Frequently asked questions
For more information, call 502-749-5165 or, for an electronic brochure about Chef at Your Door, e-mail chefsteve@insightbb.com.
What is the difference between a personal chef and a private chef? A personal chef serves several clients, usually one per day, and provides multiple, customized meals packaged and stored to be enjoyed later. A private chef is employed by one customer, such as a family or business, and often cooks and serves three or more meals per day per client. Why must the food be prepared in my home? Most personal chefs do not own professional kitchens and thus prepare meals in their clients's kitchens. Some, who have large personal chef businesses, have a central kitchen where meals are prepared, chilled, packaged and then delivered to clients.
Will you use my cookware or yours? Personal chefs typically use their own cookware, which is brought to each client's home on the cook date and then removed upon completion.
How long will you be at my home? Since multiple meals will be produced from scratch, the process typically takes between three to six hours, depending on the number of meals prepared. Ideally, my cook date will be completed while you are at work or out enjoying your new-found leisure time.
Can I visit with the chef while he works? All who work for Chef at Your Door are people persons who love getting to know our clients better. However, ours is a multitasking job that requires a high degree of focus to produce our customized dishes perfectly and safely. Therefore, we prefer conversations or interruptions be limited to the time when we arrive or just before we leave. Calls and e-mails outside of the kitchen are always encouraged. And because dogs and cats have shown they love our food, too, we request they be removed from the kitchen while we are cooking.
Can your food be frozen? Yes. Though prefer not to freeze our food, freezing, when done correctly, can yield very good results. Any entrees stored in your freezer should be defrosted overnight in your refrigerator and heated per our instructions to be enjoyed fully 24 hours later. Our instructions are simple to follow and ensure a safe reheating process.
Where will you store the finished food? Depending on the number of meals requested, cooler space is addressed on a case-by-case basis. We will evaluate storage needs during the initial client assessment.
To maximize storage and, in many cases, to simplify portioning, Chef at Your Door suggests clients use glass dishes (such as Pyrex brand products) sourced by us or disposable containers. * We do not mark-up the costs of either container; the cost is passed straight through to you. Additionally, all dishes become the client's property.
Do you mark-up the cost of groceries? Unlike restaurants, which mark-up the cost of their food, Chef at Your Door always passes the cost of food straight to the customer with shopping receipts attached to every invoice.
Why does your service cost what it does? Our highly convenient service—which includes customized menu planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning—is labor intense. It also is 100% customized for each client. Also, our time spent serving you keeps you out of the car driving to and from the restaurant, out of the lounge waiting endlessly for a table, and it ensures you won't have to leave a tip for potentially bad service.
How do I pay for the service? It is customary to pay for the service in advance of the cook date. Following the initial client assessment, we will provide a reliable cost estimate for food and service. Should the cost run below or above that estimate, the total will be reconciled with payment for the next service cycle.
How long will my food last? That depends on the number of meals you order and the length of time between the date they were prepared and when they're eaten. Our fresh-service foods can last up to a week when refrigerated. However, with meals that won't be eaten within, we suggest freezing for maximum safety.
How often will I need the service? The choice is yours. Some clients, who travel or who visit restaurants more than once a week, order as few as three meals per cycle (which is our minimum amount). Others truly love eating at home and order meals for every day. Some Chef at Your Door clients have require twice-weekly service to produce the number of meals requested.
For more information, call 502-749-5165 or, for an electronic brochure about Chef at Your Door, e-mail chefsteve@insightbb.com. 
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