Serving Olympia to Bellingham and Seattle to Sammamish!
Getting Started with a Chef
We understand you may have many questions about how a personal chef service works. For many of you, this may be the first time you’re looking into having someone help you cook.
Click here to download our brochure with overview of our services.
Hiring a Chef Near Me
Q How does this work?
A After receiving your call or email with request for hiring a chef, Shannon will follow up with you to learn more about your specific needs and discuss a pricing overview. For clients wanting an in-home chef for weekly meal prep, we ask you to fill out a Food Questionnaire so we can understand your food preferences and dietary needs. Then, we choose a schedule and a chef to work with you! Your chef will arrange an in-person or virtual consultation to meet you before your first cook date and to take a preview tour of your kitchen.
Q What areas of town do you serve?
A Honest to Goodness serves the greater Puget Sound area, including Seattle, Edmonds, Shoreline, Bothell, Lynnwood, Lake Stevens, Bainbridge Island, Bellingham, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Sammamish, Woodinville, Renton, Burien, Federal Way, Puyallup, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Bonney Lake, Lacey, and Olympia.
Q Where do you cook?
A We cook in your home since we are a personal, relationship-oriented service that is exclusively designed to your specific needs. We use your dishes and storage containers, and leave a menu card with easy reheating instructions. Your house will smell like the comforts of home-cooking and you will find your refrigerator full of delicious meals!
If you prefer to have prepared meals delivered to you instead of someone cooking in your home, we do that too! Our Eats Amore meal delivery service in the greater Seattle area launched in 2022.
Q How often do you come to cook and for how long?
A Your chef will come to your home once per week and cook for 3-5 hours at a time. Your fridge will be stocked with a freshly-prepared variety of dinners with lunch leftovers. Breakfasts, snacks, and baked goods are additional options you can have on request!
Q Do I have the same chef each week?
A Yes, you have the same chef each week making your food. If your primary chef is on vacation or out sick, we will do our best to schedule a substitute chef for that particular week. You also can request to switch to another of our chefs if you want to try a different cooking style.
Q Do I have to be home while you are cooking?
A No, you are not required to be home. We don’t mind if you are though, especially with many of us working from home these days. If you aren’t home, please provide a key, code, or alarm instructions so you may work or continue other activities without any inconvenience.
Q Are you ok with pets and kids?
A Yes! We love your kids and fur babies too! To protect their safety, we kindly request little ones remain out of the immediate cooking area as much as possible. Because we keep our cooking mess to a minimum, your 4-legged babies most likely won’t get any floor scores either.
Q How much does it cost to hire a chef near me?
A We have a 4-hour minimum for any personal chef service in consideration of our chefs’ commuting time and to maintain their consistent income. Weekly chef services range from $380-665 per week plus the cost of groceries for 3-6 meals of 4-6 portions per meal. This includes personalized menu planning, grocery shopping, and onsite meal preparation.
Event services start at $380 plus the cost of groceries. We do not charge for travel time unless your location is an extended distance from our standard service range, in which case we will assess a travel stipend.
Contact us for a pricing estimate specific to your needs.
Q Do you require us to sign a contract?
A No contract is required for weekly cooking services.
To book a party chef, we require a $250 non-refundable deposit that is applied to your final event balance. Events larger than 20 guests may require a larger deposit.
For large events or situations with specific logistical needs, we do require a signed contract and retainer toward our services.
Q Can I skip weeks if I am traveling?
A When you hire a home chef for your weekly cooking, we commit a specific time slot on our schedule to serve you. Please give us as much advanced notice as possible when you expect to be out of town for any reason. Our chefs appreciate the opportunity to fill that slot with another individual service to maintain their income.
Let's Talk About the Food
Q What is your cooking style?
