This summer my husband and I were honored to have Chef Michael and Jesus make the trek from Gunnison up the Taylor Canyon to our home in Tincup, CO. There they provided an outstanding private dining experience for us and 8 of our guests. Our guests had traveled from around the country for a celebration…
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An absolutely amazing Italian/American ranch dinner buffet was set up by Team Garlic Mikes. We were quite the group of people and in order to host and accommodate workers, family and friends we were able to select all the great food of our desire and create a buffet style menu of our liking. It was…
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Shout out to Michael, Traci and Garlic Mike’s for the generous donation of dinner for The Boot Stomp Cancer Benefit. It was part of a silent auction we bid on with two other couples and it raised a substantial amount for the San Juan Cancer Center in Montrose , Colorado. The dinner was more than…
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We were fortunate to be paired with Chef Mike and his team when we hosted a couple of events for the Tour de Forks series at our home in CB a few years ago. Those events were always fun and entertaining, although with a much larger crowd in support of the local arts community we…
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“Highly recommend Garlic Mike’s restaurant for private catering based on a surprise birthday dinner party for a family member. The entire experience was nothing short of exceptional, thanks to the outstanding efforts of Mike and Jesus, who truly made it a night to remember. The seven-course dinner they curated was nothing short of exquisite. Each…
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I just want to say that last night was fantastic. One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. You all made everything so easy and wonderful. Please also extend my praise to the cake lady for making a wonderful gluten free cake.
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Gunnison County is so special, and Garlic Mike’s is such an icon in the Valley. So what happens when you combine Crested Butte vistas with Chef Michael, you get a truly magical night. Massive kudos to Chef Michael for the extraordinary dining experience, and to Jesus for top-shelf service. Thank you gentleman for making our…
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Garlic Mike’s has been one of our favorite restaurants for many years, and Chef Mike has become a good friend. We had a gathering of friends and family at our home on Spring Creek this summer, so we arranged a private dinner with Chef Mike. It was one of the most special evenings my family…
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Mike and Jesus did a catered event at our house in Mount Crested Butte this summer. They did a great job coordinating the menu to make sure everything was perfect. The day of the dinner they arrived early and made it easy to host our party of 11. We can’t say enough good things about…
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Talk about an authentic, exceptional Italian experience in the heart of Colorado! Each course was carefully selected for our individual tastes and didn’t disappoint. Mike and Jesus made us feel like family and went above and beyond, as if we were sitting in their kitchen back home. Truly one of our favorite evenings to add…
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I hired Mike as the personal chef for my fiance’s birthday party. The restaurant, in Gunnison, has been a favorite of ours since we discovered it while camping in the area. Recently, we purchased some property south of Gunnison and I was hoping Mike and his team would make the trek out to our land…

First time I met “Garlic Mike” as person at “Culture Discover” in Sicily,Italy. Since I never had a doubt about his personality. He is not just Chef or owner of the Italian Cuisine, he also offers private dinners for those special friends and family celebrations. Chef “Garlic Mike” promises you an event that you will…
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We had Garlic Mike cater a dinner for our Mt. Crested Butte neighborhood, and it could not have been more successful. Mike’s menu was unique, perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. His assistant, Jesus, managed the arrangements and supervised the professional service. We had accolades from all our friends. To top it off, the crew cleaned…
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My family and friends have now made it a habit to always have Garlic Mike and Jesus over for an incredible night of drinks, dinner and laughs each time we make it to Crested Butte from our home in Austin, Texas. They take care of it all and everything is done first class – we…
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Being a Dirty Pearl from Fort Worth we know what it means to throw a party; enjoy great food, drinks & company; and most importantly to be notorious! These same things also personify the iconic Garlic Mike. No trip to the Moncrief Ranch in Gunnison is ever complete without Garlic Mike’s crew coming in to…
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Hi Mike, You are the best! The food, fun and service was amazing! On the way home, all everyone could talk about was the dinner. Epic! Thank you for being part of the storybook of our lives.

