Elegant Fare Personal Chef and Catering Service

Chef David Straus
303-809-1042
mail to: elegantfare@personalchef.com

 
 

Enjoy an unlimited variety of Healthy Delicious meals in your own home, without touching a pan or setting foot into a store.
Chef David Straus
 
 
Catering
 

Chef David began his catering career in the early 1990's, and launched Elegant Fare Personal Chef and Catering Service in 1997. Elegant Fare wants to bring “the pleasure of being pampered and not worrying about your party” to all of our catered events.

Our experienced professional staff prides itself on their ability to deliver the service that you expect, at reasonable rates. To keep standards high, we cook and prepare food on site.

Elegant Fare charges differently than most catering companies. As a personal chef business that maintains a low overhead, we can keep our costs down to a minimum.

We charge a flat rate of $25 an hour per chef and server and a $1 set-up charge per person. We include a 15% charge on the total bill for serving pieces, menu planning and organization. This is not a tip for the servers, but for the service of planning, and silver, ceramic and marble serving pieces. This also includes all coordination of rental and beverage pickup and delivery.

Elegant Fare catering can act as planner for your entire event, and manage the party from start to finish, or we can fill in as needed if you have some other assistance in town during the event. We will take care of all the party planning of your event from liquor at the bar to the rental of china and tables. Our staff will provide service from bartending to carving the food tableside.

In the past we've engaged locations and sent out invitations for clients when schedules have gotten compressed, relieving some of the pressure as the party date approaches! We have relationships with rental companies in town and typically procure everything for clients from tables and chairs to linen, china, glassware and silver. We work to organize your entire event so all you have to do is show up and enjoy yourself with your friends and family. Our goal is to work with you to create a memorable event that fits the audience, the occasion and most importantly, your budget.

 
  
CATERING MENU

 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FANCY HORS D'OEUVRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

These edible morsels will be elegantly presented to your guests on fancy marble,
sparkling silver trays, ceramic bowels & colored handcrafted glass plates garnished with
flair and served by a tuxedo server.

All selections are available and priced per hundred pieces.
If less than a hundred add a $10.00 ser charge, plus the cost of appetizers.
 
SEAFOOD
Crab Bundles
Crab with melted Herbed Cream Cheese in a wonton wrapper.
ALWAYS a crowd favorite
Corn and Shrimp Fritters - Made with fresh cut corn on the cob and assorted
vegetables
Maryland Crab Cakes - Lightly seasoned with a fresh taste of dill
Oriental Crisp Crab Crepe - Made from a crisp French crepe stuffed with snow crab, cream cheese and traditional oriental seasoning
Coconut Fried Shrimp - a great crowd favorite
Crab Stuffed Shrimp - Whole shrimp stuffed with seasoned crab meat and crusted with Italian breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese
Thai shrimp & rice noodle spring roll
Whole shrimp with Thai style rice noodles and vegetables inside an open ended rice noodle wrapper
Chipotle Shrimp Wontons
Shrimp, Yellow & Red Pepper Chipotle Fontina Cheese displayed in a Wonton cup
Fresh Jumbo Shrimp - Served with zesty Cocktail Sauce and Fresh Lemons
Shrimp Scampi - Sautéed in our special Garlic Herb Butter
Mild Cajun Shrimp - Sautéed in Butter and Cajun spices served hot or cold.
Can be made tableside
Caviar - Served on toast points with herb cream cheese
Seafood Brochettes - Served with Shrimp and Scallops and assorted Vegetables
Scallops Rumaki - Wrapped in Bacon
Smoked Salmon Platter - Served with mini bagels or cocktail rye,
cream cheese & condiments
Variety of fresh sushi - Made fresh daily from the sushi chef of Sushi Redi
Raw bar consisting of fresh oysters, crab, clams and shirmp

