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star Weekly Service star Dinner Parties / Occasions star Chefs star Cost star Food star General
Getting Started
What is KarieOut?
We are a full-service, in-home personal chef company committed to hospitality. We provide personal chef services, making healthy eating with friends & family easy and accessible.
Why should I use KarieOut?
We provide all the benefits of a full-time chef without the cost and time required to manage a full-time employee. We recognize that every household is different and personalize the experience from start to finish so your household is getting the food they want, the way they want it.
How you are different from traditional staffing agencies?
With KarieOut, you aren’t just hiring a chef. You’re working with a full-service personal chef and culinary company that has experience developing recipes, designing menus, vetting chefs and personalizing the service every step of the way. Our dedicated hospitality team is handling the entire experience and tailoring the service to fit your needs.
Weekly Service
How do I get started?
The process is simple. Send an email to Karie@KarieOut.com or call Karie at 214-356-6454
How does the weekly service work?
After you select a service date, we will work with you to customize a menu then personally source a chef for your household. Your chef will shop for groceries, prep the dishes in your home and leave your kitchen spotless.
What does the weekly service include?
Typically, a client using our service one day per week will ask us to prepare three to four main meals and a dessert or snack. However, you determine the number of meals and snacks prepared for your household based on your unique needs.
How often should I use the weekly service?
This depends on your lifestyle and health goals. We recommend 1-2 times per week.
How do I cancel the service?
You must provide written (email) notice at least 48 hours prior to personal chef service and one week prior to scheduled special event service. Cancellation fees may apply.
Will my chef serve my food?
The in-home weekly visits do not include table service. If you’d like to host dinner party or needs a chef for a special occasion, please submit a request.
Can you accommodate larger families?
Yes, our goal is to make it easier for you and your family to enjoy dinner together. You choose the number of meals and the number of portions for each meal, from a one person household to a full fledged commune, we’ve got you.
What time will my chef arrive?
Our chefs start as early as 9AM and as late as 3PM. Chefs are available 7 days a week.
How long does the service take?
You can expect the chef to be in your home for at least 3 to 4 hours. The service takes up to 7 hours, from start to finish depending on the number and type of meals prepared. Time includes shop, prep, cook and clean.
What if my chef is late?
Your chef is personally shopping for groceries before arrival. Traffic or long lines at the market may cause a delay. If your chef is going to be more than 30 minutes late, we’ll address immediately and propose a solution.
How should I prepare for the service?
Please review our Best Practices before your first visit. For additional questions, feel free to reach out – Karie@KarieOut.com.
Can I speak with you before my first visit?
Of course. Every household is different, and we may need to alter the service to fit your household needs. Give us a call and we can start the process together. We’re available to discuss dietary restrictions, allergies, portioning, child-friendly modifications and household preferences.
What if I am not home during the service
No problem. Many clients request chef services during working hours. While not required, we recommended greeting your chef for their first visit and introducing him/her to your home and kitchen. If that’s not possible, detailed instructions via text & email work just as well.
Should I tip my chef?
You are welcome to add a tip when paying your invoice. You do not need to tip your chef the day of service. We want your cooking visits to be seamless and KarieOut will handle all payments. For special occasions, in particular, we recommend an industry standard tip of 18% or more if your chef has gone above and beyond.
What areas do you service?
Currently, our service is available in Southlake, Westlake, Roanoke, Trophy Club, Grapevine, Keller, Colleyville and HEB in addition to North Dallas, Plano, Frisco and Allen.
If you are outside of these areas, please email us and we’ll try our best to accommodate your household.
Do I need specific kitchen tools or pantry items?
Please review our Best Practices for details on kitchen equipment.
Do I need my own containers?
We will purchase the containers on your behalf and provide them upon your first visit.
Dinner Parties / Occasions
Can I request a chef for a dinner party or special occasion?
Absolutely. We also design menus and curate chefs for dinner parties and special occasions. Please submit a request to start the process.
Do you coordinate waitstaff, rentals & decor?
Yes, we are full-service. If your dinner requires an extra set of hands, we’ll staff a reliable server or bartender from our trusted network. We can also coordinate rentals, wine pairings and decor for an additional fee. Submit a request to start the process and we’ll come back to you with a proposal.
Do you service over the holidays?
We create special menus to make the holidays as seamless as possible. Chef availability may be limited during those times, so it’s best to book these requests in advance.
Should I tip my chef?
YES, and we can guide you based on your specific occasion. A rule of thumb is 18% or more if your chef has gone above and beyond.
Chefs
Who will be cooking my food?
Our chefs are culinary junkies both classically trained and self-taught. All chefs have an active interest and talent in culinary arts. They are foodies with mad skills and a passion for serving others.
Do you vet your chefs?
Our interview process is extremely thorough. It includes a personal interview, in-person kitchen interview, background check and on-boarding session. We will never send a chef to your home who hasn’t cooked in our kitchen.
