Real Food Personal Chef Services – creating delicious, healthy meals while using whole foods; simply natural & unprocessed
What is a personal chef?
A personal chef helps people with busy lives eat healthier, more delicious food with ease and convenience. You can think of a personal chef as a professional home cook — preparing exactly the kind of wholesome, home-cooked meals that you would love to prepare for yourself and loved ones. Each menu is personalized per client. We realize we all eat different, have various food sensitivities and diets, and we cater to this aspect. We truly are YOUR private chef.
Do you cook in my kitchen?
Yes, all meals are prepared in the safety of the client's kitchen and the kitchen is left spotless.
Do I have to be home when you come to cook?
No, you do not have to be home on your scheduled cook date as long as appropriate arrangements are made in advance to gain access to your home.
Where do you shop?
Generally a shop is done from a combination of Whole Foods, PCC, speciality meat and seafood outlets, and supplement from QFC or the likes.
How is the food packaged?
We will discuss packaging options at the initial consultation. You may want to use tempered-glass containers (our preference) that can go straight from the fridge to the oven or you may prefer to use re-usable plastic containers that you can easily take with you to work. Container choices are made at your personal preference and cost.
How long do meals last?
In the refrigerator, entrées should be consumed within 7 days of cooking, depending on the type of food. Because of the freshness of the foods, it's recommended most not being frozen, however there are always some dishes that freeze well.
What does the cost of service include?
The cost of the service includes:
Client consultation, food questionnaire and kitchen review
Personalized menu planning
Grocery shopping
Cooking, packaging, labeling and storing
Kitchen clean-up
The cost of groceries & tax is not included in the service price. Please contact me for further cost details.
How do we begin?
It's simple – we'll begin with a free consultation in your home, learning about your taste preferences, specific dietary requirements and health goals, and take the opportunity to assess your kitchen equipment. Several days before our first session, you'll receive a menu proposal, tailored to your eating preferences and dietary needs. We prefer to keep dishes seasonal, thus rarely repeating previous prepared meals (unless you have a fave, then of course!) Our job is to offer you an array of flavors, packed with nutrients and good tastes.** At this time, our client load is full.
On your scheduled cooking day, your groceries will be purchased and your meals prepared and stored (packaged and labeled) for you to enjoy at your convenience. At the end of the day, your kitchen will be left as tidy as it was found.
Do you cater?
Yes! We love doing small, intimate parties. Typically 30 or less. It's a pleasure working closely with a client, developing the perfect menu for a dinner party or special occasion. And then, of course, executing the meal is always a blast!
Locally grown organic foods are of value because our earth stays cleaner and we stay healthier. We like knowing who is growing our food and how. Keeping it local does both and we will deliver this to you whenever possible.
Molly Harmon
When I went to culinary school in 2005, it wasn't with the intent of becoming a professional chef. Having spent much of my twenties grappling with my own dietary and nutritional needs, I realized that in order to take care of myself, I needed to understand how to prepare foods that could heal and nourish and that were enjoyable to eat.
During culinary schooling, my appreciation rose immensely for what food can do in terms of not only improving health but also the simple pleasure of eating without second guessing what I was putting into my body.
I bring to your home my personal experience of searching for the right mix of foods and my professional expertise in preparing dishes from across the spectrum of philosophies (vegan, vegetarian, kosher, raw, paleo, to name a few) as well as cultures and continents.
I started Real Food Personal Chef Services in 2007, and have since brought on an amazing chef to support additional clients. Kathleen Callahancomes to the table with a resume of over 12+ years in service to private clients and some of Seattle’s most admired restaurants. I know you’ll find her food both nourishing and delicious…..not to mention her authentic personality! We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and we make a point of building strong relationships with our clients, many of whom stay with us for years. Food is intimate and we respect this role we hold in the kitchen - feeding both you and your family's health.
Kathleen Callahan
I became a personal chef after working in the kitchens of several well-regarded Seattle restaurants, including Stumbling Goat Bistro and Matt’s in the Market. While born and raised in Seattle, I lived in the UK for several years, where I trained in classical French technique at Le Cordon Bleu London. One of my greatest joys is creating a wide variety of cuisines, influenced by my experiences and travels abroad, as well as by the vast array of produce of the Pacific Northwest. I continually seek to cultivate personal relationships with my clients and provide them customized, top-quality food that enable them to find enjoyment in sitting down to a fulfilling meal.
Testimonials
Real Food For You has changed our family's eating habits. We are two working parents and it is very difficult to find the time to make healthy, high-quality, delicious meals. dinners and snacks. Kathleen makes that possible with minimal effort for us – giving back time to spend with our family.
Client, Yarrow Point, WA
To say that Molly has been essential in holding our family together would be an understatement. We started working with Molly when I was pregnant with our first child (now age 9). During that time, Molly has cooked for us each week (we now have 4 children), helped us cater family events and parties, etc. Without her, my kids would have grown up eating take-out and chicken nuggets every night and would have only rarely experienced a family dinner. Because of Molly, my kids crave quinoa instead of chicken nuggets and we have a home cooked, family dinner nearly every evening, a virtually impossible accomplishment with work, activities etc. She is part of our family and has helped to nurture our family in so many ways. We can't recommend her enough.
Client, Medina, WA
We have worked with Molly for almost a year now and can't imagine life without her. Each week she sends a list of so many wonderful choices it's hard to pick just a few. All of her meals are healthily prepared with the highest quality ingredients and are simply put, delicious. One of our favorite perks of working with Molly is that our meals always include artfully prepared salads and vegetable dishes, something we had a hard time achieving on our own. Having Molly cook for our family is one of the best decisions we've ever made!
Client, Broadmoor Neighborhood
Over the course of years Molly has continued to delight us with a changing array of delicious foods that meet our evolving needs. We literally pound the table after meals and call her name!
Client, Downtown Seattle
I contacted Molly at a challenging time in my life, when I was attempting to manage chronic health issues that required very specific food restrictions. It wasn't able to prepare meals that followed these restrictions, let alone make them taste good. Nor was I able to successfully balance my time spent on health management with family, work, and life. Molly and Lisa came to my home and met with me to discuss all the possibilities for meals that were not only nutrient dense, but appealing too. They helped me realize that I didn't need to focus on food restrictions, but on the variety of foods I could add into my diet, which was so much more than I needed to eliminate. I knew that having food prepared would help, but I never imagined it would have the positive impact it has. I've gained back time and health that I didn't think was possible. This was by far one of the best decisions I've ever made. We're grateful to have Lisa in our home every week and cannot recommend her enough!
- Client, Seattle, WA
For 9 years, Molly prepared tasty meals for me. She combined nutritious ingredients and added just the right amount of spice. I felt like I was eating in a 5 star restaurant. She also taught me how to shop for foods that I could eat and watch for seasonal selections that fit within my medically required diet. When I moved to Boston, I took the skills Molly taught me but miss her weekly meals.
- Client, Lake Sammamish, WA
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