I craft joyful, authentic Italian dining experiences with care, precision, and heart.

Riccardo Roda

I bring the soul of Italy to your table

I have been a professional chef for more than 15 years. I started in the kitchen at 18 and became a chef at 20 on Lake Como, Italy. Inspired by my mum, who cooked fresh pasta and classic Italian dishes every day, I fell in love with food and the craft.

At 25 I set out to learn more, cooking in London, Portugal, and Spain. At 28 I moved to Sydney and worked with Orazio D'Elia at Da Orazio, sharing and refining countless Italian recipes. Today I channel that journey into intimate, joy-filled dining where I share my passion for Italian food with every guest.

Get in touch

Cooking is the passion and love I have for food, and I share it with anyone who wants to taste the dishes I create. Cooking is something I carry inside.

What I bring to your table

I cook with passion and purpose

Cooking is the passion and love I have for food, and I share it with anyone who wants to try the dishes I create. I carry cooking inside me, and I let that emotion guide every plate I serve.

I learned by traveling and staying curious

Back in Italy I started in small restaurants, then I wanted to grow and learn more, so I decided to travel—working across London, Portugal, and Spain before moving to Sydney to keep refining my craft.

I have fun and respect every ingredient

I always have fun and put my love into every dish. I take great care with every ingredient I use, from selection to preparation, to honor authentic Italian flavor.

Chef Riccardo’s Menus

I curate seasonal Italian menus that balance tradition and creativity—from vibrant antipasti to handmade pasta, slow-cooked mains, and classic desserts. I can tailor dishes to your preferences and dietary needs for a memorable, stress-free experience at home.

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My clients’ stories and testimonials

Amazing food, great energy

Kate Dawson

Perfect fist experience with a private chef! Ricardo was very engaging and accommodating - we wanted a nice meal in the comforts of our home for my husband’s birthday, and got that and much more! The variety, quality and presentation were better than some of the nicest restaurants we’ve been to ????

Tala Anabtawi

It was our first time experience with Private Chef, and I would say Chef Riccardo really made that experience special. Wonderful dishes and a wonderful person!

Aishwarya Chauhan

It was the first time we have used a private chef. We weren’t disappointed, Riccardo covered all the bases of providing a great and memorable meal, but was also extremely engaging and was able to give us all great insight into the food, the recipes and origins etc. it was a great experience and I would highly recommend Riccardo’s services.

Adrian Brooks

Riccardo was amazing and made our anniversary so special. He was so friendly, the food and service was amazing. Honestly one of the best meals of my life! He even left us so much left overs it fed us for the next couple of days. He catered the menu specially to our requests and he left the kitchen absolutely spotless. Will definitely be hiring him again! Couldn’t recommend more

Cinque

I highly recommend Chef Riccardo! Not only is he a very talented chef who produces top quality and flavoursome food, but he is such a personable and friendly person. We cannot fault our experience and will certainly be using Chef Riccardo for future events!

Emily Rosato

Chef Riccardo gave us a great experience in our home. He was so lovely, and keen to share his experiences and passion as a chef committed to honouring quality, authentic Italian food. The portions were generous, we were so full! He was great with accommodating a child in our group with slightly different menu for him and left the place so clean afterwards. Highly recommend.

Jenny

Ricccardo was exceptionally professional and accomodating of our requests. Struck the perfect balance between allowing us to chat and telling us about the food. Would thoroughly recommend him to anyone looking for a private chef.

Vibhushan Manchanda

Me and our guests loved our evening. Thank you so much Riccardo!!

Juli Bellinge