What is a Personal Chef? A Personal Chef offers a personalized, in-home cooking service. All meals are packaged and labeled for clients to enjoy the day of or later. A Personal Chef Service gives you a healthy alternative to fast food or take-out. How does the Service work? The service starts with a visit to your home for a complimentary consultation to discuss your tastes, preferences, and any possible food allergies. I will then customize a menu based on your personal needs. Once you have approved your menu, a service date is scheduled. On your cook day, I will come to your home with all the groceries and equipment needed to fully prepare the meals on your menu. All your meals will be stored in the refrigerator or freezer labeled with reheating instructions. Your kitchen will be left clean with the delicious aroma of home cooked food. How long does the Service take? Each standard service takes approximately 4-6 hours, depending on the menu and amount of food. Do I have to be home? It’s not required for you to be at home, or to be in the city! Most personal chef’s clients are not at home while the chef is cooking. You would simply need to make entry arrangements with me when we set the cooking date, making sure I have access to the kitchen. What do I need to provide on your cook day? The only thing I require is room in your refrigerator and freezer, some cleared counter space, an empty sink, and your stove and microwave. Where is the food prepared? In order to comply with Health and insurance regulations, all the food must be prepared in your home. Don’t worry; I’ll be sure to leave your kitchen clean before you arrive home from work. How are the meals packaged and stored? The first service could be stored in either Gladware or Ziploc style containers, for which there is a $15 charge. If an individual continues on as a regular client, they may choose to continue using these containers.  However, these storage units quickly begin to lose their seal and become brittle after being heated, washed and frozen multiple times; therefore new containers will need to be purchased after the third or fourth service to preserve the integrity of the food. An alternative style is the more durable Rubbermaid line. There will be a one-time fee of $50 for a full set of reusable Rubbermaid standard containers. All meals will have detailed thawing and reheating instructions and will be stored in your refrigerator and freezer.