Chef Valentina De Palma

Private Chef In Taranto

My name is Valentina De Palma, I'm an executive chef, based in Taranto, Puglia, Southern Italy. I have my own catering company, Gustodivino, and I often work as a consultant for entrepreneurs that want to start a ho.re.ca. business from ground zero. My life has changed, since I met the kitchen passion.

I am an executive chef capable of managing à-la-carte restaurants with over 200 seating tables available; I can organize caterings for 300 attendees in absurd locations, like museums and castles that do not even have a sink or an oven. I worked my way through the kitchen world, but as I previously said, my architectural background makes me feel more comfortable when I can dedicate the utmost attention to any single decoration of a main course; or to the research of the best, freshest ingredients for a seasonal soup. I am obsessive towards the details, the geometry of a plating. It is something that you can really take care of only when you work on relatively small-numbered jobs.

Before that, in fact, I was an architect. I graduated from Florence's university in the early 90s, then moved back to my hometown, Taranto. I worked all over Italy, focusing mainly on indoor design. But I knew I was made for something different, something that has a direct, instant impact on one's life; something that can suddenly show you the immediate result of your efforts.

For me, cooking is...

Be happier then ever !

I learned to cook at...

Igles Corelli michelin star chef Jamie Oliver I did several high-quality cooking classes.

A cooking secret...

Be a multicultural chef, mixing ingredients form all the countries with my italian tradition and dishes

My menus

Healthy Puglia

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble

Mini tartare of fresh local fish served with mediterannean dressing

Steamed fish meatballs served with yogurt and curcuma mayo

Wholemeal bread crostone , ricotta , fresh figs

3 different veggie hummus served with home made bread

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tabbouleh salad

Orecchiette pasta salad ( cold salad , with yellow cherry tomatoes, basil, oil of olive, cacioricotta cheese )

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

Orange and fennel salad served with capocollo ham slices

Barbley salad with steamed and roasted vegetables, aromatich fresh herbs

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Local fish fillet, on tomatoes fondue, served with roasted potatoes

Tuna tataki in poppyseed crust, primitivo wine jelly, tahina sauce

Lamb tajine with almond and steamed fruits and vegetables

Local roasted marinated chicken, served with orange and coconut mashed potatoes

Classic filled aubergine ( Imam style) vegan

DESSERT

All inclusive

Carrot and dates cake

Almond and chocolate cake

Apple cake served with vanilla ice cream

PUGLIA LOVERS SPECIAL EDITION

STARTER

Choose 3 dishes

Tapas with local fish tartare

Shrimp & vegetables tempura

Crostone smoked aubergine cream, mint, dried tomatoes, cacioricotta cheese

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble

Classic Mussels gratin ( Typical apulian baked mussels )

Typical stewed mussels and claims

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Marinara risotto ( SEAFOOD risotto : octopus, squid, mussels , shrimp )

Spaghetti with cuttlefish ink, burrata cream, prawn tartare, lime zest

Paccheri with octopus ragù in primitivo wine

Orecchiette, broccoli in two consistencies, crunchy capocollo ham, Celline olive powder

Tonnarelli ( thick spaghetti ) with white beef ragout, cooked at low temperature for 4 hours

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tender octopus on broad bean pure, caramelized onion, mint, octopus mayo

Seabream or branzino fillet on tomatoes coulis, fresh erbs, cappers

Grilled prawns marinated in Mediterranean herbs, bisque white wine sauce

Local Beef tataki in fresh herb crust, deglazed red wine beef sauce

Beef stew in primitivo red wine with mashed lime potatoes

Low temperature glazed pork belly, fresh vegetables salad

Pork loin in crust of fresh erbs and orange and lime mashed potatoes

DESSERT

All inclusive

Almond and chocolate cake, served with home made vanilla ice cream

My iconic Tiramisu

Bocconotto, typical custard pie of Valle d'Itria

Deconstructed cannoli

AMAZING PUGLIA

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Courgette Flowers in tempura

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble, cacioricotta cheese

Shrimp & vegetables tempura

Rice arancini, potatoes and mussels on tomatoes fondue

Cheese carcuterie and home made marmelade

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Saffron risotto, burrata, prawns

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

Calamarata ( type of pasta ) with seafood ragu

Apulian cacio e pepe ( with mussels and pecorino cheese )

