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

Pork

Sesame

Beef

Alliums

Gail Simmons

Top Chef

Dana Cowin

Food & Wine

Gwyneth Parltrow

Goop

Low Carb

Low Sugar

High Protein

Vegetarian

Vegan

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Low Fat

High Fat

Pork Milanese

Meatballs Marinara

Flourless Chocolate Cake ($)

Vegetable Aioli

Smoked Salmon Carpaccio

Roasted Veggies

Crab Summer Rolls 

Berries & Whip

Tzatziki Roasted Chicken

Coconut Rice

Parsley Pesto Broc & Beans

Lamb Meatballs with Herb Sauce

Healthy Chicken Tenders

Pineapple & Persimmons

Braised Lamb with Carrots

Arugula & Pea Salad

Berry Bowl

Green Lasagna

Squash with Herbs

Aioli Shrimp Cocktail  ($)

Blueberry Semolina Cake

Stinger

Ginger-Chili Acorn Squash

Lamb Chops ($)

Mikan of the Minds

Bok Choy & Grapefruit

Farm Fresh Lettuces with Herbs

Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Purples & Greens

Mustard Seed Salmon

Seared Polenta & Mushrooms 

Pumpkin Bran Bread

Peppercorn Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Cream ($)

Lemony Pasta Fagioli

Chocolate Zucchini Snack Cake

Baked Halibut with Radish Pesto ($)

Cod with Skordalia ($)

Roast Chicken with Spring Vegetables

Vignarola

Raspberry Tiramisu ($)

Sweet Pea Hummus & Crudités

Pesto Roasted Potatoes  ($)

Sicily Spritz

Green Juice

Tequila Tuk Tuk

Herbed Farro

Crispy Baked Artichoke Hearts

Seared Chicken with Basil Aioli

California Dip & Crudités 

Coconut Poached Chicken

Sweet Potato & Fennel Soup

Shaved Vegetable Salad with Parmesan & Mint Vinaigrette 

Radishes & Rocket

Eggplant Meatballs with Kale Pesto

Scallops with Carrot & Asparagus

Por Pia, Thai Spring Rolls

Ghang Dhang Fak, Thai Curry Squash

Yum Nua Yang, Thai Steak Salad ($)

Pad Kee Mao, Thai Drunken Noodles

Coconut Sticky Rice with Thai Tea Poached Pears

Bass with Yum Sapparod, Bass with Spicy Pineapple Salad

Power Green Salad

Sticky Salmon & Broccolini

Fava Goat Cheese Dip & Crudités 

Fava Spinach Salad

Zucchini Nuggets

Portobello Pasta 

Green Rice

Strawberry Semolina Cake

G & T Bar

Bubbles Bar

Spritz Bar

If you have questions or concerns about your bill, please contact accounting@theculinistas.com.

We thoroughly review all preferences and thoughtfully match you with a chef to meet those needs. If you are unhappy with the match for any reason, 

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.

All services are billed with 20% gratuity included, 100% of which will go to your Culinista chef. While there is no expectation to do so, you are welcome to provide an additional cash tip for extraordinary service.

In general, we’re happy to source another chef who is a better fit. 

 and select from our three Class Menus—Paella Party, Steak Night, and Pizza Party—which are carefully designed to teach you our Culinista Keys. We’ll show you how to create a balanced menu, master mise en place, improvise with confidence, and streamline your time in the kitchen. There are options for customization within each menu.

Culinista chefs hail from top restaurants and culinary schools around the country. They help celebrate our culinary methods and approach to hospitality. We thoroughly vet every chef on our platform, including background checks and a cooking interview. We handpick the right chefs for you based on their skills and your needs.

You are able to skip, pause, or deactivate your weekly service at any time using your client dashboard prior to 48 hours before your next service. At 48 hours prior to your next service, your service is confirmed and your service fee is nonrefundable. If you cancel within 48 hours of service, you will be charged the full service fee plus any charges incurred by the chef, including groceries and travel at the company’s discretion.

At 24 hours prior to your next service, if you have not yet selected your weekly menu, your service will be canceled and you will be charged the full service fee. Culinista chefs need a menu to grocery shop and plan, and without enough notice, your service cannot be executed properly.

If someone in your household is sick or in case of medical emergency, we will attempt to reschedule at the chef’s convenience within six days of your original service date. This is upon company discretion, and you may be held responsible for the full service fee. If the chef is unavailable for a rescheduled service, we will send you a different chef at the company’s discretion. If you are unable to reschedule within six days of your original service date, you will still be charged the full service fee.

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.

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

The Culinistas HQ is a talented and passionate team of culinary, editorial, operations, customer service, and marketing professionals. View our open roles 

Our services fall into four main categories: 

. For more information on each, explore the links above and refer to the relevant FAQ sections on this page.

We develop all our recipes and menus with a grocery list in mind, and Culinista chefs are trained to shop so that they always have the correct items and the appropriate quantities to execute your service. For these reasons, we greatly prefer that the chefs shop for their services.

The weekly meal prep service includes a Culinista chef grocery shopping for you and coming to your home to prepare six dishes that can be mixed and matched for 3-4 meals throughout the week. 

We recommend choosing dishes that work in pairs or trios as full menus, or mix and match to cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert.

Yes, our goal is to make it easier for you and your family to enjoy dinner together. Our large size accommodates families of up to six people. If your family is larger than six people, please fill out a 

 and we will provide you with a custom quote.

The Culinistas’ referral program allows us to reward our community for referring friends and loved ones to The Culinistas, while welcoming new clients with a gift toward their first gathering.