One of the best decisions while on vacation we have ever made was to have Chef Mike and his assistant Taylor come to our home and prepare dinner. WOW! From the starter cocktails to the Shrimp Scampi, Tortellini, Salad, Steak and Fresh Fruit Brûlée dessert we all were extremely satisfied. He was kind enough to…

Thank you for a fabulous evening last night. You and Jesus produced such a wonderful experience with your outstanding dinner and antipasto served on our deck. The salmon was fantastic with the most beautiful presentation! The salad of mixed greens, fruits, and nuts and your balsamic dressing was beautiful and enjoyed by all. Finishing the…

Garlic Mike prepared dinner for me, my wife, and six friends on New Year’s Eve eve and it was absolutely one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. We are back and forth between Texas and Gunnison and this dinner was at our Gunnison home. Michael showed up with his assistant, Taylor, and let…

I met you at The Moncrief Ranch over the New Year. What an absolute pleasure it was to be a part of the two nights you prepared the meals at the ranch. You are a true professional and your staff were the best. I am a huge lover of Oysters Rockefeller and I can tell…

Mike prepared our group at our home an incredible dinner! The oysters Rockefeller was the best I have ever had, no exception. Everything was the best, steaks, salad, dessert, etc.! Looking forward to our next adventure.

Mike, You made dinner for our group at the Moncrief Ranch in late December. The meals were excellent, especially the Oysters Rockefeller and the beef tenderloin. Cocktails by Shelby were a great hit. We have enjoyed your restaurant for more than 20 years and never miss when we are in Gunnison or Crested Butte. Garlic…

I write this as one who has enjoyed Chef Mike Busse’s talents from several angles. Mike oversees his successful river-front restaurant specializing in his Italian creations. He also shares his knowledge and culinary guidance as the personal escort for small groups who choose to join Mike and his wife, Traci, on one of their annual…

Michael- What a delightful evening you prepared for us at our ranch on the Taylor! From the cocktails to the dessert, it was delicious! Thank you so much for a lovely evening, hope to see you again sometime.

I have been fortunate to work with Chef Mike several times. His menus and themed dinners are creative, fun, incredibly delicious and always enjoyed by everyone. I’ve seen him work magic under extraordinary circumstances… outdoors, small kitchens, dietary limitations, huge crowds.. etc.. His private cooking classes are really fun and informative and his laughing infectious.…

Mike has done private dinners and large fund raisers many times at our Colorado ranch home and the greatest dinners ever! Everything from appetizers trays, Oyster Rockefeller, crab cakes, traditional Italian, steaks, desserts, etc are unbelievable. Great staff that helps Mike with these dinners! A perfect 10 out of 10!

If you want to offer houseguests a unique dinner they will remember hire Mike. You get an amazing meal, a cooking demonstration (if you want) all done by a stand-up comedian. You can’t get much better than that.

My husband and I had a housewarming party a few years ago and hired Mike from Garlic Mikes.  We are friends with Mike’s in laws and knew we could depend on Mike to amaze our guests.  We live in Florida so Mike and his wife had no problem leaving Gunnison Colorado and zero degree weather…

You can’t go wrong with Mike Busse! Best Italian chef I’ve seen anywhere!  Wonderful and cheerful personality which all makes for Great times in Gunnison valley.

Just want to reach out and say a great big word of thanks for your chef services and awesome meal at our home last fall. Mike and Christian were truly outstanding in preparing 5 courses of truly special dishes for 9 adults and 2 children. Presentation and quality were 5 star. Everyone that evening were…

We recently had a cocktail party for 50+ people and Mike was our personal chef. From start to finish he and his staff were absolutely meticulous about the event and such a pleasure to work with-From menu planning to setup and greeting guests to the final cleanup. Everyone had a smile the entire night and…

Mike at Garlic Mike’s has become a part of our family after providing memorable private chef services for us. He has prepared wonderful table settings for all ages and willingly adapts his menus to accommodate gluten free requirements. He has served such fabulous dinners for some of our friends that now they ask if Garlic Mike…