Cozymeal — Local services in Atlanta

When I was invited to this CozyMeal affair, I did not know what to expect. I've never been to a cooking class until now. Would the instructor be warm and easy to follow? Or would they be about as exciting as a wet paper towel? Luckily, we got the cream of the crop.

It was set in the perfect location. Inside the Total Wine & More in Brookhaven, there is a culinary classroom. Perfect setting for our "Best of the Pacific Rim" experience.

Chef Jarvis was so refreshing. He was down to earth and wasn't condescending during the demonstration. He gave clear instructions but did not make us feel as if we were inexperienced in the kitchen. Even if were really were.

He had aprons with our names and the title "Advanced Sushi Chef" on it. That was a very personal touch that made us feel important.

Chef Jarvis introduced everyone to all the ingredients that we would use. We identified all the components of the perfect sushi roll. There was a little bit of everything there. There was raw salmon, cuddle fish, crab, chicken and so much more. We even learned what sushi meant. It means vinegar rice balls.

I have made sushi 1 time before. And my attempt did not end well. It was not the most appetizing plate to view.

Chef Jarvis had a set of principles that he uses when he presents a plate. He incorporates color, height, flavor and white space into every plate. He broke down and explained how each component helps to create a great dining experience. The plate must always look appealing to the eyes.

By the end of this presentation, I had consumed soup, salad, sushi and dessert. I don't remember the name of the dessert but it was delectable. It was a peach cobbler-like confection that was superb. It tasted homemade and wasn't drowned in sugar.

I did not expect to leave that night feeling so full. I thought that maybe I would get a few small bites but we ate well. Kudos to Chef Jarvis and his fellow chef that helped.

This was an incredible experience that everyone in Atlanta and beyond should have. CozyMeal gets the 'Ash Said It' stamp of approval. I cannot wait...

My fiancé and I have been eager to try this place based upon their reviews. So his birthday seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. I saw a class available on his birthday and booked/payed for it. The very next day I received and email saying the Chef will no longer be available to conduct the class, and that they would contact me to reschedule. I referred back to the website and the class was still listed as available.

Five hours later, no call. I called their mainline three times, no answer, even though it was their usual business hours. I referred back to the email and called the number listed there. Finally someone was able to assist me, I told her about my situation and her response was the Chef who was conducting the class is new and is still trying to figure her scheduling, and decided not to do the class. She also noticed another error in scheduling on the website while we on the phone. Moreover, she said the same class will be conducted the following week. I told her about my fiancé’s birthday, and her solution was booking a different class on that day, with a completely different menu, that would cost me $30/pp more. I told her for the time being just reschedule me for next week. She then asked for my form of payment, I told her I already payed. Evidently I would have to pay AGAIN, and my money spent for the cancelled class won’t be returned for 3-5 business days. Of course with budgeting and payments for the party this was problematic! At that point I was irritated and told her once I receive my refund I will revisit the idea of attending the class.

This would have been a fantastic birthday gift, but unfortunately it has...

Overall, I think Chef Luca did a good job. He was quick to respond and communicate, punctual, had a great personality, and loved pets, which was a plus for us. However, there were some areas that could be improved upon.

Our four-course meal was scheduled for 7PM, the Chef arrived at 6:45 to prep, with the meal starting around 7 PM. I will say my husband was late due to getting a haircut which cause him not to make it home until 7:35pm but the chef still didn’t stay until 9pm. He packed up and left at 8:40pm. This made the experience feel rushed as there was minimal time between courses, hindering the enjoyment of each dish.

The quality of some dishes was good but not exceptional. The smoked salmon had an unusual taste and appearance, which suggested it might have been older. The gelato, while tasty, leaned more towards ice cream than the expected fresh-made gelato quality.

Regarding cleanliness, although it's mentioned that the Chef would clean afterward, some areas like the stove and counters were left dirty.

While Chef Luca's skills and efforts were evident, the overall experience felt rushed and slightly lacking in attention to detail, especially considering our familiarity with fine dining and private chef experiences. There's potential for improvement to elevate the overall dining experience. Chef Luca has a vibrant and fun personality and maybe it was too romantic and he wasn’t sure on how to navigate...