Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/06/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My husband and I have thrown a fundraiser for the last 8 years in honor of our son who passed away on December 9, 2014. The proceeds support families in the Trinity Kids Hospice program (who supported us when our son was dying). For the event, a friend recommended a chef, Gabriel ******. **** and I communicated exclusively via email starting on July 31, 2024. He responded with menu options and confirmed he was available on December 14, 2024. He asked for a deposit of $2,000 to hold the date. Through Venmo I paid him $1,800 on August 23rd and $200 on August 24th. At no point in our emails did he ever state that my deposit would be non-refundable. If he had, I never would have agreed. There is also no contract for this event. In August I knew that personal circumstances would not allow us to throw the fundraiser as we had in the past. I emailed **** to cancel on November 5, 5 weeks before our event date. Because he is a friend of a friend, I confirmed he could fill the date and asked him to roll the deposit to our event in 2025, to which he agreed and offered other services (see email Nov 7). In February, our mutual friend was planning her own 45th birthday party. **** was going to cater heavy appetizers for 75 people along with two staff for a quoted $2,000-$2,500. I offered to roll my deposit to that event but **** had to cancel on her. I then planned a lunch for our *** team in May which I asked him to cater. He said he wanted my deposit PLUS $400 in groceries for a lunch for 18 women (so a $2,400 lunch!). The second quote from another caterer was $275 total (I used her). I tried to negotiate any type of reasonable agreement with **** to utilize my deposit with him but he has refused anything reasonable. He offered to return $1,000 which I refused. I initially said I would accept $1,800 because he is a friend of a friend but that offer is no longer on the table. I am not doing business with someone so deceitful and dishonorable and I am owed my full deposit back.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/06/2025

  Hi Natalie,

  I have looked all over his website, googled him in every way I know how but all he has are two emails and a website.I don’t know how to find a physical address for him and I can’t find him in your system under any logical business name (tried chef Gabe, brunch by Gabe, Gabriel Barone, etc.) and don’t know what name he incorporated under. What else can I do?

  Business Response

  Date: 06/13/2025

  To whom it may concern,
  
  
  Thank you for the opportunity to respond.
  
  In August 2024, Jennifer Hayes booked my services for a large holiday fundraiser and paid a $2,000 deposit to reserve the event date. As is standard in the private chef and catering industry, deposits are used to block the date, cover administrative time, and reserve availability during high-demand seasons like December. The deposit was not presented or agreed to as refundable or transferable credit.
  
  
  On November 5, 2024, Ms. Hayes canceled the event. Shortly after, she requested to roll the deposit forward to December 2025 — a gesture I agreed to in good faith. However, beginning in January, she began asking for a full refund instead. I explained that the deposit was tied to the originally scheduled event and had already fulfilled its purpose of reserving the date. I also clarified that industry-standard deposits are not treated as credit to be used flexibly across smaller events.
  
  
  Despite this, I made several efforts to resolved and a partial refund of $1,000. I believe this is a fair resolution, given the time and opportunity lost from holding her original event date and declining other bookings. The refund offer remains available.
  
  
  I have worked with many clients over the years and have never had a complaint of this nature. I take pride in my professionalism, and I’m simply trying to protect the integrity of my small business and my right to operate fairly and respectfully.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  Gabriel Barone
  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/14/2025

   
  
  Complaint: 23434331
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because: No stipulations were ever put on the deposit. It was never deemed non-refundable or only good for a certain event or anything else of the sort. He is grasping at straws because he wants to keep my money which he never earned a dime of. 

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  Jennifer Hayes