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General questions
 What do I need to do to reserve a spot?
How can I pay for my session?
What if I need to reschedule my reservation or make a change to my order?
What do you do in the store to assure food safety?
Food related issues
What types of food are we going to prepare?
Is this gourmet food?
Will my kids like the food?
How much food do I get?
What are my options if I don't want that much food?
How many people does each dinner serve?
Can The Chef's Secret help me with my entertaining?
I have some dietary restrictions and or allergies, can you help me?
About our store
What should I bring?
What do I get?
Can someone who doesn't know how to cook use this concept?
Where is the store?
How can The Chef's Secret save me money?
Once you're home
What do I actually take home and how is it packaged?
What happens when I get back home?
Will it fit in my refrigerator?
How long does it take to thaw a meal?
Why do you have temperatures on some of the cooking instructions?
What do I need to do to reserve a spot?
Use our convenient website to place your order today! Orders can also be placed by calling or visiting our store. [back]
How can I pay for my session?
We accept credit cards, cash, or check. [back]
What do you do in the store to assure food safety?
The Chef's Secret meets or exceeds the Washington County Health Department Safety rules. All employees are trained in food safety and cooking instructions comply with the food safety guidelines. [back]
What types of food are offered?
Menus change monthly but typical offerings include poultry, pasta, beef, pork, and seafood. Dinners are prepared by baking/broiling in the oven, on the stove top, slow cooker or grill. Please see this month's menu. [back]
Is this gourmet food?
Our food is definitely family-friendly, simple to prepare, and perfect for an "everyday" dinner. Every month we include some dishes that are just a tad bit nicer so you can proudly serve them to your guests. [back]
Will my kids like the food?
Our dinners are aimed at satisfying a wide variety of tastes. The beauty of custom creating your own meals is that you can customize each meal any way you like. Kids don't like onions, let us know and we will leave them out, etc. [back]
How much food do I get?
We use the following guidelines in general when designing our recipes. [back]
| Food Groups |
2 Servings |
4 Servings |
6 Servings |
| Protein |
1 lb protein |
2 lbs protein |
3 lbs protein |
| Starch |
2 cups pasta or similar |
4 cups pasta or similar |
6 cups pasta or similar |
| Vegetables |
2 cups |
4 cups |
6 cups |
What are my options if I don't want that much food?
One option is to buy the 2 Servings option. Another great option is to give some meals to elderly parents, children living on their own, or college kids in need of a home-cooked meal! [back]
How many people does each dinner serve?
We find that portion quantities in the US are a very personal choice. Our recipes meet or exceed the guideline for the USDA Pyramid for serving 4 people. Based on experience we have found that ordering a meal that feeds 4 will serve 4 adults with healthy appetites or 2 adults and 2-4 small children. Casseroles generally feed 6 adults with healthy appetites. We recommend that you look at how much protein your family normally consumes and judge based on this. [back]
Can The Chef's Secret help me with my entertaining?
Yes! Order two of the same dinner, or complementary meals, and serve to your guests. You will have a low stress entertaining experience and your guests will love the food. [back]
I have some dietary restrictions and or allergies, can you help me?
Absolutely! Please let us know in advance to help you select your 12 entrées. If somebody you will be serving food to is allergic to an ingredient, please choose another dish in the menu since we cannot be held responsible for allergic reactions.[back]
What should I bring?
The only thing you will need to bring is a standard-sized cooler or laundry basket to carry all your delicious meals home. [back]
What do I get?
When you leave you will have 8-12 labeled entrées that feed at least 2-6 people (depending on which entrée option chosen). [back]
Can someone who doesn't know how to cook use this concept?
Yes! Since we've done all the prep work our simple to follow instructions make it easy for even the most novice cook to prepare fabulous meals from The Chef's Secret. [back]
How can The Chef's Secret save me money?
Because of our buying power and vendor relationships, The Chef's Secret is able to create menu selections at excellent prices for your family. You will notice fewer trips to the grocery store, fewer impulse purchases with fast-food and less spoilage/waste of all the food you bought at the grocery store and never had time to prepare and cook. [back]
What do I actually take home and how is it packaged?
You will take home 8-12 meals in either ziploc bags or aluminum foil pans. Each package will be labeled with cooking instructions. [back]
What happens when I get back home?
After a session, you will take home 8-12 meals ready to be frozen. We recommend you always keep 1-2 meals in the refrigerator ready to be cooked at a moment's notice. When you use one, replace it with one from the freezer. Then all you have to do is thaw the food and finish cooking or reheating. We provide easy instructions. [back]
Will it fit in my refrigerator?
12 full-size entrées will fit in a standard refrigerator/freezer with room left over for your basic necessities. It's a tight fit but worth the reward! [back]
How long does it take to thaw a meal?
Depending on your refrigerator and freezer settings, most entrées thaw within 1-2 days. Some of the heavier casseroles, meats may take a little longer. All entrées should be thawed in the refrigerator for safety. [back]
Why do you have temperatures on some of the cooking instructions?
The minimum temperatures on some cooking instructions are based on food safety regulations. They should be used in conjunction with a meat thermometer to ensure your food is cooked to a safe temperature. [back]
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