FAQ

What is a personal chef and who needs one?

A personal chef serves multiple clients – usually one per day – and provides several meals that are custom-designed for the client’s individual tastes and dietary requirements. The meals are packaged and stored according to the client’s request and enjoyed at their leisure.

Most people employ a personal chef because they don’t have the time, desire or know-how to cook the food they want to eat each day. This could include single people, married couples, busy professionals, seniors, new parents, those with a hectic family life, people needing a specific diet or anyone who is tired of eating out or cooking for themselves every night.

The cost seems to be about the same as what I would pay for a meal in a restaurant. Why is that?

The fee represents all aspects of a professional personal chef service. As your chef, I will plan your meals, do all the shopping, food preparation, packaging, storing and clean up. I can save you up to 12 hours each week or more by providing you with this service. The cost of groceries is over and above the fee as this allows you to make premium menu selections, such as organic, prime cuts or seafood or more budget friendly choices, such as chicken and pasta.

When you go to a restaurant, you must drive there, likely wait for a table, hope your server is having a good day, trust that your special requests are honored, pay for the meal, tip the server and drive home. If you have a personal chef, you can heat a beautifully prepared meal that has been made specifically for you with the freshest ingredients to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Beyond preparing delicious meals, a personal chef saves you time – which can be priceless.

In addition, employing a personal chef is an investment for you and your family’s health. No more unhealthy restaurant food, frozen meals or hitting the drive-thru on the way home.

How long will you be in my home?

Because I shop specifically for you and all meals are prepared from scratch, generally, I will be in your home anywhere from four to six hours, depending on the number of entrees requested. I am willing to accommodate your schedule as best I can.

What do you use to store the food?

Often I can use containers already in my client's home to store food, but if needed, I recommend glass Pyrex containers or sturdy plastic. Pyrex containers are very popular because of their versatility between the fridge, freezer, microwave and oven. Plastic containers are a less expensive alternative, but you will need to transfer the meal to an oven-safe dish if you heat your food in a conventional oven.

How do I pay for the service and am I locked into a contract?

There is no contract and you are not locked in for any period of time. Payment can be made on the cooking day in the form of personal check, cash, auto pay through any major banking institution or Venmo. Credit cards are not accepted.

Try the service to see if you like it and whether it meets your needs. If it does, we can reserve several dates in advance. Also, we can easily work around vacations and holidays. I do ask that you give me 7-10 days notice if you need to cancel a cooking date so that I can reserve that date for another client. Our mutual arrangement can be terminated by either of us at any time.

Do I need to be home while you are cooking?

No, you do not need to be home. Most of my clients are working or out of the house on our selected cooking dates. I only need access in the morning to get started and can lock up when I'm finished. However, if you are home during our cooking date, you will notice I am doing several things at one time, so please allow me to work with minimal interruptions. I would hate to forget an ingredient, miss a step or provide you with a poorly executed meal due to distractions.

Who chooses the menu?

You do! I’ll provide you with an initial list of menu selections to choose from, but I may also make suggestions that I think you will enjoy based on your initial assessment. It may take a few weeks to fine tune your meals (i.e. portion size, less starch, more spice), but we’ll work together to ensure your expectations are met and exceeded.

If you have family favorites or special recipes you and your family enjoy, I always do my best to accommodate those requests.

Do I need any special equipment or utensils?

I will bring all the necessary equipment with me, including pots and pans, utensils, knives, cutting boards, towels, etc. I do ask that your major appliances are in working order, that your kitchen is clean when I arrive and the counter tops are relatively clear so that I have ample space to work.

Where do you shop?

My shopping varies from client to client. I am happy to shop at a favorite grocer or specialty shop if requested. Otherwise, I may visit a number of grocery stores to find the freshest, highest quality and best priced ingredients available.

Is feedback welcomed?

Always! The more feedback I receive from you, the better I am able to customize the service I provide. I will continually check with you in regard to the meal selection, quantity and quality to ensure you are happy with my service.