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

Our booking policy is flexible, so don't worry if these details change. Our chef services are available in 

, though many Culinista® chefs are happy to travel. For services outside of these areas, 

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.

Dairy

Eggs

Fish

Shellfish

Nuts

Gluten

Sesame

Beef

Alliums

Low Carb

Low Sugar

High Protein

Vegetarian

Vegan

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Low Fat

High Fat

Think & Drink

Roasted Eggplant with Pine Nut & Raisins

Greek Salad

Tzatziki Roasted Chicken

Sea Bass & Tomatoes ($)

Hummus & Crudités

Locally Caught Fish with Lemon ($)

Greek Salad Skewers

Falafel with Sumac Yogurt

Grilled Vegetables with Tahini Sauce

Eggplant with Couscous & Mint

Tomato Baked Feta & Baguette

Santorini Chicken

Blood Orange Cake

Lamb Chops ($)

Offsite

Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Purples & Greens

White Bean Hummus & Crudités

Spanakopita

Halloumi, Beets & Citrus

Lamb Keftedes with Tzatziki

Fig Frozen Yogurt with Baklava Brittle ($)

Three Feta Dips

Cod with Skordalia ($)

Giouvetsi

Feta in Phyllo

Dill Yogurt Dressed Greens

Olive Oil Poached Halibut ($)

Golden Baked Feta & Baguette

Roasted Tomato & Labneh Dip

Swordfish & Crushed Olives

Mediterranean Whitefish Spread

Shrimp Saganaki Meatballs

Grilled Halloumi & White Beans

Honeydew & Kiwi

Martini Bar

G & T Bar

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, LA, and the D.C. metro area, 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.

If you’ve received a Culinistas gift card, congratulations! To redeem, simply 

 and use this email address when prompted to log in or create an account. You can apply your full balance to your service total or just a portion. Your gift card balance will appear as Culinista credits in the Payments section of your Account Dashboard.

Gift cards are delivered to the recipient via email. When you checkout, you can select the date you’d like the card to be delivered. If you’d prefer to print the card and give it to the recipient manually, simply send the card to your own email address.

Gift cards expire one year from the date of delivery.

A Culinistas gift card is ideal for anyone in need of nourishment: busy families, new parents, working professionals, recent grads, frequent hosts, or anyone who needs to ease the stress of cooking.

, 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.

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.

All gift card purchases and purchase amounts are final. To increase the amount of your gift, please purchase an additional gift card for a custom amount.

The choice is yours! Gift cards are available for any of our 

. You may also purchase a custom gift card in the amount of your choosing.

When you purchase a service-specific gift card, the recommended amount is intended to cover the service fee, 20% tip, sales tax, and the cost of groceries. Exact grocery costs will vary based on the recipient’s dish selections. Recipients may apply the gift card to any service, regardless of giver intent.

Certain ingredients in these dishes may make them more costly—and increase your total grocery bill—so we wanted to let you know. 

Gift Cards

All great dishes start with an aromatic base to develop flavor

Build A Foundation

A dish that alchemizes three bold and distinct flavors to hit sweet, sour, savory, salty, and bitter notes

Trifecta

Herbs that thread flavor throughout a recipe and garnish

Infusing Oil

Browning your protein (crisping the exterior while softening the interior) will help to intensify its flavor

Char Goes Far

Using a sharp ingredient to cut the richness from heavier ingredients

Balancing Act

Large format & straightforward recipes that are ideal for crowds

Party Meal

Layering different types of the same fruit or vegetable to your dish for an extra level of complexity

Tomayto Tomahto

The unexpected pairing of something sweet to a protein complements the dish

Sweet Ingredient + Savory Protein

Prior to cooking, toasting grains helps to intensify its flavor

Boost Your Grains

Using a multitude of soft stem herbs helps to brighten your dressings & marinades

All the Herbs

Flavor keys include techniques from across the culinary spectrum (think: infusing, searing, marinating, pickling) but they all share the same goal: to maximize every ingredient’s flavor, every time you cook. 

