Personal Chefs Are For a LOT More Than You Think!

By, Chef Jim

We get calls ALL THE TIME beginning with, ‘Well I can’t really AFFORD a Personal Chef, but…’ or ‘Well we’re not looking for anything extravagant…’ as if to imply that a ‘Personal Chef’ is a ‘Special Service’ that’s reserved for a wealthy few!  O’h quite the contrary is always our response!  When you consider all the time, effort and stress that you exert shopping for food, packing and unpacking it, getting it ready, serving and cleaning up…we can actually SAVE you more than money!

In addition to the ‘Traditional” Personal Chef Full and Limited meal plans that we offer which make Home Made meals with your family as simple at ‘Heat and Eat’, we can do much more!  From Personalized ‘Cooking Classes’ taught in your home to Equipment Purchase Consulting and even a wide variety of Seafood Boils that we bring to your location, Cook and Serve up Family Style!

You may notice that we’ve been doing a bit of ‘re-branding’ and indeed we are!  All in order to more accurately reflect our abilities to offer nearly two decades of culinary experiences to you!  Stay tuned for frequent updates and thanks for reading along.

Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall…we can help during them ALL!

I am often told “we aren’t wealthy and can’t afford a Personal Chef” and it’s a sentiment that I understand, but it couldn’t be further from the truth!  When you look at the ‘Big Picture’ and see how much it costs to get to and from the store to purchase groceries, put them away, get them out and cook them and then clean up…you’re probably already spending MORE than our services would cost you!

We can offer the flexibility of doing everything from a full weekly meal plan to just a few meals a week.  If you’re having a Party or Family gathering and need an extra pair of hands in the kitchen….we can do that to!  Want the whole event catered…we have a Catering division that specializes in traditional, wood-smoked BBQ and it’s accoutrements that are hard to beat!  Perhaps you have a loved one who’s living on their own, but needs help with meals…we can do it!

No matter what your needs or how you’d like them met…a Personal Chef can save you time, money and hassle!  Let me hear how we can help you! (Jim@GreatQ4U.com)

Hunting Camp? Ski Trip? We Can Do It!!!

Wouldn’t THAT be great!  Load up an Extra Cooler or Two and have your meals ready to ‘Heat and Eat’ no matter what the primary heat source in your Camp or Cabin may be!  Just let us know how many folks to cook for, what you’d like to eat and when you’d like it delivered and we’ll do the rest!

SEE…this ‘Personal Chef’ thing is a pretty versatile and SMART option!  We can help no matter what your needs may be!  From a full weekly meal plan to help with Family Gatherings or Holiday Parties to hooking you up with ONE LESS THING TO DO during your next ‘Get Away’!

Looking to see what we can do for you, visit us online at GreatQ4U.net or call us; 717-254-1937

Make the Most of the Markets!

NO….not the Stock Markets….that’s WAY too big of a risk these days!  I’m talking about the Farmer’s Markets…or if you’re lucky enough to live in a City like Lancaster, York or even Philadelphia…the CENTRAL Markets!  – I know…it’s WINTER…there’s snow on the ground…what could I be talking about???

I’m talking about a number of things actually;

• Buying Local! – Vendors at local ‘Markets’ typically are largely representing local businesses, farms and producers!  Not only does this keep as few miles between you and your food as possible,(reducing its ‘Carbon Footprint’ too!) it helps to keep your MONEY in the local economy…which will save you having to drive to a MALL some day to get all your stuff from big BOX stores!
• Buying Fresh! – Local markets typically feature LOTS of fresh stuff!  From produce and protiens to Baked Goods and other stuff like hand made sausages or fresh ground spices…it’s amazing the difference that fresh makes! Much better than stuff that was flown in, held in ‘ripening’ rooms and then trucked to your local Mega-Mart!
• Learn About Your Food! – Markets typically give you ‘face time’ with the source!  You can ask questions about what those Chickens or Cows ate, learn where that Broccoli came from and how it was grown or perhaps get some tips about what to do with it!  You’ll learn about how those fish were caught and whether or not that Shrimp travelled the whole way from Indonesia…or if they were caught right here in the USA!

OK…I could go on and on, but assume that you get the point!  If you have a “Market” of any kind close to where you live…begin to get in the ‘habit’ of visiting it on a regular basis!  It may take some practice…and you may have to adjust your schedule to accomodate ‘Market Hours’, but the benefits FAR outweigh any temporary inconveniences that you may have to endure.

Mark Twain said, “Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.”  I would suggest that you should break the habit of the BIG grocers and find your way back to the local guys!

How Exactly Does This ‘Personal Chef’ Thing Work?

Yes, we get that question a LOT!  AND…the quick answer is; ‘Any way that you want it to’!  OK, so since that sounds a bit generic, I thought that I could expound a bit on it here!

