faq's
Where do your Culinistas® cook?
What does the $300 cover?
How much are groceries usually?
What does 6-8 dishes mean?
How many meals are we getting?
How much say do I have in the menu each week?
How much of a commitment is this?
What happens after the trial cooking visit?
What forms of payment do you accept?
How does the billing work?
Do you offer gift certificates?
How long does the food last?
What kind of diets/allergies do you accommodate?
Can you cook kosher?
Where does my food come from?
I prefer local and/or organic, can you make that work?
I prefer to do the shopping, is that ok?
I'm having a dinner party, can you help?
Do you offer cooking lessons?
I'm a parent of a college student attending school in NYC, Chicago, or LA. Can I set something up for my child?
Do you offer any other services?
Do you do weddings?
Should I tip my Culinista?
Still have a question? Ask us!
Where do your Culinistas® cook?
Our weekly home chef service and catering is available in New York City, the Hamptons, Chicago, and greater Los Angeles including Malibu and the Valley. Additional charges may apply to cover transportation costs and time.
What does the $300 cover?
This covers the cost of your Culinista for the week - menu planning, shopping, cooking, and clean up. The produce and groceries that your Culinista will need are not included. These are billed at cost and are itemized separately.
How much are groceries usually?
Grocery bills can vary widely, but generally range between $70 and $200, depending on your menu and how many are in your household. Meat and chocolate can ratchet up the cost quite a bit! But if you prefer vegetarian items, your bill will be relatively less. If you'd like your Culinista to be extra price conscious, say so! They will make you excellent food no matter what.
What does 6-8 dishes mean?
This is the total number of different items that will be cooked in your home. For example, Olive Oil Poached Salmon, Crispy Fingerling Potatoes with Herbs, and Sauteed Escarole with Caramelized Fennel would be 3 dishes. You would be able to combine these into a meal, and also mix and match these dishes with the 3-5 other dishes. Menu items are designed to communicate for the ease of combining dishes in different ways. It's totally flexible.
How many meals are we getting?
That's up to you! Generally, the 6-8 dishes cover 4 or 5 dinners and a couple of lunches, depending on your eating habits, the menu for that week, and the requested portions, which can be adjusted up or down. For example, some clients like us to prepare them a few dinner focused options as well as salads and soups and crudité platters that they nibble on during the day. We'll provide whatever works best for you.
How much say do I have in the menu each week?
As much as you'd like! Each week your Culinista will present you with a proposed menu tailored to your preferences. You are free to request any changes, additions, deletions - or just say, yes looks great! Additionally, if there’s a special recipe you’d like prepared, our Culinistas will gladly cook from your collection.
How much of a commitment is this?
We're totally flexible, there's never any commitment. After the trial cooking visit, if the weekly service is initiated, your Culinista will plan on cooking for you each week thereafter. Going away for the week? For the summer? You're free to pause and resume service at any time. Just let your Culinista know you'll be away and the date you'd like her to be back in your kitchen. This is about making your life simpler; we respect your time and the fact that you have a lot going on!
What happens after the trial cooking visit?
Your Culinista will be in touch about the next week's menu, and your weekly home chef service begins in earnest. If you tell us otherwise, there's no obligation to continue.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Visa, MasterCard and Amex.
How does the billing work?
After the trial cooking visit, once the weekly service begins, we will charge the credit card we have on file at the end of each month for that month's visits and groceries. We then email or mail you a paid invoice of the charges.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes. Our gift certificates are a hot item! Gift certificates are available in any denomination starting at one week of service. People love them for wedding gifts, Mother’s day, baby showers, Valentine’s day… you get the idea!
How long does the food last?
The food is cooked in your home with fresh ingredients and is generally designed to last until your Culinista comes again the following week. You will always be provided with perishability and reheating instructions.
What kind of diets/allergies do you accommodate?
Any and all! We cook what you want and need to eat. You can also experiment with any type of diet. Are you a vegetarian who wants to go vegan for a week? A meat eater who wants to try macrobiotic? A certified carb lover who wants to add more protein to your diet? We can accommodate all requests. We will even make organic baby food.
Can you cook kosher?
Yes.
Where does my food come from?
Your groceries come from some of NYC, Chicago & LA's best grocery stores, including Whole Foods, Balducci's, Agata and Valentini, Citarella, and Dean and DeLuca. Weather and season permitting, much of your food may also come from various farmer’s markets – from Santa Monica, to Green City, to Union Square. If you have a favorite store or purveyor, we're happy to use them.
I prefer local and/or organic, can you make that work?
Most definitely. We roll deep in organics! If you want, we can even buy biodynamic, organic. We also welcome any opportunity to give business to our local farmers.
I prefer to do the shopping, is that ok?
Of course. Your Culinista can coordinate with you.
I'm having a dinner party, can you help?
Yes. We can cater any party from 4 to 350 people. Contact us for details.
Do you offer cooking lessons?
Yes. We can send you a Culinista to help you learn anything from the basics to how to make the perfect soufflé. We can also host your next cooking party.
I'm a parent of a college student attending school in NYC, Chicago, or LA. Can I set something up for my child?
Absolutely. As long as he or she is living in an apartment with a kitchen, we can see that they are getting healthy home cooked meals each week.
Do you offer any other services?
We can provide you with a Culinista to do anything for which you may need a chef. For example, you could have a walking tour of the Union Square or Santa Monica farmers market with a Culinista as your guide. Just let us know your ideas!
Do you do weddings?
