1. What is the difference between a Personal Chef and a Private Chef?
Most Private Chefs are employed full-time with one household, preparing up to three meals a day. A Personal Chef has several clients who regularly schedule the Chef’s services on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. A Personal Chef provides a customized selection of freshly prepared meals, which are packaged and stored for the client to enjoy as it fits into their schedule and lifestyle.
 
2. Do you cook in my kitchen?
Yes, we do prepare your meals in the safety of your own kitchen. On our agreed upon cooking date we bring the fresh ingredients for your meals along with our own pots, pans and utensils, to prepare your entrees on site. At the end of the day we leave your kitchen clean, and full of the savory aroma of good home cooking!

3. How long will you be here?
Because we’ll be cooking several different entrees and side dishes from scratch, it can take between 4-8 hours. It is not possible to say exactly how many hours, since it will vary based on the menu selections, as some dishes take more time than others to prepare.

4. I’ll be home that day. Is it okay if I watch—or help?
While we enjoy spending time with our clients we try to limit it to the beginning and end of our cook dates. This is to help ensure the excellent quality of your meals.

5. Do I heat the food?
Yes. Any entrees that have been stored for you in your freezer should be defrosted overnight in your refrigerator, and heated, to be enjoyed at the peak of their flavor. You will receive a detailed inventory of what has been stored with easy to follow heating instructions.

6. How much freezer space do you need?
It depends on the number of meals you have requested and the sizes of the containers, but it does generally require a considerable amount of freezer space. We will consider your freezer size when we meet to determine your meal quantity needs, and suggest easy ways to organize the items you will be keeping in your freezer along with your freshly prepared personal chef meals. Efficient storage is one of the reasons we prefer to select the appropriate sized containers for uniform and maximum storage.

7. Can you use my containers?
Once again, uniform size containers take less storage space in your freezer, and we will bring the appropriate containers for the entrees we are preparing each cooking date. These will be determined during our assessment based on the size of servings and method of heating you will be utilizing.

8. What type of side dishes do you prepare?
We prepare side dishes that compliment the entrée you have selected. For instance if you have ordered a savory stew entrée, we will prepare a rice or polenta side dish to be enjoyed with the stew. Other selections are determined by your specific likes and dislikes.

9. What if I want you to prepare additional side dishes?
We are happy to provide that service for you, however, it will entail an additional fee.

10. The cost seems to be about what I pay for an entrée in a restaurant—why is that?
Our fees are based on service fee plus food cost. They actually represent all of the components that make up a professional personal chef service. The Service Fee includes the assessment process that we complete to determine how and what you like to eat, as well as, allergies, sensitivities or medically specific requirements, for consideration when preparing our entrees. It also includes the time spent researching and customizing recipes to reflect your wants and requests; submitting meal selections for your approval; the grocery shopping; coming to your home to prepare your entrees in the safety of your own kitchen; plus the packaging, labeling and storing of your meals. The cost of food fluctuates dependent upon your specific choices.

If you were to compare a personal chef service to restaurant service you could think of it this way: For a restaurant you must travel to get there and possibly wait for a table. If you have allergies or special requests you don’t always have the guarantee that they will be honored, since most entrees are “assembly line” ready in the kitchen. After eating your meal you must pay for it, tip the server and travel back home.

When you have the TRAVELING CULINARY ARTIST personal chef service, you can heat a beautiful entrée that has been prepared specifically for your palate following your dietary requirements, eating it in the comfort of your own home. You could even enjoy it curled up on the couch in your “jammies” if you want!

11. Do I pay you ahead of each cooking date?
Yes, we collect the service fee in advance of your cooking date along with a deposit for the cost of food, to be balanced on the cook date. On the cook date we will collect the fee and cost of food deposit for the subsequent planned service. Checks should be made payable to TRAVELING CULINARY ARTIST. Container fees will be determined during our initial assessment.

12. How long will the food last us?
Depending on how many entrees you order, and how many evenings you eat at home we can determine approximately how long your meals will last. We’ll be happy to help you determine just how often you will want to schedule the TRAVELING CULINARY ARTIST to best serve your needs. We make sure it supports your busy lifestyle while fitting into your schedule.