What is a Personal Chef?
 Who uses a Personal Chef?
What areas does Glass Slipper Gourmet provide Personal Chef Service to?
 How does this service work?
 Can I afford a Personal Chef?
 What kind of food can I expect?
 Do I have to be home on my “cooking day”?
 Can I pick up meals or have them dropped off?
 Do I need a “gourmet” kitchen or special equipment?
 What if I have special dietary needs?
 How is the prepared food stored?
 How do I schedule my “cooking dates”?
 What if I need to cancel or reschedule my appointment?

 What is the average price for your Wedding Cakes?
 How do I choose a cake flavor?
 What is the difference between “buttercream” icing and “fondant” icing?
 How do I reserve an event date?
 Can I have more than one flavor of cake in my order?
 When does my cake order have to be finalized?
 How many cake orders do you accept per date?
 Do you do other dessert specialties besides cakes?

Q. What is a Personal Chef?
A. A Personal Chef is a professional, trained chef who is hired for the day to come into your home and prepare meals.  They differ from a Private Chef, who works for one family only, usually a full-time position.  A Personal Chef helps give you a better quality of life by freeing up your time.  Imagine all of the time and energy you spend trying to get dinner on the table every night. A Personal Chef takes care of it for you.

Q. Who uses a Personal Chef?
A.  Many different people have use for a Personal Chef on a regular basis, including busy professional singles or couples, families with active lifestyles, the elderly or disabled, or those who love to eat ~ but hate to cook!  This service may also be used on a one-time or occasional basis.  For example, a seasonally busy professional (like a tax accountant), new parents, or someone recovering from surgery or illness.  Perhaps you just want to give yourself, or someone else, a break from kitchen duties.  A Personal Chef can help you in many different ways!


Q. What areas does Glass Slipper Gourmet provide Personal Chef Service to?
A. For Personal Chef service we cover all areas within Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano Counties.  Only Wedding Cake service is available to the entire Bay Area. 

Q. How does this service work?
A.  Your chef will meet with you to determine your needs.  A questionnaire will help find out your personal likes and dislikes, special dietary needs, how often you’ll need the service, storage preferences, etc.  Your chef will custom design the menus, do the shopping, come to your home and cook, package and store (in the fridge or freezer), and fully clean the kitchen.  A detailed menu of your meals will be left with simple heating instructions.  It’s that easy!

Q. Can I afford a Personal Chef?
A.  Yes!  Depending on how you are cooking now, using a Personal Chef may actually save you money.  If you are eating out a lot, bringing home “take-out” or “fast-food”, or wasting food that you buy at the store but are too busy to actually prepare ~ then a Personal Chef will give you more for your money.  Your “Chef Meals” cost much less than what you would pay at a restaurant for a gourmet meal.  Fast food may be less expensive at first glance, but the cost quickly adds up when feeding a whole family.  And, of course, the effect on your health is an expense you cannot measure.  And, let’s not even mention the taste of fast foods! 
Of course, time is money also.  How much time are you spending planning meals, weekly (or worse “last minute”) grocery shopping, cooking from scratch and cleaning up after all that cooking?  Is it more valuable for you to free up that time and spend it with your family and friends, get more work done at the office, exercise!, or just DO SOMETHING FUN FOR A CHANGE!

Click here to read a fun little tale about how Glass Slipper Gourmet saved “Cindy” precious time and money!
 

Q. What kind of food can I expect?
A.  On your cooking day your chef will arrive with all the ingredients necessary to prepare your menu.  We will search out the finest meats and fish, the freshest produce, exotic spices and herbs and use only what is in season.  This may require shopping at more than one store and visiting the Farmer’s Market.  We will go where needed to get the best, just as you would if you only had the time!  We also use the internet to search out new products and hard to find items.  It is our passion to try new ingredients and be creative!
Your menus will be 100% customized and based on your want and needs.  During your consultation we will determine what foods you and your family enjoy. Perhaps you like good “ol’ fashioned” comfort foods or maybe “Light and Healthy” is more your style, or a little of both!  Regardless of your preferences all meals are prepared to give you great taste and a balanced diet.  If you have any dislikes or allergies they can be entirely omitted, or occasionally included as you request. 
Using a Personal Chef is a great way to introduce your self to new foods and flavors.  Maybe you have been wanting to try Indian Cuisine, or Thai, but haven’t yet. Your chef is experienced in many different cooking styles and techniques and can broaden your “cuisine borders”!
There is a constant open communication line between you and your chef.  If you like something and want to see more of it, let me know!  If you don’t care for something, please say so, and you won’t see it on your menu again.  Our #1 goal is to make you happy and satisfied at dinnertime!