BEEF & PORK
Baby Lamb Chops - Coated with a layer of country style Dijon mustard,
seasoned bread crumbs and fresh rosemary
Baby Corn Beef Reuben's
Pork Tenderloin - On silver dollar rolls
Beef Tenderloin Wellingtons - Served with Béarnaise Sauce
Tenderloin Croistini - Prime tenderloin of beef on focaccia bread severed
over mixed greens topped with mild horseradish sauce
Meatballs - Oriental, BBQ, Marinara or Swedish
Beef Sate - With a Soy Ginger Sauce for dipping
Proscuito Wrapped Asparagus Rolls
Proscuito & Fresh Melons
Proscuito Wagon Wheels - Puff Pastry rolled with a spiral of Provolone and Proscuito

POULTRY
Chicken Sate - Served with a Peanut Dipping Sauce
Chicken Teriyaki Sate - Served with a Peanut Dipping Sauce
Chicken Quesadillas - Served with Salsa and Guacamole
Smoked Turkey Breast - Served with Silver Dollar Rolls and Basil Mayonnaise
Teriyaki Chicken Brochettes
Chicken Wellingtons
Chicken with Creamy Spinach in Puff Pastry
Coconut Chicken Tenders
Sesame Oriental Wings
Buffalo Style Wings
Jerked Duck & Mango Spring Rolls
Chicken & Vegetable Pot Stickers

VEGETARIAN
Petite Chili Relleno - Served with Zesty Salsa
Goat cheese & sweet pear filo purse
Corn and Vegetable Fritters - Made with fresh corn on the cob and
assorted vegetables
Tomatoes Basil Quiche Bar
Vegetarian Hye Rollers - Rolled up soft taco shells with assorted vegetables and Herb Cream Cheese
Wild Mushroom and Melted Brie Tartlet
Mini Eggplant Parmesan - Served with House Marinara Sauce
Brie En Croute - With Toasted Almonds and Raspberry Sauce
Portobello Mushroom Pizza - Wedges of Marinated Portobello Mushrooms
with Pizza Topping
Stuffed Snow Peas - Filled with Fresh Herbed Cream Cheese
Stuffed Mushrooms - Served with either a Wild Mushroom, Crab,
Florentine or Cheese Filling
Spinach and Assorted Mini Quiches
Oriental Egg Rolls - Served with Plum Sauce vegetarian, chicken, pork or shrimp
Spanakopita - Flaky Phylo Dough filling with Spinach and Feta Cheese
Bruschette - Served with Sun Dried Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella and Spinach Filling0
Wild Mushroom and Pesto Turnover
Cherry Tomatoes - stuffed with herbed cream cheese
Breaded Cheese Ravioli
Artichoke & Sundried Tomato Wonton
Devilled Egg

 

COLD HORS D' OEUVRE, CANAPES & SUSHI
(priced per piece)
Stuffed Snow Peas - Filled with Fresh Herbed Cream Cheese
Cherry Tomatoes - stuffed with herbed cream cheese
Mini Fruit Skewers
Mini Fruit & Cheese Skewers
Boursin Cheese Stuffed Celery
Crab Stuffed Artichoke Heart
Crab Stuffed Artichoke Bottom
Artichoke & Pesto - marinated artichoke hearts blended with basil pesto on a toast point
Salmon Mousse Brouchee - mousse piped into a puff pastry shell with lemon/dill & capers
Balsamic Grilled Beef w/ Tomato Basil Relish - served on a toast point
BBQ Pork on a Cheddar Biscuit - shredded bbq sauced pork on a homemade biscuit
Blue Cheese Topped w/ Walnut - blended aged blue cheese on a toast point
Boursin w/ Pecan Filo Cup - piped into a baked filo cup & topped with a pecan half
Brie Cheese & Fresh Raspberry Tartlet
Cajun Shrimp - rubbed with Cajun seasonings & served on a toast point w/ Cajun cream
Cilantro Shrimp Salad Tartlet - with fresh lime juice & mayonnaise
Goat Cheese & Sun Dried Tomato Filo Cup
Blue Cheese Topped w/ Walnut - Blended aged blue cheese on a toast point
Grilled Chicken with Fruit Salsa - flame broiled breast meat presented on a toast point
Lobster with Crème Fraiche & Caviar - served on a toast point
Avocado Roll - Sweetened Sushi Rice, Fresh Avocado wrapped in Nori
California Roll - Sweetened Sushi Rice, Steamed Crab, Cucumber, Sesame Seed, Nori
Nigiri Salmon - Sweetened Sushi Rice, Salmon
Nigiri Tuna - Sweetened Sushi Rice, Tuna
Nigiri Shrimp - Sweetened Sushi Rice, Steamed Shrimp
Salmon Roll - Sweetened Sushi Rice, Smoked Salmon, wrapped in Nori
Spicy Tuna Roll - Sweetened Sushi Rice, Tuna, hot pepper, cucumber, wrapped in Nori
Tuna Roll - Sweetened Sushi Rice, Tuna, wrapped in Nori

