Rent Your Chef - Frequently Asked Questions



		What is a Personal Chef? A Personal Chef provides services that aid you in successfully balancing the demands of your busy lifestyle. Chef Michael creates delicious, satisfying and affordable meals that are customized to your preferences, dietary requirements and lifestyle. We begin by conducting an extensive assessment of your personal culinary likes and dislikes, and other factors that affect how you eat, and then we work together to design a personalized, nutritious meal plan for you and your family. Our emphasis is on the personal part of the personal chef service, and your complete satisfaction is guaranteed. How does this work? Rent Your Chef will first arrange a Client Assessment Consultation with you. Together we will identify your menu choices with specific attention to individual tastes, food preferences, special dietary needs and nutritional goals. I will then work closely with you to design your personalized menu. Once you have approved this menu, we can set a cook date. On this day, I will bring the fresh ingredients for your meals, along with my own equipment, and prepare your entrées on site. Once preparation is complete, your kitchen will be cleaned and left just as it was found. Your selections will be labeled and stored in your refrigerator or freezer, allowing you to enjoy custom meals at your convenience. How are fees determined? Initial consultation is complimentary. Rent Your Chef's fees are expressed as an all-inclusive price for each cooking date. This fee reflects all aspects of the personal chef service, such as groceries and shopping time, planning and preparation of the customized menu, storage of your meals, and cleanup. A typical fee structure is based on five meals, each serving four people. Some menu items may require additional charges and will be listed on the menu as 'based on market price'. Desserts take quite a bit more time to prepare and do not always retain their quality when frozen or refrigerated; therefore, they are available at an additional cost. How long will you be here? We cannot say exactly how many hours; however, we are most willing to work with your schedule and can make arrangements, in advance, so that my cooking date fits with your schedule. Do I need to be home when you are cooking? No, most clients are not. Arrangements can be made with Chef Michael to enter your home. I carry personal liability, theft and fire insurance through my affiliation with the United States Personal Chef Association, and have references that can be provided, upon request. Do I heat the food? Yes, any entrées and side dishes that have been stored in your freezer should be defrosted overnight in your refrigerator, and heated, to be enjoyed at the peak of their flavor. I will always leave you with easy to follow heating instructions for each entrée that has been prepared. The cost seems to be about what I would pay for an entrée in a restaurant - why is that? My fees represent all of the components that make up a professional personal chef service. For example, the design of the menu is based on the assessment process that I complete to determine your personal likes, needs, dietary requirements, etc. I modify all recipes to reflect your specifications. Meal selections are submitted for your approval. All of the groceries needed for your meals are included. Your meals are all prepared in the safety of your own kitchen. Packaging, labeling and storing entrées are also features included in this price. Do I pay ahead of each cooking date? Yes, it is customary to pay for the service in advance of your cooking date, as I will be purchasing groceries on your behalf. Once we establish a regular schedule, you may leave me a check for the upcoming cooking date on the day I am cooking in your home. Rent Your Chef accepts cash, personal checks (made payable to 'Rent Your Chef') and Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. What does a Standard service include? The standard service includes five entrées with four servings of each entrée and side dishes, when appropriate. Some entrées, for instance, do not require a side dish, such as a pasta entrée. What if I want additional side dishes as well? I will be happy to provide that service to you; however, it will entail an additional fee. How long will the food last us? Generally five entrées are chosen for each cook date (four servings of each entrée). This will provide twenty individual meals. For example, a family of four for five meals, a couple for ten meals, or a single person for twenty meals. How much freezer space do you need? It depends on the number of meals you request and the size of the containers, but it does generally require a considerable amount of freezer space. Efficient storage is one of the reasons personal chefs prefer to select the appropriate uniform size storage containers for their clients. Can you use my containers? Uniform size containers take less storage space in your freezer. There is an initial $20. container fee and it will be your responsibility to have these containers available to me each cheffing date. If there is an entrée that would be better served in your own casserole or baking dish, we can package accordingly. How will my meals be packaged? Your meals will be packaged according to your preferences - family-style, for two, or individually. Are you certified by the Health Department? Yes, I am certified by the State of Pennsylvania Department of Health as a safe food handler under HACCP guidelines. This sounds wonderful, but can I afford a Personal Chef? When you consider the cost of groceries, the time to plan a variety of gourmet entrées, shopping, cooking and clean-up time, you will find the pricing to be quite affordable. You and your family can dine in the comfort of your home on healthy food, tailored to your specific preferences. Can 'Rent Your Chef' provide references? Certainly... please feel free to browse through our Client Testimonials page. ..........