Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I hire a personal chef when I can eat at a restaurant or order take-out?
Restaurants are certainly a nice alternative to eating at home some of the time, but a regular diet of commercially prepared food does not contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, deciding where to eat, driving to the restaurant, and waiting to be served takes more time out of the evening than most people would like it to. There really is no substitute for the comfort of sitting down to dinner at your own table, in your own home! As your personal chef, I will strive to prepare only the dishes that suit your personal tastes and dietary requirements, and no matter how hard they try, no restaurant can offer you that kind of service!

Which option is better for me: the Traditional Personal Chef Service, or Choosing from the Monthly Menu/Meal Delivery Service?
If you have multiple food allergies, are trying to eliminate several ingredients from your diet, or want to be able to specify exactly what typed of entrees you want to on a weekly basis, then the Traditional Personal Chef Service option is probably the one for you. If, however, you are able to eat a large variety of foods, have very few food allergies, want to have some comfort foods on hand for busy nights or meals for the kids to heat up when you're not around, and/or want to branch out a bit and try new things, then the Monthly Menu/Meal Delivery option is the one for you!

Why is the Traditional Personal Chef option more expensive, on average, than the Monthly Menu/Meal Delivery option?
More time is involved in preparing a menu that is specifically customized to your tastes, and many people with specialized diets eat more meat (low-carb), more organic foods, etc., which can raise food costs dramatically. Many foods for the Monthly Menu/Meal Delivery service menus can be bought in greater quantities, thus reducing food costs.

How does the delivery process work?
If you are ordering via the Monthly Menu online menu, simply choose your items, choose your delivery date, enter your delivery information and wait for your food to be delivered! If you aren't ordering via the Monthly Menu, we will talk about delivery options once we finalize your menu and cook date. No matter what kind of service you choose, however, you do not have to be home at time of delivery. You can put out a cooler on your delivery day in order to keep your items cold until you arrive home, or you can arrange to have a neighbor or friend accompany Fab Fare into your home while we put your food into the fridge and/or freezer.

Is the commercial kitchen you work out of regulated and inspected regularly?
Yes, the kitchen is inspected on a regular basis by the Health Department as well as the Department of Agriculture.

Are you insured?
Yes, I have full liability insurance through Mutual of Unemclaw. I also have my Oregon business license and an Oregon State Food Handler's Safety Certificate, and have my USPCA diploma from the Culinary Business Academy.

What type of containers will you store the food in?
For best quality assurance, I prefer to package meals in a variety of ways, each dependent on the entrée prepared, but for the most part I find that meals store and reheat better in disposable, dual-ovenable aluminum and/or microwavable plastic containers.

How long can I store the meals in my freezer?
Because no preservatives are used, the recommended length of storage is 90 days. Some items may last a bit longer and still maintain good quality, but 90 days is the general guideline.

Do you sell gift certificates?
Yes! Gift certificates are a great idea for birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, etc. We can work together to create a package you think the recipient would like, or you can choose a dollar amount so that they can choose which package/service combination would work best for them. All services are available for gift certicates! Please note: Gift certificates have no expiration date but are non-refundable; please try to make sure that it is an appropriate gift before making your purchase. Click here to purchase a gift certificate online via Paypal.