Q.  Do I have to be home on my “cooking day”?
A.  It’s your choice.  Most people are busy and not at home during the day.  If you are not able to be home on your scheduled “cooking day” you can leave a key or security entry code, or you may just let the chef in and then be on your way.  You can feel confident that your chef will treat your home with respect and care.  In fact, you may like the idea of having someone home during the day occasionally.  It is nice to know that someone is at the house and when you come home the delicious aromas of home-cooked food will greet you.  The kitchen will be clean and a week or more of dinners will be ready and waiting for you!
            If you prefer to be at home on your cooking day, that’s fine too.  You may even learn a few cooking techniques!  All we ask is that the chef not be disrupted too often, so that we can concentrate on the task at hand. 
          Whether you choose to at home or not, a courtesy reminder will be give the day before your scheduled cooking day.  This will give you a chance to clear space in your freezer and fridge, leave a key under the mat, have kitchen clean and ready for use and leave payment for services.

Q.  Can I pick up meals or have them dropped off?
A.  This service is performed in your home, in your kitchen.  It is not a drop-off or pick-up service.  Health Dept. regulations strictly control how food is served and this complies with the laws.

Q. Do I need a “gourmet” kitchen or special equipment?
A.  No. Your chef will bring all of the necessary equipment to prepare your meals.  You only have to provide a clean kitchen with stove, oven, fridge/freezer, and a little counter space.
 

Q. What if I have special dietary needs?
A.   A Personal Chef is perfect for you!  If you have special needs then using a Personal Chef will help you stay on track in your diet.  During your consultation those needs will be determined and your menus customized to meet them.  If you are trying to loose weight, lower your cholesterol, eat less sugar or “carbs”, or any other diet related goal, then your chef will be a great support person.  While, not an officially trained dietician, we have a huge collection of cookbooks, subscriptions to many magazines, on-line resources and years of experience.  Let us make the transition to a healthier lifestyle easy and fun!


Q.  How is the prepared food stored?
A.   The client will purchase, from Glass Slipper Gourmet,  a set of containers for food storage.  The cost is $35.00 (price subject to change) and the containers are re-usable.  With good care, they should last 3-4 months.  They are hand-washed and stored at the client’s home for use on the next visit.
 

Q. How do I schedule my “cooking dates”?
A.  You may choose to have a regularly scheduled appointment, perhaps every two or four weeks.  Or, you may call or email as needed for an appointment.  You will be scheduled in at the earliest available date, usually with in a week or so.
 

Q.  What if I need to cancel or reschedule my appointment?
A.  You will be given a reminder (by phone or email) the day before your scheduled appointment.  We must have a confirmation from you to follow through with your date.  Without a confirmation from you your date will be cancelled. 
            If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment a minimum of 24 hours is appreciated.

Q.  What is the average price for your Wedding Cakes?
A.    The base price is $4.00 per serving.  This would provide a smooth buttercream icing with a simple decoration.  More elaborate icings and decoration will increase the cost.  You may also use sheet cakes to supplement your display cake, which will reduce the base price overall.  Please ask for pricing and size suggestions based on your specific event.

                                                                                                                        

Q.  How do I choose a cake flavor?
A.  Glass Slipper Gourmet offers a huge assortment of flavors to choose from.  During your consultation you have the opportunity to taste them all. The best way to decide is to taste for yourself!  We also offer custom flavors, so if you don’t see what you’ve dreamed of please ask for it to be created for you!

Q.  What is the difference between “buttercream” icing and “fondant” icing?
A.  Buttercream icing is the basic icing, included in the base price.  It is mildly sweet and tastes like butter and vanilla.  The finished icing is smooth and glossy with “sharp” or angled edges and corners.  Fondant icing is a secondary icing which goes over the top of a buttercream base icing.  It is relatively sweet, somewhat chewy in texture and has a marshmallow flavor.  It has a “matte” finish with soft, rounded edges and corners. It resembles porcelain.  It is also used for 3-dimensional work, such as drapes and swags.  It is also more expensive than buttercream icing alone because of the increased labor and materials.  Some fondant designs can be altered to be done in buttercream, but not all.
 

Q.  How do I reserve an event date?
A.   Once you have decided you will have Glass Slipper Gourmet make your cake, a contract will be drawn up with your order specifications.  A reservation deposit of 50% is required to secure the date.
 

Q. Can I have more than one flavor of cake in my order?
A.   Of course you can, but it increases the cost by 10% per additional flavor.  This is due to the increase in labor for multiple flavors.
 

Q. When does my cake order have to be finalized?
A.   All details of your order and the final balance paid at two weeks prior to your event.  Only cash, money order, or credit card are accepted after this date.


Q.  How many cake orders do you accept per date?
A.  It depends on the size of the order.  If a large order is accepted then I will block out the remaining weekend.  Smaller orders may be combined for a weekend.  Availability is “first come, first served” with quality and service as the first priority.

Q.  Do you do other dessert specialties besides cakes?
A.  Yes, I can provide just about any dessert you can think of!  May brides and groom choose alternative dessert options for their wedding.  Cookies, Cupcakes, Croquembouche, petit four, mini-dessert buffet, etc. are all options to consider.  Decorated cookies are popular for showers and birthdays, or as wedding favors.
Please ask for details and suggestions for your occasion.