Preparation for the Service

Careful preparation will minimize the chances of mistakes and allow you to anticipate what your guests need. We want you to have the freedom to be spontaneous in your work without improvising, so we created this article to give you a heads-up on what to look out for while planning your services.

Gathering Service Details

Guests provide general information about their events and preferences when filling out the request. Still, in many cases, some crucial details might be left out. As their Chef, you want to triple-check that you have all the specifics and are on the same page regarding their expectations. 

You should know things like whether there will be kids at the function you need to cater to, what the kitchen setup is, and if there are any extra services your guests might want to add.

Ingredients and Equipment Checklist

A complete ingredient checklist is a savvy strategy to optimize two of your more important resources: time and money. This helps you avoid unnecessary trips to the grocery store or stockpiling an ingredient you're not going to use that much.

A quick equipment check is essential to understanding what's available in the guest's kitchen and what you’ll need to bring to make your job easier. Keep an updated list of equipment necessary to prepare each of the dishes you offer so you can run this check optimally.

Mise en Place

Although for many guests part of the appeal of a private Chef service is seeing their Chef prepare their meals, you are allowed to plan and take care of time-consuming steps in your cooking that are not as spectacular. Nobody is looking forward to seeing you peel a carrot.

This pre-cooking prep is crucial for efficiency once you're in action. Do your chopping and measuring ahead of time and pack your essentials, considering the menu and potential kitchen limitations at your guest's location.

Transportation and Timeliness

Ensuring a timely arrival with all necessary items is vital for your performance and your guest's satisfaction. Plan your commute carefully, double-check your means of transportation to ensure they're available, use reliable traffic and weather forecast apps or websites to stay informed, and take any measures needed to allow sufficient time for setup and accommodate potential delays.