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUFFET HORS D'OEUVRES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

These edible gems will be elegantly presented to your guests on gorgeous pieces of marble, sparkling silver trays and ceramic bowls and colorful glass plates.

Stuffed Phylo Cups
With Fresh Dill, Curry Chicken Salad or Wild Mushroom filling
Seafood Display
Large display of Shrimp and Crab legs served over ice in a lighted display bowl with Cocktail Sauce and Lemons
Sushi Display
The freshest sushi rolls to include California rolls, Spicy Ahi rolls and vegetables garden rolls served with Wasabi, soy and ginger
Crab Mornay
Crab in a warm Cheese Sauce for dipping with toasted Baguettes
Spinach Dip
Served in a Sour Dough Bread Loaf
Bistro Cocktail Sandwich
Sliced tenderloin with Creamy Horseradish Sauce, Glazed Baked Ham with Bavarian Mustard, Smoked Turkey Breast with Basil Mayonnaise, BBQ Pork, served on sliced silver dollar rolls (your choice of three)
Gourmet Cheese Display
Beautifully presented on polished marble an assortment of chef's Domestic & Imported cheeses with fresh fruit garish served with assorted imported crackers
Carved Fresh Vegetable Crudités Display
The entire garden with Radish Roses, Carrots, Red Peppers, Celery, and Snow peas served with a French onion dip on a beautiful piece of marble
New York Deli Platter
Served on silver tray with Roast Beef, Ham, Turkey, Swiss and cheddar cheese. With assorted condiments and bread
Cheese Fondue
Served with small cubes of French bread
South Western Layered Dip
A wonderful dip with Black Beans, Fresh Tomatoes, Green Onions, avocado Sour cream, roasted Red and Yellow Pepper served with tortilla chips and fresh salsa
Fresh Seasonal Fruit Display
Fresh Melons, Berries, Grapes, Star fruit, Kiwis and Pineapple

HOT
Brie En Croute
Whole Baked Brie encased in flaky Pastry. Served with sliced fresh Baguettes and Crackers
Kahlua Pecan Brie
Served with sliced fresh Baguettes and Crackers
Warm Artichoke and Parmesan Cheese Dip
Served with toasted Italian Baguettes
Chili Con Queso
Cheddar Cheese blended with mild fresh salsa
Clams Casino and Oyster Rocker fellows
Served warm with Lemons
Italian Quesadillas
Marinated Chicken, Fresh Basil, Mozzarella and Tomatoes layered within a griddled Pasta sheet served with a Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce
Smashed Potato Bar
Treat your guests to an new twist on an old favorite Roasted garlic and white cheddar smashed potatoes served in oversized martini glass served with Shredded Cheese, home style, Bacon crumbles, Sour cream

