Chef Mark Picone

Reviews

Come and enjoy all the colours and flavours the season has to offer, as always your comments are welcome and appreciated.
MP

“It was a gorgeous afternoon—the view from Mark's backyard was incredible—it reminded me that we are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful parts of Ontario. The afternoon was made perfect by the excellent food and wine that was served. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon. Ciao e Grazie.”
-Anthony Pingue

“Hi Mark, thank you for the wonderful afternoon we had in your studio with you and your friends from Italy. They were wonderful hosts and Chef Gaetano was a pleasure to meet. Your passion and dedication to your art is exemplar. "Les degustations" were sensational and so are you. All the best, see you soon.”
-Nancy and Gus

“Mark, just a short note of thanks for inviting Terry and I to your reception. We both had a wonderful time and the opportunity to meet a friendly group of like minded people. As ever the food and wine were exquisite. Thank you for a lovely afternoon.”
-Sandy & Terry Montgomery
DEC Express

“…as you know I have described our group's recent visit to the Studio as one of my life's most memorable meals. …This creativity, conception and execution and refinement of presentation and service are rarely encountered individually; to find them exhibited in one gastronomic experience, indeed in one man, is, in my thirty-five year experience as a professional restaurateur, unknown. I salute your achievement. I salute your comprehensive professional skill. I salute your enveloping hospitality. And I thank you, again, for an astoundingly satisfying culinary experience.”
-John W. Maxwell
Proprietor Allen's Bar/Restaurant/Backyard

“Thank you for your generous support of SickKids and for hosting Jim and I and our friends, Cheryl and Steve Taylor. We had a truly memorable Niagara weekend and there is no question, our lunch with you and John was truly the highlight. You have both the amazing talent of creating an unforgetable dining experience in an atmosphere of warmth and friendship. Thank you for inviting us into your kitchen and for sharing with us a truly wonderful meal. We will definitely be back and I await the publication of your book!”
-Mary Jo Haddad
President and CEO, The Hospital for Sick Children

“Great dinner; ambiance and menu just outstanding. Well done Mark. Nice to be able to say we’ll see you in December.”
-Duncan M. Macfarlane Q.C.
FLETT, BECCARIO

“Jean and I wanted to thank you again for providing us with such a wonderful dining and tasting experience on Sunday afternoon. We both had a fabulous time as I know all of the guests that helped celebrate Marianne Fletcher's birthday did. You have a lovely setting and coupled with the outstanding flavours and service that you provided, the day was very memorable. We very much look forward to joining you again soon.”
- Larry Griffith
Oracle Canada

“la scorsa settimana siamo rientrati dal nostro lungo viaggio in USA che abbiamo fatto coi nostri figli dopo averli incontrati a Boston. Abbiamo raccontato loro della bella serata passata insieme e ci hanno invidiato moltissimo. Si ricordano ancora di te e della tua buona cucina con molta simpatia. Abbiamo brindato alla tua salute con il fantastico vino della tuo riesling e abbiamo riguardato le fotografie scattate quella sera. Le puoi trovare nell'allegato che ti trasmetto sperando di farti cosa gradita. Grazie ancora della ospitalità. Speriamo di poter contraccambiare qui in Italia a casa nostra. Un salutone.”
-Franco e Donatella

“Mark, what a great evening. Can not stop talking about your creativity, presentation and imagination. I would like to make it an annual event that I celebrate my birthday with dinner at your studio. Again thanks for a memorable evening.”
-Ron Stein

“Thanks for creating such a memorable meal for Chris & Jim’s 25th wedding anniversary, we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. My friends often ask me if I miss Toronto now that I live in New York. My answer every time is no. I miss the Niagara Peninsula, not Toronto. You’re lucky to live in such a wonderful area and to benefit from living there.”
-Fiona McBride
Amalgamated

“Thank you, yet again, for making one of the highlight nights of our lives - so incredibly special. It was absolutely a magical evening for all our guests and for us.”
-Allison Barrett

“What a special evening you provided for us. The meal was superb, delicious and lovely to look at. Your choice of wines impressed me, and everyone was really impressed with the excellence of the local fare. It was one of the most special and memorable nights of my life.”

