F.A.Q.

What is the difference between a private chef and a personal chef? 

A private chef is employed full time and/or exclusively by one individual or family and often lives in their home and prepares up to three meals per day. A personal chef serves several clients, usually one or two per day. A personal chef provides multiple services that are custom designed for the clients' particular requests and dietary requirements.  

Who needs a personal chef? 

Any individual who believes in the importance of having freshly prepared, custom-made meals ready at their convenience. Most people hire a personal chef because they do not have the time or desire to cook. Business professionals, expecting or new parents, busy working families, seniors, people with specific diets, people recovering from illness etc. are all great candidates for personal chefs. If you are tired of fast food, the drive-thru, commercial frozen dinners or take-out, a personal chef may be a great investment for you and your health.  

How does a personal chef work? 

It's quite simple actually! Please visit my how it works page for basic information. 

What areas do you serve? 

The Bearded Chef Cajun Cuisine generally serves the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex. Specifically serving the cities of: Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Southlake, Las Colinas, Grapevine, Plano, Frisco, Allen, Denton, McKinney, Carrollton, Lewisville, Corinth, Lake Dallas, Addison, Lucas, Fairview, Garland, Mesquite, Murphy, Sherman, Duncanville, Cedar Hill, Desoto, Lancaster, Forney, Prosper, Little Elm, Midlothian, Waxahachie, Richardson, Burleson, Coppell, Farmers Branch, Highland Park, Highland Village, The Colony, Rowlett, Rockwall, and Grand Prairie.  

How far in advance should I reserve a date? 

It is recommended you reserve a date as soon as possible.  

Do you deliver meals?

Yes.  

Do you have to do the cooking in my home? 

No, it's completely up to the client.  

Do you have your food handler's card? 

Yes, The Bearded Chef is a current ServSafe Certified Chef. 

Are you insured? 

Yes. The Bearded Chef Cajun Cuisine is fully insured.  

Can you provide references and a resume? 

Absolutely.  

Do you do dinner parties and/or catered events? 

Yes! The Bearded Chef specializes in dinner parties and catering services for as little as two people or as many as Five Hundred people.   

Do you serve outside your service area? 

Yes. However, a small travel surcharge will be added to your bill.  

How do you know what I like in my diet? 

Your diet is the chef's first order of business. In the initial consultation, you and the chef will go over what you would like from your personal chef service, your likes, dislikes, personal preferences, dietary restrictions, allergies etc. We also may ask you to fill out a small client questionnaire, this is done to completely personalize and customize your service.  

What kind of ingredients do you use? 

The Bearded Chef's Personal Chef Service strives to use only the highest quality ingredients for your meals. All ingredients are sourced from local farms, markets and specialty stores.  

Do I have to eat organic ingredients? What if I can't afford it? 

No, you do not. During your consultation you will be given the option for organic or non-organic groceries. While organic is recommended for optimum nutrition and taste, conventional groceries are also available. The Bearded Chef will work with you to create a grocery budget you are comfortable with.

Can I choose what I want to eat from a menu?

Of course! View dozens of dishes on the sample menu. 

Do I have to be home when you are cooking? 

No, you do not. In most cases clients are working or running errands while their personal chef is preparing their meals. 

How long will does your service take? 

Depending on the service, number of entrees and complexity of each dish, personal chef services can take anywhere from 3-5 hours. The chef is happy to accommodate your schedule in any way they can and will give you a time estimate for each service.

Is it okay if I watch or help? 

The chef will have a very specific production schedule they must adhere to produce the best quality food in a timely manner. It is best for the chef to be uninterrupted while cooking so they can produce safe, delicious, high quality food for you. However, the chef would be happy to chat/discuss with you before or after your personal chef service.  

How often will you come to my house to cook? 

Personal chef services are offered one-time, weekly, bi- weekly (every other week) or once a month.  

Is there anything I can do prior to your visit? 

Have your kitchen counters free of clutter, your sink cleared and have space made in your refrigerator and freezer.  

What is your cancellation policy? 

