What is an average price to see for a ~15 person dinner party where a personal chef will be providing the food?
I was quoted $230 per person, and that’s NOT including cost of groceries. I’ve never hosted an event like this so just looking to gauge if this is normal, or on the pricier side?
I’ve opted to create a custom menu (1 specialty drink, 4-5 hors d’oeuvres served for guests to grab on their own, 1 main course plated for each person to eat at the dinner table, and 1 dessert option)
The following is what the chef provides: “printed menus, quality ingredient sourcing, on-site food preparations, wait service (if needed), post-service clean up, light tablescaping, dinnerware, and servingware provided.”
Thoughts?
I am hosting this event in Northern VA, not far from DC.
I’m doing a simple 4 course family style meal for xmas eve for $185 a person for 18 ppl.
For fine dining style full service plated etc $230 is def in the ballpark. A private chef is a luxury service, you could always go to a nice restaurant for cheaper.
With such a small party, you don't get the economy of scale.
A chef has fixed costs (time) for any event. There is planning, contracts, shopping, prep, cooking, breakdown, clean up, and storing.
If you were doing 25 people, that cost per person would decline a lot: more heads to distribute those fixed costs against.
I actually, originally, had planned to cover all costs so that my guests could just enjoy themselves and good food. Now I’m rethinking a partial distribution, MAYBE.
I don't know your people, but I do know people. In many cases this is risking all sorts of potential risk for trouble. Ultimately you will be on the hook for payment with any arrangement you make for your home, but others will feel entitled to input before AND after the dinner.
Ever thrown a wedding where finances are divided by multiple parties? Ugh, my worst nightmare.
This is absolutely reasonable if chef is providing passed apps and the wait staff.
Not to mention tablescaping, dinnerware, and serving ware…
I’m a private chef and I have manly trained in Michelin stars, being executive sous a two different ones. I do a 6 course tasting menu for 250 a person. I bring all the plateware, silverware, (rented) wine glasses. This also incudes 2 servers. My groceries are included so to me that seems high. I also fully clean your kitchen as well. (So there are some perks that go along with my pricing to make your experience a little more elevated) Seems a little high, but it’s also during the holidays when everything is more expensive. (I can’t bring myself to do that) but you are hiring for a luxury service. NYC/chicago/ sf that pricing sounds about right. You’re right next to dc sooooo maybe. But what they are preparing it’s pretty minimal.
Fair pricing
The price can vary a lot depending on the ability and popularity of the chef. If you go through private chef hiring platforms, the price is usually more fixed with a package. It’s good to get more quotes for comparison.
Will do. Thank you!
The chef is quoting you full service event pricing. If you just want dinner you could cater at 50-80 a person during the holiday season. At 230 a person you may as well go for a chef's menu in a nice restaurant. In my city average per person is for a world class place is 120 for a chef's menu and another 60 for a wine pairing.
Damn we charged more than that for a tasting menu at a 2* 20 years ago
Not in DC/NOVA. I don’t live there anymore, but grew up there and actually on my way to that area right now for Christmas because my family still lives there.
You absolutely will not get even a 1 Michelin star restaurant tasting menu for 120$, the wine itself might be 120$
I don't really buy that sorry, I live in a world class destination.
You don’t have to “buy it” because I worked in Michelin star kitchens in DC for years. Now it was probably 8-10 years ago, but at the 1 star the tasting menu was 7 courses and $210 and then $150 for the wining pairing. When I was at a 2 Michelin star, the tasting menu was 18-23 courses and $420 a person but did include wine.
Ive paid $300-700pp and I'm well aware there are tasting menus far pricier but theyve not once compared to anything on the lower price point except where it was noodle based.
Oh yeah, well I've paid $900pp. In your face.
Vancouver, BC?
Where is this?
canada
Maybe 10 years ago?
That is fair, I would say at 15 it’s on the cusp of restaurant territory.
Also if this is a big night like NYE, you are also paying a premium for that compared to a less busy weekday (much less expensive) or weekend (less expensive).
I have a very good resume and im fortunate enough to be sought after in NYC. A 5 course tasting menu including groceries but excluding drinks or extra service staff would run you $300 pp.
For all they’re doing that’s low end pricing.
Youre making out like a bandit, if hes using quality ingredients.
Are you hiring a Michelin star Chef?!
No, we would charge $500 a person.
Not by any means!
You can always get something cheaper but then you’d be getting something cheaper.
$230 is a completely reasonable number for a very nice private dinner
So probably 4500/5000 for a dinner party? You’re better off going to a restaurant and seeing if you can buy it out for a few hours for that price. Or at the very least reserving a section.
230 (assuming USD?) per person is a bit on the high end - but considering you want on-site catering for 15 people not unreasonable.
Yes, but that price should include the food…..