Chef Tom Pace

Personal Chef In Santa Rosa

I am a veteran of three Bay Area caterers and in 2018 branched out on my own. My primary source of business has been through Thumbtack where I have done over 250 events from 6 - 120 guests. From this, I have generated over 100 user reviews, all but one 5 stars. These are verifiable. I can cook any number of cuisines from Italian, French, American classic, Wine Country, Pacific Northwest, Cajun, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Asian, etc.. My partner, Cristina, accompanies me on all dinner experiences to provide 5 star service.

For me, cooking is...

an expression of love - towards the ingredients and the guests. As Ina Garten has said, "Cooking is the ultimate expression of love".

I learned to cook at...

Self taught and three stints with reputable Bay Area Caterers

A cooking secret...

Treat the ingredients with respect, use no more than is required, leave the client satisfied.

My menus

Wine Country get away 5 course

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Grilled crostini with garlic, tomato, basil and Burrata

Portobello mushrooms stuffed with sausage, corn bread and sage

Seared duck breast with cherry glaze

Cheese and Charcuterie with fresh fruit and assorted crackers (some GF)

Baked Brie en croute with honey, apricots and slivered almonds

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Field greens and arugula tossed with vinaigrette and topped with orange segments, shaved fennel, pickled red onion and shaved Parmesan

Or field greens topped with roasted rainbow beets with shaved fennel, green onions, toasted pine nuts and oregano infused vinaigrette

Or fresh pear with butter lettuce, blue cheese and onion with dijon dressing

Soup of fresh English pea plus mint

Pasta and pizza for the kids at 6pm

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled Ribeye sliced and served with Chimichurri, potatoes Daphinoise and vegetables

Salmon with Sumac and orange, pilaf and asparagus

Seared sea bass with lemon brown butter sauce, mushroom risotto and vegetable

Center cut pork chops with grilled peaches and caramelized onion, corn timbales and vegetable

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Wine-poached pear with whipped cream and berries

Ginger pear tart on puff pastry with vanilla gelato

Wine poached figs with creme fraiche

Berry crisp with vanilla gelato

Middle Eastern - 3 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Mezze Platter (Hummus, baba ganouj, pita bread, Muhammara dip, marinated feta and olives)

Fresh baked Spanikopita

Dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves)

Lamb kefta with Morocccan tomato sauce and feta

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Greek Salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken Schwarma with saffron scented pilaf and grilled vegetables with Tahini sauce

Lamb or beef kabobs with preserved lemon, pilaf and grilled vegetables

"Impossible" Moroccan meatballs with spicy tomato sauce, Pearled cous cous and vegetables

Mousaka as a main course or as a side along with your lamb kebabs

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Baklava with coconut ice cream

Meskouta, or Moroccan lemon cake with lavender ice cream

Ghoriba, Middle Eastern almond cookies with tea

Wine Country get away - 4 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Grilled Crostini rubbed with garlic with fresh tomato, burrata cheese and basil

Or Stuffed portobello mushroom

Cheese and Charcuterie with fresh fruit and assorted crackers (some GF)

Baked Brie en croute with honey, apricots and slivered almonds

Italian Tartine appetizers (bread slices topped with caramelized onion, fig and proscuitto, blue cheese/ricotta with candied orange, eggplant caponata with anchovies, etc)

Onion and blue cheese tart with fig/honey drizzle

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Field greens topped with roasted rainbow beets with shaved fennel, green onions, toasted pine nuts and oregano infused vinaigrette

Or English pea and fresh mint soup (cold)

Field greens and arugula tossed with vinaigrette and topped with orange segments, shaved fennel, pickled red onion and shaved Parmesan

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled Ribeye sliced and served with Chimichurri, roasted rosemary potatoes and vegetables

Salmon with Sumac and orange, pilaf and asparagus

Seared duck breasts sliced and served with thyme-infused tart cherry glaze, wild rice polenta and vegetable

Seared sea bass with lemon brown butter sauce, mushroom risotto and vegetable

Center cut pork chops with grilled peaches and caramelized onion, corn timbales and vegetable

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Wine-poached pear with whipped cream and berries

Or ginger pear tart on puff pastry with vanilla gelato

Berry crisp with vanilla gelato

Northwest Ferry - 3 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Bacon wrapped scallops

Potato Latkes with Salmon Roe, Sour Cream, and Chives

Wild mushrooms with caramelized onion on crostinis and creme fraiche

Ahi spoons with wasabi aioli

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

On grilled salmon with olive/caper relish, mushroom risotto and vegetable

Pork tenderloin with five-spice powder, grilled peaches, goat cheese, pistachios and goats milk caramel

Foil-wrapped salmon with pesto, potatoes au-gratin and seared brussel sprouts

Frenched rack of lamb with fresh mint sauce, rosemary new potatoes and vegetable

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Ginger pear tart on puff pastry with vanilla gelato