Tagliatelle with bolognese ragù ( meat mince sauce )

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Seabream or branzino fillet on tomatoes coulis, fresh erbs, cappers

Tender octopus on broad bean pure, caramelized onion, mint

Beef stew in primitivo red wine with mashed lime potatoes

Apulian pork belly, pastrami served with fresh vegetables salad

Pork belly with crispy rind, fresh cucumber sauce and duchessa potatoes

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Almond and chocolate cake

My iconic Tiramisu

Cheese cake with fresh fruit topping

Puglia meets Japan

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Apulian sushi roll with local raw and cooked fish

Sushi bagel with fresh local seafood

Kakiage Tempura

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Home made shrimp gyoza

Puglia seafood Udon

Chicken teriaky udon

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tuna tataki in poppyseed crust, primitivo wine jelly, tahina sauce

Garlic & miso chicken served with stewed veggie

Katsu chicken bowl

Ponzu beef tataki

DESSERT

All inclusive

Japanese sweet potatoes creme brule

Japanese pancake served with custard cream

Tokyo cheese cake

Puglia Lovers

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Crostone, fresh cream cheese, figs, capocollo ham

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble, cacioricotta cheese

Classic barese focaccia bread

Classic Puglian au gratin mussels - Mussels au gratin

Peppered mussels ( sauteéd mussles )

Cheese carcuterie and home made marmelade

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella, lemon zest

Apulian cacio e pepe ( with mussels and pecorino cheese )

Orecchiette, fresh tomatoes sauce, classic meatball

Risotto, confit tomatoes, crunchy capocollo ham, pecorino fondue

Tagliatelle with bolognese ragù ( meat mince sauce )

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Bombette : typical meat filled rolls skewers served with roasted poatatoes

Apulian pork belly, pastrami served with fresh vegetables salad

Orange, lime and mint marinated Pork shoulder, fresh salad or baked potatoes

Classic filled aubergine

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

My iconic Tiramisu

Almond and chocolate cake

Mediterranean Experience

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble

Crostone smoked aubergine cream, mint, dried tomatoes, cacioricotta cheese

Cheese carcuterie and home made marmelade

Sage leaves tempura

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

Apulian cacio e pepe ( with mussels and pecorino cheese )

Cavatelli with mussels and claims

Risotto porcini mushrooms and pecorino cheese fondue

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Mixed bbq local meat ( sausages, bombette )

Tender octopus on broad bean pure, caramelized onion, mint

Orange, lime and mint marinated Pork shoulder, fresh salad

Classic Aubergine parmigiana

DESSERT

All inclusive

My iconic Tiramisu

Almond and chocolate cake

Apple cake served with vanilla ice cream

Puglia Fusion

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

3 different veggie hummus served with home made bread

Sushi bagel with fresh local seafood

Chicken teriaky skewers

Tuna & salmn tartare servede on crunchy frisella bread

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Apulian noodles, tonnarelli ( type of pasta), local chicken, crunchy capocollo, ham , seasonal vegetables

Home made dumpling, filled with local meat and vegetables

Home made shrimp gyoza

Moroccan seafood risotto

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Local Beef tataki in fresh herb crust, deglazed red wine beef sauce

Tuna tataki in poppyseed crust, primitivo wine jelly, tahina sauce

Lamb tajine with almond and steamed fruits and vegetables

Imam aubergine, served with tomatoes ice cream

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Almond and chocolate cake

Thandai cake

Bocconotto, typical custard pie of Valle d'Itria with cardamom custard

Healthy Puglia

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble

Mini tartare of fresh local fish served with mediterannean dressing

Steamed fish meatballs served with yogurt and curcuma mayo

Wholemeal bread crostone , ricotta , fresh figs

3 different veggie hummus served with home made bread

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tabbouleh salad

Orecchiette pasta salad ( cold salad , with yellow cherry tomatoes, basil, oil of olive, cacioricotta cheese )

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

Orange and fennel salad served with capocollo ham slices

Barbley salad with steamed and roasted vegetables, aromatich fresh herbs

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Local fish fillet, on tomatoes fondue, served with roasted potatoes