For all personal chef services 72 hours advance notice is required before you must cancel. If you do cancel within 72 hours your deposit is forfeited.  For all catering services, if you do not cancel within a 30 day window, your deposit is forfeited.  31-45 days cancellation you'll forfeit 50% of your deposit.  Any catering events booked within 21 days of the event will not be refunded a deposit.  All balances must be paid 72 hours prior to the event.  Staff and Servers are paid prior to the start of the event, so payment is required 72 hours prior. 

In-Home Meal Service Questions What is included in your meal plan? 

Each service package includes: Initial consultation, 5 entrees complete entrees customized to your preferences, grocery shopping, prep-work, cooking, kitchen clean-up, packaging, labeling, storage and handling instructions.  

Is the menu the same every time? 

Not unless you want it to be. Your personal chef do their best to create a new menu for you each service. Some clients go months without ever having a repeat meal. 

Are side dishes included? 

Yes. Each entree comes with one side dish specifically created to accompany your entree, sometimes two.   

Are groceries included? 

No, groceries are paid for separately from the chef fee.  

Can I add additional dishes? 

Absolutely. You can always add on an extra side, salad or soup if you feel you need a little extra. 

I have small children; can you make special meals for them? 

Absolutely. The Bearded Chef can create yummy meals and snacks for your children at an additional cost.  

How will my meals be packaged? 

Disposable: Included in first service Pyrex Glassware (recommended): $20 one-time fee 

Are the meals fresh or frozen? 

Each service is individualized to your needs. Some services consist of all fresh food, some frozen, and some a combination of the two. Generally no more than 4 days of fresh food is left in your refrigerator. Any additional days of meals after that will be stored in your freezer.   

Do I re-heat my food? 

Yes. You will be left with detailed instructions about how to heat your meals. If meals are frozen, simply thaw them in the refrigerator the day before and follow the easy re-heat instructions for your oven or microwave.  

How much refrigerator/freezer space do you need? 

That all depends on how many meals your order, but it usually takes up a considerable amount. The uniform Pyrex containers offered by The Bearded Chef are similar in size and shape, so they save as much space as possible, are easy to store and view. 

How long do meals last? 

- This depends on how many entrees and how many people are being served. Through this formula of entrees and servings The Bearded Chef can tell you exactly how many meals you will have and how long they will last.  

- In terms of the shelf life, each meal lasts about four days in a refrigerator (two for fish / seafood) and up to one month in the freezer. All meals are clearly labeled and dated for easy selection. 

Catering, Dinner Party and Tray Pass Questions 

What is the difference between a formal dinner party and catering? 

A formal dinner party consists of plated meal, served formally. Some people refer to this as "restaurant style" serving as the serving method is virtually the same. Catering, or an informal dinner party, allow the guests to help themselves to as much or as little food as they would like. Food is either served buffet style in chafing dishes or "family-style" at the table. 

How many courses are included with my dinner party or catering event? 

A minimum 3 courses will come with your event service, but you can have up to 6.  

Can I add more courses? 

Absolutely! You can up to six courses to your event menu.  

How many guests can you serve? 

The Bearded Chef specializes in events sized from 2-800 people.  

How many guests can I invite to my formal dinner party? 

Formal dinner parties are for 2-50 people.  

Do you have servers? 

Yes. The Bearded Chef requires a server for formal dinner parties of 6 people of more. Servers are available for $100 each.  

How do you hire your wait staff? 

The Bearded Chef requires each member of his staff to have passed a rigorous screening process, including a background check.  Servers are friendly, professional and knowledgeable about the food being served and courteous of you, your guests and your home.  

How is the budget for these events determined? 

The budget for each party is unique depending on the guest count, size and style of menu you would like. Your total will consist of two things: Service Fee and Grocery Budget. The service fee is what a personal chef charges for services and labor. A grocery budget is the amount of money needed to spend on groceries for your event. Once you have decided on a final menu and guest count, the chef will create an estimate for you. The Bearded Chef will then present you with a final budget for approval, ask you for a deposit and may ask you to look-over and sign a standard event contract.  

Do you serve alcohol? 

Yes, we can.  We're TABC certified, and the clients are responsible for the purchase of the alcohol.