STATIONS
Stir Fry Bar
Served with Snow Peas, Broccoli, Chicken and Beef, Peppers, with soy ginger sauce and Sweet and Sour sauce. - $8.75 per guest
Pasta Station
Served with marinara, fresh herb pesto, classic Alfredo with assorted vegetable.
$6.75 per guest
Fajita Station- Beef and Chicken served with tortillas, grilled onions & peppers, sour cream, salsa & guacamole. - $7.50 per guest
Western Baked Potato Bar
Idaho baked potatoes baked with cheddar cheese, sour cream, chives and crisp bacon bits. $5.75 per guest



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DINNER SELECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SEAFOOD
Seafood Crepes
Filled with shrimp, scallops and a fresh herb cream cheese sauce
Corn and Shrimp Fritters
Served over baby lettuce
Grilled Fillet of Salmon
Served with a Dill Compound Butter
Salmon En Croute
Salmon in a decorative flaky Puff Pastry
Sole Florentine
Creamy Spinach wrapped around with sole
Baked Lemon Sole
Served with Dill Butter
Colorado Lake Trout
Moist, Flaky and Tender Seasonal Fish
Seafood Newberg
Served in a flaky puff pastry crust
Shrimp Stir-Fry
With great seasonal vegetables with rice

BEEF, PORK & LAMB
Honey Soy Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Grilled flank steak with a soy dijon marination
Grilled Tenderloin Steak
Grilled to perfection and served with a Wild Mushroom sauce
Herbed-Crusted Lamb Chop
Served with Mint Jelly
Veal Scaloppini
Tender Veal medallions with a rich Mushroom Marsala reduction sauce
BBQ Beef Brisket
Bennett's BBQ beef brisket
Roasted Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin
Marinated in a Soy Sauce and Pineapple Juice
Teriyaki Stir-fry Beef
Served with oriental vegetables
Fajitas
Seared beef, peppers and onions Served with all the garnishes
Roasted Prime Rib of Beef
Generous sliced to order, with AuJus and Horseradish Sauce
Stuffed Pork Chops
Stuffed with Cinnamon Apple Dressing
Carved Honey Baked Ham
Served with silver dollar rolls and mustard

POULTRY
Mesquite Grilled Chicken
Served with a pineapple salsa
Oriental Honey Garlic Chicken
A soy and honey vinaigrette sauce with chucks of garlic
Grilled Herbed Chicken
Fresh herbs from my wife's garden in a light Olive Oil marination
BBQ Chicken
Chicken Provencal
Pan roasted Chicken Breast with Wild Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Garlic and fresh herbs in a light wine cream sauce
Chicken Picatta
Our version of this classic includes, boneless breast with Mushrooms, fresh herbs, Capers, Lemon juice and White Wine and Butter
Carved Breast of Turkey
Served with rolls and Basil Mayonnaise
Stuffed Chicken Breast
Choose from Kiev, Cordon Bleu, broccoli
Chicken Parmesan
Served over pasta with a fresh home made tomatoes sauce
Chicken Roulade
Boneless Breast of Chicken stuffed with spinach filling
Chicken Enchiladas
Served with guacamole, sour cream and cheddar and jack cheese

PASTA
Pesto Pasta
Grilled Vegetable Lasgana
Pasta with a Fresh Marinara Sauce
Risotto
Which has in it Wild Mushrooms or Shrimp or Asparagus
Sun Dried Tomatoes and Chicken Pasta
Penne Pasta with Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Fresh Basil, Garlic in a Cream Sauce topped with fresh Romano cheese
Penne Baguatta
Penne Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli in a light Tomato Cream Sauce
Seafood Pasta
Tender shrimp, crab and scallops with fettuccini noodles in a rich cream sauce
Pasta Primavera
Fettuccini noodles with a mixture of fresh vegetables in a Creamy Alfredo sauce
North Beach Vegetarian Lasagna
Mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, served in a light cream sauce baked topped with mozzarella
Lasagna or Eggplant
Hamburger or lightly breaded eggplant layered with Tomato Sauce
Bowtie Pesto Pasta
Served with grilled chicken and fresh shaved Romano cheese
Bow Tie Pasta
With Spinach and Mushrooms in a light olive oil sauce
Ziti with Sausage Peppers and Broccoli