Can I meet my chef first?
We won’t send a chef to your home before the day of service, but trust us, we’ve met him/her in person and tested his/her food, and we’re confident you won’t be disappointed. As a best practice, we recommend that you are home during the first visit to greet your chef and introduce him/her to your home and kitchen.
Is my home safe?
We are committed to creating a community that households trust. Your home is protected up to $1,000,000 when you hire a chef via KarieOut, and we have implemented a strict vetting process to ensure we are placing safe chefs in your home.
Can I choose my chef?
Our goal is for you to have the same chef in your home, every week. We thoroughly review all preferences before your first cooking visit and personally build a small roster of 2-3 chefs around you. We keep the group small to ensure consistency but large enough to ensure availability at all times. Whether you’re requesting a chef for weekly meals or an intimate weekend dinner party, we want to send you a chef who is familiar with your kitchen and preferences and who all share a similar ethos and culinary perspective. If you are happy with a particular chef, let us know and we will prioritize that chef for you on a going forward basis.
What if I want a different chef?
We’re happy to source another chef who is a better fit. Reach out to start the process.
Are your chefs insured?
Yes. Our chefs are protected under our insurance policy. Please continue to engage with our chefs through KarieOut for ease and safety.
Cost
How much does the weekly service cost?
Weekly personal chef services range from $55 to $75 per hour plus the cost of groceries. (Minimum of four hours.) Time starts when your Chef begins shopping and ends when they leave your home.
Dinner parties and special occasions start at $1000 plus the cost of groceries.
*Additional costs may include PPE, containers or other necessary kitchen implements or supplies and applicable tax.
How much will the groceries cost?
Groceries depend on your household size and dish selections. For a well-balanced menu of vegetables, grains and proteins, you can anticipate the following grocery costs:
Estimate cost for small household: $80-$100
Estimate cost for medium household: $110-$150
Estimate cost for large household: $130-$200
A spice set, containers, kitchen implements and olive oil will be purchased prior to your first visit. This will increase your first grocery bill but will save you money in the long run.
How much do dinner parties cost?
The service fee starts at $1,000. Additional costs include groceries, a travel reimbursement and tax.
Please submit a request to start the process and we’ll provide a proposal for your special occasion.
How do I pay for service?
An invoice will be sent directly after service. You will submit payment electronically via PayPal, Venmo or personal check.
Food
How does menu selection work?
You can select menus up to 4 weeks in advance and menu selections are due 48 hours prior to service. We will send you a reminder email 72 hours prior to service, reminding you to select your menu, if you have not done so already.
Let us know if you’d like us to select your menu and we will select 6 dishes for you on a weekly basis.
Can I modify the dishes?
Absolutely. This is a personalized service and special instructions help us tailor the service for your household. You can modify dishes by exclusion (hold the cheese/nuts; no olives/cilantro/fennel) and also include child-friendly and specific grocery instructions (sauce on side; plain components; bite size; easy on spice; strictly organic/non-GMO).
Where do you source your ingredients?
We shop local at our favorite grocers and fresh farmers markets. Our chefs are hand selecting the freshest and most delicious ingredients for you.
Are your ingredients local and/or organic?
Our chefs shop specifically for you to accommodate your preferences. As a general rule, we always source the freshest and most nutrient-dense items, striving to use organic and non-GMO produce whenever possible.
Can you accommodate food allergies?
Absolutely. This is a personalized service. We recommend you use your best judgment when considering dietary restrictions and provide us with as much information as possible to ensure your food safety.
General
Do you offer gift cards or packages?
Please contact us if you’d like to gift someone our service or purchase a package of dinner parties.
Do you have a referral program?
Yes. For every referral resulting in a completed service of four hours or more, you receive one hour of free service.
I had a problem with my service, who do I contact?
If we didn’t live up to your expectations, please let us know immediately.
COVID Safety practices
Our collective safety remains my number one goal. I want to share with you, safety practices that are in place:
- First and foremost, our chefs have eliminated external contact except grocery shopping and cooking.
- While shopping, the shopping cart is disinfected, chefs adhere to social distancing guidelines, limit items that are touched and sanitize hands, phone and wallets after shopping.
- We are using paper bags to bring groceries into your home. They are unpacked and put into recycle immediately – no reuse.
- Proper PPE including gloves and masks are worn during in-home service.
- Frequent hand washing is, as always, a standard safety practice.
- Phone, earbuds and keys are disinfected upon arrival and when I leave.
- Disinfecting practices will continue. All cooking surfaces and handles/knobs are disinfected upon arrival and when leaving as well as any handle, surface, knob or light switch touched.
** Please have disinfectant available and accessible. ** - All exterior and interior door handles and applicable interior surfaces of my car are disinfected morning and evening.
- Lastly, for your safety, we ask that you and your family remain outside of the kitchen while your chef is working. Should you need to come into the kitchen area, I will step away and we will maintain a 6′ distance from one another.