Please enjoy $100 off gatherings of 12 people or more. Discount automatically applied. 

Gatherings

Meal Prep

A Season or Long Term

Cooking Classes

Chef Services Overview

The Culinistas is a resource that gives everyone the freedom and confidence to connect around a meal.

Our optional drinks service includes up to 2 drinks plus waitstaff who will arrive 1 hour before guests and provide 4 hours of service. Additional time will be billed at $60/hour. The Culinistas will provide ice and non-alcoholic ingredients. The host is responsible for providing alcohol.

You bring the jazzy playlist. We’ll handle the rest.

This Steakhouse Menu Brings the Sizzle Home

Commence the sipping, snacking & socializing.

6 Cocktail Party Theme Ideas

Consider these five factors, and you’ll never stress about the last course.

How to Pick the Perfect Dinner Party Dessert

Every year, the autumn harvest commands our attention with its abundance of apples, squash varieties, and cruciferous veg. Make the most of the bounty and (it’s that time!) break out the Dutch oven again—or 

 do the honors. Whether you’re clinging to the last gasp of summer or commencing braising season, there’s a menu here for you.


Missing a night on the town? No FOMO here.

10 Fall Dinner Party Menus For Cozy Nights In

7 Postpartum-Friendly Dishes For Your Fourth Trimester

You deck the halls, we’ll set the table.

A Christmas Dinner Menu to Make the Holidays Bright

Stop refreshing your reservation app and kickstart your day from the comfort of home with these cozy menus. We’re playing the hits with fluffy ricotta pancakes, veggie-laden frittatas, granola butter for your toast, and a Calabrian egg salad. Round up your sleepy-eyed friends or make it a family affair: we think these spreads will please any crowd. What’s better? Only waking up to a 

. Two hour wait time—we don’t do that anymore.

Set your Alarm for these 8 Brunch Menus 

Yes, you should be having fun at your own party.

The Culinistas’ Ultimate Guide to Hosting

We are tired of gluten-free meals that fall flat. These menus reset the bar, relying on aromatics, spice combos, and creative substitutions so they don’t need gluten to stand on their own. Creamy dips and colorful crudités steal the show; herb-laden dressings take grain bowls to new heights, and desserts use alt flours to enhance textures. Try your hand or 

, but either way, you’re in the clear to invite your pickiest eaters and pasta-loving friends.

No place at the table for gluten? These menus are up for the challenge.

10 Gluten Free Menus That Everyone at the Table Will Love

Pick your next trip or reminisce about your most recent one with these menus. An expanded palate is a way to expand the mind so we collaborated with chefs whose regional expertise guided each dish. Unique ingredients, flavor combinations, and methods make themselves at home when cooked from your own kitchen, either by you or 

10 Menus for Traveling the Globe Without Leaving Your Kitchen

Don’t be intimidated: this Spanish classic can be conquered at home, even without a paella pan. 

How to Make Paella at Home

, but you don’t know what to cook. Our menus go beyond the classics (though there’s nothing wrong with a roast chicken, and we’ve got a menu for that). Our goal is to make a gathering memorable by making the intangible element of delicious food completely tangible. We choose food by season, region, or culture to create a cohesive menu. We know how to balance flavors as well as the pacing of the night through the dishes we select and the dining format that we suggest. Get adventurous yourself, or 

 one of these lineups. Either way, these spreads are destined to impress and leave you and your guests dreaming of one more bite.

10 Totally Unique Dinner Party Menus

What to get your favorite food lovers this year? Glad you asked.

The Culinistas’ Gift Guide for Every Home Cook & Host on Your List

You’ll be slinging pies like a pizzaiolo in no time.

How to Make Pizza in the Oven

Caramelized, juicy, and perfectly tender every time

How to Sear Steak Like a Chef

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, mangiamo!

Having an Italian Dinner Party? Here's What to Serve.

Falling snow, wood-burning fireplaces, and steaming mugs of whatever warms you most. Welcome winter with feasts that celebrate its bounty. Plunge into our Winter al Mare menu, and taste why now is prime time for seafood. Or tuck into Big Braise II, the strongest antidote we have against the chill. Sleigh winter with these 

, because you don’t need a holiday to have a dinner party—though we have 

12 Menus for Festive Winter Gatherings

Menu Ideas

How Tos & Inspiration

Gail Simmons

Top Chef

Dana Cowin

Food & Wine

Gwyneth Parltrow

Goop

Chef Aaron

Culinista chef since 2019

Upcoming

In Season

Favorites

Cocktail Hour

You can absolutely conquer this extravagant-looking centerpiece in your home kitchen. Let a Culinista chef show you how. 

Paella Night

Learn the keys to homemade pizza alongside a Culinista chef, and you'll be slinging pies like a pro in no time. 

Pizza Party

Let a Culinista chef teach you the keys to making desserts that steal the show.

New Dessert Classics

Learn all the keys to searing success with help from a Culinista chef, so you can your house can be a steakhouse any night of the week. 

