FAQ
- What's the difference between a Personal Chef and a Private Chef?
- Who hires personal chefs?
- Do you cook in my kitchen?
- What do you cook?
- What types of side dishes do you prepare?
- What if I want additional side dishes?
- How long will you be here?
- How do I heat the food?
- Can you use my containers?
- Can I microwave the meals?
- How long will the food last?
- How much refrigerator and freezer space do you need?
- Where do you shop?
- When is payment due?
- The cost seems to be about what I would pay for an entree in a restaurant. Why is that?
- It still seems expensive. Can hiring a personal chef be cost-effective?
- Do you cater parties?
- What about romantic dinners?
- Do you sell gift certificates?
What's the difference between a Personal Chef and a Private Chef?
A Private Chef is employed by one individual or family full time, and is often "live-in," preparing up to three meals per day for the household.
A Personal Chef serves several clients and provides multiple meals that are custom-designed per the clients' specific tastes and dietary requirements. These meals are packaged and stored so that clients may enjoy them at their convenience.
Who hires personal chefs?
Busy singles, couples, two-income families with kids, retirees, and anyone who enjoys good cooking. Many clients have specific dietary needs due to medical issues, including diabetes, allergies, and obesity. They may not have the skill or the time to prepare healthy meals for themselves or their families. What they all have in common is a desire for delicious, healthy home-cooking. They've grown tired of eating out, ordering in, eating frozen TV dinners, or hitting the fast-food drive-thru every evening.
Do you cook in my kitchen?
Yes. We prepare all meals in the safety of your own kitchen. On our agreed-upon Cook Date, we'll go shopping for all ingredients and bring them to your home with our own pots, pans and utensils. We'll prepare all your meals, package them, and store them in your refrigerator with a "FREEZE OR EAT BY" date. At the end of the session, we clean up the kitchen, pack up, and leave behind the aroma of good home cooking.
What do you cook?
What do you like to eat? CHOP's menu contains a variety of items to suit virtually any palate. From good old-fashioned American home cooking to a variety of ethnic cuisines, to special diets, each dish is customized to your specific tastes. No matter which dishes you select, you can be assured that they will be professionally prepared with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available,
What types of side dishes do you prepare?
Side dishes are selected to compliment your entrees, taking your personal preferences and dietary requirements into account. For instance, Hungarian Goulash may be served with buttered noodles, while Jamaican Chicken is often served with Mango Salsa Salad. If you are watching your weight, we'll be sure to select side dishes that are both calorie-conscious and delicious.
What if I want additional side dishes?
No problem! We will be happy to provide more side dishes for a nominal additional fee.
How long will you be here?
That depends upon the number of meals prepared. Since several entrees and side dishes will be prepared and packaged, it will take several hours. We'll work within your schedule and situation.
How do I heat the food?
Items that have been stored in your freezer should be defrosted overnight in your refrigerator and heated to be enjoyed at the peak of their flavor. Items that are refrigerated are ready to heat and eat. Simple heating instructions are included for all dishes.
Can you use my containers?
In order to ensure proper food storage and heating, we provide all appropriate containers. The cost of the containers is included in CHOP's fee.
Can I microwave the meals?
While the microwave oven is a great invention, it tends to overcook much of the food heated in it. That said, some items, such as soups, stews and pasta sauces actually heat very well in the microwave.
CHOP uses packaging specifically designed to preserve the great tastes and textures of the food prepared.
Delicate items, such as sautéed fish and seafood, steamed or blanched vegetables, and stir-fried entrees are vacuum-packaged in boil-in-bags. Simply boil a pot of water, slip in the bag, and reduce the heat to a simmer for a few minutes.
Items that are broiled, roasted or oven-baked are packaged in foil oven-safe containers and are heated in a preheated 350-degree oven for the designated amount of time.
If you would prefer all microwavable containers, CHOP will be happy to provide them upon your request. But remember, you will be sacrificing some flavor and texture for speed and convenience.
How long will the food last?
That depends on how many meals you order and how often you eat them. Remember that all meals are cooked from scratch, and thus contain no preservatives. Frozen meals can be stored for up to a month with little deterioration in flavor. Refrigerated meals should be consumed within three to four days.
How much refrigerator and freezer space do you need?
That depends on the type of service and the number of meals you request. We can make that determination during the initial interview. Generally, we'll need two to three shelves in your refrigerator and a half -shelf in your freezer on your Cook Date.
Where do you shop?
The secret to great tasting food is selecting the best available ingredients. We shop at professional butcher shops to obtain prime meats and poultry, top-quality fishmongers for the freshest fish and seafood, produce and farmers' markets for the best seasonal fruits and vegetables, and specialty ethnic shops for authentic, high-quality imported goods.
When is payment due?
It is customary to make a grocery deposit and pay the fee in advance of your first Cook Date. For your convenience, you may leave a check for the upcoming Cook Date on the day that we cook in your home. At each Cook Date, you will receive an invoice outlining all fees and your payments.
The cost seems to be about what I would pay for an entree in a restaurant. Why is that?
CHOP's fee includes all the components of personalized menu planning, research for specific medical or dietary issues, recipe customization to take your personal tastes into account, grocery shopping, food preparation and cooking, packaging, labeling and storing your meals.
If you were to go to a restaurant, you must drive there, park, possibly wait for a table, and order off a set menu that does not take your allergies or personal tastes into account. After eating your meal, you must pay for it, tip the server and drive back home.
With CHOP, you heat a customized meal prepared to your specifications, and eat in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
It still seems expensive. Can hiring a personal chef be cost-effective?
It is certainly cost-effective if you eat out a lot, hit the drive-thrus regularly, have restaurants deliver meals to you, or do your own cooking.
The average family of four spends at least $250 per week on groceries. How much of the groceries that you bought last week were actually used to make meals? How much was thrown out because the ingredients spoiled before you had the time to cook them?
Think about the time, energy and effort it takes to get dinner on the table every night. If you shop for groceries once a week, you'll spend an hour at the store. Cooking a nourishing meal from scratch takes at least an hour per night. Then there's the clean-up, including washing the pots and pans. That's 15 hours per week of shopping, cooking and cleaning up. What would it be worth to you to have those 15 hours for more important things?
Finally, how do you put a price tag on the good health of you and your family? With obesity-related diseases on the rise for both adults and children in the United States, you owe it to yourself and your family to provide healthy, delicious meals prepared from scratch with the finest available ingredients.
Do you cater parties?
We will be happy to shop and cook for your parties so you can enjoy spending time with your guests! CHOP handles parties too small for traditional caterers: sit-down plated meals for up to 12 guests, buffets for up to 18 guests and cocktail parties for up to 50 guests. Whether you want the food prepared for your heating, or full party service, including décor, wait service and clean-up, CHOP can accommodate your needs. Just call Chef Karen for a free in-home consultation.
What about romantic dinners?
A quiet, intimate dinner in your home is the perfect start to a night of romance. CHOP's Romantic Dinner includes a five-course meal, candles, table flowers, a framed keepsake menu, a complimentary bottle of wine, and artisan chocolates. Chef Karen will shop for your ingredients, cook, provide wait service, clean up during dessert, and then leave, so you can enjoy each other's company. See Romantic Dinners for more information.
Do you sell gift certificates?
Yes! CHOP gift certificates are ideal for holiday gifts, wedding and baby showers, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays or any gift-giving occasion. Choose a Romantic Dinner or Home Meal Service. See Gift Certificates for more information.