“I just wanted to thank you for a fabulous dinner last night: the culinary studio is beautiful; you are a wonderful host and cook who generously shares your knowledge and passion for food; and a private dining experience like this is rare and very special.”
- Gillian Chan

“Just a short note to thank you for the amazing evening that we all had at my brother's wedding last Sunday!! The venue was superb and every course was outstanding. Thank you for helping to make this the most wonderful wedding that we have ever attended.”
- Terri & Milton Lewis

“Thank you for a most enjoyable dinner on Thursday night. What a pleasure it was to learn and dine in your kitchen. I look forward to coming back in the near future.”
- Gregory W. Lawrence
Blackmont Capital

“I want to say thank you for the very fine dinner last night. I think you exceeded everyone’s expectations! I will make sure we tell Milli that you indeed did take care of us.”
- Stephen J. Altmann
ECU Silver Mining Inc.

“Thanks again for the fabulous class on Tuesday.....
I enjoyed it so much....I went home and made strawberry butter and strawberry jam the next day!!”
- EveLynne
LCBO

“You must be accustomed to ecstatic emails re the dinners that you create and serve, and this is one more in the list. The food was superb and we were most impressed by Jen's wine details. She is a most accomplished assistant to you. Have a grand summer and we will hope to return in late Fall or the winter/spring.”
- Sandra and David Pady
The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada

“What an evening! On behalf of all of us, I want to thank you for a spectacular experience. You have created a beautiful venue, and your cooking was, as always, excellent. The feeling you have created is comfortable and elegant and somehow magical. Everyone agrees it was one of the most special evenings we have had, and we look forward to joining you again.”
- Michael A. Freeman
The London Group

“As always the food improves each time, going from one masterpiece to another. But without the sweet, loving master chef, it would be far less memorable and personal.”
- Dr. J. Scott Peaker

“It was a pleasure to work with you and Jannine in such an intimate and high quality setting. As I said on our way out the door, you have created a truly unique to Niagara brand proposition for yourself with your culinary studio. I know that our mutual commitment to Niagara food and wine is long term and we look forward to re-visiting the studio in the not too distant future.”
- Paul Bosc
Chateau des Charmes

“Hi Mark, we very much enjoyed our evening with you and Jannine. The dinner was outstanding, the food and hospitality were great, making for a fabulous evening.”
- Al & Linda MacLean

“Chris and I wanted to thank you so much for such an amazing day yesterday. It really felt like we had slipped away from the hustle and bustle of Toronto to a little villa in Italy. The meal was truly exceptional: people keep asking us what the best dish was, and we keep listing them all. Your warmth and hospitality were also exceptional!

Thanks again for giving us a perfect May day.”
- Paul Butler

“Thank you very much for a beautiful evening. Everything was superb. My guests and I had a great time.”
- Milli
Milli Ltd

“Thanks for the lovely luncheon that you provided us on Friday. It was a true dining experience with an emphasis on the word experience. The food was out of this world as was the setting you created. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that you provide and I really appreciated your time and extra efforts. I would appreciate being able to speak with you at a later date about having our students just experience you.”
- Gary D. Praetzel, Ph.D.
Dean
College of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Niagara University

“I would like to thank you again on behalf of the group. They were buzzin’ and spreading the good word on the wonderful experience we all had at the Mark Picone Studio. I am sure that your Sunday gigs all went well. You are well organized, clean, professional, extremely hospitable and comforting to be around.”
- Angelo Tramonti
Sarafino Inc.

“Thanks so much for the great evening on Friday - everyone enjoyed themselves immensely - fabulous setting, wonderful food and teaching based on your skill and charisma! Martha’s recommendation was spot on!”
- Dr. Robin C. Williams

“Chef Mark Picone uses his extraordinary talent, experience, and love of food to build your unique menu, which he prepares in the kitchen-equipped dining room and serves himself.”
- sweetspot.ca