Yes! We love doing weddings and have fed many happy brides. We don’t, however, do tastings. This is because the majority of weddings we do are for already existing clients or friends of already existing clients. Please contact us for details.
Should I tip my Culinista?
We have a no-tip policy. If, during the holidays, you feel as though you would like to tip your chef as a holiday treat, please feel free, but it is in no way necessary or expected.
Our weekly home chef service and catering is available in New York City, the Hamptons, Chicago, and greater Los Angeles including Malibu and the Valley. Additional charges may apply to cover transportation costs and time.
What does the $300 cover?
This covers the cost of your Culinista for the week - menu planning, shopping, cooking, and clean up. The produce and groceries that your Culinista will need are not included. These are billed at cost and are itemized separately.
How much are groceries usually?
Grocery bills can vary widely, but generally range between $70 and $200, depending on your menu and how many are in your household. Meat and chocolate can ratchet up the cost quite a bit! But if you prefer vegetarian items, your bill will be relatively less. If you'd like your Culinista to be extra price conscious, say so! They will make you excellent food no matter what.
What does 6-8 dishes mean?
This is the total number of different items that will be cooked in your home. For example, Olive Oil Poached Salmon, Crispy Fingerling Potatoes with Herbs, and Sauteed Escarole with Caramelized Fennel would be 3 dishes. You would be able to combine these into a meal, and also mix and match these dishes with the 3-5 other dishes. Menu items are designed to communicate for the ease of combining dishes in different ways. It's totally flexible.
How many meals are we getting?
That's up to you! Generally, the 6-8 dishes cover 4 or 5 dinners and a couple of lunches, depending on your eating habits, the menu for that week, and the requested portions, which can be adjusted up or down. For example, some clients like us to prepare them a few dinner focused options as well as salads and soups and crudité platters that they nibble on during the day. We'll provide whatever works best for you.
How much say do I have in the menu each week?
As much as you'd like! Each week your Culinista will present you with a proposed menu tailored to your preferences. You are free to request any changes, additions, deletions - or just say, yes looks great! Additionally, if there’s a special recipe you’d like prepared, our Culinistas will gladly cook from your collection.
How much of a commitment is this?
We're totally flexible, there's never any commitment. After the trial cooking visit, if the weekly service is initiated, your Culinista will plan on cooking for you each week thereafter. Going away for the week? For the summer? You're free to pause and resume service at any time. Just let your Culinista know you'll be away and the date you'd like her to be back in your kitchen. This is about making your life simpler; we respect your time and the fact that you have a lot going on!
What happens after the trial cooking visit?
Your Culinista will be in touch about the next week's menu, and your weekly home chef service begins in earnest. If you tell us otherwise, there's no obligation to continue.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Visa, MasterCard and Amex.
How does the billing work?
After the trial cooking visit, once the weekly service begins, we will charge the credit card we have on file at the end of each month for that month's visits and groceries. We then email or mail you a paid invoice of the charges.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes. Our gift certificates are a hot item! Gift certificates are available in any denomination starting at one week of service. People love them for wedding gifts, Mother’s day, baby showers, Valentine’s day… you get the idea!
How long does the food last?
The food is cooked in your home with fresh ingredients and is generally designed to last until your Culinista comes again the following week. You will always be provided with perishability and reheating instructions.
What kind of diets/allergies do you accommodate?
Any and all! We cook what you want and need to eat. You can also experiment with any type of diet. Are you a vegetarian who wants to go vegan for a week? A meat eater who wants to try macrobiotic? A certified carb lover who wants to add more protein to your diet? We can accommodate all requests. We will even make organic baby food.
Can you cook kosher?
Yes.
Where does my food come from?
Your groceries come from some of NYC, Chicago & LA's best grocery stores, including Whole Foods, Balducci's, Agata and Valentini, Citarella, and Dean and DeLuca. Weather and season permitting, much of your food may also come from various farmer’s markets – from Santa Monica, to Green City, to Union Square. If you have a favorite store or purveyor, we're happy to use them.
I prefer local and/or organic, can you make that work?
Most definitely. We roll deep in organics! If you want, we can even buy biodynamic, organic. We also welcome any opportunity to give business to our local farmers.
I prefer to do the shopping, is that ok?
Of course. Your Culinista can coordinate with you.
I'm having a dinner party, can you help?
Yes. We can cater any party from 4 to 350 people. Contact us for details.
Do you offer cooking lessons?
Yes. We can send you a Culinista to help you learn anything from the basics to how to make the perfect soufflé. We can also host your next cooking party.
I'm a parent of a college student attending school in NYC, Chicago, or LA. Can I set something up for my child?
Absolutely. As long as he or she is living in an apartment with a kitchen, we can see that they are getting healthy home cooked meals each week.
Do you offer any other services?
We can provide you with a Culinista to do anything for which you may need a chef. For example, you could have a walking tour of the Union Square or Santa Monica farmers market with a Culinista as your guide. Just let us know your ideas!
Do you do weddings?
Yes! We love doing weddings and have fed many happy brides. We don’t, however, do tastings. This is because the majority of weddings we do are for already existing clients or friends of already existing clients. Please contact us for details.
Should I tip my Culinista?
We have a no-tip policy. If, during the holidays, you feel as though you would like to tip your chef as a holiday treat, please feel free, but it is in no way necessary or expected.
about
• how it works
• Culinistas®
• menus
• faq's
we offer a special rate
for a trial cooking visit
plus groceries