A Just like our name says: Honest, good food. Our personal chefs cook a little bit of everything, preparing healthy meals from scratch using only whole, fresh ingredients richly-enhanced with herbs and spices. Your chef will focus on integrating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins into your diet through comforting food that also tastes good. Weekly menus typically incorporate various styles of cuisine, anything from “meat and potatoes” to adventurous palates. Our company has a database of over 5,000 recipes that we have cooked over the years.
Q Where do you shop?
A As part of our consultation process, we will ask you where you like to shop. We shop at all major grocery stores depending on the ingredient list and your preference for organic or conventional ingredients.
Q Are the ingredients organic?
A For grocery purchases, we prioritize organic ingredients for proteins, dairy, and certain produce items based on the Dirty Dozen/Clean Fifteen Guide. Our seafood is from sustainable sources according to Seafood Watch.
Q How do I know what I’ll be eating?
A Your personal chef plans a variety of seasonal menus using many sources for inspiration. A couple days before your scheduled cooking date, your chef will email you a menu customized to your tastes and dietary preferences. You have the option to request changes to the menu up to one day in advance. Feast your eyes on some of our most recent creations!
Q Do you accommodate special diets?
A Absolutely! Many clients have specific diets, food sensitivities, and food allergens to accommodate. Honest to Goodness customizes menus to suit your low-carb, low-fat, low-sodium, anti-inflammatory/Abascal TQI, diabetic, gluten-free, Paleo, low FODMAPs, heart-healthy, elimination, Whole30, or other diets. Please provide as much information as possible regarding your individual needs so that your menus are planned accordingly.
Q Can I give you recipes?
A Yes, we always take special requests and will cook according to any recipes you provide.
Q Can you teach me how to cook?
A Yes, we offer one-on-one instruction for anyone wanting to learn cooking techniques or receive help with preparing a special meal for that special someone in your life. Our chefs also enjoy group cooking classes and corporate demos if you want to have a gathering at your home or office for an interactive chef demonstration. You also have the option of a virtual cooking class!
Other Important Details
Q Are you licensed and insured?
A Yes, Honest to Goodness is fully licensed through the State of Washington to conduct business. Each of our chefs has general liability insurance through our corporate membership with the USPCA.
*Please note: With the exception of businesses operating under Cottage Laws, it is illegal in Washington State for people to make food in their own home to sell to you. For everyone’s protection, Honest to Goodness abides by all the rules, regulations, and costs of doing business properly.
Q Do you cater?
A Yes and no. We cater in-home and in venues where a kitchen is available for our use. There are circumstances for large event needs where we can use our Eats Amore meal delivery commercial kitchen and secure special event insurance for you. Please contact us with your specific event plans to receive a custom proposal on how we can serve you. If we are not the best fit to cater your occasion, we will refer you to highly qualified and trusted caterers in the area.
Q How are you handling Covid?
A The health and safety of our team and our clients is of utmost priority at all times. We have followed CDC recommendations since the beginning of the pandemic and have adapt as those guidelines change. Our chefs are supplied with disinfecting wipes and gloves to use at every service. We will continue to mask onsite per client request. Clients who are ill may skip service as needed until they are well-enough to receive home chef services again.
Q Can I gift meals to a friend in need?
A Of course! Who wouldn’t want to receive the gift of healthy meals and more time? Gift certificates are perfect for anyone you know who needs a break from cooking or who might be going through a rough time.
Q Do you charge gratuity?
A Gratuity is not automatically charged on any of our services. We do not require gratuity, however will gratefully accept at your discretion for the quality of service your chef provides. We appreciate that you recognize how hard our team works to create delicious mealtime experiences for you.
Q Is having someone cook for you just for the rich and famous?
A Not at all! While we have served some celebrities and professional athletes, the majority of our clients are hard-working professionals like you who would rather focus their energies on their work and having quality family time. They value a service like ours so they can save time in not having to plan and cook for themselves. We encourage you to calculate how much money you spend each month on food for eating at home, eating out, take out, and wasted groceries. Then, consider how you can convert your monthly household food budget into a personal service that saves you time AND money!
