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Introducing the Newest Five-star Restaurant: Your Home!


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Introducing the Newest Five-star Restaurant: Your Home!

The scenario goes something like this: Your wife walks in the door from a busy day at the office. Luckily, you got home just a few minutes earlier and have had a chance to settle in. You loosen your tie just a bit to give that "I've-been-working-pretty-hard-around-here" look.

Upon opening the door, your wife is greeted by the smell of an almost-ready-to-serve dinner. She notices the well-set table, complete with fresh-cut flowers. Thoroughly surprised, she exclaims, "You've made dinner! What are we having?"

"Oh, nothing much," you reply. "I thought we'd start with chicken satay, followed by a salad of salmon, papaya and wild greens, and then adobado pork tenderloin. And for dessert, something light, like blueberry-lemon trifle."

The only problem is that halfway through this memorized account of the menu, your spouse would know something was up. And at that point, you would have to confess that you'd splurged by hiring an at-home chef to prepare your special meal.

At-home chefs are the latest rage among busy, two-career couples. A relatively new business, at-home chefs specialize in intimate arrangements, unlike traditional caterers who are geared more for large crowds.

These personal chefs don't transport ready-made meals from their kitchen in warmers and hot plates. What they create, they create in the client's very own kitchen, using the client's pots and pans and serving dishes. (But they bring backups, just in case.)

In most instances, the chef consults with the client to decide on a menu, purchases the needed items and prepares them in the customer's home. In addition to cooking, the chef will clean and organize the refrigerator and pantry, set a beautiful table, clean up and leave the clients to enjoy a fabulous meal.

Sounds pretty enticing, doesn't it?

Finding the right at-home chef might take a little homework. Here are some questions to ask:

What is your professional training?
May I see some references?
How long have you been in business?
Are you licensed, bonded and insured?

Wherever you live and whatever your income, employing an at-home chef just may be the perfect alternative for a special occasion-or for everyday convenience!

People who live in California's Bay Area might consider Gourmet Dreams, a company located in Los Gatos. These personal chefs offer a wonderful and flexible menu, and they have lots of experience in the field.