Please enjoy $100 off gatherings of 12 people or more. Discount automatically applied. 

Gatherings

Meal Prep

A Season or Long Term

Cooking Classes

Chef Services Overview

Our booking policy is flexible, so don't worry if these details change. Our chef services are available in 

, though many Culinista® chefs are happy to travel. For services outside of these areas, 

The Culinistas is a resource that gives everyone the freedom and confidence to connect around a meal.

Our optional drinks service includes up to 2 drinks plus waitstaff who will arrive 1 hour before guests and provide 4 hours of service. Additional time will be billed at $60/hour. The Culinistas will provide ice and non-alcoholic ingredients. The host is responsible for providing alcohol.

Dairy

Eggs

Fish

Shellfish

Nuts

Gluten

Pork

Sesame

Beef

Alliums

Gail Simmons

Top Chef

Dana Cowin

Food & Wine

Gwyneth Parltrow

Goop

Low Carb

Low Sugar

High Protein

Vegetarian

Vegan

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Low Fat

High Fat

Meatballs Marinara

Leisure Time

Paloma

Calamari, Corn & Couscous

Cucumber Avocado Soup

The Big Green Salad

Tomato Gazpacho

Summer Sangria Bar

Charred Yellow Squash Gemelli

Chimichurri Chicken

Cucumber Melon Salad

Fall & Winter Sangria Bar

Sweet Corn Succotash

Summer Garden Risotto

Blackberry Plum Goat Cheese Fool

Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Blanc de Blancs

Potato Salad

Lobster Rolls ($)

Tequila Bar

Cornbread Stuffing ($)

Pan Gravy

Brussels & Pancetta

Mashed Potatoes ($)

Oysters on the Half Shell with Classic Mignonette

Potato Gratin

Brown Butter Pecan Blondies

Pickled Vegetables & Mustard

Seasonal Fruit

Tuna Tartare ($)

Sole Meunière ($)

Blueberry Galette ($)

Bloody Mary Bar

Garden Greens Galette

Sautéed Greens

Tomato Salad

Cucumber Salad

Little Tomatoes & Orzo

Parsley Pesto Broc & Beans

Currant & Hazelnut Brussels Sprouts

Crimson Quinoa

Butternut Soup

Corn Fritters with Chili Sauce

Cauliflower Mac & Cheddar

Cranberry Sauce

Sourdough Stuffing

Balsamic Green Beans

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Romesco Toast

Autumn Burrata Bar ($)

Seared Tuna with Radish & Avocado Slaw ($)

Charcuterie & Cheese Board ($)

Spanish Shrimp ($)

Seared Squid & Peppers

Bulgur Niçoise

Spicy Shrimp &  Potatoes

Baby Kale Salad

Snap Pea Succotash

Potato Kale Salad (Special Occasion)

Berry Bowl

RGC (Roasted Garlic Chicken)

Beet Chips & Dip

Squash with Herbs

Spicy Shrimp Cocktail

Caprese

Herb Butter Corn on the Cob

Quick Chat

Offsite

Big Brood

Call Her Ginger

Devils On Horseback

Charred Peppers

Apple Ricotta Toast

Marinated Olives & Spiced Nuts

Melon, Prosciutto & Parmesan

Corn & Cucumber Salad

Apple Toddy

Collard Greens Cornbread

Cranberry Cornbread

White Wine Steamed Clams

Sesame Crusted Tuna & Greens

Avocado Toast

Cauliflower Steaks with Salsa Verde

French Lentils

Creamed Kale 

Morning Glories

Shishito Pepper Skewer

Cucumber & Tuna Skewers

Pears with Prosciutto & Bleu Cheese

Truffled Mousse & Pear Crostini

Mushroom Pâté Cracker

Chicken Liver Mousse & Jam

Gorgonzola Grapes

Parsnips & Potatoes with Bacon

Peach & Nectarine Crisp

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Lemony Pasta Fagioli

Winter Vegetable Cobb

Roasted Roots

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Chocolate Zucchini Snack Cake

Beets & Sweets Gratin

Romaine & Avocado Salad

Arugula & Pickled Shallots

Old Bay Lobster Salad ($)

Clambake ($)

Summer Pea Panzanella

Watermelon & Strawberry Parfait

Peppadew Mac & Cheddar

Squash Lentil Bowl

Roasted Turkey   ($)

Heirloom Tomato Galette ($)

Crab & Corn Dip ($)

Pan con Tomate

Sicily Spritz

Bluegrass Black Tea

Sweet Potato Hummus & Cruditès

Grilled Vegetable Couscous

Arugula Pesto Pasta

Garlic Confit Red Potatoes

Hasselback Butternut Squash

Charred Cabbage Gratin

Roasted Mushrooms

Grilled Stone Fruit with Sorbet

Shaved Celery Salad

Scarlet Sangria

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Power Green Salad

Sticky Salmon & Broccolini

Herbed Fingerling Potatoes

Zucchini Nuggets

Crab Cakes ($)

Strawberry Semolina Cake

Green Beans with Sesame Herb Dressing

Martini Bar

G & T Bar

Spritz Bar

If you have questions or concerns about your bill, please contact accounting@theculinistas.com.

