Pittsburgh personal chefs discuss their services
Who we talked to
Nicole Bell, owner
Nicole's Kitchen
Allison Park, Pa.
412-492-9296
nicoleskitchen.ezchef.net
Patty Martin, owner
Your Dinner is Solved!
Pittsburgh
412-334-5814
yourdinnerissolved.com
Carole Ortenzo, owner
Organic Personal Chef Service
McMurray, Pa.
724-969-0339
organicpersonalchefpgh.com
What services do you offer?
Nicole Bell: "I do a personal chef service, sit-down dinners, catering up to 100 people, cooking demonstrations and gift certificates."
Patty Martin: "I do just the personal chef service. I shop in the morning, take everything to the kitchen, prepare it, chill it, package it and deliver it to the client the same afternoon."
Carole Ortenzo: "I do personal chef service. I also teach cooking classes in my home and at a local wellness center."
Do you offer personal meal planning and preparation?
Bell: "I have a set menu, but it's customized to their needs. There are no limits. I change the menu every six months to keep up with the seasons."
Martin: "When I meet with them initially, I can customize a meal plan according to their taste."
Ortenzo: "People's tastes and tolerances are really different. You have to come to understand what your client wants."
How do you charge for your services, and what's the cost?
Bell: "I charge an hourly rate of $35 based on the amount of meals: Four meals equals four hours, and an additional hour for grocery shopping."
Martin: "It would depend. It's a completely custom service."
Ortenzo: "It depends on the item they order. Cost is based on ingredients and organic needs. The least expensive items are vegan."
Do you have a dish you prepare that's the most popular with your clients?
Bell: "Seafood-stuffed mushrooms is a big one, sweet potato soufflé and lasagna. Once they try them, they just keep ordering them."
Martin: "I try to do a huge variety of things."
Ortenzo: "My chocolate cake is very popular. I usually offer a raspberry sauce and the sweetener is pure organic maple syrup."
Where do you prepare the meals?
Bell: "I cook in the client's home."
Martin: "I have a commercial kitchen."
Ortenzo: "I have a commercial kitchen. People come to my house to pick up their meals."
What's one spice or ingredient you couldn't live without and why?
Bell: "Garlic. If you cook it just right, it has a great sweet flavor."
Martin: "Cumin. A lot of ethnic cooking has cumin in it. Middle Eastern does. Mexican does. I love it."
Ortenzo: "The combination of whole beans and whole grains. It's a very healthful way to eat. It's also very flavorful."


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