Cheffy article: Personal Chef at Home

Restaurant quality — at home, on your terms

A personal chef comes to your home, plans a menu according to your goals (health, weight gain or loss, children’s menu, allergies), purchases groceries (by agreement), cooks, beautifully serves the dishes (or packs portions into containers), and leaves a clean workspace behind. It’s a “restaurant experience at home,” but with flexibility rarely available in traditional restaurants.

The key advantage is personalization. Vegan? Gluten-free? Prefer seasonal vegetables and signature sauces? Chefs select recipes and techniques to ensure meals are delicious, balanced, and perfectly aligned with your dietary rules. And if meals are prepared in advance, you save time during the week and reduce last-minute delivery orders.

💶 What Makes Up the Price

Transparent formula: ingredients + actual hours + fixed platform fee.

Ingredients

Paid by receipts (actual documented costs).

Chef’s actual hours

Menu planning, shopping (if needed), cooking, portioning, cleaning.

Platform information service

€9.99 + 21% VAT.

This structure is transparent: you see how much the ingredients cost and separately — the professional labor. The platform charges a fixed fee for its information service and secure payment organization, not a percentage of the order.

⏱️ How Hours Are Calculated

Number of dishes and portions: one day, 3–4 days, or only dinners.
Dietary requirements: vegan, keto, gluten-free can take more prep.
Menu complexity: fine dining has more steps.
Shopping: if the chef shops, those hours are included.

📊 Transparent Pricing Examples

Below are two realistic cases. Exact totals depend on ingredients and chef rates, but the pricing logic stays the same.

Item	Amount	Comment
Ingredients	≈ €40	Actual costs by receipts
Chef’s work	4 hrs × €20 = €80	Planning, cooking, portioning, cleaning
Platform info service	€9.99	+21% VAT according to rules
Portions	≈ 24	3 dishes × 8 portions
Total	≈ €130	≈ €5.5 per portion

Example menu (8 portions of each dish):

Creamy zucchini and spinach soup with sautéed shrimp and cream
Chicken fillet with couscous in creamy Parmesan sauce
Fresh vegetable salad

In ~4 hours, the chef plans the menu, cooks, portions meals into containers, and cleans the working surfaces.

Item	Amount	Comment
Ingredients	≈ €120	Premium ingredients
Chef’s work	4.5 hrs × €30 = €135	Special events rate
Platform info service	€9.99	≈ €12.10 incl. VAT
Guests	7	3-course menu
Total	≈ €265	≈ €38 per guest

Menu:

Charcuterie and cheese board
Warm shrimp with lemon and chili on rice vermicelli and wakame salad
Steak medallions with demi-glace, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, and fresh salad

For special events, hourly rates can be higher. In this example, the chef’s rate is €30/hour, bringing the total to ~€265 (≈ €38 per guest).

🥂 When It’s Better Than Restaurants or Delivery

Comparable or lower price per portion, especially when cooking “for several days.”
Ingredient and portion control: reduce salt/sugar, account for allergens, choose product quality.
Time savings: cooking + shopping + dishes time goes back to family and rest.
Restaurant experience at home: plating, serving, tasting — without leaving home.

🥗 Diets: Vegan, Gluten-Free, Keto

Chefs can adapt menus to your lifestyle: balanced macros, lactose-free options, plant-based proteins, and “clean” sauces without hidden sugar. This is especially helpful when a family has different needs — for example, a children’s menu plus low-carb for parents. Seasonal vegetables, fish, and alternative grains can be planned ahead to avoid overpaying and food waste.

📘 cheffy.lt Rules in Simple Terms

The platform is an information marketplace, not a party to the “client ↔ chef” contract. Quality and scope are agreed directly between client and chef.
If the chef purchases ingredients, the client reimburses documented actual expenses (receipts).
Time is billed by actual hours: menu planning, shopping, cooking, cleaning.

⭐ Chef Ratings & Quality Moderation

After each service, the client leaves a rating. If the average rating across the last 5 orders drops below 4.5, the chef’s account is temporarily disabled. Within 3 business days, a manager decides whether to reinstate the account or stop cooperation, notifying by email. This encourages consistently high quality.

🧭 How to Book a Chef

Choose a chef: review profile, rate, specialization, reviews.
Agree on menu & scope: dates, portions, restrictions, who shops for ingredients.
Confirm the booking on the platform.
Prepare your kitchen: clear surfaces, access to cookware/equipment, containers.
Accept the service: tasting, portioning, storage & reheating tips.
Rate the service: your rating impacts the chef’s visibility.

✅ Mini checklist before the visit

Do you have clean containers for portioning?
Did you clarify allergens and “no-go” flavors?
Who buys ingredients and when are receipts provided?
Do you understand how time is calculated and what’s included?

❓ FAQ

How often is the €9.99 platform fee charged and how is VAT applied?

It’s a fixed platform information service fee — €9.99 plus 21% VAT; charged when the chef is confirmed and access to information is provided.

Is the platform a contractual intermediary?

No. The platform is not a party to the “client ↔ chef” contract. It provides an information marketplace and payment infrastructure. Service responsibility is on the chef; billing is based on actual time.

Can grocery shopping be delegated to the chef?

Yes. Shopping hours are billed, and ingredient costs are reimbursed based on receipts.

✅ Conclusion

Meals Preparation with a private chef in Vilnius is not as expensive as it might seem. For about €127, you can get 24 portions of delicious, healthy food cooked by a professional.

Try our service — we’re confident you won’t be disappointed. Message your chosen chef, confirm the details, and enjoy amazing meals cooked right in your kitchen using ingredients you selected.

Book a Chef