What is a Personal Chef?
A Personal Chef (PC) is a chef who comes to your home to prepare delicious meals to be enjoyed by you at your leisure.

As your Personal Chef, I’ll come to your home and interview you to determine your specific dietary needs and wants. After this Client Assessment is performed, I’ll use the information to develop a customized menu.

On the selected cook date, I’ll do all the grocery shopping and then prepare the selected menu. After all the meals are prepared, they are packaged, labeled and placed in the refrigerator and freezer to be enjoyed at your convenience. Your kitchen is left clean and tidy.

A Personal Chef is different from a Private Chef. A Private Chef usually only provides their service to one individual or family. A Personal Chef provides services for several individuals and families at the same time, usually one per day.

What areas do you cover?
Kailyard Kitchen covers the greater Seattle area including Bellevue, Mercer Island, Kirkland, and Shoreline.

Who needs a Personal Chef?
A Personal Chef is perfect for those that want the convenience of being able to come home and heat up something fresh and delicious to enjoy any time of day or night. If you are tired of eating out, getting fast food, eating from the freezer section of your supermarket, or you just want some more quality time with friends and family a PC is for you.  You may hire a PC because…

• You have no time to cook
• You don’t like your cooking
• You are tired of Fast-food/restaurant/carry-out food
• You have unique dietary requirements
• You are a new mom who has no time for cooking
• You or a loved one have a physical limitation or were recently released from the hospital and are unable to cook for yourself
• You’re going on vacation and don’t want to spend your holiday cooking or waiting in line for a good meal
• etc . . .

Do I heat the food?
Yes, you will heat all food at your leisure. Complete heating instructions are provided for each meal to insure proper preparation.

How long does the food last?
That depends on the service that is provided. The food can be stored in the freezer for up to 90 days, however 30 days is recommended for the best taste.

Can you use my containers?
I prefer to have food stored in containers that I have purchased for you. I then know they are perfect for the job. However, if there is an entrée that would be better suited in your own casserole or baking dish we can arrange that. We will discuss container selection at your client assessment.

Can you provide meals according to my diet?
Yes. During the initial assessment, we’ll discuss your dietary needs and preferences and a custom menu will be provided.

Do I pay in advance of the cook date?
Yes. It is customary to pay in advance of each cook date. A check can be left for the next cook date on the day of service.

What methods of payment do you accept?
I prefer cash or check, but can take payments through Square if necessary. Please make out checks to Kailyard Kitchen.

What about the groceries?
I shop for food as if I were shopping for my own family the day of your cook date.

The cost seems to be about what I would spend in a restaurant, why is that?
Although our fees are expressed as “per visit” they actually represent all of the components that make up a professional Personal Chef Service. This fee includes, the assessment, a personalized menu based on that assessment, complete grocery shopping, preparation of each meal, packaging and labeling of all meals, heating instructions, and cleaning up after. Each meal is customized based on the dietary needs and wants of the client, which typically does not happen at a restaurant. With the Personal Chef Service, you can have a beautiful entree that has been prepared specifically for your palate and requirements, and eat it in the comfort of your own home without having to drive anywhere.  You’ll know the kitchen is clean and sanitary and that your meal contains only fresh ingredients.

Can I give your personal chef services as a gift?
Of course! Personal Chef gift certificates are perfect for new parents, friends or family. Send me an email for more information.