Guides

The questions I get asked most about hiring a private chef, answered in one place: what it costs, what to ask before you book, and how birthdays, anniversaries, and the holidays work.

Before you book

How much does a private chef cost in Massachusetts?

Per-person rates, worked examples for 2 to 14 guests, what is included, and every cost question I get.

Twelve questions to ask before you hire a private chef

Insurance, allergies, kitchen needs, wine, cancellations. With my answers under each.

Private chef or caterer: which one do you need?

Headcount, food, service, and cost. Which one fits your event.

A birthday dinner at home

A menu written around the birthday person, plated or family-style, kids welcome, surprise parties handled.

An anniversary dinner for two

Four courses in your own dining room, wine matched to each, and how the minimum works.

A private chef for Thanksgiving

You host, I cook the whole thing in your kitchen. Sample menu, holiday pricing, and why the date goes early.

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at home

How the night runs, a December menu, holiday pricing, and why both dates go early.

What I cook

Private dinners

Four courses in your kitchen, plated or family-style, and how the evening runs.

Tasting menu dinners

Seven seasonal courses with wine, beer, or cocktail pairings.

Weddings, rehearsal dinners, reunions, retreats

Bigger tables and whole weekends, cooked on-site.

Vacation rentals

Cape Cod, the Berkshires, and the shore. Send the listing; I check the kitchen.

MetroWest and Worcester County

Where I cook with no travel fee, and recent dinners around here.