Personal Chef Services
You set the pace. We can cook for you frequently or occasionally, for a short period or a longer one, just a few times while you recover from having a baby, or after an injury or hospital stay, or once a week while you are a tourist in our town — it’s completely up to you! Whatever frequency and duration you choose, having your own personal chef will help you take the work out of eating well!”
Your personal chef will work with you to plan your menu, then shop, cook and clean up afterwards. We provide delectable dishes to you and your family, using only the finest ingredients — freeing you to tend to your other priorities.
Your personal chef arrives at your door with the groceries required for the recipes you have chosen from our menu. Once your personal chef has finished filling your house with tempting aromas, the food you have ordered is packaged, labeled and refrigerated or frozen to your specifications, and ready to go whenever you are. Simply pop a pre-made dish into the oven to bake or re-heat, et voila!”
Testimonials
“Laura, thank you so much for coming to our home and cooking for us. Everything you made is divinely delicious!! We’re looking forward to having you come and cook for us again. I’ll be in touch once we are close to finishing all the yummy things you’ve made. Thank you again.” Kathy K, October 2008
“Thanks for cooking for us. I had the moussaka tonight and it was delicious. I am so relieved to know we will be eating well over the next few weeks … with much affection and appreciation.” Deb Morse, Event Director, Organic Islands Festival, Summer 2006
“Hi Laura, Jeremy and I were just saying to each other that the day that you cook is the best day in the month because we can't wait to sample everything. We love everything again this time, of course. See you on the 29th.” Crystal
“Morning Lovely Laura. Well we had our Xmas dinner last night and it was so delicious! The Turkey was great! I cooked it on convection for 3 hours and it was moist and perfect. Where did you get it?? The rest of the food was so yummy! Phil and I sooooo appreciated you coming on Xmas eve through lousy weather parking your car a mile away and hiking down to the house!! You are going to make all your dreams manifest Laura with such a great attitude and hard work ethic!! I will be back in touch after first week of Jan to talk of our new plan to cook together! I hope Mexico can manifest!!” Namaste, Cindy....Thank you so much for the lovely gifts!! December 2008
Let’s Get Started!
Select one of our service packages listed below, or have us create a custom package for you. We offer a free telephone assessment, followed by an in-home consultation, during which your personal chef will meet with your family, take note of any food preferences, allergies or dietary requirements you may have, and assess your kitchen appliances, cookware and facilities.
There is a $50, non-refundable fee for the in-home consultation and a one-time, $100 grocery deposit, which will be credited to your last invoice. When you are ready to set up your service, just give us a call at 250-721-5961 or email Laura.
Service Packages
Each service package has a set fee, with grocery costs variable with each service, based on the menu you select. On the day of service, your personal chef purchases groceries fresh, and your menu is prepared in your home. The service fee plus grocery costs are invoiced and paid on the same day you receive the service.
You may choose from the following service packages, or you may create a customized service to suit your individual preferences.
Singles, Doubles & Seniors Service
FEE: $279 plus groceries ($175–200 on average)
This service provides sixteen portions each of three main entrées for your meals, taking the work out of eating well, while still allowing you some involvement as you make your own side salad, vegetable, bread or starch dish. Simply thaw and reheat the entrée, and enjoy!
Choose any 3 entrées from our menu of casseroles, soups or stews, and we will prepare 16 servings of each, for a total of 48 single serving entrées. We package, label and refrigerate or freeze these items, according to your preferences.
Friends & Family Service
FEE: $329 plus groceries ($200–225 on average)
For the busy family with no time to shop, select any three recipes from our menu of entrées, casseroles or soups, and we will prepare 16 servings of each, for a total of 48 servings. PLUS, our chef prepares 6–12 servings of any greens or grain-based salad from our menu, along with one of our fresh, homemade dressings. Also enjoy 16 servings of any dessert from our menu, and a loaf of Wildfire bread. This sets up a family of 3–5 for four or five days of fresh, four or five course meals, AND stocks up the freezer for a total of two weeks worth of meals. We package, label and refrigerate or freeze these items according to your preferences.