Steak Night

Vegetarian

Vegan

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

The Big Green Salad

Horseradish Baked Salmon (Special Occasion) ($)

Pomegranate Salmon

Brussels & Pancetta

Mashed Potatoes ($)

Sautéed Greens

Crimson Quinoa

Cauliflower Mac & Cheddar

Sourdough Stuffing

Balsamic Green Beans

Autumn Burrata Bar ($)

Healthy Chicken Tenders

Charcuterie & Cheese Board ($)

Ginger Cranberry Sugar Cookies

Braised Short Ribs

Braised Lamb with Carrots

Berry Bowl

Delicata Kale Salad

RGC (Roasted Garlic Chicken)

Olio Santo Eggs

Apple Tarte Tatin with Whipped Cream ($)

Spicy Shrimp Cocktail

Aioli Shrimp Cocktail  ($)

Chocolate Pudding

Grilled Lobster ($)

Salmon Rillettes

Devils On Horseback

Apple Pear Crisp with Ice Cream

Veal Piccata (Special Occasion)

Coffee Hazelnut Trifle ($)

Mustard Seed Salmon

Spinach & Garlic Cauli Rice

Brussels Sprout Caesar

Pumpkin Rigatoni

Butternut Squash Schnitzel 

Creamed Kale 

Peppercorn Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Cream ($)

Pears with Prosciutto & Bleu Cheese

Gorgonzola Grapes

Parsnips & Potatoes with Bacon

Winter Vegetable Cobb

So-Cal Citrus

Beets & Sweets Gratin

Roasted Carrots & Turnips

Lemon Thyme Shrimp

Sweet Potato Hummus & Cruditès

Crispy Baked Artichoke Hearts

Rigatoni Bolognese

Garlic Confit Red Potatoes

Hasselback Butternut Squash

Charred Cabbage Gratin

Black Forest Cookies ($)

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding ($)

Grapes & Almonds

Solstice Fruit Salad

Power Green Salad

Sticky Salmon & Broccolini

Zucchini Nuggets

Cauliflower & Kale Pasta

Spinach & Artichoke Dip with Crudités & Sourdough

Negroni Bar

Fall & Winter Sangria Bar

Fall & Winter Sangria Bar (Special Occasion)

Stinger

Simmer Down

Essential Spice

Apple Toddy

Scarlet Sangria

Martini Bar

Bubbles Bar

Yes! We do receive requests for chefs outside of our core service areas, whether for seasonal work, short term travel, or long term, salaried positions.

The Culinistas is committed to offering chefs a flexible work schedule that fits their needs; therefore compensation varies widely and is dependent on the chef’s availability. Some chefs on our platform earn $2,000 a week working for The Culinistas on the side, and others earn $20,000 a month during a busy summer season.

Compensation starts at $175 for meal prep services and $350 for gatherings. Seasonal market and specialty day rates start at $500 per day. Full time roles typically start at $120K per year. All compensation is dependent upon experience, tenure at the company, and household size and needs.


Yes, we encourage Culinista chefs to work in multiple markets. We especially invite chefs across all markets to join us for our busy summer season in the Hamptons.

Gatherings start at $500 (based on guest count) plus groceries, sales tax and a $15 travel reimbursement. We automatically add 20% chef gratuity to all gatherings (i.e. $100 for $500 base rate).

Our chef services are available in the NYC metro area, the Hamptons, L.A., the D.C. metro area, Austin, and S.F., though many Culinista® chefs are happy to travel. For services outside of these areas, 

Yes! Your Culinista chef will plate and serve your meal. If your gathering requires additional waitstaff, we’ll staff a reliable server from our trusted network.

All Culinista cooking services happen in the client’s home. Most chefs prefer to bring their knives–all other tools and appliances will usually be provided.

The Client Services team will present service opportunities to you based on your location and availability. You will always have the option to accept or decline a request based on your schedule and needs. Once matched with a meal prep client, you will automatically be scheduled with them on a weekly basis unless you need a substitute.

Our cooking classes can accommodate up to 12 people.

We created The Culinistas to make it easier for chefs to do what they love, no matter what stage they are at in their careers. Our HQ team handles the booking, menu planning, billing, and logistics with household clients, so Culinista® chefs can focus on cooking and hospitality. We offer flexibility for those who want it, and stability for those looking for a consistent schedule.

The first step to becoming a Culinista chef is filling out 

. Once we have received your application, we will…

Schedule a 30-minute phone interview to let you know more about the company and and to learn more about you.

For VIP consideration (i.e. summer Hamptons, winter in Aspen, long term placements), ask you to provide up to three references and create sample menus based on different household scenarios.

Complete a 90-minute in person cooking interview. We send you two Culinista recipes the day prior so that you can review and create your prep list. We grocery shop ahead of time, you show up with your knives and other tools you carry in your knife roll. You have 90 minutes to cook, clean and pack up the food (including labeling each dish), emulating a mini meal prep service.