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ACCOMPANIMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

STARCHES
White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes
Rice pilaf
Twice Baked Potato
Wild rice
Roasted garlic smashed potato
Risotto
Roasted Red Potatoes
Corn bread
Pesto Pasta with pine nuts
Baked Potatoes
Oven roasted potatoes
Fresh assorted rolls and breads
Scalloped potatoes
Garlic Bread
Baked potatoes
Corn Soufflé

VEGETABLES
Steamed Broccoli
Grilled Marinated Vegetables
Selected Seasonal Vegetables
A mixture of Yellow Squash Zucchini, Tomatoes, Onions and Garlic
Asparagus Spears in lemony Hollandaise Sauce
Fresh Green beans with caramelized onions

SIGNATURE SOUPS
New England Clam Chowder
Honey Baked Ham & Bean Soup
Corn Chowder
Lentil

SALADS
House Salad
Baby lettuce with goat cheese, candied spicy pecans, with a dijon balsamic vinegrette.
Fresh Garden Salad
Served with fresh vegetables and cheeses in a light Vidalia onion Salad Dressing
Classic Caesar Salad
Romaine lettuce, shaved Parmesan Cheese and Seasoned Croutons
Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad
With Mushrooms and zesty light fruity vinaigrette.
Spinach Salad
Served with mushrooms, hard boiled eggs and warm bacon dressing
Thai Noodles Salad
Crisp Vegetables, Cellophane noodles tossed in light soy Dressing
Marinated Grilled Vegetable Salad
Garden Vegetables tossed in Balsamic Vinaigrette
Fresh Fruit Salad
A mix of Seasonal Fruit to include Pineapple, Melons,
Pasta Primavera
Penne Pasta with Fresh Vegetables and a light Italian Vinaigrette
Chicken Salad
Made fresh with Fresh Dill and celery

DESSERTS
Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse*
Made with Grand Marnier and wrapped in bittersweet chocolate bark
Chocolate Ribbon*
Sabayon chocolate mousse with whisky in a chocolate ribbon.
Cappuccino Mousse*
Cappuccino mousse surrounded by a cocoa-dotted vanilla sponge.
Triple Mousse*
A decadent dark, milk and white chocolate mousse
Grand Marnier Cheese Cake*
Sour Cream Cheese Cake*
Key Lime Cheese Cake*
Forest Berry Tar*t
Pear Tart*

"*" Individual award winning gourmet desserts. All natural, no preservatives. Available in packages of 24 pieces

Lemon Raspberry Delice
A three layer yellow genoise cake is filled with lemon filling and raspberry preserves. French white butter cream surrounds the outside of the cake with a glistening apricot glaze topping
Apple Cake
Two layers of moist cake, full of apples, nuts and raisins with a sumptuous cheese filling.
Mountain Torte
Mountains of chocolate and crunchy hazelnuts rest on a cake layer laced with rum and hazelnut cream. Topped with a rich chocolate glaze.
Banana Coconut Cake
Ripe bananas make this three-layer cake so moist! The cake is frosted with cream cheese inside and out and dowsed with flaked coconut everywhere
Chocolate Flourless Torte
Belgium Chocolate and full cream make this a dessert to savor.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Tuxedo or dipped with white or dark chocolate
Poached Pears with chocolate sauce
Crème brulee, assorted varies made individually
White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Fruit Tarts
Chocolate or Vanilla Mousse
Strawberry Shortcakes
Assorted Cookies
Tiramisu
Brownies
Assorted Pies

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VACATION HOUSE SHOPPING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grocery List (pdf file)

 
 
About the Chef
 
Chef David is a graduate of Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts, and Food and Beverage Management Programs. He has been practicing the art of fine food preparation for 20 years. Over the years David has found himself preparing food in restaurants, hotels, private homes, and even on a yacht!

