Hiring a personal chef for a dinner party or event

What the chef handles

a menu written for the occasion and your guests’ diets
shopping
cooking in your kitchen
plating and serving, or setting out a buffet
cleanup

For larger groups the chef may bring an assistant or a server. Ask who is coming and whether they are included in the price.

What to tell the chef

The date, start time and address.
The number of guests.
The occasion and the style you want: plated courses, family-style or a buffet.
Allergies and diets among the guests.
Your kitchen: oven, burners, fridge space and counter room.
What you have and what must be brought or rented: plates, glasses, serving dishes.
Whether you want help with wine or drinks.
Your budget.

How event pricing works

The cook-day figures in our cost guide are for recurring household meals. They do not apply to events. A dinner party is quoted on its own, usually per person or as a flat fee, with groceries either included or billed separately. Staff, rentals and travel can add to it.

Ask for a written quote that lists each of those items, the deposit and the cancellation terms.

Timing

Holidays are the busiest dates: Thanksgiving, the winter holidays, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Contact chefs as early as you can for those. For any date, ask how much notice the chef needs.

Occasions people hire for

Birthdays and anniversaries, holiday meals, date nights at home, bachelorette weekends, and dinners in a vacation rental.

Not every personal chef takes event work. Browse your city and ask each chef whether they do dinner parties and for how many guests.