As your ‘Personal Chef’, we start by getting to know you!  What kinds of food do you like…not like?  Do you have any special dietary needs or requirements?  What about food allergies…you?  Anyone else in the house?  Any ‘regular guests’?  All very important as we develop your ‘Menu Profile’ that allows us to prepare meals you’ll love each and every time!

Once we’ve got that dialed in, then we want to figure out what ‘Service’ is best for your situation!  Do you need a meal every weeknight?  Perhaps you just need a few meals a week to give you a break and some extra time with your family and/or friends?  Just having a Party or Family Gathering and want to add the ‘formality’ of a Professional Chef?  No matter what type of Service you need…we’ve got you covered!

Once we’ve got your needs dialed in, then comes the ‘shopping’!  We can shop at our preferred markets or yours!  We LOVE to shop at Farmer’s Markets and small suppliers when possible!  With over 15 years of experience in the catering business and tens of thousands of meals under our belts…we know quality whenever and wherever we see it and we LOVE to bring it to every plate!  So…we don’t just do the ‘cooking’, we save you the time and hassle of finding a parking space, fighting the carts and lines and choosing the best ingredients available!

Needs analysis and shopping completed…it’s time to ‘get cooking’!  We come to your home or can prepare meals for you in our kitchens – either way, we will cook your meals and prepare them so that you can simply ‘heat and eat’ these delicious and nutritious, ‘home made’ meals that are lower in sodium, fat and calories than just about ANYTHING you’d eat at a restaurant! (and…they are WAY more convenient!)  Microwave, Conventional Oven, Sous Vide…however you want to heat them up…we’ll cook, pack and label accordingly!

We are fully insured, licensed and have both our ServSafe and PA Department of Agriculture Food Safety Certifications!  SO…there’s nothing to worry about and everything to gain…including cost savings, more time to do what YOU want and less stress from all those trips to the store!  Need to hear or even better, SEE more?  You’ll have a chance to come see and hear us soon…right in a place where we are most comfortable!  Look for exciting details to come soon!

In the meanwhile…if we can help YOU…please feel free to visit us online at GreatQ4U.net or give us a call: 717-254-1937 and we will be HAPPY to help!

Now We’re Cooking!

YEP…it’s been a few years since we discontinued our Personal Chef service to concentrate on growing the BBQ Catering business and now that we have met that objective, I am HAPPY to be back in the Grocery Stores, Farmer’s Markets and Kitchens of our Customers here in Central PA!  It has been a grand re-introduction and is nice exploring the ‘non-BBQ’ side of my culinary persona again!  (NOT that I’ve got anything against BBQ…I LOVE IT!!!)

There is much going on and LOTS to tell you in coming weeks, but I just wanted to hit on a few things here today!  First of all, I had the chance to visit the PA Gourmet show at the York Expo Center last weekend and I had a GRAND time!  It was especially pleasing to see all of the great stuff that is being produced and sold right here in Central PA!

We had incredible Spirits (Absinthe, Gin and Moonshine) from Philadelphia and caught up with my new favorite Spice suppliers (Spices Inc – www.spicesinc.com) who were thankfully spared all the flooding in Bloomsburg during Irene and Lee!  We got to see Picky Vicki again and experience her INCREDIBLE BBQ sauces (www.pickyvicki.com) and found incredible suppliers of everything else from Vanilla Extract to REALLY good Beef!

Any regular readers of the Blog or my BBQ Blog will know that I am ALL about buying as much stuff from local suppliers as possible and there is a growing number of great sources for just about ALL your grocery needs out there, so even if you don’t need a Personal Chef…get out there and Get Some!!!

OK, Argentina isn’t TOO local, but as a caveat to the above review of our PA Gourmet experience, I must mention Familia Cecchin wines that are ALL Organic and truly something wine drinkers should experience!  I had a chance to get to know the vintner and he is an incredible guy, dedicated to his father’s vineyards as much as his dad was!  All of their wines are quite tasty, but I was particularly fond of their Malbec Rose!  If you get a chance…try them!   I also think that I now have a source for REALLY good Argentinean beef! 🙂

Finally…stay tuned for exciting news about some upcoming chances to see us at work during some cooking Demos and Classes!  If you are looking to have a great time, learn to cook new or different dishes and spend a few hours with us…soon you’ll have your chance!  Details to come!!!

Summer’s Over, but Diversity Abounds!

Well the cooler temperatures and crisp morning air surely confirms that Fall is beginning to arrive!  It’s a season that brings with it a harvest of incredible flavors and opportunities to enjoy a widely varied menu of dishes!  While there are many ‘traditional’ Fall staples such as Roasted Turkey, Pumpkin Pie, Stuffing and all the other trimmings…there are many more cuisines just waiting to be sampled!