Chef David brings his vast experiences to each personal chef and catering client. He is a member of the American Personal Chef Association, and is certified in food sanitation.
 
Personal Chef Services
 

Delicious MealHow it Works

Chef David will come to your house for a brief meeting to meet you, determine food preferences for members of your family, familiarize himself with your kitchen, and set a date for service.
A proposed menu will be developed after the meeting.

A menu will be sent to you for requested changes and approval. David will pick from a list of agreed upon side dishes to use the freshest ingredients possible.

On the cook day, David will shop early in the morning and arrive at your house around 10:00 AM. In addition to groceries, David will bring his own cooking equipment and supplies and prepare your reheatable menu selections, and your daily plated and served dinner.

After leaving your kitchen spotlessly clean: I will then package, label and store your reheatable menu selections in your refrigerator or freezer with heating instructions for you to enjoy at your leisure. The day is finished by about 4-4:45 in the afternoon.

Elegant Fare Personal Chef Service can save you the precious gift of time, sometimes up to 15 hours a week. At the end of your busy day, you can sit down to a easily prepared gourmet meal within 15-20 minutes after you get home and enjoy relaxing, not having to cook.

—Cost between $175 - $325 including all groceries

Average service for a family of four includes:
5 Dinner Entrees with 4 portions
4 Side Dishes from an agreed upon list
Price: $325
** $25 off per week when you pay for a month in advance
*Additional sides or vegetable add $5/per person

Service with 4 meals also available for a family of four:
4 Dinner entrees with four portions
3 Side Dishes from an agreed upon list
Price $275
*Additional sides or vegetable add $5/per person

3 Dinner entrées with 2-5 portions
3 Side dishes from an agreed upon list
Priced $175 plus groceries

Service for 2 is same price as four, but your meals will be
packaged for 2 and you will end up with two meals per entree.
*Additional cost for freezer safe storage containers

Grocery prices assume shopping at local grocery stores. Groceries will cost more if you would like me to shop at an organic grocery.

I am also available to cook and serve private dinner parties in your home. Catering pricing is supplied separately at an hourly rate of $30 an hour. Catering menu and references available upon request.

 
We SHOP ~ We COOK ~ We CLEANUP
WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?
 
Graduate of Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts Program
Member, United States Personal Chef Association

Chef David will come to your home and prepare a variety of 4-5 healthy meals for you and your family (16 - 20 serving). Our service includes planning, all grocery shopping and preparation, packaging and clean up: with no fuss to you!
You will have a variety of great dinners awaiting you, and a wonderful smelling home at the end of the day. Some meals will be frozen and some kept cold in your refrigerator. Only the finest vegetables, freshest fish, top quality meats and ingredients will be used.
   
Are you familiar with the industry?
 

“Once available to only celebrities, moguls and tycoons, personal chefs have become as ubiquitous as personal trainers and as affordable as personal pan pizzas”
—Bon Appetit

“If you're a typical family, you're relying on Mom or Dad and more on take out.
Hiring a personal chef puts “home-cooking” back in home”
—Wall Street Journal Report

“Hiring a personal chef service is cheaper than dining out and a whole lot
easier—a way to take a bite out of the cost of eating well”
—CBS Morning Show

 
Menu
 
Salmon

These are sample menu items. Naturally, all of these and many, many more are available. Chef David has an extensive cookbook collection and a Bon Appetit collection dated back to the 1980's.

