Timeless Italian Hospitality

Private dining, intimate weddings, and elevated catering, rooted in the rich culinary traditions of Southern Italy, brought to life by Chef Pasquale Martinelli.

The best local and Italian ingredients, authentic craftsmanship, and genuine hospitality are the only recipe your next event needs.

Alloro provides full-service private dinners, receptions, intimate weddings and celebrations in New York City, The Hamptons, The Hudson Valley and beyond.

Our namesake, Alloro, is Italian for the bay tree, an aromatic evergreen. In Italian countryside homes, alloro has always been close at hand, as a humble herb woven into daily life, cooking, and tradition. While in ancient Rome, its branches also crowned champions, symbolizing true excellence. Both meanings inspire everything we do.

Today, Alloro brings an unwavering commitment to artisanal ingredients, sustainability, and the storied traditions of the Mediterranean, curating menus that gather people together for unforgettable experiences. Dishes feature Italian ancient grains and extra virgin olive oils from century-old trees to responsibly sourced seafood, meats, and vegetables from fishermen, small butcher shops, and farms across the Tri-State Area, guided by a deep reverence for the enduring heritage of Cucina Italiana, celebrated as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity..

Meet the Chef

“True culinary excellence requires a respect for traditions and an understanding as to why they exist in the first place.”

Born and raised a farmer’s son in Mola di Bari, Pasquale Martinelli, executive chef at Alloro, grew up alongside fishermen, farmers, and among generations of food artisans. He took note of their passion for quality, respect for the land and its seasons, and how to create healthy, delicious, and sustainable meals. When founding Alloro, those notes proved effective and invaluable.

Our preparation and cooking methods are rooted in the storied traditions of Puglia, the standard Mediterranean diet, and wisdom shared from Pasquale’s youthful days in Italy. As a personal chef, Pasquale has spent nearly a quarter-century spreading his culinary philosophy and crafting masterful meals, also offering private dinner catering in New York for discerning clients, rooted in true Italian tradition.

Beyond Five Stars! I hired Pasquale and his team to for my 36th birthday dinner at my home on Long Island. We were a small party of 13 including myself, and each one of us were in awe by the innovative menu, quality and attention to detail. The experience was incredible from the inception. Booking and planning the menu was very easy and seamless. Being Italian, I am very discriminate when it comes to my own cuisine. However, Pasquale provided us a truly authentic Pugliese experience, while adding his own flare. His food is reminiscent of eating back at your family’s homes in Italy but served with the refinement of a Michelin starred restaurant. His team meticulously managed every aspect of the catered affair. For an entire week following the dinner, there was not a day that passed that I did not hear a praise of Pasquale and the affair from my guests. I cannot wait to book him again.

– C.M.

We recently hired Chef Pasquale to cater a meal at our home in Connecticut. The meal was fantastic and the chef took the time to explain all the ingredients and dishes to our guests. It was truly a wonderful evening and one that we will not forget! We would highly recommend Alloro and Chef Pasquale. He is very personable and passionate about food!

– A.P.

Alloro is wonderful. A dinner prepared in the intimacy of your home by Chef Pasquale is an incredible sensorial experience and is also a cultural journey through the flavors and the traditions of Puglia, in the south of Italy. Because Chef Pasquale won’t just prepare sophisticated dishes for you, engaging your full five senses, but will also be there with you, sharing unique and entertaining stories about their preparation, the origin of its ingredients, the way to best enjoy them, the rituals of that enjoyment.

We had Alloro yesterday at our apartment in Manhattan, and we had a magic, memorable, delicious time. Highly recommended…

– M.P.

Had an absolutely amazing experience with Alloro. My friend arranged a private dinner at home with Chef Pasquale. We had a very intimate and gourmet dinner. The food was excellent! There are plenty of top world-renowned Italian restaurants in NYC and I have dined in all of them before and I would say the meal Chef Pasquale had prepared for us was definitely one of the best I have had. All the ingredients were delivered fresh from Italy. Chef Pasquale is also a great storyteller, giving us the background and story of each dish we were to consume. Chef Pasquale was personable and so passionate about Italian food. I would highly recommend Alloro Private Culinary and will definitely invite Chef Pasquale to cook for us again! Thank you for giving us such a great experience.

– D.T.

5 stars are not enough to describe the experience we had last night with Chef Pasquale and his team! The food was excellent, the experience we will always remember with overflowing gratitude and love. The evening was filled with laughter, friendship, hospitality, celebrating new and old connections and creating lifelong memories. Our deepest appreciation and highest recommendations. THANK YOU!

– A.S.

Chef Pasquale is passionate about cooking, the origins and history of food and especially about hospitality, He cares deeply about ensuring that the hosts and all the guests thoroughly enjoy the experience he helps to create. Every detail is carefully planned and executed. Chef Pasquale brings his knowledge and expertise to your dining event by sharing personal stories from his life in Puglia to how dishes originated and how they have evolved. All around a great experience!

– D.G.