How to Choose a Private Chef in Tuscany (Without Getting Burned)

Ciao, I'm Emily, co-owner of Intimate.Wine. Planning a dinner in Tuscany should be an enjoyable part of your trip. But when you're arranging it from another country, a beautiful photograph can only tell you so much.

You want to know who will arrive, what they'll cook, and whether everyone at your table will feel considered. You also want the evening you've discussed to match the one you're paying for.

If you're wondering how to choose a private chef in Tuscany, these are the five things I'd check before booking. A few thoughtful questions now leave much more room to relax later.

1. Check credentials and ask who will actually be there

Start with names and roles. Who is preparing the food? Who is organising the evening? If wine pairings are offered, who chooses the bottles and explains them?

Ask about the chef's training and experience with private dinners, particularly for a group like yours. If a qualification is mentioned, ask what it is and who awarded it. A sommelier qualification tells you about wine expertise; it doesn't establish the chef's cooking experience.

Then look for recent reviews that describe the service you're booking. A lovely winery tour review tells a different story from a dinner prepared in someone's accommodation. If you need more reassurance, ask whether the team can share a relevant reference with the guest's permission.

A useful question: "Who will cook for us, and can you tell me about their experience with a dinner of this size?"

At Intimate.Wine, local chefs lead our private dinners, while Massi brings his expertise as a certified sommelier. You can meet Massi and our team before getting in touch.

2. Ask what local and seasonal mean on your menu

"Local ingredients" sounds lovely. The next question is what that means for the dinner you're planning.

Ask which ingredients are likely to be in season during your visit, where they're sourced, and what might change closer to the date. Specific examples tell you more than a promise that everything is always available.

A seasonal menu needs some flexibility. What matters is knowing how substitutions will be discussed, especially if you've chosen the evening around a particular dish.

Bring wine into this conversation too. Ask why the proposed wines suit the food and how your own preferences fit in. You should feel comfortable saying that you prefer lighter reds, enjoy white wine, or would like to keep the explanation informal.

A useful question: "What would you suggest for our dates, and how would the food and wine work together?"

Our private chef dinners use seasonal menus shaped around the group's preferences, with wines selected by our sommelier to complement the dishes.

3. Discuss dietary needs before agreeing on the menu

Gather everyone's requirements early. Tell the chef which are allergies, which are intolerances, and which are preferences, so there's no need to guess what a guest means.

Ask how each requirement would affect the proposed dishes. For an allergy, ask about ingredients, preparation, and the risk of cross-contact in the kitchen being used. Get a specific answer before confirming the booking; "we can do anything" isn't enough detail.

For vegetarian guests or anyone needing a different dish, ask to see their proposed courses too. It's much easier to make everyone feel included when those choices are part of the planning.

A useful question: "Here are our group's dietary needs. What can you accommodate, and are there any limitations we should know about?"

When you enquire with Intimate.Wine, use the additional-information space on our chef-dinner form to share those needs and questions before a menu is agreed.

4. Request a sample menu and a clear list of inclusions

A sample menu helps you picture the evening. Ask for one suited to your dates, group size, and budget, and check whether it's a starting point or the menu being confirmed.

Look at the flow as well as the dishes. Would you like an aperitivo first? How many courses feel right? Would your group enjoy guided wine pairings, or prefer more time for their own conversation?

Then ask what the proposal includes:

• Ingredients, preparation, cooking, and service.
• Wines, other drinks, and any optional extras.
• Tableware, glassware, and table styling.
• Travel, setup, and final cleanup.

Send the accommodation's kitchen details too. Check access, equipment, and anything the chef needs the host to provide. A lovely terrace doesn't tell you whether the kitchen can support the planned menu.

A useful question: "Could you send a sample menu and itemise what's included, what costs extra, and what you need from our accommodation?"

Intimate.Wine plans dinners around your group, location, and preferred style of evening. Our enquiry form lets you indicate whether you'd like wines provided and a sommelier to guide the pairings, so those choices can be discussed together.

5. Look for clear, thoughtful communication

Pay attention to how your questions are answered. Does the reply address your actual group and dates? Are the menu and costs understandable? Do you know who your point of contact will be?

Allow for time differences and service hours. A useful response gives you something concrete to work with, even if a detail still needs checking. If you have a booking deadline, say so and ask when to expect an update.

Before paying, ask for written confirmation of the date, location, guest count, agreed menu, inclusions, total cost, and payment and cancellation terms. Check when final numbers and dietary details are needed, and how to reach the team on the day.

A useful question: "Who will coordinate our dinner, and can we have the agreed details and booking terms in writing?"

Our Intimate.Wine enquiry form asks about your dates, accommodation, group, budget, and the atmosphere you'd like. It's a place to begin a specific conversation about your evening.

A little preparation, then room to enjoy it

You don't need to become an expert in Tuscan food to choose well. Look for people who explain their experience, listen to your group, and help you understand what you're booking.

The right dinner should feel like it belongs to your trip. That might mean a relaxed meal with friends, a family celebration, or an evening where the wines become part of the conversation.

If that sounds like what you're planning, tell us your dates, where you're staying, and a little about your group. I'd love to hear what you have in mind.

Grazie,

Emily