Private chef dinner: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What private chef dinner is

A private chef cooks a multi course meal in your home for a special occasion, handling the menu, shopping, plating and cleanup. Hosts hire one for anniversaries, birthdays, holidays and dinner parties where the host wants a restaurant quality meal without leaving home.

Signs you need it

  • You want a multi course dinner for a special occasion in your own home
  • You want the cooking, the plating and the cleanup handled so you can be a guest
  • You want the menu planned around your taste, the season and the guests' needs
  • You want wine pairings or a cocktail hour before the dinner
  • You do not have the kitchen space or the time to cook for a group

What the pro does

  • Meets you to set the guest count, the courses, the dietary needs and the timing
  • Writes a menu with each course and its wine or drink pairing
  • Shops for the ingredients and sets up the kitchen for the cook
  • Cooks and plates the courses on the schedule set for the evening
  • Serves the courses or works with your staff to serve them
  • Cleans the kitchen and leaves it ready for the next day

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of guests and the number of courses
  • Ingredients, including premium cuts or seasonal items
  • Whether the chef serves the meal or only cooks it
  • Wine or cocktail pairings, which need their own service rules
  • Time on site, including shopping and cleanup
  • Dietary needs and any substitutions the menu must include

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of guests, the courses and the timing of each
  • Whether groceries are included or billed separately
  • Service, plating and cleanup included in the quote
  • Pairings or drinks, and whether alcohol is provided by the chef or the host
  • What happens if the guest count or the dietary needs change

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What permits and food handler cards do you hold, and where do you cook?
  • Will you bring your own equipment, or do you use my kitchen?
  • How do you handle the dietary needs of my guests?
  • Who buys the alcohol for the pairings, and who serves it?
  • How long will you be on site, and when do you leave the kitchen clean?
  • What is your plan if an ingredient is not available on the day?

Red flags

  • Cannot show a food handler card or describe a food safety plan
  • Will not share the menu with the courses in writing before the dinner
  • Plans to serve alcohol without checking the rules that apply to the event
  • Does not ask about allergies or dietary needs before planning
  • Wants full payment before the menu is agreed

What you can do yourself

A host can plan a simple dinner party with a menu that can be made ahead, using a clear timeline and a few courses. Hire a private chef for a multi course dinner, plating and service, or a meal that must be timed to the minute. Keep alcohol service within the rules that apply to your event and your location.

Licenses and permits

Food businesses commonly need a health permit or a food handler card from the local office that oversees food safety, and a chef who cooks for pay may fall under those rules even when cooking in your home. Alcohol service commonly needs a license or permit, so ask whether the chef or the host is responsible for serving alcohol and check those rules before the dinner.

Private chef dinner questions

Can the chef serve wine at my dinner?

Alcohol service commonly needs a license or permit. Ask the chef whether it serves alcohol or only cooks, and check the rules where the dinner takes place before you agree to any pairing.

Does the chef clean up after the dinner?

Ask the chef. Many include cleanup in the quote, but confirm whether it covers the dishes, the counters and the kitchen floor.

How much notice does a private chef need?

Ask the chef for its booking lead time. A special dinner with a custom menu usually needs more notice than a regular service.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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