What is a personal chef?

"First of all, a personal chef is not really like a caterer.   I provide meals for busy families, empty nesters or working professionals that are prepared and packaged in the client's kitchen.  I do the shopping, cooking and clean-up, leaving you with fully prepared meals that are ready to heat and serve.  The meals can be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer depending on your family's needs.  By the way, a private chef generally cooks for one family exclusively, sometimes living on the premises; whereas, a personal chef cooks for many families on a rotating basis, usually bi-weekly or monthly."

Where are my meals made?

"Yes, it's true!  Your personal chef cooks everything from scratch right in your home kitchen.  Unlike traditional caterers, personal chefs are not usually licensed to transport the finished dishes to you.  The advantage of this type of service is that you save money since a personal chef doesn't rent or lease a commercial kitchen, doesn't require yearly licenses or one day permits to cook in your home and we almost always work alone.  This is not to say that personal chefs are fly-by-night operations!  On the contrary, we all carry liability insurance and have safe food handler certificates.  Some personal chefs are graduates of culinary institutions, but many more are just avid home cooks that have a passion for great food!"

Aren't your meals just like TV dinners?

"Not at all; I personally shop for and pick out the finest ingredients available for your menu that week.  Then I bring those items directly to your kitchen; I prep, cook and package your meals that same day, so everything is fresh and tasty.  There is no way that a mass produced frozen dinner can compare to the meals hand crafted by your own chef because, essentially I cook for you just like I would cook for my family at home.  No artificial colors, flavors or chemical additives of any kind; just pure, fresh whole foods prepared with love and cooked with your family's tastes and health concerns in mind.  That's precisely why you hire a chef service, for that level of personal care and attention to detail.  Even though my meal service may sound like I'm providing 'TV dinners' because your entrees and sidedishes are ready to heat and serve; but, what you are really getting is first class cuisine that IS convenient, yes; but also fresh, healthy and totally delicious!"

How are my meals stored?

"Well, it really depends on your family's schedule; I can pack your meals in the refrigerator or the freezer or you can mix it up; just tell me which meals you'd like frozen and which ones you'd like packed fresh.  The containers that I use for packaging your meals are included in your basic plan and are microwavable and oven-proof.  The fresh packaged meals should be consumed within three days for peak flavor retention.  The frozen meals will keep very well for up to four weeks; however, if you'd like some meals packaged for even longer storage, then I can vacuum seal those items for you, but I do charge a nominal fee for the vacuum bags."

Then how often will I need you?

"If you'd like twelve meals prepared every two weeks, twenty meals every month or just need help stocking the 'fridge and freezer during specific times of the year, I am here to accommodate your family's unique schedule.  Perhaps you are reading this because you and your spouse both work long hours and cooking at home is just not an option.  Many families with two working parents are typically most starved for TIME.  You probably wouldn't be considering hiring a personal chef if you had all the time in the world, so let Chef for the Night help free up your already busy schedule."

And you plan all the menus?

"Only with your input!  My meal plan service begins with an initial consultation during which I will gather all the details of your family's food preferences and any diet restrictions.  We will conclude this meeting with the menu for your first cooking day.  After that, you can give me subsequent menus via phone or e-mail.  You may certainly ask for my suggestions, but the final say is really from you and your family."

About how long will you stay?

"Of course it depends on how much and what kinds of foods I am making for you that day, but usually it will take about 4 to 5 hours to prepare a typical twelve meal plan and anywhere from 6 to 8 hours to prepare a typical twenty meal plan."

But, don't I need to be home?

"That is entirely up to you just as long as your kitchen will be free of traffic going in and out on your cooking day.  Of course, if no one is home while I am working, I will need a key and I would certainly hope that if you trust me enough to cook for your family, then this will not be an issue."

Do you use my utensils at all?

"Generally not.  I bring everything I need to prepare that day's menu with me and the only exception to this rule might be if you've requested some kind of casserole item and would like it cooked and stored in one of your baking dishes.  Other than that, I always provide my own pots and pans, knives, cutting boards, towels and of course the containers for packaging your meals."

So, what do I need to provide?

Good question!  It is essential that your kitchen is absolutely tidy and clean when I arrive for your cooking day.  I will charge you $35/hour, 1 hour minimum, to clean your kitchen so I can begin cooking if need be.  Also, let me know in advance if your kitchen is ever unusable, so I don't show up with food and nowhere to cook!  If someone is going to be home on your cooking day, the kitchen needs to be free so I can work efficiently."

How do you charge for all this?

"First of all, the only set fee I charge is for the cooking rather than a package price that includes all groceries.  I find that adding the grocery cost separately allows you to control your food budget because you are picking the menus.  Everything else in the meal plan, such as the the shopping, containers, packaging and cleanup as well as traveling to your home are already covered.  Extra cost items could include traveling beyond a 30 mile radius of Ramsey NJ as well as optional food items such as appetizers, soups, snacks or desserts.  There would also be additional charges for vacuum-sealing or for printing nutrition facts per each item chosen.  If you are a new customer I do require a retainer fee to schedule the initial meeting but that charge is simply applied to your invoice when you begin your meal plan."

Wow, is this really affordable?

"I am here to provide whatever level of service works best for you; some families use their personal chef service to supplement their home-cooked meals for particularly hectic days.  For them, twenty vacuum sealed meals may last 6 weeks or more.  For others that go out to eat or order in every night, it makes more sense to purchase 5 or 10 days of meal replacements because it's actually cheaper.  The goal of my service is to eliminate the stress of last minute cooking for you and reduce the time and money spent at the supermarket or fast food and takeout restaurants.  So, yes this should be very affordable for you, not to mention, my service is providing freshly prepared dishes from scratch with no preservatives or chemical additives that are cooked with your family's tastes and health concerns in mind.  You really couldn't purchase personalized meals like these any other way!"

What about my daughter's diet?

"Special diets are generally no problem at all and I can alter many recipes to be low fat, fat-free, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, dairy-free or low-carb.  I can pick ingredients and design menus that conform to the Zone, Atkins, Weight Watcher's, South Beach, Suzanne Sommers or any type of diet.  Just tell me what you require and I will show you some very tasty alternatives."

OK, so how do I pay you?

"At this time Chef for the Night is accepting the following forms of payment: personal check with a credit card number attached, bank check or money order made out to "Richard Hammond".  Of course, cash is fine also and I will request a 50% down payment at the time of booking your first meal plan service or five to ten days prior to your scheduled cooking day for ongoing accounts.  The balance is payable on your cooking day, so the easiest way is to just leave me an envelope in your kitchen."

Can you help with PARTIES?

"You bet I can, no problem!  Just remember, I am not a caterer per se, so as your Personal Chef, my party service still needs to be cooked in your kitchen.  Depending on the number of guests at your event, this may need to happen over several days which can certainly be arranged.  Click the 'Parties' button on this page's left-hand navigation bar at the top for complete details of my dinner or buffet party services.  By myself or with waitstaff and sous chef(s) as required, Chef for the Night can provide dinner parties with sit down service for 2 to 12 guests and buffet parties for 15 to 75 guests."

What if I run out of food?

"This could be a concern with larger buffet events, but this is never a problem with Chef for the Night!  You can relax, because despite your Chef's desire to provide accurate portion estimates, IF you are truly worried about unexpected guests, guests with unusually hearty appetites or just want to ease your mind from thinking about this possibility, I will gladly keep extra portions of some selected items on hand.  I will cook and serve the extra portions at your discretion and bill you accordingly at the end of the party when the balance of the invoice is settled.  And of course if we don't end up using the extra portions, those foods simply remain the property of Chef for the Night and there is no additional cost to you."