Soups and Salads
Minestrone Soup
Hearty Bean Soup
Tomato Basil Soup
New England Clam Chowder
Texas Beef Chili
Asian Noodle Soup
Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad
Baby Blue Cheese and Spicy Pecans Salad
Tossed Salad
Tangy Shrimp Salad
Fresh Fruit Salad
Caesar Salad
Marinated Grilled Vegetables
 
Poultry
Oriental Honey Garlic Chicken
Chicken Parmesan
Stuffed Chicken Breast
Pot Pie
Hoisin Stir-fry
Provencal
Cacciatore

Beef & Pork
Classic Meat Lasagna
Flank Steak with Ginger Garlic Soy Sauce
Meatloaf
Beef Stroganoff
Oriental Beef with Snow Peas
London broil
Roasted Tenderloin of Pork

 Seafood
Grilled Salmon with a Fresh Lemon Dill Butter Sauce
Salmon and Sole in Phylo with a Sundried Tomato Sherry Filling
Coconut Shrimp
Shrimp Creole
Crab Cakes
Crepes

Vegetarian
Pasta Primavera
Vegetarian Lasagna
Eggplant Parmesan
Wild Mushroom Risotto
Ziti with Broccoli in Garlic Cream Sauce

 

 
FAQ
 
Who needs a personal chef?
Personal chefs were once thought to be for the wealthy only. More recently, there has been a recognized need for a personal chef for those individuals who simply do not have the time, physical ability, or skills to prepare meals day in and day out.

How will my meals be packaged?
Your meals can be packaged individually or family style. They will be stored in freezable microwave containers or Pyrex containers, ready for your oven. We also use a food saver vacuum packing system that removes the air and seals in freshness. These bags can be microwaved or boiled. Some meals will be stored in the refrigerator, while others will go in the freezer for a later date.

How do you prepare the food in my home if you don't know what I have?
Chef David will use your counter space, stove refrigerator, and sink. He will bring everything else and leave you appetizing food. He also does the shopping and brings the spices; so don't worry if your cupboard is bare!

Do you have to prepare the food in my house?
Yes, because of health department regulations, food must be prepared in the safety of your own kitchen or in a commercially certified kitchen.

Do I need to be home?
No you don't. In fact most clients are not at home during a cook date. Chef David can be at your home before you go to work, or you can leave a key. Cooking normally takes five to seven hours, depending on the selection and the amount of food you have chosen. We will also make special arrangements if there is an alarm system, and Chef David loves pets!

Can you make my Mom's recipe or do you use your own?
Nobody makes food as good as your mom, but we will be happy to prepare any recipe you want. We prefer to test recipes before cooking them for clients, so special requests should be made in advance!

I'm having company over for a party. Can you cater this event?
My trained staff can help serve the meal, pass appetizers, tend the bar, and clean up after the whole event. Elegant Fare has done wedding receptions, business meals, picnics and holiday parties. Catering pricing is supplied separately at an hourly rate of $30 an hour per server and chef. Catering menu and references available upon request.

The cost seems to be about what I pay for an entrée in a restaurant-why is that?
Although the fees are expressed per entrée, they actually represent all the components of the service. For example, the assessments determine your tastes in food. All the recipes are modified to reflect your likes and dislikes. All the shopping and groceries are included and prepared in the safety of your home. When you go out to a restaurant, you must drive there, wait for a table, hopefully receive good service, and hopefully have any special requests fulfilled. Then, you pay premium prices for wine and liquor, tip the server and get back in the car to drive home. If you have a personal chef, you just heat your specially prepared entrees in the comforts of your home.

 
Cooking Classes
 
Classes are available for individual and group instruction.

Wine and Cooking Parties
What a fun & different way to entertain guests!
Entertain while you and your guests learn about and prepare a meal.

Elegant Fare will work with you on a menu. They will do all the grocery shopping and will bring all the ingredients, tools, and utensils required to complete the meal. Your guests bring his or her own chef knife* and cutting board. After all your guests arrive, we will have a short discussion about the menu. Your guests will then participate in a Hands On Cooking Class and prepare the menu with the guidance of a trained chef. You then will sit down with your guests and DINE ON YOUR CREATION. As a party souvenir, you and your guests take home a monogrammed apron and cookbook from your party.

*Knives sharped upon request
Member, American Personal Chef Association