FAQs
- What types of customers have you worked with?
Intimate dinner parties & gatherings; cooking classes for individuals, couples or girls night out; or wine & dinner pairings. This venture has afforded me the opportunity to create personal cuisines in many homes throughout Michigan, providing unique dining experiences. My personal favorite personal chef experience is the Romantic Dinner designing a special menu of favorites with clients to celebrate a special event, such as engagement proposal or an anniversary celebration. The menu options are endless
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Tasting is believing.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
F.A.Q How much does your service cost? The services are tailored to your specific tastes and desires, so the cost depends on a few factors. Please see the following sections for more specific details: Personal Chef Service, Special Dinners and Lessons. What are your specialties? Vibrant, exciting flavors! I take pride in my unique sauces and my original sugar-free desserts. My food is influenced by a myriad of ethnic cuisines European, Asian, Caribbean, Italian, Southern and AmericanI also make a delicious chicken and saugage gumbo. I take pride in making everything from scratch, from the homemade croutons in my Caesar salad to the handmade noodles in my pasta. I usually make all of my own spice blends to add a richer, more authentic flavor. What menus do you offer? This is a purely individual service, so I devise your menu based upon your food preferences and dietary needs. I have thousands of recipes from which to turn, including my own signature menu. Can I taste a sample of your food before signing up? Because I do not work out of a commercial kitchen, I am unable to provide food samples. However, I will be happy to provide the names of satisfied customers whom you can call as references. I also provide a feedback form with each service so that I can get a better sense of your likes and dislikes and tailor the menus accordingly. Where do you cook? I do all food preparation in your home, however, I bring all the equipment and utensils I need to prepare the food. You need only provide the oven, microwave, refrigerator and freezer. How much time will you need in my kitchen? With my personal chef service, Im typically in your home for approximately 5-7 hours, depending on the menu. For dinner parties, I will need 2-6 hours in advance food preparation time ( the greater number of guest, the longer Ill need), in addition to the length of time for the dinner and clean-up. For cooking classes, I typically need approximately 2 hours of prep time prior the start of class. What areas do you cover? My business is located in the greater Lansing area; however, I do travel all over Michigan. Personal Chef Service As my personal chef, will you cook for me every night? No. To make the service as economical as possible, I spend the day in your home preparing a variety of meals in advance (one to two weeks' worth). Do I have to sign up for a regular schedule, or can I just call you when I need you? My service is designed for people looking for a long-term solution to their dinner woes, so I schedule everyone on a standing cook date, whether it's weekly or bi-weekly. That way you're ensured of a slot in my schedule until you decide to discontinue the service. What if I'm traveling or going on vacation? I simply request that you let me know at least 30 days in advance of your scheduled travel or vacation so that I have the option of filling that day with another client. However, if your travel schedule prevents you from committing to a regularly scheduled cook date, I'd be happy to refer you to another chef. How many different entrees do you prepare each service? I prepare five different entrées with an appropriate side dish (the number of portions will depend on the number of people enjoying the meals). If you prefer not to include side dishes, I will prepare six different entrées. I will not repeat an entrée for at least 6 months unless you request it. I just need a couple of nights of food per week; can you do this? The most economical option is for me to prepare a variety of meals at once. However, many of my clients have me prepare a 5-day service on a bi-weekly basis, as they still go out to eat, travel or prepare meals themselves. Are all the meals frozen? The majority of your meals will be stored in your freezer, however, I typically store your first couple nights' meals in your refrigerator, especially if one meal is a fresh fish selection. For those meals that do not freeze well, they would just need to be consumed within the first three to five days. What does your service fee cover? It covers the menu planning, grocery shopping, food preparation, pantry items (spices, oils, vinegars, condiments) and food packaging required for your meals. How much room do you need in my refrigerator and freezer? I typically need at least 1 shelf each in your refrigerator and freezer. However, if I'm preparing 30-40 plates, then a separate freezer is required. Do I need to be home when you're here? No, in fact, most of my clients are not home when I'm there. They just provide me with a key and the alarm code, if necessary. Trust that I will treat your home better than my own and keep your information in the strictest confidence. I want to learn how to cook; can you give me a cooking lesson while you're doing the service? As you can imagine, preparing five different entrees and side dishes takes a considerable amount of concentration. Therefore, I am unable to provide cooking lessons while performing your service. However, I'd be happy to schedule a separate session that can be devoted to cooking lessons based upon what you'd like to learn (see Lessonsfor more information). Do you offer gift certificates? Yes, I offer gift certificates. Dinner Parties What is the maximum number of guests you serve? Because most home kitchens are not designed for larger parties, I mainly limit my service to sit-down dinner parties and brunches of 12 guests or fewer. However, I can also handle buffet dinners or appetizer parties for up to 20 people, contingent upon a site visit. How much lead time do you need? It depends on the size of the party. Two weeks' notice is sufficient for an intimate dinner for two. For parties of 4-6, three weeks is preferable, and for parties of 7-12, 4-5 weeks is ideal so that I can arrange for additional staff. This also allows me enough time to develop and price out your menu based upon your preferences. Parties around major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day) require additional lead time. What days are you available? I have regular clients Monday-Friday, so I'm primarily available for dinner parties on Saturdays or Sundays. But certainly feel free to call me about my availability on other nights. What is your cancellation policy? I collect a 50% deposit upfront to secure the date. If you cancel within 2-weeks of your party you will receive a 75% refund of your deposit, otherwise your deposit will be forfeited. We don't have enough dinnerware, flatware, glassware or linens; do you provide that? I can provide dinnerware and flatware for a reasonable fee; if you need to rent linens or glassware, I can arrange for rentals for an additional fee (my time plus the cost of rentals). For buffet dinners, I can provide chafing dishes and platters for a reasonable fee. Do you provide the wine or other alcoholic beverages? Because I do not have a liquor license, I am unable to purchase wine, beer or liquor on your behalf. However, I'd be happy to provide wine suggestions based upon your menu. Do you handle all the clean-up? For sit-down dinners, I will handle all the clean-up associated with the food preparation, as well as clean up your dinner dishes. Should your guests stay longer than the party's designated end, you will be responsible for any remaining clean-up. For buffet dinners, my full service option includes all clean-up, otherwise I just handle the clean-up associated with the food preparation. Do you handle everything yourself, or do you have staff? I do not employ staff, but do have professionals to which I turn when necessary. I will prepare and serve food for up to 6 guests; anything over that will require additional staff. Service staff will be billed at $23/hour, 4-hour minimum (staff will be paid