Frequently Asked Questions

What is Personal Chef Service?

A Personal Chef is a professional cooking service that provides meal planning and preparation for busy professionals and their families, as well as other customers, on a scheduled basis.This service provides the customer with the opportunity to enjoy a nutritious, restaurant quality, home cooked meal in the comfort of their home. A Personal Chef provides high quality, reasonably priced meals, custom menus designed to your individual tastes and dietary needs. A Personal Chef allows you to recoup time spent shopping and preparing your own foods or eating out.

Who needs a Personal Chef?

Who doesn't need a personal chef? Anyone who wants to enjoy healthy, nutritious meals on their own time schedule in the comfort of their own home will benefit from having a Personal Chef. Clients usually include busy professionals, families, new parents, vacationers, or those recuperating from surgery.

If you are:

A driven professional with no time to prepare and eat healthy meals
A busy parent in a household where no one has the time to cook
On first name terms with the drive up window person
A person with special dietary requirements or a weight loss goal
Willing to try new foods but afraid to cook them yourself
A person trying to follow a strict healthy regimen
Recovering from illness or surgery
Just bored with shopping and cooking

Then you are a candidate for a Personal Chef.

How does it work?

Your service begins with a free, no obligation consultation in your home. You tell me about your likes and dislikes. I will discuss any allergies or dietary restrictions you may have as well as how you would like your meals packaged. I will help you set up a schedule that meets your requirements for meal preparation in your home. Your security and privacy is assured. I will generally start cooking around 10:00 a.m. and will work in your kitchen until approximately 3:00 or 4:00 p.m., depending upon the selected menu and your schedule. If you wish, you may be at home on your cook date or you may make arrangements for me to cook while you are out. For safety reasons, I work most efficiently on days when there are fewer distractions in the kitchen (small children & animals house cleaning, meal interruptions, etc).

On your cook date I will:

Shop locally for the freshest produce and quality ingredients
Prepare, package and label your meals with heating instructions
Leave your kitchen clean, neat and orderly

The only noticeable trace of me will be the delicious aromas of your favorite foods and a refrigerator stocked full of meals. Just heat and enjoy!

Is it Expensive?

When you consider the time it takes to plan, shop, cook and clean up for each meal, the cost of enjoying a fine home-cooked gourmet meal is quite reasonable. The cost can almost be as low as $10 per serving, including groceries (see pricing). Personal Chef's are not just for the wealthy anymore.

Do you need to be home when I am preparing your meals?

No. However, if you plan to be out, I will need access to your kitchen. Just think of it in terms of a maid service.

Can't you just make my meals at your home and deliver them to me?

No. State law does not allow this unless the meals are being prepared in a commercially approved kitchen. If you have access to a commercial kitchen (you belong to a church or other organization that has an approved kitchen), then I would be happy to cook there instead of your home.

What is the difference between a Personal Chef and a Private Chef?

Generally speaking a Personal Chef cooks at your home on a regular basis or as needed. A Private Chef usually only cooks for one person or family group, often living on premises with the family.

How long will it take you to cook my meals?

It depends on how many meals you order and the type of menu you select. As a general rule, since most of the meals and sides are prepped and cooked from scratch from fresh ingredients, it usually take somewhere between 4-6 hours to complete the cook date. This includes time for me to clean up and leave your kitchen nice and clean.

How are my meals stored?

Vacuum-sealed bags are used and the preferred method of storage. Depending upon the type of meal I may also use Gladware style containers and Pyrex. If you prefer a particular type of storage method, please let me know and I will be glad to accomodate your requests. The meals will be stored in your refrigerator ready to heat and be enjoyed. The meals can be packaged in single, double or family sized servings, depending on your needs. It is recommended that meals not consumed within 3 days are frozen to prevent spoilage.

How do I heat up my meals?

Depending on the type of entrèe, they may be heated in the oven, microwave, or in a pot of simmering water. I will leave you complete heating instructions.

Do you cook for singles?

Of Course! I can cook for anyone who wants Personal Chef services. You can even get several friends together and purchase the service with the meals prepared in one home and packaged individually, however, there may be extra container charges for this.

When and how do I pay for this service?

A grocery deposit for each cook date is due 7 days prior to the date. Payment is due on or before the cook date. If you are a regular client you will probably choose to leave advance payment for me to cover the next cook date. You can pay by cash, check or even credit card (via Paypal).

How much time will I save?

When you consider the time for meal planning, grocery shopping, preparing and cooking, and then cleaning up, you will save around 6 to 18 hours per week.

Will you clean up for me?

I will clean up and leave your kitchen nice and clean. However, I am not a maid service. If I find it necessary to clean your kitchen before starting to cook, a $40 charge will be added to your cook date.

How do I get started?

Easy, just contact Greg today at 941-487-7471 or email me This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to schedule your FREE no obligation consultation.