What is a personal chef?

A personal chef serves several clients--usually one per day--and provides multiple meals that are custom-designed for the client’s particular tastes, dietary and food allergy requirements.  These meals are packaged and stored according to the client’s needs to be enjoyed at their leisure.

Where are the meals prepared?

Different from catering, all the meals are prepared in the safety of your own kitchen according to required food safety guidelines.  On our agreed upon cooking date, I will bring all the ingredients, utensils and equipment required to prepare your selections.  At the end of the day, your kitchen will be left clean with nothing left behind except your mouth-watering selections and the aroma of good home cooking!

Why can’t you just cook everything at your home and deliver it to me?

Health department and zoning laws prohibit it.  If a personal chef offers to deliver your meals, an important question to ask is:  Did you prepare them in a licensed, health department-approved commercial kitchen?  Cooking everything at your home as opposed to preparing it offsite and delivering it provides you with the freshest, safest food possible.  Although working directly in your home is preferred, I do have limited access to a licensed, health-department approved commercial kitchen.  An additional charge to cover the cost of the kitchen will apply.  When working in your home, A Thought For Food will make each service date as accommodating and unobtrusive as possible.

How long will you be in my home?

Because all your meals are prepared from scratch with great care and attention to detail, I will be at your home anywhere from five to eight hours depending upon the number of entrees.  I am willing to accommodate what works best with your schedule or situation.

What will you store the food in?

So that you can easily try and evaluate my service, I provide disposable containers the first time.  After that, you will be able to select from several options including disposable or something permanent such as Pyrex.  Pyrex containers are very popular because of their versatility.  The cost for a basic set of ten containers for a four-serving, family-style service is generally about $125.  Pyrex packaging for individual portions or double portions will require more pieces, but generally the cost is about $150.  Plastic containers are a less expensive alternative, but you will need to transfer the meal to an oven-safe dish if heating in a conventional oven.  Simply wash the containers in your dishwasher after you have enjoyed the meal and have them ready each service date in a predetermined location.  The containers belong to you if you discontinue the service.

Do I heat the food?

Yes.  The entrees and side dishes should be heated using the approximate heating instructions I provide.  Heating instructions are approximate because all ovens and microwaves vary in performance.  I recommend you purchase a meat thermometer so that you can accurately determine when a dish has been heated through to the correct temperature.  Some fish and seafood items may not be fully cooked by me--but by you--so that the item is enjoyed at the peak of flavor.  Those items will be clearly labeled.

What type of side dishes do you prepare?

If the service you select includes side dishes, they will be seasonal fresh vegetables, a potato, rice, pasta, grain or bean dish, salad, quick bread or light soup.  You may request a specific item or allow me to pair the side dish with the entrée.

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

The fee represents all components that make up the professional personal chef service.  This includes a detailed assessment of your needs and dietary requirements, special diet research, menu planning, shopping for ingredients, meal preparation, and packaging and storing your selections.  For most services, the cost of groceries is over and above the fee as this allows you to make premium menu selections such as veal, lamb or seafood if you desire.  You can also have all-organic fruits and vegetables and free-range meat, poultry and wild-caught fish and seafood.  Think of it this way:  You would buy groceries anyway; you are hiring me to cook them in a thoughtful and highly personalized way, tailored to your specific taste and dietary requirements.

When you go to a restaurant, you must drive there, possibly wait for a table, take a chance your server is having a good day, hope that your special requests are honored, pay for it, tip the server and drive home.  If you have a personal chef, you can heat a beautiful entrée that has been thoughtfully and carefully prepared to your palate and dietary requirements, and enjoy it in your most comfortable clothes in the comfort of your own home.

My professional personal chef service may even help you to control your food costs, as you will be less likely to impulse buy in the grocery store or resort to low-quality fast food, convenience food or restaurant food.  Remember all that produce you purchased with good intentions of making home-cooked meals, then never got to and had to throw out?  No more of that!

When and where do you shop for ingredients?

As quality ingredients make for quality meals, I shop for the ingredients, including the fresh ingredients such as produce, meat, fish and poultry on the way to your home.  As an added service because I shop just before I arrive at your home, I’ll be happy to pick up any additional items you may need (milk, diapers, pet food, cereal, etc.)—up to about six items—for reimbursement only.

Because the grocery cost is over and above my professional fee, I will purchase the ingredients wherever you would like within reason.  Typically, I purchase general grocery items at Kroger, and meat, seafood and poultry at The Fresh Market or Whole Foods.

Is it possible to order only one or two entrees?

I would still have to charge my minimum fee.  This is my business and in order to be profitable and offer my clients the best value, generally three entrees, two servings each is the least amount of food I do at one time.

How long will the food last and how often will we need your service?

This will depend on how many nights you eat at home, and the number of entrees and servings ordered.  Because I want to make this work best for you, I’ll be happy to help determine how often to schedule service to best suit your needs.  We’ll make sure it supports your lifestyle without putting any pressure on you, whether it’s monthly, biweekly or weekly.  Service dates are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.  Occasional service and gift certificate purchases will be scheduled around regular clients.

How do I pay for the service and am I locked in for a period of time?

A check for my service in addition to the grocery deposit will be required in advance of the first cooking date.  Payment is required in advance because I am reserving an entire day for you.  I will guarantee the cooking fee for one year; after that it may be subject to change.  Because our relationship is based on mutual trust, please have a check ready for me when I arrive on each subsequent cooking date.  There is no contract and you are not locked in for any period of time; our mutual arrangement can be terminated by either of us at any time with advance notice.  I do, however, have a service agreement so that we both have something to refer to that outlines the terms of service.

Why can I not find Chef Carol or A Thought For Food on Facebook, Twitter or other social networking sites?

I value my own privacy as much as I will value yours.  When you hire me as your personal chef, you are hiring a unique and exclusive in-home service.  When I am not cooking personalized cuisine for my clients, I am more inclined to be relaxing with my husband and enjoying our country home, taking a long walk, gardening, reading a new cookbook, or in my own kitchen developing and testing new recipes.