Insider Tips for Hiring a Private Chef in Hawaii
1. Know Your Dinning Preference – The first step to having a great experience with a private chef in Hawaii is to understand what type of event you would like to have. This includes whether you not you would want to have a platted dinner, buffet style or only passed hor d’oeuvres. This effects the overall feel of the party and can set the tone for the event. Other preferences might include whether or not you would like to have a wine paring planned with your dinner or a themed party cocktail.
2. Know Your Budget – Understanding your budget is important and sharing this information with your chef is crucial to ensuring your experience is enjoyable and stress free. When deciding on your budget you should take into consideration the costs of labor, food, beverages, rental equipment (this includes flatware, tables, tents, glasses, linens, etc), and state taxes. Calculating costs can be done based on a “per-head” cost or based on your reallocated savings. Speak to your private chef about your needs up front will help you feel in control and make sure everyone is on the same page.
3. Pick A Theme – Picking a theme for your cuisine is key to having a cohesive party for your guests and setting your private chef on the right track. The theme should be consistent and can include menu, drinks, decorations, and entertainment. Some great ideas for party themes are a Mexican Fiesta, Hawaiian Luau, A Night In Paris, Swedish Midsummer, Italian Pasta & Pizza Party, Soul Food Slam, All-American BBQ, Chinese New Year, Easter Brunch, or even a group cooking class.
4. Pick The Right Time – Depending on your theme and dinning preference picking the right time for your event can make a huge difference for your guests and your overall experience. If you are having a Pupu party you should plan the guests to arrive 30-40 minutes before the sun sets so they have time to enjoy the scenery but not so early that its blazing hot and the food integrity may be compromised. Similarly if you are hosting a baby shower luncheon you should plan for your guests to arrive at 11:30am and end at 1:30pm. Picking the right time is important to discuss with your private chef so they can plan for staffing and make sure all the food & tables are set up and ready to go before the first guests arrive.
5. Schedule A Face-To-Face Meeting – Finally schedule a face-to-face meeting with your private chef at your home so you can walk through the kitchen and your floor plans so the chef can get a first hand glimmer of your expectations and you can overcome any objections that may arise before the big day. Objections may include if you need rental equipment, extra power cords, where you want to set up the bartender, how many guests you want to have and the seating arrangements. Finally your private chef will want to view the kitchen appliances and accessories to make sure they don’t need to bring any extra pots, pans or equipment to execute your agreed upon menu.
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