Complaint Review: Personal Chef PV Josue Jimenez

Personal Chef PV, Josue Jimenez, was highly recommended by our wedding planners, Tamara Bradley and Patty Romo, here in Puerto Vallarta.  We had a tasting with Personal Chef PV and we were impressed with them and hired them for my daughters wedding April 11.   My cost for 100 peope was 100,000 pesos, or 1000 pesos per person   This price included 6 passed hors d;oeuvres (3 of each type.....or 18 per person), Four Stations for food...(prime rib with sides, turkey with sides, a tuna station, with tuna prepared several different ways, and a vegetarian station that was to include samosas, eggplant parmigiana and another vegetarian item chosen by the chef.     The price also included coffe service and bar service......It did NOT include the price of alcohol and any dessert.   A separate charge included cutting the cake, putting a little dressing on it and serving the cake.

The results we received were very disappointing.   We did not get what we paid for.  I did not get or even see any of the higher end appetizers...(no Florida crab balls, no shrimp)   In order to get any appetizer, I had to chase down a server to get him to stop so that I could get an item.  In one case, I went into the kitchen to see if I could intercept a server before he went out.  I managed to get two caprese bites, two room temperature bacon wrapped dates, one chicken skewer and one shrimp aquachile on a cucumber.    The shrimp aquachile did not resemble the one we enjoyed at the tasting.....it was not as good.

For the dinner service, instead of setting up four "Stations" as had been previous discussed personally with Josue Jimenez and Tamara Bradley while at the wedding venue, Josue merely set up two buffet lines.    On one side he set up pre sliced platters of tuna, samosas and put them on the dining room table.    On the other side, there was a simple table with containers of pre sliced, very, very well done beef and some turkey.    In front of the meats were small bowls......Nothing was marked.   It was hard to know what the vegetables were......the cauliflower puree was very thin.....not enough cauliflower.   The creamed spinach was swimming in cream.....not enough spinach.   There were two mashed potato dishes.....one sweet potatoes (pureed quite thin) and white mashed potatoes.    There was one bowl of gravy but it was not clear what the gravy was for.

As the mother of the bride, our table was called right after the bridal party.   By the time I go to the food, there were so many people.....I could not get near the food without standing in the middle of the dining area.   I could not get near the tuna area so I moved over to meat Stations.    I did not see any prime rib.....an item for which I paid a premium.....the server was encouraging me to take the overdone, pre sliced beef.....but I did not want it.   I took a little bit of potato and went back to my seat to give the rest of the guests a chance to eat.    We were supposed to have grilled vegetables also......and I did not see any grilled vegetables.

About 30 minutes into the dinner hour, I decided to go up and check on the food again.    The tuna station and vegetarian station were completely void of tuna or samosas.....all that was left was some couscous and sliced eggplant.    I did ot get eggplant parmigiana......the chef later told me he did a different twist.....sliced eggplant sprinkled with parmigiana cheese.......he did not use tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese......there was no flavor.....and as a result the eggplant dish was not used.   It was not good.

I finally found a small piece of rare roast rib....but it was clearly nothing like what I was expecting.  None of the Stations were handled like "Station".   Even the chef described during the tasting that a Station is handled such that the chefs finish off the final prep in front of the guests and personally serve it on their plate so that the item is hot and nicely presented.  This did not happen.    The way the food was presented was very low class......and clearly not in line with the elegant venue we chose, the extra monies we spent on beautiful flowers, hundreds and hundreds of candles..   We had harpists, violoinists, pianists playing during the ceremony and cocktail hour.   It was beautiful.....but the big let down was with the caterer.   I was looking forward to having the tuna......he did not provide enough of many items.

Josue was supposed to make separate meals for all of the workers, wedding planners, photographers, DJ people, House staff, baby sitters etc etc.     He did not do this......Instead, the workers were fed from the food that I selected for the wedding......that was food that if anything was left, was to be mine.  One worker told me that during the dinner hour, she was invited into the kitchen and told to take whatever she wanted.       Josue short cutted and short changed in many ways.  My daughter and her husband (the Bride and Groom) have acknowledged that my issues and concerns were valid.  Other family members and close friends who were at the wedding also have confirmed these many deficiencies.   Unfortunately, Tamara Bradley, Patricia Romo, and Josue Jimenez and Mauricio Leal.....are unwilling to acknowledge any of those concerns.  They insist that there was enough food.  They make excuses for every issue I raise.   Even the table settings could have been done better......only one glass on the table....so you chose wine or water.    All of the wine and alcohol purchases was very high end, top shelf brands.....purchased by myself and the bride and groom.    The service was not impressive.   I had to get the attention of a waiter to ask for some wine.   Then it took several minutes for the server to disappear into the kitchen, and come back with the wine.   There should hav been glasses for both water and wine.

At one point, a wedding guest came to me and told me that she had been told there was no more bottled water.   I had to go find Josue, the head chef to find out why they had run out of water.   Josue said they did have water.....so I asked him to make sure water was given to  guests throughout the evening.   The wedding cake was served to guests without a napkin.   I asked for a napkin and then I saw the servers use the supply of large towels that I brought to be used in the bathrooms.   I found it unbelievable that the caterer would charge me separately to cut and serve the cake but not include a napkin!!

During the wedding, as the hostess....I stayed smiling, positive and upbeat.   I was not going to upset my guests with an argument with the caterer.   It was not until a few days later when Josue presented me with an additional bill, and as more and more guests and family confirmed my observations about the various deficiencies that I began to communicate my concerns.   I have asked the caterer for a 20% refund because of the shortcomings.    He has not done so....and he refuses to aknowledge any of my points.  I would not use this person.