We thoroughly review all preferences and thoughtfully match you with a chef to meet those needs. If you are unhappy with the match for any reason, 

Yes! We do receive requests for chefs outside of our core service areas, whether for seasonal work, short term travel, or long term, salaried positions.

All services are billed with 20% gratuity included, 100% of which will go to your Culinista chef. While there is no expectation to do so, you are welcome to provide an additional cash tip for extraordinary service.

In general, we’re happy to source another chef who is a better fit. 

 and select from our three Class Menus—Paella Party, Steak Night, and Pizza Party—which are carefully designed to teach you our Culinista Keys. We’ll show you how to create a balanced menu, master mise en place, improvise with confidence, and streamline your time in the kitchen. There are options for customization within each menu.

Culinista chefs hail from top restaurants and culinary schools around the country. They help celebrate our culinary methods and approach to hospitality. We thoroughly vet every chef on our platform, including background checks and a cooking interview. We handpick the right chefs for you based on their skills and your needs.

You are able to skip, pause, or deactivate your weekly service at any time using your client dashboard prior to 48 hours before your next service. At 48 hours prior to your next service, your service is confirmed and your service fee is nonrefundable. If you cancel within 48 hours of service, you will be charged the full service fee plus any charges incurred by the chef, including groceries and travel at the company’s discretion.

At 24 hours prior to your next service, if you have not yet selected your weekly menu, your service will be canceled and you will be charged the full service fee. Culinista chefs need a menu to grocery shop and plan, and without enough notice, your service cannot be executed properly.

If someone in your household is sick or in case of medical emergency, we will attempt to reschedule at the chef’s convenience within six days of your original service date. This is upon company discretion, and you may be held responsible for the full service fee. If the chef is unavailable for a rescheduled service, we will send you a different chef at the company’s discretion. If you are unable to reschedule within six days of your original service date, you will still be charged the full service fee.

The Culinistas is committed to offering chefs a flexible work schedule that fits their needs; therefore compensation varies widely and is dependent on the chef’s availability. Some chefs on our platform earn $2,000 a week working for The Culinistas on the side, and others earn $20,000 a month during a busy summer season.

Compensation starts at $175 for meal prep services and $350 for gatherings. Seasonal market and specialty day rates start at $500 per day. Full time roles typically start at $120K per year. All compensation is dependent upon experience, tenure at the company, and household size and needs.


Yes, we encourage Culinista chefs to work in multiple markets. We especially invite chefs across all markets to join us for our busy summer season in the Hamptons.

Certain ingredients in these dishes may make them more costly—and increase your total grocery bill—so we wanted to let you know.

The Culinistas HQ is a talented and passionate team of culinary, editorial, operations, customer service, and marketing professionals. View our open roles 

Our services fall into four main categories: 

. For more information on each, explore the links above and refer to the relevant FAQ sections on this page.

We develop all our recipes and menus with a grocery list in mind, and Culinista chefs are trained to shop so that they always have the correct items and the appropriate quantities to execute your service. For these reasons, we greatly prefer that the chefs shop for their services.

The weekly meal prep service includes a Culinista chef grocery shopping for you and coming to your home to prepare six dishes that can be mixed and matched for 3-4 meals throughout the week. 

We recommend choosing dishes that work in pairs or trios as full menus, or mix and match to cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert.

Yes, our goal is to make it easier for you and your family to enjoy dinner together. Our large size accommodates families of up to six people. If your family is larger than six people, please fill out a 

 and we will provide you with a custom quote.

The Culinistas’ referral program allows us to reward our community for referring friends and loved ones to The Culinistas, while welcoming new clients with a gift toward their first gathering.

Culinista chefs shop locally at our favorite grocers and farmers markets. They shop specifically for you and are happy to accommodate your preferences. They source the freshest and most nutrient-dense items they can find, striving to buy organic and non-GMO produce whenever possible.

Gatherings start at $500 (based on guest count) plus groceries, sales tax and a $15 travel reimbursement. We automatically add 20% chef gratuity to all gatherings (i.e. $100 for $500 base rate).

Our chef services are available in the NYC metro area, the Hamptons, LA, and the D.C. metro area, though many Culinista® chefs are happy to travel. For services outside of these areas, 

Grocery costs will vary depending on your service area and menu selection. The below ranges are meant as general guides:

Yes! Your Culinista chef will plate and serve your meal. If your gathering requires additional waitstaff, we’ll staff a reliable server from our trusted network.

If anything about your service wasn’t quite right, please 

Congratulations! Once your referee has successfully completed their first gathering, you’ll receive an email letting you know that $100 of Culinista credits have been added to your account.

Choose Your Gift

Recipient Details

Your Details

Payment Details

Billing Address

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