Policies
1) Pre-Visit Consult
Your chef will contact you by phone for a pre-visit consult. Items to be discussed include: a) Time, date, and length of visit; b) Specific dishes to be prepared; and c) Any other issues of concern or interest. An adult over the age of 18 must be available for this consultation.
2) Cost (Cook-only visit)
A Cook-only visit is expected to last 3.5 hours. The cost for this visit is $150.00 and includes labor and other costs. This visit is generally sufficient to prepare three to four servings of a main course and side dish. The client will supply all ingredients for this visit. Chef is not able to prepare seafood, to include fish, shellfish, and shrimp.
3) Cost (Shop and Cook visit)
A Shop-and-Cook visit is expected to last 3.5 hours. This visit will cost $225.00 and includes ingredients purchased by the chef, labor, and other costs. A 3.5 hour visit is generally sufficient to prepare 3 to four servings of a main-course and side dish. Shopping time is not deducted from the 3-hour visit time.
4) Shopping Location
Your chef uses Giant Supermarket as her primary grocery store. She may opt to purchase specialized items through online options. Bulk purchasing may be incorporated in the future.
5) Coverage Area
Your chef relies on Metro-Rail and Uber. Visits will be conducted at locations up to a one-hour Metro or Uber ride from down-town Silver Spring. No additional cost will accrue to the customer if there are transportation delays. Travel time does not count toward the three hour visit.
6) Payment
A $25.00 deposit will be required when the client books either a Cook-Only or a Shop-and-Cook visit. An invoice for the remaining balance will be e-mailed to the client following the visit.
7) Hours of operation
Visits will be completed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Visits can be scheduled for Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
8) Homeowner present during visit
An adult must be home at the beginning of the visit to let the chef in. Home owner and others should feel free to come and go during the visit. If homeowner does not expect to be home at the end of the visit, they should leave clear instructions for how to lock-up when the chef leaves. No child under 10 can be left at home alone during the visit. All pets must be secured if home-owner is not present. Chef is not responsible if your pet gets loose or causes damage during the visit.
9) Pets
Pets should be kept out of the kitchen as much as possible during the visit.
10) Equipment
Your chef will bring her own knife, cutting board, stirring spoon(s), dish-towels, and a trash bag. Unless otherwise specified during a pre-visit phone consult or in writing, the home-owner is expected to have all other cooking, serving, storage, and tidying up supplies on-hand.
11) Post-Cooking Clean-up
Your chef will wipe down the stovetop and all counters at the end of the visit. She will also wash any pots, pans, and other items used. Clean-up is included as part of the three-hour visit.
12) Seasoning and spices
Your chef will purchase and bring any specialized seasoning and spices needed for specific dishes during a visit. Your chef will add a minimal amount of salt and pepper to a recipe to enhance flavor, unless the homeowner requests otherwise. The homeowner is responsible for any additional salt and pepper desired. Special seasoning sets may be made available for separate purchase or as promotional giveaways, in the future.
13) Flavoring condiments
Unless part of a standard recipe, your chef will not add or provide additional flavoring sauces such as barbecue, hot-sauce, catsup, etc.
14) Safety
Your chef wil expect a safe and respectful working environment, If your chef is made to feel physically or verbally threatened at any time during the visit, she will leave the home immediately. Initial $50.00 deposit will not be refunded. No additional charges will be incurred.
15) Cancellation (by Chef)
Your chef may decide to cancel the visit due to weather or other emergency situations. This decision will be made at least two hours before the scheduled visit. The initial $50.00 deposit will be refunded. No additional charges will be incurred.
16) Cancellation (Customer Decision)
The customer may cancel any time up to 24 hours before the scheduled visit. If this occurs, customer will receive a full refund of their initial $50.00 deposit. No additional charges will be incurred. If cancellation occurs less than 24 hours before the visit, the $50.00 will not be refunded. If the visit ends early, for any reason, the $50.00 will not be refunded. No additional charges will be billed.
17) Dissatisfied
If the customer is dissatisfied with any aspect of the visit or the prepared dishes, he or she should inform the chef within 24 hours of the end of the visit. If informed within 24 hours, a full refund of the initial deposit and the final payment will be issued. If dissatisfaction is expressed more than 24 hours after the visit, only the initial deposit will be refunded.
