Chef Marcus Johnson

Private Chef In Cincinnati

I have over 15 years of experience with stents of knowledge in 20 different world cuisines. I love cooking with fresh ingredients and being challenged daily. My favorite thing to cook is braised meats so Short ribs, Oxtails, Brisket, Pork Butts, Lamb Shanks etc. I feel braising is the best way to develop flavor. I also really enjoy cooking whole fish with the HEAD ON! I've been to Beijing, Thai-land, and The Caribbean islands to sharpen my technique and craft. To me the true essence of a chef is not what he chooses to cook but how he chooses to cook it.

For me, cooking is...

Therapy. A good meal can turn strangers into friends. To break bread with another individual is the ultimate sign of respect in my eyes

I learned to cook at...

Scarlet oaks career and development center(high-school) Sullivan University (culinary school) Palms Hotel in Las Vegas NV(3 month internship)

A cooking secret...

CONFIDENCE. Confidence is everything. With confidence you've won before you've even started.

Chef Marcus's reviews

4.8

•

31 services

Chef Marcus was great! He prepared a wonderful and filling meal for 16 senior high school young men and all left full and thankful.

We booked Marcus for our anniversary dinner and it was a great experience. The food was amazing and he was very personable. The menu was well thought out and dinner flowed smoothly. I will definitely book again for future events.

I cannot believe how Chef Marcus went above and beyond but still managed to exceed all expectations! He showed up prepared for a full four course meal and delivered on every single dish. I cannot wait to get him again!

Chef Marcus is MAGNIFICENT!! He has a very pleasant presence, and his dishes were ABSOLUTELY DIVINE!! If you are looking to hire a chef, he is one you definitely want to have on your list!! Excellent service, beautiful presentation, and delicious meals. A definite 5 Stars from me!!!

Chef Marcus was punctual and attentive. He served us a delicious four course meal that left us asking questions about his preparation so that we could try to mimic it. He was very attentive to our needs as far as the menu goes. I would recommend and I would do it again in a heartbeat

Wonderful experience with Marcus. Dinner was delicious!

Highly recommend Chef Marcus. He was a little later than discussed but let me know well in advance that he was running behind. He was a true professional, friendly, and the food truly spoke for itself with each succulent bite. Everyone in attendance enjoyed the experience. I plan to use him again in the future.

Chef Johnson was EXCELLENT! His menu sounded amazing upon submission and did not disappoint in real life. He was gracious, worked quickly and quietly, explained each course and his inspiration, and glowed with pride at the end of his meal service. I was delighted with his food and his service ethic. In addition to each course being more delicious than the previous, his plating and presentation was perfect. I expect to look up in the near future and read great things about Chef Johnson. If he ever opens his own restaurant good luck getting a reservation! I see Michelin Stars in his future. Glad I got to experience his work before Food & Wine spills the beans.

Marcus was awesome! Would recommend him to anyone!

Chef Marcus was fantastic and would definitely recommend. The food was fantastic!!! We loved the menu he proposed from the jump and the meal did not disappoint! He nailed it and we had a great night!

We wanted to do something special for our daughter's 37th birthday. We usually go to one of the nicer restaurants in Cincinnati. With Covid precautions in place, dining out was not an option this year. On Wednesday morning I contacted Take a Chef. Chef Marcus Johnson emailed me on Thursday, and we decided on a menu. By Friday evening we were enjoying a fabulous dinner in our own dining room. Lobster bisque (beautiful presentation), crab cakes on fresh greens, braised short ribs with parmesan mashed potatoes and asparagus, and Madagascar vanilla creme brûlée for dessert. Chef Marcus presented then explained each dish. Friendly yet not intrusive. Everything about the evening was just perfect. Highly recommend !

The entire process of securing the chef was seamless and easy! I'd recommend this to anyone interested in making your event special. Chef Marcus explained every dish, presentation was beautiful, food was presented timely, and of good quality. He had great personality and was efficient. Professional and personable would definitely recommend and rehire him for future events.

Marcus was great--professional, focused, but also friendly. The perfect in-house meal and chef.

I arranged dinner for my wife's birthday. Given the COVID-19 situation, she did not want to go out to a restaurant so I decided on an in-home dining experience. The chef was very quick to respond to questions sent through the website. After receiving the chef's suggested menu, I was able to make a substitution for the appetizer right away. After shopping for the dinner the day before the engagement, the chef informed me that he was unable to find veal for the main course and proposed a couple of substitute options. Quite frankly, I thought that the chef should have been able to deliver on the veal and I was disappointed that I had to change the main course at such a late date. Given the lateness of the change, I felt that I had no choice but to choose a substitute or I was going to disappoint my wife if I cancelled. Despite the last-minute menu change, the meal itself was well-presented and well-prepared. The portions were more than generous, and we had leftovers from the meal. The chef explained each course in detail, and even opened and poured the wine I provided. He cleaned up the kitchen and left us with very little to do once he left. Overall, we had a good experience and we will definitely do it again. We might try a different chef just to have a different experience, but we would use the same chef again if the opportunity presents itself.