How to hire a private chef in Cumbria

Bringing the restaurant to your home in the lake district

Learn all about how to hire a private chef in cumbra and find a chef near you.

Booking your Personal chef in Cumbria couldn't be easier with Real food chefs. First thing we need to check is that our chef has availability, you can do this by simply filling out the form below or send me an email realfoodchefsuk@gmail.com (very quick response time)

I will email you shortly and let you know my availability.

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Menu options

I have created a nice selection of menus which are here we have even create a really special kids menu if you you want to take a look.

Ok back to the grown ups the my dinner menus are priced at £55.95, £69.95 and for those of us whom three courses isn't enough there is a £83 per person 6 course which will have you singing for your supper, However please note these prices are based on a minimum of eight guests Friday, Saturday and Bank Holidays.I am happy to take bookings for smaller parties but please bare in mind there will be a supplement charge for small parties i.e 2 to 4 guests and 5 to 7 guests although on off peak days ( Sunday to Thursday) a minimum of six guests.

Once you have chosen which of my menu you and your guests would prefer you can order from that menu just like you would a restaurant we would just require your pre order two weeks before your event if possible.

Vegan guests or any other special dietary requirements

You will be catered for with the relevant adjustments

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Deposit to reserve the date?

The most important stage in booking a private chef in the lake district is securing the date. So if your not quite sure of numbers or which menu & choices but would like to secure Your Private  Chef in cumbria then you can do so with a simple deposit that suits your pocket. 

It's important to point out that the enquiry booking will not be confirmed until the deposit has been received, Sadly due to a few unbelievable ghost bookings I am not able to hold the date for longer than 24hrs until the payment is made. Once I am in receipt of your booking deposit I will confirm your booking via our square Appointments calendar where you will receive an automated text message firstly confirming your event and total amount left to pay.

Once the date is in my diary we can leisurely decide on which menu option you and your guests would like. 

Please Note

If your event is less than 14 days away you would be required to pay in full which is standard terms for many private chefs all over Cumbria and the United kingdom and if possible pre-orders assuming the date you would like is available.

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The Next Steps?

It's important that you and I have a quick chat over the phone or email message to confirm the menu options you would like and then, we can discuss any allergen or dietary requirements your party may have if any. 

I will then send you a balance invoice which will be dated to be paid One Month ahead of your event. Please note we no longer accept payment on the event day or after the event.

​The final thing on the list

1)Pre-order for all the courses except canapes (if ordered)as I plate one of each canape per guest, and if you would like a cheese course. 

I would also need the time you wish to be seated for your meal.If you have ordered canapes I will be serve these before you sit at your dining table.

On the day of your event.

I will arrive around an hour or so before you are seated for starters with all the food and ingredients in our "private chef" boxes  I will set up your kitchen for service like it's my own and will use the Trays, utensils , pans from your kitchen. 

I bring all napkins and crockery required to serve the meals.

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FAQ's 

How much does it cost to hire a private chef from Realfood chefs? 

My private chef experience starts at £55.95 for Menu 1 and £69.95 for menu 2 per person and include all the production’ costs and service. We offer bespoke event which I am happy to discuss with you. 

What is the minimum number of  

How do I make a Payment? 

At the time of booking I will send you an invoice for the whole amount (and deposit amount) with my bank details although you can pay by card through PAYPAL payment. 

The balance will need to be paid two weeks before the event, if payment is not received on the required date then the date will be released to a waiting list and the deposit will be non-refundable. 

Cancellation of booking? 

All deposits are non-refundable, however if you wish to move the date we will do our best to accommodate any new dates if free and suitable to both parties. The deposit will then be transferred to the new date. 

For cancellations less than 14 days before your event but more than 72

 hours prior to the chef’s arrival time then you may still move your event to a different date and/or location and incur no additional penalty or charges with the exception of any extra travel time. If we are unable to accommodate this new date and it needs to be cancelled, then we will still honour the full value of anything paid to The Cumbrian Chef against a future event as a credit. 

Bookings cancelled less than 72

 hours prior to arrival time shall result in the loss of any and all payment excepted by the Cumbrian Chef and no refund or credit options will be available. 

Prices are subject to change  

We have all noticed that prices are rising all over the world even food staples such as milk and butter have almost gone up 50%.private chefs whether Penrith , Kendal , or Windermere we have two costs are food and travel, it's safe to assume that the price of food will continue to rise for a few years yet.Its a very volatile time for everyone so prices are subject to change but prices should be ok until the end of december 2023 which is when I may  

be reviewing my costs per head.

The good news is?

Once a booking is made and confirmed your quoted price is the price you pay. 

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Could there be any changes to the menu?s

Since the pandemic and current conflicts around the world have come to pass we have noticed that some of the produce needed to prepare our menu have become more difficult to source and so in some cases I may need to substitute an ingredient or two a prime example of this is duck eggs as we can't always get them sowe have no option but to tweak the menu and use a good quality hens egg.However If there would be any changes required to my menu for what ever reason then I would inform you of the changes ahead of the event.

Do you have Public Liability Insurance? 

Yes, I am insured with simply business insurance company for

Public Liability and Employment. 

What about an allergen, dietary requirements? 

AIts exstremly important that you provide this information during booking process so I am told well in advance of all known dietary and allergen information of your guests. 

Chef Marcus and his team are qualified in allergens and dietary needs. We can cater to all different dietary requirements such as vegan and gluten-free and have a professional approach when it comes dow to all allergens. Marcus has a food level 3 in food safety as well as allergen awareness and has studied and passed for City and Guilds Covid awareness training. 

What area do you cover? 

I am based in the lakes just outside bowness in the market town of Ulverston  . Most events are within an hour and 20 minutes of travel time, but I am happy to travel throughout the North West. 

 If the travelling time is over an hour I would charge an extra charge based on the extra distance travelled. 

Location

Living within the lakes, the postcodes for many of the locations

are often quite vague. 

I have been using What3words app to find locations if you can download the free app and send me your location on the day of the event this would be helpful. 

https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app 

What about pots and pans? 

Me and my team will have a small collection of equipment, such as knives/whisks, etc., but if I need to I will use what's at the property where appropriate.

What about adding children’s meals to my event? 

Hiring a private chef to come to you house in the lakes and cook is great alternative to going out especially if you have children.

Most of our client will call for a sit down time for after they have put their children to bed however, many of my clients still want to include their children in their event and why not? 

Children often have different palates and appetites,so we have designed a special kids menu just for them but you do not have to pay full price for them if you want them to eat from the same menu.

1. Children under 6 eat for free £0.00
2. Children  aged 7 to 14 Kids menu £12.95
3. Children (aged 12 or under) can be added to your event at 50% of the per head cost main of the menu you have chosen,

Who cleans up? 

Before we leave your home, Chef and his team will do a full clean down of the kitchen and any equipment they have used. This will include stacking the dishwasher and washing up any dirty cutlery or extra crockery we may have used once you have finished with it. Please note, we politely ask that you empty the dishwasher and leave the kitchen in a clean state for the team’s arrival. 

What supplies do you use? 

Uverston Meat company

Mclures Dry Stores

brockbanks fruit and veg

Leetwoods Fish