Currently we service the greater Melbourne area and the Mornington Peninsula region – stay tuned as we will be servicing other destinations soon.

What is The Executive Chef?

We are a full-service, in-home private chef company committed to hospitality. We facilitate and enhance private chef services, making healthy eating with friends & family easy and accessible.

Why should I use The Executive Chef?

We provide all the benefits of a full-time chef without the cost and time required to manage a full-time employee. We recognize that every household is different and personalize the experience from start to finish so your household is getting the food they want, the way they want it.

We are experts in private chef services & culinary innovation and have been vetting private chefs for over a decade.

How you are different from traditional staffing agencies?

With The Executive Chef, you aren’t just hiring a chef. You’re working with a full-service private chef and culinary company that has experience developing recipes, designing menus, vetting chefs and personalizing the service every step of the way. Our dedicated hospitality team is handling the entire experience and tailoring the service to fit your needs.

How do I get started?

The process is simple, give us a call and we’ll select a menu together.

How does the weekly service work?

After you select a menu and service date, we’ll personally source a chef for your household. Your chef will shop for groceries, prep the dishes in your home and leave your kitchen spotless.

What does the weekly service include?

The weekly service includes 9 dishes that can be mixed and matched for 5 meals throughout the week. This will generally comprise of 5 main course style dishes and 4 side dishes.

What size should I order?

We know that everyone eats differently. Our portions are based on household size, but you should adjust your selection based on household appetites (big eaters / small eaters) and frequency (how many times a day you’ll be relying on the service).

Typically, our portions serve:

Small: 1-2 person household

Medium: 3-4 person household

Large: 5-6 person household

You can always change the size to reflect your desired portions.

How often should I use the weekly service?

This depends on your lifestyle and health goals. We recommend 1-2 times per week.

How does the subscription work?

We assume that you want your chef to cook on the same day, at the same time every week, but you can skip, pause or cancel your service at any time. You can make changes or cancel your service up to 48 hours prior to service without penalty.

How do I modify the service?

You can modify by emailing us.

If you need to modify your service within the 48 hour window, please email us and changes will be made on a best efforts basis.

How do I cancel the service?

You can cancel the service at any point by emailing us. All cancellations must be made 48 hours before the intended service to prevent being charged the service fee.

Our cancel and change policy is in place to respect our chef’s time and we hope that you understand.

What is the cutoff time to schedule a service?

We need 48 hours to source and prepare your chef for service. If you have a last minute request, please email us and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.

Will my chef serve my food?

The in-home weekly visits do not include table service. If you’d like to host dinner party or need a chef for a special occasion, please submit a request.

Are your dishes good for me?

Absolutely. We focus on balanced, healthy meals made with the freshest ingredients. This is not a diet; we focus on moderation and well-balanced meals.

Can you accommodate larger families?

Yes, our goal is to make it easier for you and your family to enjoy dinner together. Our large offering accommodates families up to 6 people. If your family is larger than 6 people, please reach out and we will do our best to accommodate your household.

What time will my chef arrive?

Our chefs start as early as 9AM and as late as 3PM. Chefs are available 7 days a week.

How long does the service take?

The service takes up to 5 hours, from start to finish. This includes the shop, prep, cook and clean.
You can expect the chef to be in your home for 3 to 4 hours.

What if my chef is late?

Your chef is personally shopping for groceries before arrival. Traffic or long lines at the market may cause a delay. If your chef is going to be more than 30 minutes late, we’ll address immediately and propose a solution.

How should I prepare for the service?

Please review our Best Practices before your first visit. For additional questions, feel free to reach out.

Can I speak with you before my first visit?

Of course. Every household is different and we may need to alter the service to fit your household needs. Give us a call and we can start the process together. We’re available to discuss dietary restrictions, allergies, portioning, child-friendly modifications and household preferences.

What if I am not home during the service?

No problem. Many clients request chef services during working hours. While not required, we recommended greeting your chef for their first visit and introducing him/her to your home and kitchen. If that’s not possible, detailed instructions via text & email work just as well.

What areas do you service?

Currently, our service is available in the Melbourne metro area. If you are outside of these areas, please email us and we’ll try our best to accommodate your household.

Do I need specific kitchen tools or pantry items?

Please review our Best Practices for details on kitchen equipment.

Do I need my own containers?

Yes, we advise that you purchase the following set of containers :

Lock & Lock – Boroseal Heat Resistant Glass 10pc Complete Storage Set

Can I request a chef for a dinner party or special occasion?

