Services
Dinner's Done Personal Chef Service makes your busy life a lot less hectic by allowing you to enjoy delicious meals without having to take the time to plan, shop or cook. You're busy enough. Let me give you more time to do what's important to you by letting you say, "Dinner's Done!"
I will meet with you at your home and we'll talk about the foods you like and dislike (and the foods you can't or shouldn't eat). From that information, I'll create a customized menu for you--made up of all the things you want. We'll set a date for me to come to your home--groceries and equipment in tow--ready to prepare delicious, nutritious food that you will LOVE! I'll package the meals and label them with reheating instructions, leaving your fridge and freezer full, your kitchen clean and your house smelling like dinner. All you need to do is choose a meal, heat it up and enjoy!
The standard personal chef service is a "5x4": 4 servings of 5 different entrees with side dishes, where appropriate. So, depending on the size of your family, as many as 10 tasty, made-to-order dinners will be waiting for you. (See the FAQ's below for other services that I offer.) Maybe you will choose Red Wine Marinated London Broil one night and go for the comforting Creamy Chicken Pot Pie or Pasta e Fagioli Casserole the next. In a seafood mood? You could decide between Crab Lasagna or Baked Salmon in a Pecan Crunch Coating. It's all up to you!
I believe that using local producers and merchants not only helps these valuable small businesses thrive, but also gives you the freshest and highest quality products available. Whenever possible, I will take advantage of the great food we have locally when buying ingredients for your meals.
CROCK POT WEDNESDAYS
You can have a delicious Crock Pot meal without the hassle through my CROCK POT WEDNESDAYS SERVICE! Maybe you are looking for a more economical way of trying out my personal chef service. Or maybe you want to try one of my meals before committing to a full service. Well, CROCK POT WEDNESDAYS are for you!
Each month, I will list the Crock Pot dish for Wednesdays in that month (beginning with the 2nd week). If a meal sounds good to you (and it will), just let me know by 5PM on the preceding Monday. Then on Wednesday, I'll shop for ingredients, come to your home, prepare the food for your Crock Pot and you'll have dinner as soon as you come home that night!
All you need is a slow cooker in good working condition and an appetite. There are limited spaces for this service, so let me know as early as you can if you're interested for each week. The price for this service is just $35 per meal, which includes groceries. Most meals will give you about 6 servings.
CROCK POT WEDNESDAY MENU FOR AUGUST (note--just 2 dates this month):
August 11: Ginger Pork with Dried Plums: Pork roast with a sweet and flavorful sauce.
August 25: Pasta with Eggplant Sauce: A Mediterranean tomato sauce with eggplant, mushrooms and olives.
About the Chef
MEET CHEF RICH
I love food. I love to eat it, to prepare it and especially to bring joy to others by serving it! It wasn’t always like that for me. But when my wife, Mary Beth, who was working long hours, said, “If you want dinner, you’ll have to make it yourself”, I found that cooking was fun and it soon became a true passion of mine. So after years of cooking for family and friends (and a long career in college financial aid), I decided to turn my passion into my profession. I graduated from the Culinary Business Academy in Atlanta, became a member of the United States Personal Chef Association and Dinner’s Done Personal Chef Service was born.
Mary Beth and I live with our son, Jake, in the village of Blooming Glen in Upper Bucks County—surrounded by all the bounty that local farms in our area can provide. I truly feel that no matter what kind of food you prefer—gourmet, ethnic, low fat, comfort food—fresh ingredients and quality preparation are essential to a great dinner for you. I strive to give you that every time I step into your kitchen.
In addition to cooking, I love music (I play sax), baseball (Go Phillies!) and travel (our favorite destination: Down East Maine) among other things. I look forward to meeting you and talking about what kind of meals you want me to create for you!
frequently asked questions
What is a Personal Chef Service?
As a professional personal chef, I provide you and your family with delicious and nutritious meals—prepared to your preferences—giving you time to enjoy both your food and your family. All you have to do is follow the reheating instructions and…Dinner’s Done!
What if I don't like certain foods or I am on a special diet?
Dinner’s Done Personal Chef Service will provide you with meals that are tailored to accommodate your likes, dislikes, allergies, dietary needs and special requests. It’s like eating in a restaurant with a chef who listens to you! (And where you can eat dinner in your sweats after a long day at work!)
What areas do you service?
Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania, but I will venture beyond in many cases.
How much does the service cost?
I offer a number of plans to fit your budget and needs. Do you have something else in mind? Let me know and I'll work with you to find a plan that fits your needs.
These are the costs for services that include entrees and side dishes, where appropriate:
5 entrees/4 servings each $350 + groceries ($25 discounts apply*)
4 entrees/4 servings each $280 + groceries ($20 discounts apply*)
3 entrees/4 servings each $210 + groceries ($20 discounts apply*)
2 entrees/4 servings each $140 + groceries ($10 discounts apply*)
I also offer entree-only services for those who don't mind providing their own side dishes:
5 entrees/4 servings each $280 + groceries ($20 discounts apply*)
4 entrees/4 servings each $225 + groceries ($20 discounts apply*)
3 entrees/4 servings each $170 + groceries ($10 discounts apply*)
2 entrees/4 servings each $120 + groceries ($10 discounts apply*)
There is no change to the fee for a different amount of servings (from 2 to 6). The client's change in cost will be reflected in the grocery costs.
*These discounts go to first-time clients. Also, if you refer me to someone who uses my service, you'll get a referral discount on your next service.
Do you have any other services?
If you're like me, you're always up for something different to do--something you and your friends will remember. How about a Dinner's Done demo party?
I'll plan a menu, do the shopping and bring my equipment to your home. Then, as you and your guests hang out, maybe enjoying a nice glass of wine, I'll prepare your meal. Maybe you want a full dinner or, for a more relaxed party, a number of appetizers. You and your guests can help out (if you want) or just have fun watching and enjoying the food. It's like having a cooking show right in your own home--one that you can smell and taste!
Maybe you'd want a theme party. Host a party where all the menu items contain cheese or a certain fresh fruit or bacon (everything's better with bacon!). You could go with a certain ethnic cuisine. How about using only foods from local markets and farms? The options are limitless.
Laugh, eat, drink and spend a great evening with friends. Sounds like fun to me! Give me a call or email me with your ideas and we can discuss menu items and pricing.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Absolutely! A Dinner's Done Gift Certificate is a great gift to give someone who has everything. Who doesn't need great, ready-to-eat food? Consider giving a gift certificate as a wedding or baby shower present. Imagine the relief of a new mom coming home with her baby when she sees a freezer of meals already prepared! Contact me for more details about giving this unique and really useful gift!
How do I find out more about Dinner's Done?
Get on my newsletter mailing list. Find out about interesting and informative food facts, special offers, appearances, etc. Send me an email at richmb@netcarrier.com and I'll add you to my list! Also, find out what I'm doing--food-wise and otherwise--at my blog: www.dinnersdonepa.blogspot.com. Let me know what you think!