Are you a personal chef?
Yes. Most personal chefs come to your home and cook several meals at a time, then package and freeze or refrigerate for your future use. We can do that for you, too. But, you don't have to make a commitment to a whole week's dinners. With WEEKNIGHT DINNERS, we come into your home and prepare dinner to be served on that particular evening, your busiest weeknight. We give you back your sanity on those crazy days when your family's schedule might otherwise force dinner via take out or drive thru.
What's the difference between a private chef, a personal chef, and what you do?
Private chefs typically cook for one family as needed. Personal chefs have several clients, often one per day. They prepare and package multiple meals in a 6-8 hour time period. They customize the meals based on the family's specific preferences.
We are sort of in between.
We have a passion for cooking and food with the goal of helping bring the family to the dinner table on the nights when it's most at risk. With a handful of clients, we plan and create menus according to the season and our clients needs and schedules.
We can work with clients to create specific, personal menus.
Our goal is to plan ahead and provide menu options from which our clients may choose. These can be adjusted to fit the specific needs of our clients. This means that we may make the same dinner for three families at their homes over a couple of days. We are able to save money by buying in bulk and therefore able to provide a high value service at an affordable price.
Can you cook the food at your home and then just deliver it to me?
The Health Department regulations require that foods to be resold are prepared in either a commercial kitchen or in the client's own home. Caterers must use commercial kitchens. Whereas, we cook in your kitchen, in your own environment. As a result, you're assured that your meals are not only home cooked delicious but also of the highest quality. For our FORK & PINT catered happy hour, we rent a commercial kitchen by the hour.
Can you accommodate specific diets and dietary restrictions?
Of course! We are happy to adjust our menus to fit your needs. We strive to provide well-balanced meals with moderate portions. The one point upon which nearly every diet agrees is that portion control is a key component to weight loss. By having dinner prepared for you, you're less apt to "snack as you go." And while we aren't practicing vegetarians at the present moment, we have been in the past and are quite familiar with delicious vegetarian options and substitutions. With food prepared in your home, there is greater control for those with food allergens.
What if I don't have everything you need in my kitchen?
We don't expect your kitchen to be perfectly stocked and organized. At our consultation, you can give me a tour of your kitchen. What you don't have, we can bring with us. You won't need to purchase anything extra. Of course, I am happy to help select and purchase kitchen basics on your behalf if you are so inclined, but it's not expected.
Can you help me organize my kitchen?
I am a project junkie and my favorite projects are the ones that involve creating order out of chaos and clutter. If you need help with organization, I'd love to work with you on a project basis. Visit our Kitchen Organizing page for details. But, we don't require your kitchen to be immaculately organized to make dinner! We don't expect your house to be houseguest ready. Our job is to help, not add more stress. Don't clean the house for us.
Can I afford it?
Yes, it's affordable, particularly when you consider the time involved with the planning, shopping and prep work. It seems that the last minute grocery store runs always happen on the busiest days and end up costing the most. This is a planned expense that buys your family time at the table, your table. It saves you from eating fast food in the car or ordering greasy take out. We guarantee that our weeknight dinners are worth the financial cost.
