Rae Hellard

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Introduction: I am a chef with over six years of experience in residential private work, with a background in special diets/nutritive-based cuisines as well as special-occasion cooking, (i.e., private events, cocktail parties, birthdays, cakes, cooking class parties in your home, etc.) Whether you seek service in nightly family-style meals, plated courses, hors d'oeuvres, or dinners cooked partially and left with instructions for completion, I have worked within that capacity. I love getting to know that people who I work for. Health-supportive cooking feeds both the body and the soul! I want to nourish you and your family in the comfort of your own home, removing the stress of maintaining nightly dinners after your busy days in New York City. Group gatherings are more relaxed and cost effective at home, and you receive the attention to detail that is otherwise neglected in a hectic commercial space. The more I get to know you, the better I can accommodate your lifestyle and tastes!

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5.0

4 reviews

100%

Brianne C.

Feb 8, 2016

I have had the great pleasure of working with Rae Hellard over the last year. During her time on our staff Rae has illustrated her skills and talent; She is well versed in health and nutrition, proficient in a wonderful range of cuisine, and has proven herself to be an incredible baker. Strong in her unfailing work ethic, she is organized, efficient, regularly on time, and always willing to help out everyone on staff. In a household where special events are frequent, Rae has excelled at menu planning and implementation, she works well with the rest of the kitchen staff, and she keeps a well organized, stocked, and clean kitchen. We are frequently entertaining large parties and are impressed by Raes imaginative presentation and creative flare. Her desserts are worthy of the front cover of Bon Appetit, her cheese boards are always abundant and beautiful, and she is always mindful and creative in her plating and meal presentation. It is my extreme pleasure to be able to recommend Rae to you. She is not only a wonderful chef and great employee, but she is also an exceptional person. We know that she will make a great addition to any household and hope that she finds a family that will appreciate all she can bring to the table. Sincerely, Brianne C.

Matthew H.

Feb 11, 2016

I hired chef Hellard to accommodate my business schedule and help me eat healthier. As someone who works a lot of hours I could not get out of the rut of ordering in for Lunch and Dinner and decided to try something different. A friend recommended Rae and I hired her a few days a week to cook dinner for my family and prepare a few meals I could take to work and eat at home on nights where I was working late. Rae is very accommodating and did an excellent job finding extremely healthy and delightful meals that refrigerated well and were just as fresh a few days after preparation. She has helped me transform my eating habits and I find I have a lot more energy and time to do what needs to get done every day. That being said, with a little more flexibility for family dinners Rae has come up with some extremely unique and delicious meals that my whole family enjoys. We used to go out to eat twice a week but since we hired Rae we enjoy 5 star meals from the comfort of our home. After a long day at work there is nothing I look forward to more than coming home, relaxing, and having a professionally cooked meal in which I don't have to lift a finger. I highly recommend Rae to anyone that wants to be pampered and enjoy a first class chef in the comfort of their home. On a personal level level Rae is very friendly, outgoing, and courteous. She is someone that clearly takes pride in her work and is passionate about food and experimenting with new dishes. I have always found in house help to be a bit distracting and awkward but Rae is very unobtrusive, professional, and a delight to have around the house. Oh yeah, she is also great at custom cakes, cookies, and other treats which make a great gifts come time for birthdays or other events. Just one more added level of convenience.

Jennifer H.

Feb 11, 2016

Rae worked full time for my family as a personal cook. Because of her long hours, she had a lot of interaction with my family and me, and we came to know her quite well. We appreciate Rae so much because she values nutrition above all else and strives to make each meal tasty, new, and exciting while being healthy at the same time (although we often enjoyed delicious desserts as well!). We are a family of four, with various tastes and dietary needs. Rae was able to take into consideration all of this and tailor the weeks menu around each family member, including special fasts, dairy-free, vegetarian, fat-free, and always low-calorie options. She also cooked for different holiday parties, some of which were religious with specific requirements. Rae worked independently and proved to have good judgment. She was frugal when shopping, buying not only the appropriate amount, but also conscious of markets with the best value for the best products. Rae was always on time and reliable. Her honestly allowed me to be comfortable having her in my home while were away, home with my children, and using my credit card as necessary. Aside from eating Raes meals, my favorite part of Rae being here was that I never had to make a decision regarding food she did everything from picking the menu to serving it. Rae is extremely passionate about her work and it shows every day. She is a true pleasure to have around.

Elizabeth B.

Feb 11, 2016

I hired Rae to come cater a small birthday dinner in my home. It was an amazing experience! All I said was that I would like it to be light (it was the middle of summer) and exciting. She exceeded expectations creating a truly exceptional meal. We had summer rolls to start, an incredible red cabbage/avocado/papaya salad, a seafood green curry stew, and a passion fruit cake for dessert. Each dish was colorful and beautifully presented and the flavor was absolutely delicious. She was easy to communicate with, and flexible with scheduling and menu prep. I was glad that I gave her loose instructions and didn't micromanage because her creativity and passion for what she prepared was evident. I highly recommend Rae and will be hiring her again in the future!

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Pricing is determined upon the style of service needed, the amount of participants, and the cost of ingredients and necessary equipment. Preferably, clients have a well-stocked and outfitted kitchen in their own homes, and are able to accommodate several "cooks" in the kitchen at one time!
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Determining the style of class or occasion they are looking for, for how many people, the equipment that is at their disposal in their homes, and what kinds of menus or cuisines they are interested in. I have mainly always determined my own menus, but it is essential to communicate with the client to find out what kinds of foods they like or can/can't have, or are interested in learning about, before making any menu plans. I am happy to work with the client to decide on the perfect menu! I am only able to travel within Manhattan and Williamsburg, BK at this time.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
6 Years Experience in Residential Homes as a Private Chef Freelance experience for parties, special occasion cakes Graduated from The Natural Gourmet Institute in Chelsea, NYC, Chef's Training Program Worked assisting cooking classes at Sur La Table in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Rae Hellard

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