I bring a true fine dining experience to your home—French-rooted, seasonal, and crafted with precision.

Nicolas Desinai

I create refined, restaurant-level dining experiences—right at your table.

I’m a professional chef with 30 years of international experience, from high-end fine dining kitchens (including 3 Michelin stars) to private catering and supporting teams in opening restaurants.

I trained in France in culinary arts, pastry, and sommelier studies. Since moving to Calgary, I’ve been Executive Chef at Priddis Greens Golf Course and Bow Valley Ranche, and I also owned La Petite Table in Okotoks—recognized for its French cuisine in Alberta.

Let’s plan your dinner

My secret in the kitchen is to bring the best flavour out of the ingredients, respect the product, and cook with knowledge.

What you can expect when you dine with me

I cook with purpose and pleasure

Cooking is a part of my life, and I put that same enjoyment into every menu—thoughtful technique, balanced flavors, and the kind of meal you remember.

I learned through tradition and great mentors

I learned to cook through culinary school and hands-on experience—starting with my mom, growing up close to a farm, and refining my craft alongside many recognized chefs.

I respect the product above all

My philosophy is simple: I focus on the best flavour with the ingredients, I respect the product, and I rely on knowledge to deliver consistency and elegance in every plate.

My Menus by Nicolas Desinai

I offer French, Italian, and Mediterranean-inspired fine dining menus designed for intimate dinners or larger gatherings—each course crafted with classic technique and bold, clean flavors.

Request a menu

Stories and testimonials

Chef Nicolas was very prompt and professional. His dishes were delicious and had beautiful presentation. We really enjoyed our dinner and would love to book him again in the future for another event. Bravo!

Miranda Binakaj

Nicolas was truly incredible in all aspects. We hired him to help celebrate a very strong year of growth in our business, and he did not disappoint in providing a memorable experience. He took our suggested menu and catered it to some rather challenging food allergy requests with two of our guests, and provided what ended up being a 7 course meal over the span of a few hours. He was very professional and would engage as much - or as little - as we wanted depending on our own conversations. The presentation was all very premium with fresh garnish and modern design, and the kitchen looked even better after he was done than it did before he arrived. Can not recommend enough, and will definitely be be booking him again in the future. Thank you Nicolas! V

Vince

We hired Nicolas as a private chef for our company Christmas party, which included a mix of adults and kids. We wanted a tapas style menu that people could enjoy while standing and moving around over a few hours instead of a formal sit down dinner. Nicolas adjusted his menu to fit that perfectly and built an incredible lineup that started with cold dishes, moved into hot plates, and finished with dessert. There was a steady flow of dishes all night and everyone left full and happy. The presentation was great and the service was even better. With 15–20 adults and kids spread around the house, he and his team still managed to find everyone for each plate and explain what they were serving. They even printed individual kids menus for dinner and dessert, which made the kids feel included and excited. Planning everything was easy. Communication was quick and smooth from start to finish. I’d recommend Nicolas to anyone and will be using him again in the future.

Faraaz Sorathia

Wonderful evening, Nicolas was excellent. Wonderful experience, excellent food.

Lars Johnston

Chef Nicolas went over the top in delivering a fantastic meal experience.

Andreas Cordsen

Nicolas was great. Food was amazing. His helper was very attentive and great. Had a great experience. Would recommend.

Lisa Eberle

Fantastic chef, and the meal was delicious. Thanks!

Caitlan Reich

The experience was great, we learned a few things about the tasty food Nicolas prepared for us. Nicolas was professional, and efficient. Over all we were very satisfied with the service.

Emili Schertzberg

Would highly recommend Chef Nicolas Desinai. We hosted for family at an Airbnb while visiting Calgary, and Chef Nicolas brought absolutely everything that was needed for an elevated, plated dining experience. The food and preparation was fantastic. I especially appreciate the flexibility, as we had two babies (7mo and 10mo) at the table with us, and at times, parents had to leave the dining table to put babies to sleep or to give them a cuddle. When my baby was being a bit fussy, Chef Nicolas' staff (his wife, I believe) swooped in to entertain my baby so I could enjoy the main course while it was hot. This gesture really went above and beyond. Would hire Chef Nicolas again in a heartbeat, and highly recommend his dining experience.

Sherisse Pham

Chef Nicolas was amazing! It was a birthday party with 12 guests, and a toddler. The food was incredible, you could tell that a lot of effort went into each dish. Everything was cooked to perfection, and everyone was so happy with their menus. There was a couple dietary restrictions, and Chef was able to modify and make dishes that made everyone happy. Would highly recommend Chef Nicolas to anyone considering! What an experience, we will definitely be looking to use him again in the future!

Ethan Goncalves