RESERVATIONS AT HOME

A private chef is employed by one individual or family full time and often ‘lives in’, preparing up to three meals per day. A personal chef serves several clients, usually one per day, and provides multiple meals that are custom made to suit the client’s tastes and/or dietary restrictions. These meals are packaged and stored so that clients may enjoy them at their leisure in the future.
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Who needs a personal chef?

ANYONE. My personal chef service is geared for people who don’t have the time, interest or skills to plan, shop for and prepare daily meals. A typical client is someone who is tired of fast food or dining out and who wants to enjoy healthy, nutritious meals on their own time schedule in the comfort of their own home. Busy professionals, retirees, new parents and those just home from the hospital are typical clients. My goal is to simplify your life by taking on a vital but time consuming chore by putting a delicious meal on the table for you and your family. I offer a broad range of menu choices, including beef, chicken, pork, seafood, pasta, vegetarian, casseroles, side dishes as well as desserts on request.
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What are some of the benefits?

v Convenience – Imagine stress free mealtimes, relaxing and dining in your own home without the headache of planning, shopping, preparing and cleaning up. Compare with restaurant dining – deciding where to go, taking time and gas to get there, finding a parking spot, waiting for a table, waiting for your meal and waiting for your bill. With Reservations at Home you can enjoy a beautiful custom made dinner curled up on the couch in your pj’s if you want!

v Health – Delicious, nutritious meals prepared exactly to your standards. My service is a great support for those following or transitioning to a new or challenging diet. Special dietary requests for one or more members of the family can be met, so that mealtime can be relaxing and enjoyable.

v Value – Compare the time spent planning, driving, shopping, waiting in line, cooking and cleaning up. Compare with restaurant dining – travel and waiting time, gas, drinks, tip…it all adds up. How would you rather spend your time and money?

v Flexible scheduling – Weekly, bi-weekly, once a month or occasional service is available.
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How does this work?

The service starts with a complimentary consultation during which we discuss your food likes and dislikes, allergies, special dietary requirements as well as any other questions, concerns or goals you may have. I use this information to complete an assessment form, which I then use to create a client profile, ensuring your specific needs are met whenever the service begins. We will also discuss recipes if you have favorite dishes you would like prepared, what time/day is most convenient for your cook date and how often you would like to use my services. You will be provided a sample menu, but you are free to choose virtually any dish you can think of. This is custom cuisine.

When you are ready, we will decide on your first week’s meals and formulate a menu. Usually five entrees are chosen, four servings for each entrée. This will provide 20 dinner-sized servings, enough for two people for ten days, Monday through Friday, for example. Thereafter, you may call or email me with your choices for the next two-week menu items. Usually every two weeks I prepare entrees in my clients’ homes during the day. I shop, prepare (using my own equipment), package (for freezer or refrigerator), leave instructions on how to heat and add finishing touches to your meal, and clean up.
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You cook in my kitchen?

Yes, I will prepare your meals in the safety of your own kitchen. On our agreed upon cook date I bring the freshest ingredients for your meals, along with my own pots, pans and utensils, and prepare your entrees on site. At the end of the day I will remove all evidence of my cooking except for the aroma of good home cooking.
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When do you shop for ingredients?

As quality ingredients make for quality meals, we shop for the freshest ingredients, such as produce, meat, fish and poultry on the way to your home. Because we shop just before we arrive at your home, we are more than happy to pick up any additional items you may need (milk, diapers, pet food, cereal, etc.) up to about six items, for reimbursement of cost only.
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Do I need to be home?

Not at all. In fact, most clients are not. Arrangements can be made at the complimentary consultation to determine how I will gain access to your home. The typical cook date lasts between four and seven hours, depending on the entrees, and I will lock the door when I leave. I can also make special arrangements if there is a security system.

Some clients elect to be home on the cook date, which is fine as long as interruptions are kept to a minimum to ensure I can complete all of my cooking tasks in a safe and timely manner.
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What type of side dishes do you prepare?

We prepare dishes that complete the entrée you have selected. For example, if you ordered chicken cacciatore, we will prepare either rice or pasta to accompany the dish. Clients can request specific or additional side dishes, but most let the chef select the side dishes.
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The cost seems to be about the same as what I would pay for an entrée at a restaurant. Why is that?