Flavor

A generous attitude is the secret ingredient in any gathering. These keys ensure the mood is right, everyone feels comfortable, and the gathering is seamless. 

Hosting

Ultimate Clambake

Sangria Bar

A French-ish spread featuring forkable and finger-friendly bites. Pairs perfectly with our Negroni Bar.

Classic Cocktail Hour

Summer Farm to Plate

Bring home the warming flavors and aromas of Moroccan cuisine with this robust menu of favorites, like Spiced Lamb with Couscous and Eggplant & Cauliflower Tagine. 

Moroccan Feast

It’s all about the Indian spices in this menu. Chicken Tikka Masala and Vegetable Biryani do the heavy lifting, while Coconut Chai Cake ends things on a delicate note. 

Indian Rasoi

Cancel that reservation; the steak, and its beloved sides, are getting cooked up in-house.

Steakhouse Classics

To Start

Sea Bass & Tomatoes

Cod with Skordalia

Olive Oil Poached Halibut

Locally Caught Fish with Lemon

Lamb Chops

Family Style

Fig Frozen Yogurt with Baklava Brittle

Citrus Cake

Dessert

Drinks

Greece’s most popular dishes, made in your kitchen. Crispy-topped Spanakopita is always a hit, and Fig Frozen Yogurt with Baklava Brittle is nothing short of decadence. 

Opa! Taverna

Jewish Classics

Italian Snacks

Sandwich Stand 

Pub Food

Backyard BBQ

Inspired by Chinese-American favorites, this menu is an umami-rich feast with some ‘nista twists. Think Beef & Broccolini and Spinach & Garlic Cauli Rice.

Dynasty Dinner 

Paella is the ultimate dish to gather around, and this menu lets it shine. When it comes to drinks, we simply can’t recommend our Scarlet Sangria enough. 

Paella Night

Peak Summer Specials

Endless Summer 

Seaside Ceviche 

Marky's Caviar Party

Calling all tomatoes and peak season herbs (hello, basil); it’s your time to shine. This menu is bound to help you cool off and satisfy your hunger at the same time.

Summer Gluten Free

Plated Classics

Pizza Party

This peak-summer brunch showcases the season’s best produce: tender lettuces, all the zucchini, juicy berries. Get it while the bounty lasts. 

Summer Brunch

Picnic Prep

Raw Bar

This client-favorite menu is nothing but the hits: Bagels & Lox and Mushroom Potato Hash for those who skew savory, and Banana French Toast and Fruit Salad for the sweeties. 

Big Brunch

Coastal Grill 

Tequila Bar

Cinq à Sept

Surf & Turf

Have a night at the cantina, with dishes like Chicken Tortilla Soup and Esquites, and your choice of tacos: we like carnitas, fish, or both. 

Taqueria en Casa 

Quintessential Culinista Summer

First Signs of Summer 

Salad Bar

Italian Trattoria 

Gin, Tonic & Toasts

Send a Culinistas gift card to someone who needs to be nourished.

The gift of home-cooked food

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

A gift with meaning

Simple to redeem

Flexible & customizable

We make it easy to bring people together around food.

Let us set you up for a week of delicious, healthy eating.

Weekly Meal Prep

We share the keys to effortless cooking and hosting, so you can do both with confidence.

Designed to nurture new parents as they ease into a new routine.

Postpartum Meal Prep

Our Services

Gift Card FAQs

Hosting made easy with a Culinista chef.

Choose your Menu

Share the Details

Sit Back and Relax

How It Works

Our menus are vibrant, seasonal, and infinitely customizable.

Ready to gather?

In Season

Favorites

Grazing

Peak Summer

Our Menus

All Culinista chefs come highly referred and must pass a background check and a cooking interview.

Thoroughly Vetted

Culinista chefs have graduated from top culinary schools and worked in the best restaurants.

Professionally Trained

We handpick the best chefs for you based on their skills and your needs.

Perfectly Paired

Culinista® Chefs

Whether you’re hosting your partner or a group of ten, these keys ensure the atmosphere is comfortable and the meal is memorable. With the kitchen under control, 