Do you like to cook, but not all the time? For many, a way to truly relax on vacation is NO cook at all. Asheville is known for its culinary talent. But you can opt for a personal chef, instead of a restaurant.
Locals living in the western North Carolina area can bring personal chefs into their homes for special occasions or as a regular addition to their daily lives. Compared to a restaurant, it is not much more expensive to stay with your loved one and enjoy a fantastic meal cooked right in the kitchen.
In Asheville, there is a selection of chefs specializing in all types of culinary styles. A personal chef will shop for all the ingredients for a meal (or more than one) and come into your own kitchen to cook it. At the 25-cabin resort I own and manage, many guests don’t want to leave the beauty of the wooded forest or the fireplace for a restaurant dinner. So a quick call to a personal chef is a great alternative.
Delight your appetite! Take a look at these personal chefs and select one that appeals to your taste buds, or try a few.
The salty palate
The Savory Palate is owned by Holly Hale, a graduate of the Johnson and Wales Culinary School. For small diners, The Savory Palate will come to your location and provide you with a menu for $45-50 per hour plus food costs. There are some sample four-course meal menus on The Savory Palate website. Hale has run Savory Chef since 2001 and is highly regarded as a culinary talent.
Thyme Personal Chef Flavor
For between $200 and $300, the personal chef will come to your residence or vacation rental and bring a variety of cooking styles and options to the table. These include:
Weight Watchers, Atkins and South Beach menus, light cuisine entrées, diabetic menus or adaptations made to regular recipes, vegetarian food, international cuisine, comfort foods and more. The Thyme Savor personal chef easily caters for the person with a special diet. Chef Denise, the owner, was raised on a farm and learned to cook from scratch. As part of the Thyme Savor philosophy, Chef Denise believes in cooking “healthy, nutritious and custom designed meals”.
The Change of Seasons and Kwan Yin Medicine
Changing Seasons is a personal chef service with an emphasis on healthy vegan, macrobiotic and live food options. This type of food attracts many who live in and visit the Asheville area. Please refer to the Convenience Service on the website that will apply to those visiting Asheville and staying in a vacation rental. Prices start at $70 minimum for chef and food is extra. Changing Seasons is a wonderful option for those who follow a strict diet with very specific food choices as part of their daily routine.
the personal cook
Personal Cook owner and chef, Erika Wiseman, trained at the Southeast Institute of Culinary Arts and is a Certified Military Food Technician. The personal cook adopts an expanded continental type of menu, right down to bologna sandwiches, lamb burgers and smoked sausages. The personal cook comes to your Asheville residence or vacation rental and will deliver meals almost anywhere, even outdoor locations like a gazebo.
Each of these personal chefs has their own personal style and culinary background. The menus may differ and so may the cuisine. Almost everyone has a way of eating that meets their needs and satisfies their own palate. No matter what your choice, it makes sense to enjoy a personal chef while you’re at home, entertaining, or even on vacation in Asheville, NC Sit back and let someone else do the cooking for once.
Enjoy!