Private International Chef of the Philippines

Q. What is a Personal Chef?

A. A Personal or Private Chef is a chef who comes to your home to prepare delicious meals to be enjoyed by you at your leisure.

 

As your Personal or Private Chef, I’ll come to your home and interview you to determine your specific dietary needs and wants. After this Client Assessment is performed, I’ll use the information to develop a customized menu.

 

On the selected cook date, I’ll do all the grocery shopping and bring the fresh ingredients to your home. Using your equipment and mine, I’ll then prepare the selected menu in the safety of your home kitchen. After all the meals are prepared, they are packaged, labeled and placed in the refrigerator and freezer to be enjoyed at your convenience. Your kitchen is left clean and filled with the aroma of home cooked meals.

 

A Personal Chef is different from a Private Chef and we offer both services to meet our clients needs on a case by case basis.

 

1. A Private Chef usually only provides their service to one individual or family.

 

2. A Personal Chef provides services for several individuals and families at the same time, usually one or two per day.

 

Q. What areas do you cover?

 

Private International Chef of the Philippines is a Personal and Private Chef Service serving communities throughout Makati and Metro Manila, Philippines. Service is available to other areas for caterings and special functions.

 

Q. Who needs a Personal or Private Chef?

A. A Personal Chef is perfect for those that want the convenience of being able to come home and heat up something fresh and delicious to enjoy any time of day or night. If you are tired of eating out, getting fast food, eating from the freezer section of your supermarket, or you just want some more quality time with friends and family, a Personal or Private Chef is for you. 

 

Do you need help with meals because…

             

 - You have no time to cook, need extra time or 

 - You don’t like your cooking

 - You are tired of Fast-food/restaurant/carry-out food

 - You have unique dietary requirements

 - You are a senior, bachelor, or new mom who has no time and/or interest in cooking

 - You or a loved one have a physical limitation or were recently released from the hospital and  - are unable to cook for yourself

 - You’re going on vacation and don’t want to spend your holiday cooking or waiting in line for a    good meal

 - etc . . .

 

Q. Do you cook in my kitchen?

A. Yes, all meals are cooked in the safety of your home kitchen using full U.S. sanitation & food handeling standards (HACCP). I use most of your equipment and some of my own equipment, while I leave the kitchen clean when I am finished.

 

Q. Why can’t you just cook everything at your home and deliver to me?

A. Health department and zoning laws prohibit it (though many people do it in Manila). If I were to cook your meals in a licensed, health department approved commercial kitchen then I would have to pass on the rental charge of the kitchen to you. Cooking everything in your home as opposed to offsite and delivering it provides you with the freshest, safest food possible, while being able to see how your food is being made, right in your home. I will make each service date as low key and as unobtrusive as possible.

 

Q. What is Certified Food Protection Manager and HACCP standards?

 

A. Throughout the US and portions of the world, all chefs and managers are required to be ServSafe Certified. ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-Conference for Food Protection (CFP)& is Internatioanlly recognized throughout the world as an Industry standard of excellence. The program blends the latest FDA Food Code, food safety research and years of food sanitation training and proper food handling experience. Managers learn to implement essential food safety practices and create a culture of food safety, while learning to train their staff on all the essential standards.It helps you protect customer health, improve employee performance and preserve business reputation.

 

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is an internationally recognized system for reducing the risk of safety hazards in food. A HACCP System requires that potential hazards are identified and controlled at specific points in the process. This includes biological, chemical or physical hazards. Any company involved in the manufacturing, processing or handling of food products can use HACCP to minimize or eliminate food safety hazards in their product.

 

Programs ensure a hygienic environment, and good manufacturing processes for personnel that reduce the risk of contamination of the food product. The Global Food Safety Initiative(GFSI), has benchmarked a number of Food Safety Management Systems Certification programs, all of which are HACCP based and recognized in more than 150 countries all over the world.

 

Q. How long will you be here?

A. I will be cooking several different entrées and side dishes from scratch, so it will take four to six hours depending on entrée selection. However, I will be willing to work with your schedule or situation, and make arrangements in advance, so that the cooking date fits into your busy schedule.

 

Q. Do I have to be home when you come to cook?

A. No, you do not have to be home on the selected cook date. Arrangements can be made at the assessment to determine how I can gain access to your home on certain days. Please be aware that family pets and children must be kept in a safe place away from the preparation area for sanitaion and safety.

 

Q. Do I heat the food?

A. Yes, you will heat all food at your leisure. Complete heating instructions are provided for each meal to insure proper preparation.

 

Q. How long does the food last?
 

A. That depends on the service that is provided. The food can be stored in the freezer for up to 60 days, however 10-15 days is recommended for the best taste.

 

Q. Can you use my containers?
 

A. I prefer to have food stored in reusable or disposable sealed containers that I have purchased for you. I then know they are perfect for the job. However, if there is an entrée that would be better suited in your own casserole or baking dish we can arrange that. We will discuss container selection at your client assessment.

 

Q. Can you provide meals according to my diet?
 

A. Yes. During the initial assessment, we’ll discuss your dietary and medical  needs / preferences wih  a custom menu that will be provided.

 

Q. Will you cook old family recipes for me?
 

A. Yes. Of course, Chef Wayne will prepare all of your favorite recipes. Please have them available several days ahead of time to be able to add to the shopping list and go through the recipe. 

 

Q. Do I pay in advance of the cook date?
 

A. NO.   A food deposit is paid upfront at booking time and the final amount (difference in food deposit) and actual amount + the chefs cooking fee will be paid in full the day of the actual Chefs visit.

 

Q. What about the groceries?

A. I shop for food as if I were shopping for my own family the day of your cook date. The groceries are brought to your house with the perishables kept cold until they are stored in your refrigerator to be used in the food preparation. Groceries are added in at cost (reciept will be attached for verification and accountability), as my fee includes the shopping for your menu(s).

 

Q. The cost seems to be about what I would spend in a restaurant, why is that?
 

A. Although our fees are expressed as “per entree” or “per serving,” they actually represent all of the components that make up a professional Personal or Private Chef Service through the sanitation, quality and freshness that few restaurants actually include in their preparations throughout Manila. This fee includes,

 - the assessment,

 - a personalized menu based on that assessment,

 - complete grocery shopping (broken down in the fee schedule), preparation of      each meal,

 - packaging and labeling of all meals, heating instructions, and cleaning up        after.

 - Each meal is customized based on the dietary needs and wants of the client,      which typically does not happen at a restaurant.

 - With the our Professional Chef Service and custom programs, you can have a        beautiful entree that has been prepared specifically for your palate and          requirements, and eat it in the comfort of your own home without having to        drive anywhere. 

 - You’ll know the kitchen is clean and sanitized, 

 - Your meal contains only fresh ingredients from the local Markets and grocery      stores and hand picked by Chef Wayne for the best quality and freshness.

 

Q. Can I give your personal chef services as a gift?

A. Of course! Our Personal or Private Chef gift certificates are perfect for new parents, friends or family home from the hospital or visiting from the province or another country, mother and fathers of the bride and just to say “I love you!”