Personal Chef Bruno Wu serves colorful cuisine to Longboat clients

Most chefs have culinary idols they look up to — someone whose example was worth following into a career in the culinary arts. 

British chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay inspired local personal chef Bruno Wu, who serves more than 200 clients in Longboat and the surrounding area.

While other children were watching Saturday morning cartoons, Wu’s eyes were glued to the Food Network. Wu started cooking when he was 13 years old. 

His eyes darted back and forth as the colors of fresh spices and herbs danced before his eyes. The chopping, dicing and slicing fascinated Wu.

“I was absolutely enamored by it,” said Wu. “I’ve always had a passion for cooking. Once a month, I’d cook dinner for my family when I was 13 years old.”

When Wu entered high school, he was in charge of holiday dinners. He prepared beef Wellington for Christmas and a standing rib roast for New Year’s.

“After a decade of home cooking, I received formal training,” said Wu.

Wu has worked in almost every aspect of the restaurant business from washing dishes to being a general manager. But after 12 years, Wu walked away from the restaurant scene to start his own business as a personal chef in 2018.

“I helped a colleague with a personal chef gig in LA and I realized that this was a great opportunity for me to start my own business. I wanted to own my own business,” said Wu. 

Two years after he started his business, Wu moved to Sarasota County in 2020 during the height of the pandemic.

“I think [COVID-19] definitely helped my business because many people weren’t wanting to go out to eat during that time and they were more comfortable having a personal chef come to their home to prepare them a meal,” said Wu. 

Currently, Wu has clients that are local, seasonal and some who vacation in the area. 

“I cover Sarasota and Manatee counties, but I’m willing to drive to the surrounding counties as well,” said Wu.

After two years of building his business up in the area, he currently has a client list of over 200 people. 

The Chef Bruno experience

Wu explained that he tries to curate a culinary experience for his clients instead of just cooking them dinner.

“I custom-tailor the entire menu to each client and I try to figure out the best dishes that would work for them while taking into consideration any food allergies or food restrictions,” said Wu.

Most of Wu’s dinners are five courses: two courses of hors d'oeuvres and three courses of plated dinner, which includes appetizers, salad and an entree followed by dessert.

Wu envisions the flavors and textures of each ingredient, imagining how they would come together while creating a symphony of taste to satisfy his guests' palates.

“The fact that I can have a shared experience with my clients is what’s fulfilling to me,” said Wu. “Having that connection with who I am cooking for makes it that much more special.”

Wu travels with everything he needs to prepare his five-course dinners.

“I’ll have table settings with me, linen, napkins, centerpieces and everything related to the cookery. Because I’m in a different kitchen every night, I like having the consistency of bringing my own set of knives and what I need to cook with,” said Wu. “I also bring cleaning supplies and the motto is, 'leave the space cleaner than you found it.'”

Wu serves anywhere from a dinner for two to a party of 70 people. 

“When it’s up to 70 people, it’s more of a buffet style,” said Wu. 

Wu has also launched a catering business with his partner, Marko Radisic, called East West Catering.

“We started doing events at the beginning of April and I wanted to scale what I built as a personal chef to accommodate more people,” said Wu. “We can actually accommodate over 100 people with our catering business for larger events, but we can also cater smaller ones, too.”

Wu explained that after two years of working with his clients, he has a few different set menus clients can choose from.

“I have an Italian menu, a steakhouse menu, a southern feast and Asian (menu),” said Wu. 

He explained he was booked for 29 days in the month of April and expects to be fairly busy this month as well.

“I think what makes a Chef Bruno experience special is just my personal interaction with my clients. I find that I can give them a unique and delightful experience because I can relate to many people from different walks of life because of everywhere I’ve lived.”

To book Wu for a dinner event or to contact him, email [email protected].