There aren't enough adjectives to describe the experience ... From initial email contact with Chef Michael, to the evening of a surprise bridal shower, to the follow up a few days later, Michael was funny, knowledgeable, considerate, creative, and a real pleasure to work with. Then comes his food ... It totally lived up to my very high expectations. I had 10 food-loving ladies from the US and Spain to please, and Michael managed it with aplomb. We enjoyed group appetizers of incredible homemade focaccia topped with chicken liver pate' along with really fresh grilled calamari (also served with focaccia) while we were mingling. Then we had a plated dinner. First course was a "surf and turf" with swordfish street tacos (the best dish of the night in my opinion) and tagliata (New York strip steak served rare with arugula and lemon topping). The next course was rabbit ragu served over fettuccini. It got rave reviews all the way around. We finished with a lovely cheese plate paired with local honey ... a delicious way to end the dinner.
Michael accommodated our wishes in terms of timing between courses and interacted when we wanted him to. I had asked for recommendations for wine pairings with each course, and he reached out to a sommelier friend to give us suggestions that were just right.
I wholeheartedly recommend Michael for anyone who loves great food. I'd encourage you to give him some creative license to fully benefit from his amazing cooking skills.