Meals in Minutes Service
FEE: $299 plus groceries ($200–225 on average)
For those with busy schedules, this service provides a greater variety of wholesome entrées to have on hand, for quick and easy heat & eat meals in minutes! Choose any 4 entrées, casseroles, soups or stews from our menu, and we will prepare 12 servings of each, for a total of 48 servings, ready when you are. PLUS, enjoy 6–12 servings of fresh, seasonal grain or green salad with fresh salad dressing.
Customized Service
Do you have your own ideas about how you would like your service to look? No problem! We offer the option of creating your own customized service, where you can design a package to suit your vision and budget. We can take care of all your mealtime requirements (breakfast, lunch and dinner), so you barely need to lift a finger.
For families with special dietary needs, such as gluten or lactose intolerance, we will work with you to create a customized service. Fees for custom services vary based on requirements to provide the service. Grocery costs will vary for each service, and are reimbursed on day of service, in addition to the service fee.
Services for Special Diets
Personal Chef Services
For our clients with special dietary requirements, we understand that making the transition to preparing foods that are free of allergens will present a challenge. Suddenly, many of your favorite foods are unfriendly, and it may be difficult to find comfort and sustenance. We are here to assist your transition to a diet that is health-supporting for you and your new dietary restrictions.
Together, we will customize a Master Menu full of suitable options that suit your new dietary guidelines, then prepare them fresh in our clients’ homes on a weekly, biweekly, monthly or as-needed basis. High quality, fresh ingredients possible are procured from local natural foods markets, and used to create a menu that suits your specific dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and multiple allergy diets. This will be your opportunity to try new recipes and become accustomed to the tastes of foods made with body & belly friendly substitutes for your family favorites.
Our chef will come to your home to prepare the menu items selected, then package, label and store the food in your fridge or freezer. Come home to a clean kitchen, enjoy the delicious aroma of home-cooking and find your refrigerator and freezer stocked with delicious, nutritious meals. Mealtime will be a culinary adventure again!
Catering Services
We work with clients to create naturally wholesome & delicious foods for their special events, and will create menus to suit any special dietary requests, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and multiple allergy diets. We cater to green business luncheons, anniversary and birthday parties, and specialize in creating local & whole foods wedding menus.
Private Cooking Lessons
We offer one-on-one, personalized instruction of recipes that match your specific dietary needs. Each class includes planning & shopping and preparing a balanced, 3-4-course whole foods meal, customized for your specific dietary limitations. Printed copies of all recipes will be provided so that you may develop your own repertoire of wholesome and delicious gluten-free meals.Testimonials
I’d suggested your name to the Greater Victoria Teacher’s Association because I thought you’d be excellent with handling severe allergies to foods. I attended the function last night and wanted to tell you that we were thrilled that they decided to use your services and thought you’d like to know what great feedback we overheard. It was great to have delicious whole foods at such a function and to not have to worry about allergies. There is another teacher who is much more allergic than I am and she was thrilled to be able to attend a Christmas function where her needs were considered. ps. My husband couldn’t get enough of your gingerbread cookies and wants me to get cracking on baking some as good as yours! Michelle & Peter, January 2008
Laura, So far we have enjoyed your Wild Salmon and Basmati Rice Pilaf, Spaghetti and Meatball and the Chicken Pot Pie - all wheat free, and delicious. Your service has been a god send to us: it was terrific not to have to worry about supper. It has taken a lot of stress off my shoulders, with my husbands special diet - thank you. Please send me suggestions for more meals. Thanks so much. Happy cooking. Cheers, R, August 11, 2008
From our first meeting, Laura was totally engaged in the task of catering the BC Green Party AGM here in Victoria. Her vast knowledge of healthy vegetarian foods ensured that each meal was a well rounded, nutritious and delicious feast. When planning the all-organic, vegetarian menu, she was quick to incorporate our special requests. From including pumpkin scones with the whole grain breakfast muffins, to accommodating special diets and allergies throughout the day-long event, Laura's expertise shone! We highly recommend Conscious Kitchen as a natural foods caterer, and look forward to having Laura cater future functions! Alan D., November 2004