Peach-Berry Cobbler

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting

Warm apple crisp with vanilla gelato

Peach tarts with light rosemary honey drizzle with creme fraiche

Middle Eastern - 4 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Mezze Platter (Hummus, baba ganouj, pita bread, Muhammara dip, marinated feta and olives)

Fresh baked Spanikopita

Lamb kefta with Morocccan tomato sauce and feta

Dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh tomato salad with Persian cucumbers, red onion and herb vinaigrette

Crushed Kale with quinoa, feta and lemon vinaigrette

Lebanese Tabbouleh Salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken Schwarma with Pearled cous cous and grilled vegetables with Tahini sauce

Marinated lamb kabobs with tzatziki, saffron rice and vegetable

"Impossible" Moroccan meatballs with spicy tomato sauce. (vegan) with saffron rice and vegetable

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Baklava with coconut ice cream

Coconut flan

Ghoriba, Middle Eastern almond cookies with tea

Meskouta, or Moroccan lemon cake with lavender ice cream

Wine Country get away - 3 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Grilled crostini with heirloom tomato and basil and burrata

Cheese and Charcuterie with fresh fruit and assorted crackers (some GF)

Onion and blue cheese tart with fig/honey drizzle

Baked Brie en croute with honey, apricots and slivered almonds

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef ribeye sliced and served with mushroom demi-glace, roasted Rosemary potatoes and mixed grilled vegetables

Or seared sea bass with lemon brown butter sauce, mushroom risotto and vegetable

Center cut pork chops with grilled peaches and caramelized onion, corn timbales and vegetable

Duck breast sliced and served with tart cherry sauce and mini wild rice pancake

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Wine-poached pear with whipped cream and berries

Berry crisp with vanilla gelato

Wine poached figs with creme fraiche

Latin Tango 4 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

A variety of Argentinian Empanadas (some vegetarian)

Homemade Guacamole with fresh fried tortilla chips

Hot Queso dip

Shrimp croquettes

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Mexican Caesar salad with lime, cotija cheese and tortilla strips

Mexican meatball soup

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Or Grilled Mahi Mahi with pineapple salsa

Chicken cheese enchilada verdes with black beans and Spanish rice

Grilled lime steak asada with grilled peppers and rice

Chile Relleno casserole

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Brazilian flan with Caramel

Fried bananas with toasted coconut ice cream

Argentina Chocotorta

Verona Romance - 3 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Italian Tartine appetizers (bread slices topped with caramelized onion, fig and proscuitto, blue cheese/ricotta with candied orange, eggplant caponata with capers and anchovies, etc)

Arranchini with marinara dip

Ahi or Hamachi Crudo in spoons

Antipasto Bites with fresh tortellini

Tomato bruschetta on fresh baked Crostini

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken Picatta or Marsala with polenta or risotto with vegetable

Beef ribeye served Tuscan style with roasted Rosemary potatoes and mixed grilled vegetables

Seared sea bass with lemon brown butter sauce, mushroom risotto and vegetable

Salmon picatta with fettuchini alfredo

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Vanilla panna cotta with fresh fruit in season

Tiramisu

Granita with Amaretti cookies

Authentic Italian Rice Pudding with berries

Wine Country get away 5 course

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Grilled crostini with garlic, tomato, basil and Burrata

Portobello mushrooms stuffed with sausage, corn bread and sage

Seared duck breast with cherry glaze

Cheese and Charcuterie with fresh fruit and assorted crackers (some GF)

Baked Brie en croute with honey, apricots and slivered almonds

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Field greens and arugula tossed with vinaigrette and topped with orange segments, shaved fennel, pickled red onion and shaved Parmesan

Or field greens topped with roasted rainbow beets with shaved fennel, green onions, toasted pine nuts and oregano infused vinaigrette

Or fresh pear with butter lettuce, blue cheese and onion with dijon dressing

Soup of fresh English pea plus mint

Pasta and pizza for the kids at 6pm

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled Ribeye sliced and served with Chimichurri, potatoes Daphinoise and vegetables

Salmon with Sumac and orange, pilaf and asparagus

Seared sea bass with lemon brown butter sauce, mushroom risotto and vegetable

Center cut pork chops with grilled peaches and caramelized onion, corn timbales and vegetable

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Wine-poached pear with whipped cream and berries

Ginger pear tart on puff pastry with vanilla gelato

Wine poached figs with creme fraiche

Berry crisp with vanilla gelato

Middle Eastern - 3 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Mezze Platter (Hummus, baba ganouj, pita bread, Muhammara dip, marinated feta and olives)

Fresh baked Spanikopita

Dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves)

Lamb kefta with Morocccan tomato sauce and feta

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Greek Salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken Schwarma with saffron scented pilaf and grilled vegetables with Tahini sauce

Lamb or beef kabobs with preserved lemon, pilaf and grilled vegetables

"Impossible" Moroccan meatballs with spicy tomato sauce, Pearled cous cous and vegetables

