quality of the food.

I'm positive, clean, and great to work with.

For me, cooking is...

My life, my passion. It brings me so much joy to see people enjoying the food I make.

I learned to cook at...

A professional culinary school in Greece and got more experience from five star hotels, catering, private clubs, and restaurants.

A cooking secret...

Love and passion for what I do. I focus on perfecting the taste.

My menus

Fusion delights

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Shrimp tempura

Bruschetta with fresh tomato relish and mozzarella

Shrimp ceviche with avocado

Beetroot ceviche with avocado

Baked feta cheese with honey and sesami seeds

Salmon carpaccio

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Watermelon salad with feta cheese and mint

Summer tomato salad

Green garden salad with avocado

Coleslaw salad with carrots, parsley and vinegar

Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, and peppers

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef steak with peppercorn sauce

Honey soya glazed salmon with sesame seeds

Salmon marinated with miso

Swordfish with baby potatoes and lemon or mango sauce

Seabass with red pepper sauce

Lamb chops with mint sauce

Chicken fillet served with seasonal vegetables

Selection of sushi and sashimi to share

Selection of Gyoza

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Salty caramel cheesecake

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream

Chocolate mousse with chantilly

Pannacotta with mango sauce

White chocolate pannacotta

Seasonal fruit platter to share

Tiramisu with coffee or macha tea

Fusion flavours

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce

Pita bread and vegetable sticks with homemade hummus and tzatziki

Spicy edamame

Vegetable samosas with curry sauce

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Watermelon salad with feta cheese and mint

Green garden salad with avocado

Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, and peppers

Summer tomato salad

Coleslaw salad with carrots, parsley and vinegar

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chickpea or chicken curry with rice

Chicken with sweet chilli sauce and pineapple

Fish of the day with seasonal vegetables

Chicken bites with feta cheese and lemon

Spicy ramen with shrimps and vegetables

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate brownie with ice cream

Pannacotta with mango sauce

Chocolate mousse with chantilly

Tiramisu with coffee or macha tea

Mediterranean delights

STARTER

All inclusive

Pita bread with tzatziki, olive paste and hummus

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, and peppers

Summer tomato salad

Watermelon salad with feta cheese and mint

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken bites with feta cheese and lemon

Shrimps saganaki

Linguine with shrimps, fresh homemade tomato sauce and chilli

Fish of the day with seasonal vegetables

Beef stifado

Stuffed eggplants or stuffed tomatoes

Seabass with red pepper sauce

Chicken in oven with potatoes and oregano

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream

Pannacotta with fruits of the forest

Chocolate mousse with chantilly

Seasonal fruit platter

Italian delights

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Bruschetta with fresh tomato relish and mozzarella

Arancini

Mozzarella skewers with cherry tomato and pesto

Burratta with summer cherry tomatoes

Melon wrapped in proscutto

Mussels in white wine sauce

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Caprese (tomato, mozzarella, pesto)

Green garden salad with avocado

Summer tomato salad

Cold pesto pasta salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Casarecce pasta with fresh homemade tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, mozzarella, and basil

Seafood risotto

Linguine with mushroom, beef fillet and truffle oil

Fettucine with pink sauce

Chicken fillet with parmesan cheese and seasonal vegetables

Salmon served with mash potatoes and spinach

Pasta alla Vongola with white wine sauce

Beef steak with peppercorn sauce

Chicken alla milanese

Seabass with creamy polenta

Gnocchi with chesnuts and mushrooms

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pannacotta with fruits of the forest

Pannacotta with mango sauce

Chocolate brownie with ice cream

Tiramisu with coffee or macha tea

Fresh fruit platter to share

Salty caramel cheesecake

White chocolate pannacotta

Mediterranean flavours

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Salmon carpaccio

Haloumi with honey balsamic sauce

Mozzarella souvlaki with cherry tomatoes and pesto

Bruschetta with fresh tomato relish and mozzarella

Baked feta cheese with honey and sesami seeds

Shrimp ceviche with avocado

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, and peppers

Summer tomato salad

Watermelon salad with feta cheese and mint

Green garden salad with avocado

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Salmon served with mash potatoes and spinach

Chicken fillet served with seasonal vegetables

Beef steak with peppercorn sauce

Lamb in oven with egg plant

Lamb kleftiko

Braised cauliflower with tahini, yoghurt and pomegranate

Baked okra with tomato sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream

