Do I Need a Personal Chef?
Not everyone does. But if you are fed up with fast food, commercial frozen foods loaded with sodium and preservatives, or take-out, then the answer is yes. If your busy life doesn't give you the chance to shop for and cook healthy meals for your family you should seriously consider how a personal chef can help.

For busy, career minded individuals, dual income couples with limited time, new mothers, those recuperating from illness or hospital stays – a Personal Chef can change the way you experience the dinner hour. No more rushing around, eating poorly and facing a kitchen to clean up. A personal chef will provide you with nutritious and wholesome home-cooked meals.

Can I Afford a Personal Chef?
Yes! Having your own personal chef is very affordable; especially when you consider how much your time is worth. I do all the shopping, cooking and cleaning, you heat the meals and enjoy fine dining in your home.

Personal Chef or Private Chef?
A Private Chef is an employee of an individual or family and often lives on the premises. Private Chefs do 100% of the cooking -- every meal, every day. This type of service is very expensive often costing $50,000-$80,000 a year.

A Personal Chef serves several clients. Usually, a Personal Chef visits the home of one client each day and prepares multiple meals for a week or two. Personal Chef Service is very affordable and is intended for busy people and families who don't always have time to eat healthy, wholesome food.

Why do you cook in my kitchen?
Pennsylvania health codes require I cook the meals in your home or in a commercial kitchen. Plus cooking in your own kitchen serves a variety of purposes. First of all, your meals are stored when they are as fresh as possible (using proper cooling techniques); this ensures that they will be delicious when you are ready to eat them. Cooking in your kitchen eliminates the need to transport cooked foods and safe, healthy, personally customized meals become affordable. It allows you to have a home-cooked meal waiting for you in the oven or on the stovetop.

How long will it take?
All of your meals are made from fresh ingredients. It usually takes approximately four to six hours to prepare, cook and clean-up. Obviously this time may vary depending on your menu choices.

Do you provide the containers?
Having containers that are a uniform size means less storage space is used in your refrigerator and freezer. We will provide high quality containers to store your meals. There is a one-time container fee. If there is a menu item that you would like cooked or stored in a personal casserole or baking dish, that can certainly be arranged. If you prefer throw away containers, for even less work on your part, that can be arranged too.

Is heating the meals difficult?
No. Clear and easy directions are left with each entrée and side dish ordered.

How long can I store my meals?
Refrigerated (35º-38ºF) entrees should be consumed within 5 days of cooking, depending on the food type (fish within 3 days to be safe). Frozen entrees, contrary to popular opinion, do NOT have unlimited shelf life. Freezing does not stop spoiling, it only slows it down. Most frozen entrees should be consumed within 2 months to ensure quality and freshness.

Do I heat the food you have prepared?
Yes. Any entrees that have been stored for you in your freezer should be defrosted overnight in your refrigerator.  I will leave easy to follow instructions for each entrée for the appropriate heating.

Do you have a Food Handler’s Certificate?
Yes.  Food safety is of primary concern.  I am ServSafe certified to give you the peace of mind that I have been trained and have the level of knowledge needed to prepare your food in a safe manner.

Do I have to commit to a certain number of cook dates?
No, there is total flexibility in how many times you have me cook for you. You may want to settle into a routine, counting on a specific cook date on an ongoing basis. Or you may only need the service temporarily, while you recover from surgery or an injury, while you are busy with a new baby or other situations where you want a chef to cook for you to ensure you eat well during stressful times. I do ask that you make a cancellation 48 hours before the cook date.

Can I give Chef services as a gift?
Yes. Gift certificates are available.