How does this work?
Have you ever wanted to eat a restaurant meal without leaving your home?
Are you repaid for your hard work at the office with a kitchen nightmare?
Do you have to craft different meals for the varied tastes in your picky family?
This is where I come in. As your personal chef, I will handle the grocery shopping, preparation, and cooking
of a meal chosen by you... and then at the end, I'll clean everything up! Your job will be to sit down, relax,
and never have to worry about dinner again! Together, we will work on a menu, whether for just one big dinner party or daily.
If you're worried about not being able to afford the expense - don't be. I understand the pressures of a low economy and how hard it is to afford even small conveniences. I keep my rates affordable: $30 per hour for a single booking, or $100 per day for a daily service, 1-5 days a week, plus the cost of groceries. You can have a fancy romantic dinner at home for the same price as a trip out to a restaurant! If the daily rate gives you pause, consider the free time and peace of mind you will gain not having to worry about food, even just two days a week.
I serve the following areas: Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Glendale, and Burbank. If you are just out of reach, feel free to contact me and if my availability permits, I may be able to serve you.
About me
My first experience in the kitchen was when I was very young...
Ok. So I started spending time in the kitchen when I was just a little kid, so little in fact, a stool was involved so I could reach the counter (yes, I was tiny).
My mom was one of those mothers who took on cooking with gusto. She had many years of practice, thanks to her mom, and used that to create those must-go-back-for-seconds
type of dinners, even if it meant you had to loosen the zipper on your pants. Because of this, my family was always crammed around our kitchen island (fortunately it was big),
ogling my mother as she cooked, our mouths drooling a bit... ok, drooling a lot.
When I finally got to the point where I did not need a stool to see over the counter, and was able to wield a knife without anyone fearing for their life, my mom started teaching me how to cook some of my favorite recipes. Mac and cheese was at the top of the list, as were things like tomato sauce (for pasta.. or anything really), roast chicken and cream biscuits. As soon as my mom saw how much fun I was having, she bestowed the task of cooking some of our weeknight meals on me. I was actually happy to do it, and it meant I did not have to do dishes afterward.
Once I was on my own, I was so comfortable at brandishing the weapons that were my kitchen tools, I started experimenting. After cooking some meals that went straight to the trashcan, I started creating my own must-go-back-for-seconds type of meals and people had to start loosening their zippers when they came to my house for dinner.
Cooking, for me, has become the skill to end all skills. With my awe-inspiring talent, I can make your life a little easier and taste really really good. I promise.
My service
- Consultation
- First, we discuss your dietary and scheduling needs, and you let me know what kinds of menu items sound good. I'll come up with a personalized menu (or multiple menus if you sign up for repeat service) and you approve it.
- Shopping
- Next, you live your life without worry, while I get the ingredients - always the freshest, best quality meats, vegetables, fruit, dairy, and everything else. You can leave this entirely up to me, or I can accomodate more specific preferences for organic, locally grown, sustainable foods (or really any other preferences).
- Preparation
- Whatever prep work needs to be done for your meal, I will do out of sight and out of mind ahead of time - whether that's cleaning and marinating meats, making time-consuming sauces, or anything else that needs to be done before cooking.
- Cooking
- When your meal time comes up, breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I'll prepare it in your kitchen using a combination of your tools and mine (we can discuss the details during the consultation). Your meals will be professionally cooked, put together, and presented, just like in a restaurant.
- Cleaning
- During the meal, I'll be your waiter - bringing you beverages, entrees, desserts, or anything else you need. I'll also be cleaning any tools and containers the meal required. Everything I use will be washed and disinfected and your kitchen will be left just as I found it.
- Storage
- I can also put away portions of your meal for later, sealing and labeling food for your convenience. I will also leave preparation instructions for anything that requires it. (For example, "Heat oven to 450 degrees, sprinkle cheese on top, and bake for 10 minutes.")