Tuna tataki in poppyseed crust, primitivo wine jelly, tahina sauce

Lamb tajine with almond and steamed fruits and vegetables

Local roasted marinated chicken, served with orange and coconut mashed potatoes

Classic filled aubergine ( Imam style) vegan

DESSERT

All inclusive

Carrot and dates cake

Almond and chocolate cake

Apple cake served with vanilla ice cream

PUGLIA LOVERS SPECIAL EDITION

STARTER

Choose 3 dishes

Tapas with local fish tartare

Shrimp & vegetables tempura

Crostone smoked aubergine cream, mint, dried tomatoes, cacioricotta cheese

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble

Classic Mussels gratin ( Typical apulian baked mussels )

Typical stewed mussels and claims

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Marinara risotto ( SEAFOOD risotto : octopus, squid, mussels , shrimp )

Spaghetti with cuttlefish ink, burrata cream, prawn tartare, lime zest

Paccheri with octopus ragù in primitivo wine

Orecchiette, broccoli in two consistencies, crunchy capocollo ham, Celline olive powder

Tonnarelli ( thick spaghetti ) with white beef ragout, cooked at low temperature for 4 hours

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tender octopus on broad bean pure, caramelized onion, mint, octopus mayo

Seabream or branzino fillet on tomatoes coulis, fresh erbs, cappers

Grilled prawns marinated in Mediterranean herbs, bisque white wine sauce

Local Beef tataki in fresh herb crust, deglazed red wine beef sauce

Beef stew in primitivo red wine with mashed lime potatoes

Low temperature glazed pork belly, fresh vegetables salad

Pork loin in crust of fresh erbs and orange and lime mashed potatoes

DESSERT

All inclusive

Almond and chocolate cake, served with home made vanilla ice cream

My iconic Tiramisu

Bocconotto, typical custard pie of Valle d'Itria

Deconstructed cannoli

AMAZING PUGLIA

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Courgette Flowers in tempura

Acquasale salad, raw and cooked local vegetables, frisella crumble, cacioricotta cheese

Shrimp & vegetables tempura

Rice arancini, potatoes and mussels on tomatoes fondue

Cheese carcuterie and home made marmelade

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Saffron risotto, burrata, prawns

Fresh hand made orecchiette (pasta ), smoked tomatoes cream, stracciatella cheese, lemon zest

Calamarata ( type of pasta ) with seafood ragu

Apulian cacio e pepe ( with mussels and pecorino cheese )

Tagliatelle with bolognese ragù ( meat mince sauce )

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Seabream or branzino fillet on tomatoes coulis, fresh erbs, cappers

Tender octopus on broad bean pure, caramelized onion, mint

Beef stew in primitivo red wine with mashed lime potatoes

Apulian pork belly, pastrami served with fresh vegetables salad

Pork belly with crispy rind, fresh cucumber sauce and duchessa potatoes

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Almond and chocolate cake

My iconic Tiramisu

Cheese cake with fresh fruit topping

Puglia meets Japan

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Apulian sushi roll with local raw and cooked fish

Sushi bagel with fresh local seafood

Kakiage Tempura

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Home made shrimp gyoza

Puglia seafood Udon

Chicken teriaky udon

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tuna tataki in poppyseed crust, primitivo wine jelly, tahina sauce

Garlic & miso chicken served with stewed veggie

Katsu chicken bowl

Ponzu beef tataki

DESSERT

All inclusive

Japanese sweet potatoes creme brule

Japanese pancake served with custard cream

Tokyo cheese cake

Show me more

Chef Valentina's reviews

4.8

•

51 services

La Chef Valentina De Palma è una grande professionista, molto simpatica e soprattutto molto attenta nel suo lavoro! Grazie a lei in questo periodo di pandemia sono riuscita a far festeggiare il compleanno a mio marito, proprio come se fossimo al ristorante, ma senza uscire di casa! La Chef è stata attentissima alle mie intolleranze alimentari (glutine e lattosio) e ha avuto un occhio di riguardo per tutto il servizio anche al fatto che sono incinta, evitando di mettere ad esempio guarnizioni a crudo, seppur ben lavate, sul mio piatto, e non ho mai avuto bisogno di farglielo presente! (cosa che invece in molti ristoranti, anche se lo si fa presente al momento dell'ordinazione, lo fanno lo stesso). È stata una Chef bravissima, e molto gentile ed umana! Ho avuto problemi con i fornelli di casa giusto due giorni prima dell'evento e la Chef ha prontamente risolto il problema permettendoci di festeggiare lo stesso il compleanno! Il pranzo è stato davvero ottimo, molte portate abbondanti e ricche di sapori! Ogni piatto era veramente buonissimo, ma vorrei soffermarmi sulla sua famosa torta al cioccolato con salsa al caramello e panna... Se avrete la fortuna di ricevere una proposta di menù dalla Chef De Palma non potete non metterla nel vostro menù! In conclusione ri faremo molto volentieri questa esperienza! Ci siamo trovati talmente bene che abbiamo già sparso la voce anche con i nostri amici e molti stanno già pensando di chiamarla per compleanni o eventi speciali!