In addition to the wide variety of fresh produce that still hits the shelves of your favorite grocery this time of year, such as; Butternut and Acorn Squash, Pumpkins and Brussel Sprouts along with a veritable plethora of root veggies…it’s the time of year when proteins abound!  Grass-fed Beef, Hormone Free and Sustainable Poultry or Pork are abundant!  As hunters return to the field, there’s also an ample supply of fresh game to be had too!

While our expertise in preparing the traditional ‘Meat and Potato’ meals which are so popular to the Central Pennsylvanian palate is extensive, we also like to seek out those locally grown treasures that are at their peak this time of year for our customers.  We prepare them and provide suggestions to present them in new and exciting ways that are simple to ‘heat and eat’, but pleasing to the eye and quite tasty too!

So, if you think that having professionally prepared meals that are home-made and packaged so that you can simply toss them in whatever kind of oven you’d like and have them on the plate in minutes with no muss and no fuss could benefit you…give us a call at 717-254-1937 or visit us online; GreatQ4U.net and let us get to know what you like!

Our Focus is on Meeting YOUR Needs!

We understand well the meaning of the word ‘Service’ and as a Personal Chef Service, that is exactly what we strive to offer each and every customer!  We know that no two people or families are alike and that personal tastes, dietary requirements and general food ‘likes’ vary significantly…so we start by getting to know your style!

Every one of our Customer relationships begins with a consultation that allows us to get to know you and vica versa!  Our desire is to understand the types of foods that you like, don’t like and those that you simply can’t or must have!  We work with you to build menu plans that will excite your taste buds and keep it coming!  We don’t cook the same meals over and over again…unless that’s what you want!

YES…our catering business is all about cooking Authentic ‘Low & Slow’, North Carolina Style BBQ products, but our Chef who is self taught has spent decades preparing widely varied meals for groups from 2 to 2,000 people!  Jim has the ‘front line’ experience of cooking in Fire Houses and Parking Lots…his talents in your kitchen will be self evident and quite tasty!

SO…if you think that you can benefit from the time, money or calories that a Personal Chef can save you…give us a call 717-254-1937 or visit us online and submit an info request from our website; GreatQ4U.net

Cooking in ANY Quantity or Capacity that YOU need!

Following a week in which I was part of a team of people who set up a commercial kitchen and distribution center in a Sam’s Club parking lot, then cooked nearly 5,000 ‘Real Deal’, Slow Smoked BBQ meals for flood victims in some of the hardest hit neighborhoods in Central PA…I am tired!  In fact, I’m exhausted, BUT there is still much work to be done!

Our BBQ Catering Business (GreatQ4U.com) slowed a bit in August, but remains busy throughout the Fall and we are still wondering whether or not we’ll be doing Smoked Turkeys this year for Thanksgiving…a decision is coming soon and you’ll be the first to know!  I’ve been pouring through Fall recipes from MANY sources so that out Personal Chef service clients get unique and tasty meals that meet their needs AND planning for next year’s BBQ Menu!

SO…with all of that going on, I am reminded yet again of how busy we ALL are these days and why exactly a Personal Chef can benefit YOU!  Yes, at first it may seem an ‘extravagant’ expense, but then when you add up the fuel that you use travelling to and from the grocery store, the time that you spend buying groceries, loading them into and out of your car, storing them in your Pantry or Fridge, then preparing meals while using even more electric and/or fuel…it’s really a pretty good deal!

In fact, the TIME savings alone can make our services worthwhile, but then as you look at the number of times you’re eating at restaurants and the amount that you spend there…well, suffice it to say, it can be daunting!  Don’t forget the health benefits!  Eating frozen, pre-prepared meals and restaurant food means ingesting LOTS of preservatives, calories and saturated fat that may be hiding from those tempting menus or box labels!  All of the food that we make for you is truly Home Cooked goodness!  no preservatives, we can control salt and fat content to your specific requests and typically it will save you LOTS of calories!

SO…whether you just need help with a get together, you’re looking for a ‘special’ dinner in with Professional Chef and Table Service to handle all the details OR if you would like us to prepare several nights worth of meals for you and your family leaving them labeled and packaged so you can simply ‘Heat and Eat’ – we have got you covered!  Visit us online at GreatQ4U.net or give us a call at 717-254-1937 and see how we can help you save time AND money while eating better at home!

Our Thoughts are with our Customers and All Affected by the Flooding!

As we endure this ongoing deluge and record flooding in Central Pennsylvania, our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragedy!  Remember; don’t drive through standing water and be safe!

Our plans to travel to Vermont and New Jersey have obviously changed and we will be cooking free BBQ for folks affected right here in Central PA and those helping them in coming days.  Details will be posted here, on our FaceBook page and at our catering website; http://www.GreatQ4U.com