Pannacotta with fruits of the forest

Pannacotta with mango sauce

Salty caramel cheesecake

Chocolate mousse with chantilly

Tiramisu

Fresh fruit platter to share

Bachelorette surprise breakfast

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Greek yoghurt pots with granola and seasonal fruits

Chia pudding pots with coconut and seasonal fruits

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Poached egg with avocado and salmon on a french bun (version without salmon for the vegetarians)

Scrambled eggs with hashbrowns, avocado and mushrooms

MAIN COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Pancakes with strawberry jam or nutella

French toast with chocolate

Croissants with nutella or strawberry jam

Bougatsa (Greek cream pie)

Spinach pie

Selection of mini sandwiches

Selection of mini cupcakes

DESSERT

All inclusive

Seasonal fruitplatter

Fresh orange juice

Seafood BBQ delights

STARTER

All inclusive

Homemade hummus, olive paste and tzatziki with pita bread

Dolmades (stuffed wine leaves) with yogurt sauce

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, and peppers

Green garden salad with avocado

Watermelon salad with feta cheese and mint

Summer tomato salad

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Shrimps

Calamari

Swordfish

Haloumi

Seasonal vegetables

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu with coffee or macha tea

Chocolate mousse with chantilly

Chocolate brownie with ice cream

White chocolate pannacotta

Pannacotta with fruits of the forest

Pannacotta with mango sauce

Fresh fruit platter to share

Fusion experience

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Spicy edamame

Tempura shrimps with spicy mayo

Bruschetta with fresh tomato relish and mozzarella

Salmon carpaccio

Beef tartar

Beef carpaccio with rocket, parmesan, and honey balsamic dressing

Spicy salmon crispy rice

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Shaved beetroot and carrot salad with lemon dressing

Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, and peppers

Baby spinach salad with apple, walnuts, and goat cheese

Green garden salad with avocado

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef fillet with peppercorn sauce or bearnaise

Salmon marinated with miso sauce

Honey soya glazed swordfish with sweet and sour vegetables

Selection of sushi and sashimi to share

Octopus marinated in red wine sauce

Fettucine with mushroom, beef fillet and truffle oil

Linguine with squid ink, octopus, and shrimps in a white wine sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Mango cheese cake

Pannacotta with mango sauce

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream

Chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream

Chocolate mousse with chantilly

Salty caramel cheesecake

Tiramisu with coffee or macha tea

Fusion delights

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Shrimp tempura

Bruschetta with fresh tomato relish and mozzarella

Shrimp ceviche with avocado

Beetroot ceviche with avocado

Baked feta cheese with honey and sesami seeds

Salmon carpaccio

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Watermelon salad with feta cheese and mint

Summer tomato salad

Green garden salad with avocado

Coleslaw salad with carrots, parsley and vinegar

Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, and peppers

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef steak with peppercorn sauce

Honey soya glazed salmon with sesame seeds

Salmon marinated with miso

Swordfish with baby potatoes and lemon or mango sauce

Seabass with red pepper sauce

Lamb chops with mint sauce

Chicken fillet served with seasonal vegetables

Selection of sushi and sashimi to share

Selection of Gyoza

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Salty caramel cheesecake

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream

Chocolate mousse with chantilly

Pannacotta with mango sauce

White chocolate pannacotta

Seasonal fruit platter to share

Tiramisu with coffee or macha tea

Fusion flavours

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce

Pita bread and vegetable sticks with homemade hummus and tzatziki

Spicy edamame

Vegetable samosas with curry sauce

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Watermelon salad with feta cheese and mint

Green garden salad with avocado

Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, and peppers

Summer tomato salad

Coleslaw salad with carrots, parsley and vinegar

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chickpea or chicken curry with rice

Chicken with sweet chilli sauce and pineapple

Fish of the day with seasonal vegetables

Chicken bites with feta cheese and lemon

Spicy ramen with shrimps and vegetables

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate brownie with ice cream

Pannacotta with mango sauce

Chocolate mousse with chantilly

Tiramisu with coffee or macha tea

Mediterranean delights

STARTER

All inclusive

Pita bread with tzatziki, olive paste and hummus

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onions, olives, and peppers

Summer tomato salad

Watermelon salad with feta cheese and mint

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken bites with feta cheese and lemon