The all-inclusive fee represents all the components that make up the professional personal chef service, which includes a detailed assessment of your needs and dietary requirements, menu planning, shopping for all the ingredients, coming to your home to prepare the selections, and packaging and storing your selections.

If you were to compare a personal chef service to restaurant service, you could think of it this way: To go to a restaurant, you must drive there, possibly wait for a table, take a chance that your server is having a good day and hope that any allergies or special requests are honored. Then you pay for it, tip the server and drive home. On the other hand, with a personal chef, you can enjoy a beautiful entrée that has been thoughtfully and carefully prepared to your specific palate and dietary requirements, all in the comfort of your own home. Heat, eat, enjoy and relax!

Another factor to consider is that our professional personal chef service may also help you "control" your food costs, as you will be less likely to impulse buy in the grocery store or opt for low-quality fast food, convenience food or restaurant food. Remember all that produce you bought with good intentions of making home-cooked family meals . . . but never got to . . . and had to throw out? No more of that!

When you consider the cost of groceries, the time needed to plan the variety of healthy meals, shopping, cooking and clean up, you’ll likely find the cost of our service quite affordable.
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How do I pay for your services?

It is customary to pay for the service in advance of your cook date. If you like you may leave a check for the next, upcoming cook date on the day we are cooking. You may also mail the check to me in advance of the next scheduled cook date. Reservations At Home accepts personal checks as well as major credit cards through www.paypal.com, however this service does require a small service fee.
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What kinds of containers are used to store the food?

At the assessment we will ask what your preferences are with regards to containers. We generally use reusable containers, such as Gladware, Pyrex and Ziploc, as well as vacuum seal bags. Uniform size containers take up far less space in your refrigerator and freezer. We will bring the appropriate containers for the entrees we are preparing on the scheduled cook date. If you will save the containers that held the entrees you have already enjoyed, we will take those back with us each cooking day, so we will actually be rotating containers in and out of your kitchen regularly. If there is an entrée that would be better suited in your own casserole or baking dish we can arrange that. Disposable containers may be requested for an additional cost of $15.00 per cook date.
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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. We can give you a more precise idea of the space requirements at our assessment meeting.
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How long will the foods last?

Depending on how many entrees you order and how many evenings a week you eat at home, we can determine approximately how long your meals will last. If you travel for business or entertain in restaurants during the week, or just enjoy dining out on occasion, the meals will last you longer than if you eat one each evening. As the foods we prepare contain no preservatives, we recommend enjoying the frozen entrees within three months of the preparation date for optimal flavor.
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How often will I need your service?

We will be happy to help you determine just how often you will want to schedule our Personal Chef service to best suit your needs. We’ll make sure it supports your busy lifestyle without putting any pressure on you.
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Can you provide separate entrees for my children?

We do offer a section in our menu selections that is “kid friendly”. We generally try to offer this option to families as part of their meal plan. For example, if you order a 5-meal plan, two of the selections could be from the kid’s menu. In addition, we provide feedback forms after every cook date and we encourage you to get your children’s input to continuously refine our offerings and ensure every member of your family is happy with the selections.
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Can you make my mother’s special recipe?

We are always happy to prepare family favorites for you. We only ask that we get a copy of the recipe and have an opportunity to test it out ourselves before preparing it for you. We want to make sure that all our measurements and ingredients are correct to maximize your enjoyment.
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Do you make desserts?

We have a large selection of desserts to choose from. Give us a call to discuss.
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Can I add side dishes to the meal plan I want?

Of course! Additional sides are available at just $5.00 per item.
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Where are you located and what areas do you serve?

We are located in Portland Oregon and serve the greater Portland Metro area, which includes Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas counties as well as Clark County in Washington.
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My parent’s anniversary is coming up and this would be
the perfect gift. Can you help me?

Absolutely. We offer gift certificates or, if you prefer, we can meet you’re your parents to do the client assessment and plan a menu based on the services you wish to purchase. There are numerous options to ensure the perfect gift. Give us a call today.
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I’m having a dinner party. Can you help me?

We know how stressful these events can be and are more than happy to assist you! From an intimate dinner for two to a gathering of twenty-five, we can tailor a menu for any special occasion. We can also assist in wine suggestions to complement the menu, if desired. Give us a call today for more information or your own customized menu and quote.
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