TM

Your Creation.  My Passion. TM

Custom Gourmet Gift Baskets

Where are you located?

Hollywood, FL area

Do you ship to Canada/Mexico/Europe/Asia?
Sorry, but I do not ship outside the US and its territories at this time due to custom issues. I ship only locally and nationally in the US .

Do you have any stores located in my city?
At this time I do not have any retail stores open to the public. My baskets are done at my home based business location, where my office & workspace is.

Will my perishables survive transit?
Mostly all items in my baskets are non perishables.  However, sometimes I do like to add fresh fruit, flowers and cheeses to my baskets, but those are mostly shipped locally with no problems.  However if I have to ship outside of the South Florida Tri-County Area (West Palm Beach, Broward & Miami-Dade)  I do try to ship only non-perishable items.  Unless requested by the buyer, then I will offer express shipping which the buyer will have to pay additionally along with the Flat Fee Rate.

What carriers do you ship through?
I primarily ship nationally through FedEx and UPS.  And locally with trusted local carriers.  

How is shipping calculated?
Shipping cost is determined by weight, location and products in the baskets.  If there are perishable items in the basket I will rush the delivery without a request from you.  However if non-perishable and you do not need an overnight or same day order the price will be lower.  With my Flat Fee Rate, you don't have to worry about shipping cost, unless it is shipped outside the Soth Florida Tri-County Area (West Palm Beach, Broward & Miami-Dade)
 
This is a gift; do you include prices on your packing slip?
No, the packing slip only includes a list of what products are in the package, the address we are shipping to, and who the gift is from. No prices are included in your package’s shipment.  You will receive confirmation of the price via Paypal.

What form of payment do you accent?

We accept major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express and debit cards with these major credit card logos.

When I select my budget price, what is included?

The service fee, gift basket items and decoration, shipping fee, and charity donation.

For faster shipping, when should l make an order?

It’s best to place an order before your lunch time, around 11:30 .

What about holidays, when is the best time to place an order?

Since all carriers are tremendously busy during the holidays, it is best to make the final order a week in advance to get the baskets made and shipped out before their delivery deadlines.

What considerations should I take with extreme weather?

Florida can get pretty hot, and so you have to be careful when shipping chocolates of course.  But we will take care of that for you, but just know, some times it won’t be possible to ship or will cost extra in those very, very hot days.

I would like to cancel an order what do I do?

Your cancellation window is 24 hours from placing your order (even if you didn’t get a confirmation yet).  After the official 24 hours window is closed, your money is none refundable due to the fact that some items may have already been bought and are non-refundable.  This is because some baskets do come with perishable items that are hard to return.  I am the best person you can work with, since I work on the personal level, if there is ever any issues with the product or order, just contact me immediately, and I will be more than happy to fix the situation right away.

Personal Chef Services

Which days do you cook on?

Monday through Thursday, 8am to 2pm 

What is the difference between a Personal Chef and a Private Chef?
A private chef is employed by one individual or family full time, and is often “living in” and preparing up to 3 meals per day. A Personal Chef serves several clients, usually one per day, and provides multiple meals that are custom designed for the clients particular requests and requirements.  These meals are packaged and stored so that the client may enjoy them at their leisure in the future.

Do you cook in my kitchen?
Yes, generally meals are prepared in the safety of your own kitchen, although some personal chefs are moving to licensed kitchens and delivery service. Normally, on the agreed upon cooking date the Personal Chef will bring the fresh ingredients for your meals along with their own pots, pans and utensils, and prepare your entrees on site.  At the end of the day the chef will leave your kitchen clean and full of the aroma of good home cooking!
 
How long will you be here?
The chef will likely be cooking several different entrees and side dishes from scratch, so it will probably take several hours. However, your personal chef will typcially be most willing to work with your schedule or situation, and make arrangements in advance so that the cooking date fits into your schedule compatibly.
 
Do I heat the food?
Yes.  Any entrees that have been stored for you in your freezer should be defrosted overnight in your refrigerator, and heated, to be enjoyed at the peak of their flavor.  Your Personal Chef will always leave you with easy to follow heating instructions for each entree.

How much freezer space do you need?
It depends on the number of meals you request, and the sizes of the containers, but it does generally require a considerable amount of freezer space.  You and your chef should take a look at your freezer to see just how much room you have availabl.?  Efficient storage is one of the reasons Personal Chefs prefer to select the appropriate size, uniform storage containers for their clients.
 
Can you use my containers?
Once again, uniform size containers take less storage space in your freezer, and I will bring the appropriate containers for the entrees I am preparing each cooking date.  If there is an entree that would be better suited in your own casserole or baking dish we can arrange that.  If you will save the containers for me that held the entrees you have already enjoyed, I will take those back with me each cooking date, so I will actually be rotating containers in and out of your kitchen regularly.

The cost seems to be about what I would pay for an entree in a restaurant - why is that?
Although my fees are expressed per entree or per serving, they actually represent all of the components that make up a professional personal chef service.  For example, the assessment process that I complete to determine your likes, needs, special dietary requirements and requests is used to customize your menu selections. 

I modify all of my recipes to reflect your wants and needs; meal selections are submitted for your approval; all of the groceries needed for your meals are included; and your meals are all prepared in the safety of your own kitchen.  Plus, packaging, labeling and storing your entrees are all features included in this price.

If you were to compare a personal chef service to restaurant service you could think of it this way...For a restaurant, you must drive to get there, possibly wait for a table, take a chance that your server is having a good day, and if you have allergies or special requests you don’t always have the guarantee that they will be honored, since most entrees are “assembly line” ready in the kitchen.  After eating your meal you must pay for it, tip the server, and get back in your vehicle to drive home.

If you have a Personal Chef Service, you can heat a beautiful entree that has been prepared specifically for your palate and requirements, and eat it in the comfort of your own home.

Do I pay you ahead of each cooking date?
Yes, that is customary to pay for the service in advance of your cooking date.  If you like you may leave me a check for the upcoming cooking date on the day I am cooking.
 
How long will the food last us?
Depending on how many entrees you order, and how many evenings you eat at home we can determine approximately how long your meals will last.  If you travel for business, or entertain in restaurants during the week, or just enjoy eating out on occasion the meals will take you further than if you eat one each night.

How often will we need your service?
I’ll be happy to help you determine just how often you will want to schedule my Personal Chef Service to best serve your needs.  I'll make sure it supports your busy lifestyle without putting any pressure on you.
 
Can I order half of the regular service?
I wish I could make that available to you, but the service doesn’t work that way. For this to be a profitable business for me, I cannot take the same amount of cooking time and produce half the amount of food.  It takes the same amount of planning, shopping and preparation time to cook 10 portions of food as it does for 20 portions of food.