Absolutely. We also design menus and curate chefs for dinner parties and special occasions. Please submit a request to start the process.

Do you coordinate waitstaff, rentals & decor?

Yes, we are full-service. If your dinner requires an extra set of hands, we’ll staff a reliable server or bartender from our trusted network. We can also coordinate rentals, wine pairings and decor for an additional fee. Submit a request to start the process and we’ll come back to you with a proposal.

Do you service over the holidays?

We create special menus to make the holidays as seamless as possible. Chef availability may be limited during those times, so it’s best to book these requests in advance.

Who will be cooking my food?

Our chefs are culinary trained and have an active interest, passion and talent in culinary arts. When they are not cooking for you they are creating content, working in hatted restaurants and learning the newest techniques to help improve the guest experience. They are hospitalitarians with expertise and flourish in the home kitchen.

Do you vet your chefs?

Our interview process is extremely thorough. It includes a personal interview, in-person kitchen interview, background check and on-boarding session. We will never send a chef to your home without cooking with them first.

Can I meet my chef first?

We won’t send a chef to your home before the day of service, but trust us, we’ve met him/her in person and tested his/her food, and we’re confident you won’t be disappointed. As a best practice, we recommend that you are home during the first visit to greet your chef and introduce him/her to your home and kitchen.

Can I choose my chef?

We thoroughly review all preferences before your first cooking visit and personally build a small roster of 2-3 chefs around you. We keep the group small to ensure consistency but large enough to ensure availability at all times. Whether you’re requesting a chef for weekly meals or an intimate weekend dinner party, we want to send you a chef who is familiar with your kitchen and preferences and who all share a similar ethos and culinary perspective. If you are happy with a particular chef, let us know and we will prioritize that chef for you on a going forward basis.

What if I want a different chef?

We’re happy to source another chef who is a better fit. Reach out to start the process.

Are your chefs insured?

Yes. Our chefs are protected under our insurance policy. Please continue to engage with our chefs through The Executive chef for ease and safety.

How much does the weekly service cost?

The weekly service fee starts at $440, additional costs include groceries (dependent on size & dish selections) & tax.

Estimate total cost for small (1-2) household: $650 – 670

Estimate total cost for medium (3-4) household: $750 – 800

Estimate total cost for large (5-6) household: $ 1050 – 1150

Households larger than 6 people need more time with their chef so we will need to assess the request on a case by case basis. Please reach out and we’ll try our best to find a solution.

How much will the groceries cost?

Groceries depend on your household size and dish selections. For a well-balanced menu of vegetables, grains and two proteins, you can anticipate the following grocery costs

Estimate cost for small household: $115-$135

Estimate cost for medium household: $130-$160

Estimate cost for large household: $150-$200

How much do dinner parties cost?

The service fee starts at $800. Additional costs include groceries & tax.

Please submit a request to start the process and we’ll provide a proposal for your special occasion.

How do I change my payment information?

You can update your payment by emailing us.

How does menu selection work?

You will be emailed the following months 4 week menu rotation a week in advance, you simply check off your menu selections 48 hours prior to your service period. We will send you a reminder email 72 hours prior to service, reminding you to select your menu, if you have not done so already.

Let us know if you’d like us to select your menu and we will select 6 dishes for you on a weekly basis.

Can I modify the dishes?

Absolutely. This is a personalized service and special instructions help us tailor the service for your household. You can modify dishes by exclusion (hold the cheese/nuts; no olives/cilantro/fennel) and also include child-friendly and specific grocery instructions (sauce on side; plain components; bite size; easy on spice; strictly organic/non-GMO).

Where do you source your ingredients?

We shop local at our favorite grocers and fresh farmers markets. Our chefs are hand selecting the freshest and most delicious ingredients for you.

Are your ingredients local and/or organic?

Our chefs shop specifically for you to accommodate your preferences. As a general rule, we always source the freshest and most nutrient-dense items, striving to use organic and non-GMO produce whenever possible.

Can you accommodate food allergies?

We recommend you use your best judgment when considering dietary restrictions. You can also accommodate dietary restrictions by excluding ingredients from our dishes.

Transparency is important to us. To help you make as informed a decision as possible, every dish includes a breakdown of its ingredients.

Do you offer gift cards or packages?

Please contact us if you’d like to gift someone our service or purchase a package of dinner parties.

Do you have a referral program?

At the moment, we do not have a referral program.

I had a problem with my service, who do I contact?

If we didn’t live up to your expectations, please let us know immediately.

FAQ

Questions? Ask Away.