Shrimps saganaki

Linguine with shrimps, fresh homemade tomato sauce and chilli

Fish of the day with seasonal vegetables

Beef stifado

Stuffed eggplants or stuffed tomatoes

Seabass with red pepper sauce

Chicken in oven with potatoes and oregano

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream

Pannacotta with fruits of the forest

Chocolate mousse with chantilly

Seasonal fruit platter

Italian delights

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Bruschetta with fresh tomato relish and mozzarella

Arancini

Mozzarella skewers with cherry tomato and pesto

Burratta with summer cherry tomatoes

Melon wrapped in proscutto

Mussels in white wine sauce

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Caprese (tomato, mozzarella, pesto)

Green garden salad with avocado

Summer tomato salad

Cold pesto pasta salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Casarecce pasta with fresh homemade tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, mozzarella, and basil

Seafood risotto

Linguine with mushroom, beef fillet and truffle oil

Fettucine with pink sauce

Chicken fillet with parmesan cheese and seasonal vegetables

Salmon served with mash potatoes and spinach

Pasta alla Vongola with white wine sauce

Beef steak with peppercorn sauce

Chicken alla milanese

Seabass with creamy polenta

Gnocchi with chesnuts and mushrooms

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pannacotta with fruits of the forest

Pannacotta with mango sauce

Chocolate brownie with ice cream

Tiramisu with coffee or macha tea

Fresh fruit platter to share

Salty caramel cheesecake

White chocolate pannacotta

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Chef Ionel's reviews

4.89

•

20 services

We recently had the pleasure of experiencing the exceptional culinary talents of Chef Ionel Panaite, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment he began planning the menu, it was evident that we were in the hands of a true professional who genuinely cares about his clients. Chef Ionel went above and beyond to ensure our event was memorable. He thoughtfully took into account the celebration of both our child's birthday and my own, surprising us with cakes and decorated tablesetting. His attention to detail in these personal touches truly made the day special. Understanding the diverse needs of our family, Chef Ionel meticulously prepared a menu that catered to both children and adults. Each dish was a testament to his skill and creativity, appealing to every palate present. The children's menu was fun and nutritious, while the adult offerings were sophisticated and flavorful, showcasing his versatility and dedication to quality. He was cooking fresh plates as we asked typical from the area. What stood out the most was Chef Ionel's impeccable organization and amazing energy. He coordinated everything to perfection, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience for us. His thoughtfulness and helpful nature shone through in every interaction, making us feel valued and understood. In summary, Chef Ionel provided us with more than just a meal; he gave us an unforgettable experience filled with care, precision, and a personal touch that elevated our celebration to new heights. We wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a chef who not only excels in culinary arts but also in creating lasting memories.

This experience was amazing and was way above our expectations for our party of 6. Lonel cooked us an amazing dinner, fully needed after a full day of traveling. Each course was a culinary experience, very fresh ingredients and delicious! This was our first taste of Greece, and every part of the course was an exceptional wow moment! The salad, the numerous appetizers, second course and third course and an amazing dessert to top it off. This was a fabulous start to our vacation!! We all were amazed at the quality of ingredients and felt like we just ate at a Michelin star restaurant in the home we were staying at. We all highly recommend booking Lonel and experience this exquisite culinary adventure!! Thank you so much for the wonderful meal!! We hope to be back and do it again!

We were so pleased with the food from Ionel! He did a great job and made our night very memorable! Highly recommend!

We had a great experience with Ionel. We arranged this last minute and he was very flexible and accommodating. He made some wonderful food for us and the kids and went out of his way to make it extra special with small touches that made all the difference. The food was fantastic and we had the most wonderful evening. Thank you Ionel! We would definitely arrange for him to come again if we were in Rhodes.

Chef Ionel provided exemplary service for a dinner following our wedding! He went above and beyond our expectations with the menu, service and food. All courses were absolutely delicious and he was able to complete it in a very small kitchen space. Ionel truly helped make our day special, we would hire him again in a heartbeat

Ionel provided us with a truly amazing evening and food experience. He was extremely engaging in helping us arrange our menu, especially as we wanted it gluten free. The food was spectacular and exceeded our expectations and his portions were not small either. He helped us pair wines for each dish and blended in really well with everyone that evening. Highly recommended and we will use Ionel on our next trip to Rhodes next year.