Mousaka as a main course or as a side along with your lamb kebabs

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Baklava with coconut ice cream

Meskouta, or Moroccan lemon cake with lavender ice cream

Ghoriba, Middle Eastern almond cookies with tea

Wine Country get away - 4 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Grilled Crostini rubbed with garlic with fresh tomato, burrata cheese and basil

Or Stuffed portobello mushroom

Cheese and Charcuterie with fresh fruit and assorted crackers (some GF)

Baked Brie en croute with honey, apricots and slivered almonds

Italian Tartine appetizers (bread slices topped with caramelized onion, fig and proscuitto, blue cheese/ricotta with candied orange, eggplant caponata with anchovies, etc)

Onion and blue cheese tart with fig/honey drizzle

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Field greens topped with roasted rainbow beets with shaved fennel, green onions, toasted pine nuts and oregano infused vinaigrette

Or English pea and fresh mint soup (cold)

Field greens and arugula tossed with vinaigrette and topped with orange segments, shaved fennel, pickled red onion and shaved Parmesan

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled Ribeye sliced and served with Chimichurri, roasted rosemary potatoes and vegetables

Salmon with Sumac and orange, pilaf and asparagus

Seared duck breasts sliced and served with thyme-infused tart cherry glaze, wild rice polenta and vegetable

Seared sea bass with lemon brown butter sauce, mushroom risotto and vegetable

Center cut pork chops with grilled peaches and caramelized onion, corn timbales and vegetable

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Wine-poached pear with whipped cream and berries

Or ginger pear tart on puff pastry with vanilla gelato

Berry crisp with vanilla gelato

Northwest Ferry - 3 course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Bacon wrapped scallops

Potato Latkes with Salmon Roe, Sour Cream, and Chives

Wild mushrooms with caramelized onion on crostinis and creme fraiche

Ahi spoons with wasabi aioli

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

On grilled salmon with olive/caper relish, mushroom risotto and vegetable

Pork tenderloin with five-spice powder, grilled peaches, goat cheese, pistachios and goats milk caramel

Foil-wrapped salmon with pesto, potatoes au-gratin and seared brussel sprouts

Frenched rack of lamb with fresh mint sauce, rosemary new potatoes and vegetable

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Ginger pear tart on puff pastry with vanilla gelato

Peach-Berry Cobbler

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting

Warm apple crisp with vanilla gelato

Peach tarts with light rosemary honey drizzle with creme fraiche

Show me more

Chef Tom's reviews

4.55

•

95 services

We enjoyed being able to visit while the chef prepared our meal. Was a great way for our family to get family time while no one is pulled away to the kitchen.

We could not have been happier with Tom & Cristina. The menu was perfect, the execution of the food was amazing. Tom and Cristina were friendly and engaging without being intrusive. We were celebrating a friend's birthday and Tom baked her favorite cake, which was absolutely delicious. I cannot recommend them highly enough. If you're going to be in the Sonoma area you cannot go wrong with securing Tom and Cristina to create a wonderful meal.

Provided a lovely experience for my parents 50th wedding anniversary! The food was delicious and presentation outstanding! Would highly recommend

Chef Tom and Cristina were fantastic. Highly recommend.

Chef Tom and his assistant were fabulous. All details were thoughtfully attended to… from the planning stage through execution. Our family & friends raved about the service and quality of our meals throughout the weekend. We highly recommend !

Chef Tom was fun and the food was delicious. He was responsive and easy to work with on menu changes and diet restrictions. The kitchen was spotless. His assistant, Christina, was lovely and attentive.

Chef Tom was great! He was very communicative before the reservation and accommodating of our dietary restrictions. He was prompt for our reservation and very professional. The food was simple and delicious! The vanilla pane cotta for dessert was amazing!

Our bachelorette group had a wonderful night with Chef Dave! The food was excellent and so was the conversation.

Chef Tom was lovely to work with! He was very flexible and accommodating as we decided what would be on the menu, and he was open to my ideas! The night of our event Chef Tom was on time, and was a pleasure. He made sure that everything revolved around the guests and that the night flowed appropriately. The food was delicious and our guests were really pleased. Chef Tom was also great to talk to and really ensured that we had a positive, memorable experience. I'd highly recommend working with Chef Tom for your upcoming event!

Chef Tom was a pleasure to work with. The entire party thoroughly enjoyed all three meals. I would definitely recommend Chef Tom. Thank you for a wonderful experience

Chef Tom was pitch perfect. The food and service were spot on. He was even a fun party guest while he was there (and tolerated some rowdy party guests while he was trying to cook). I would recommend Chef Tom, and I hope to use him again in the future.

Chef Tom prepared two dinners and a breakfast for our family events. Everything was perfect which help make our weekend event a memorable occasion. We would highly recommend Chef Tom.

We enjoyed being able to visit while the chef prepared our meal. Was a great way for our family to get family time while no one is pulled away to the kitchen.