Complete a background check and attend our virtual best practices session.

Culinista Kitchen® cooking classes start at  $500 (based on guest count) plus groceries, sales tax and a $15 travel reimbursement. We automatically add 20% chef gratuity to all cooking classes.

Yes, we have many seasonal opportunities available. Summer in the Hamptons is our busiest seasonal market.

We work with trusted local partners in each of our service areas who will be happy to recommend wines based on your menu and coordinate delivery to your home. Feel free to reach out to the below businesses—let them know we sent you. 

Chamber Street Wines (sam@chambersstwines.com)

Domestique Wine (info@domestiquewine.com).

The most successful chefs on our platform:

Are trained via culinary school and/or restaurant kitchens

Have a combination of fine dining and private chef experience

Have at least 3 years of professional kitchen experience

Are comfortable cooking in high net worth households

Are flexible, adaptable & highly organized

Culinista® chefs are naturally courteous, service-oriented, socially adaptable, organized, flexible and fun.

Our chef services are available in the NYC metro area, the Hamptons, L.A., the D.C. metro area, Austin, and S.F., though we fill requests for chefs outside of these areas (from New Jersey to Nice).

Our three cooking class menus—Paella Party, Steak Night, and Pizza Party—are carefully designed to teach you our 

. Whichever menu you choose, you may customize it during the booking process. 

Culinista® chefs are paid a $15 travel reimbursement for every service as a stipend for gas, car service, public transit, etc.

, telling us the details of your gathering and your preferred menu, and we’ll match you with the ideal Culinista chef. Your Culinista chef will arrive with groceries and handle the prep, cooking, serving, and clean up while you enjoy time with your guests.

Yes, we are happy to help chefs find full time work when we receive such requests. If you’re interested in a salaried position on staff with one family, please let us know in your application.

Yes. Clients make selections from menus we design based on over 600 recipes, all of which were developed in house by our culinary team or in collaboration with international consultants. These recipes are designed to ensure that every service is a success.

The Culinistas is a culinary resource that gives everyone the freedom and confidence to connect around a meal.  Through our chef platform, we match vetted private chefs like you with households for in home weekly meal prep, gatherings, and seasonal or long term needs—like full time positions on staff, travel opportunities, and more. As a company built by and for chefs, we aim to take the logistics off Culinista® chefs’ plates so they can provide hospitality and expand their culinary acumen.

If your gathering requires an extra set of hands, we’ll staff a reliable server or bartender from our Culinista network. We do not coordinate rentals or decor but can connect you with vetted vendors if you need additional support.

Our cooking classes are available in the NYC metro area, the Hamptons, L.A., the D.C. metro area, Austin, and S.F.

Our cooking classes are for all ages, including kids, teens, and adults. They’re designed to help anyone become a better and more confident home cook. We will always adjust our course material based on the participants in class, getting more hands on with a small, adventurous group, or teaching by demonstration if the group is large. We won’t let kids do anything risky, but we will find fun ways to help them participate. Cooking classes are limited to 12 people or fewer. 

We offer you a Culinista credit card to use when grocery shopping for your clients. Culinista clients pay the full cost of groceries.

Your work schedule will depend on your preferences and location, and will likely vary by the season, but you can expect to work anywhere from 20 to 40 hours per week.

Our cooking classes are designed to help anyone become a better and more confident home cook by focusing on skills that can be applied to many dishes. A Culinista chef will demo the preparation of one full dish, teaching core concepts that we call 

, and cook three additional dishes to enjoy as part of your meal. 

Cooking classes are limited to 12 people or fewer. We will always adjust our course material based on the participants in class, either getting more hands on with a small, adventurous group, or teaching by demonstration if the group is large. We won’t let kids do anything risky, but we will find fun ways to help them participate.

Become a Chef

Dishes that give tips on how to utilize leftover ingredients or components

Leftover Mise

Prior to cooking, toasting grains helps to intensify its flavor

Boost Your Grains

All cooked in one vessel, efficient with minimal clean up

One Pot Wonder

Nut + herb + citrus + olive oil, all you need for a perfect pesto

Pesto Equation

Ageless Favorite 

All great dishes start with an aromatic base to develop flavor

Christmas

To Start

Charcuterie & Cheese Board

Spinach & Artichoke Dip with Crudités & Sourdough

Spicy Shrimp Cocktail

Family Style

The Big Green Salad

Braised Short Ribs

Pomegranate Salmon

Brussels & Pancetta

Balsamic Green Beans

Charred Cabbage Gratin

Dessert

Apple Tarte Tatin with Whipped Cream

Drinks

Fall & Winter Sangria Bar

Hosting made easy with a Culinista chef.

Choose your Menu

Share the Details

Sit Back and Relax

Culinista chefs hail from top restaurants around the country. They help celebrate our culinary methods and approach to hospitality.

Party Like a Culinista

Our services also include chefs for weekly meal prep, cooking classes, and seasonal & long term needs.