Esperienza molto piacevole. Chef discreto, efficace, piatti belli e buoni.

This was my first time using Take a Chef and I was impressed. The only thing that would have been better is if I could have connected with the chef earlier to discuss the menu options, rather than having to select all the menu items first and be locked into those.

The lovely meal created and served by Valentina was a birthday present given to me by a friend. I was visiting Lecce, Italy and Valentina brought the gift to the AirB&B where we were staying. The food was fabulous and so was Valentina. She was friendly and professional. We wholeheartedly recommend Valentina for any dinner or other events for which you need great food prepared! Also, an amazing gift for a friend or colleague.

Chef Valentina was an absolute professional. The food was local, fresh and delicious - exactly what we'd asked for. We even had leftovers to make a delicious pasta for lunch time the day after. Wouldn't ever hesitate to recommend Valentina and will be contacting her when we're next in Puglia.

It was wonderful!

Valentina and her assistant Alba gave us a meal to remember. The food was delicious and Valentina took the time to explain them to us. We wouldn't hesitate to use take a chef and Valentina again if we are ever lucky enough to be back in Puglia.

That was a memorable evening, the menu and the meals were so good and exactly what we were expecting. Valentina and Alba are so nice and warm.

Valentina was excellent!!! She made everything on the previously discussed menu impeccably and provided a bunch of amazing extras...Her presentation, professionalism & personality were only surpassed by her meticulously prepared food. It made all of our nights!!!

Chef Valentina è stata perfetta in tutto, ha reso il nostro momento unico con piatti straordinari. La sua personalità traspariva dal servizio ai gusti incontrati, non solo la consiglio, la reputo una certezza anche per occasioni future 5 stelle+

Chef Valentina was absolutely incredible! She brought her son to help prepare the meal and serve us. She did everything from setting our table to doing the dishes. She explained every meal and spoke to us about the area and gave recommendations. She made the evening so memorable and we would book her again in a heartbeat! One of our favorite nights in Italy.

Valentina è super professionale e attenta a tutti i desideri o esigenze di ogni singolo ospite. La sua esperienza come chef è palpabile in ogni piatto che propone. Super consigliata.

Esperienza sbalorditiva, un vero viaggio nel gusto. Lo chef all'altezza della situazione.

Amazing experience! The chef was Great!! Excellent cooking and professionality! The food tastes so good!!! Recommend to everyone! ♥️

Lovely food, friendly service, very happy

We invited Domenico and Francesca in our holiday home and we had the best time. Both of them are super friendly and prepared the most delicious meal for us. They told us about their lives, the region and they created a lovely atmosphere. It was like we were going out for dinner to a restaurant... but better. They even left the house super clean! Clear communication and flexible about the agenda because we needed to reschedule. Also perfectly on time. We highly recommend to book these professional chefs for a great experience.

Our group had a great experience with Chef Valentina! She made us a custom meal and even brought us some extra appetizers to try food unique to the Puglia region. The local cheese and figs (she picked fresh on her way over) were delicious. She even made a special fig jam that she left with us as a gift. Would book again!

It was my first experience with take a chef and having a private chef more broadly and Valentina did not disappoint. She went above and beyond to cater to all our differing dietary requests and created an incredible meal that the whole party enjoyed. I would definitely recommend Valentina and the take a chef service to others.

We had a great evening thanks to Valentina and Osman! Valentina was very caring during the meal. She also offered us a vegetarian alternative. The meal was very filling and we enjoyed it! We were able to taste typical dishes from Puglia! The kitchen was returned in perfect condition! Valentina is adorable and gave us advice for the rest of our stay in Puglia! If you want to have a good time and eat like a king, choose Valentina!