Policies
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 consulation.
Cost (Cook-only visit)
A Cook-only visit is expected to last 3 hours. The cost for this visit is $150.00. There will be an additional $20.00 charge for each additional half-hour.
Cost (Shop and Cook visit)
A Shop-and-Cook visit is expected to last three hours. This visit will cost $225.00. An additional $25.00 will be added for each additional half-hour. Shopping time is not deducted from the 3-hour visit time.
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.
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 transporation delays. Your chef will not accept a ride in your personal vehicle.
Payment
Payment information will be taken during the pre-visit consult. The customer will be charged $50.00 following the pre-visit consult. All remaining charges will be assessed after the visit. This applies to both Cook-Only and Shop-and-Cook arrangements.
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, or Saturdays.
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.
Pets
Pets should be kept out of the kitchen as much as possible during the visit.
Equipment
Your chef will bring her own knife, cutting board, and stirring spoon. Unless otherwise specified during a pre-visit phone consult or in writing, the home-owner is expected to have all other cooking, serving and tidying up supplies on-hand.
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, or other.
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 advises otherwise during the pre-visit consult. The homeowner is responsible for any additional salt and pepper desired. Special seasoning sets may be made available for separate purchase or as promotional give-aways in the future.
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.
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.
Cancellation (Weather/environmental safety)
If weather or enrionmental safety is a concern, your chef may decide to cancel the visit This decision will be made at least wo-hours before the scheduled visit. The initial $50.00 deposit will be refunded. No additional charges will be incurred or billed.
Cancellation (Customer Decision)
The customer may cancelt 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 within 24 hours 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.
Dissatisfied
If the customer is dissatisfied with any aspect of the visit or the prepared dishes, he or she should inform the chef with 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.