Culinista chefs shop locally at our favorite grocers and farmers markets. They shop specifically for you and are happy to accommodate your preferences. They source the freshest and most nutrient-dense items they can find, striving to buy organic and non-GMO produce whenever possible.

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, 

Grocery costs will vary depending on your service area and menu selection. The below ranges are meant as general guides:

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 anything about your service wasn’t quite right, please 

Congratulations! Once your referee has successfully completed their first gathering, you’ll receive an email letting you know that $100 of Culinista credits have been added to your account.

We require 48 hours prior notice to cancel any service without charge. Within 48 hours of your service, your service may be nonrefundable. Please see below for our service-specific cancellation policies.

If someone in your household is sick or in case of medical emergency, we will attempt to reschedule at the chef’s convenience within six days of your original service date. This is upon company discretion, and you may be held responsible for the full service fee. If the chef is unavailable for a rescheduled service, we will send you a different chef at the company’s discretion. If you are unable to reschedule within six days of your original service date, you will be charged the full service fee.

You are able to cancel your service at any time prior to 48 hours before your guest arrival time free of charge. If you cancel for any reason between 48 hours and 24 hours before your guest arrival time, you will be charged 50% of the service fee to partially compensate your chef. If you cancel within 24 hours of guest arrival time, you will be charged the full service fee plus any charges incurred by the chef, inclusive of groceries and travel at the company’s discretion.

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.

” and enter your email address connected to your account. Instructions will be sent to your email to reset your password.

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, 

All services will be billed with 20% gratuity included, 100% of which will go to your Culinista chef. While there is no expectation to do so, you are welcome to provide an additional cash tip for extraordinary service.

Our seasonal and long term chef services are available all over the world. Our roster of chefs are largely based in the New York metro area, the D.C. metro area, and Los Angeles, but many are excited to travel. To find a chef in your area, 

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.

Culinista credits can be earned through successful referrals, gift certificates, and hospitality offers. To view your available Culinista credits, head to your Account Dashboard and select Culinista Credits. Here, you can view your available balance, referrals, and promo codes. When you’re ready to redeem your credit, begin booking your next service. At checkout, scroll to Payment Details and check “Apply credits to my total” where you can specify the amount you’d like to redeem.

Cooking class menus include four dishes: one appetizer to be enjoyed before and during the cooking demo, one dish to be demo-ed, and two dishes that will be prepared ahead of time and served with the demo dish.

Our Culinista chefs have diverse backgrounds, including nutrition certifications and Michelin-starred restaurant experience. Their degrees are from schools like the Culinary Institute of America and Cornell's elite hospitality program.

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.

Your credit card will be charged within 2-3 business days after your service.

Our cooking classes can accommodate up to 12 people.

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.

Culinista chefs start as early as 9 a.m. and as late as 3 p.m. Chefs are available seven days a week. You set the time that works best for you.

Our weekly meal prep service allows you to select favorite menus and dishes from past services. When making selections for your upcoming meal prep service, you have the option to “favorite” past dishes. To see your favorites, head to your Account Dashboard and select Favorites. Here, you can sort through your favorite menus and dishes.

No. Unlike a traditional staffing agency, The Culinistas is a full-service private chef and culinary company that develops recipes, designs menus, vets chefs, and personalizes our services for every client. Our dedicated client services team handles every step of your experience, including scheduling, chef selection, menu selection, and billing.

Email us at q@theculinistas.com to use a promo code for your service.

When booking your gathering service, you will be able to explore and 

. If you’re looking to customize a single dish, proceed with your booking by selecting the required six dishes, then add a note to modify or swap one with your choice.

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.

Pricing for these services is determined case by case. Please 

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.

Our postpartum meal prep service is one of our most popular gifting options. To gift a postpartum meal prep, 

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.

 to select from one of our many menus and customize it to your liking.

Cooking classes include personalized instruction by a Culinista chef, plus four family style dishes to be enjoyed by you and up to 11 guests.

Weekly service starts at $250. Additional costs include groceries (dependent on size & dish selection), $50 tip, a $15 travel reimbursement for your chef, and tax. Select markets may be priced higher.

Households larger than six people may require more time from a chef, so we price those services on a case by case basis. 

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

Upon checking out to book your service, scroll down to “Anything else we should know about your gathering?” where you can input your custom dish as a note.

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!

No problem! You can update your preferred start date via your Account Dashboard any time, as long as it’s more than 48 hours before your service. On the left-hand side menu, select Your Services > Weekly Meal Prep. Here, you can edit your Service Settings.

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.

You can book your postpartum meal prep service as early as you’d like! If you’re earlier than your third trimester, we’ll send you an email when it’s closer to your due date, reminding you to select your dishes and update your preferred start date in the “Your Services” section of your Account Dashboard.

Deactivating your account will indefinitely pause your services until you choose to reactivate your account, and you will be logged out. You can reactivate by emailing 

Deleting your account will cancel your services and permanently delete all client information, including past services, culinary and household preferences, contact information, etc. This action cannot be undone.

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

Referral gifts are valid for three months. If your referee does not have a reason to host within that timeframe, you may refer them again.

Culinista chefs are happy to help you make the holidays as seamless as possible. Chef availability may be limited during the holidays, so it’s best to 

 well in advance. Higher rates may apply.

In the rare event that your chef has to cancel, we will make every effort to reassign you a chef. Depending on the amount of notice, we may need to adjust your weekly meal prep date or time.

Gift cards expire one year from the date of delivery.

, our postpartum meal prep service includes a Culinista chef grocery shopping for you and coming to your home to prepare six dishes that can be mixed and matched for 3-4 meals throughout the week.

For postpartum parents and families, we recommend choosing dishes from our postpartum collection, which are designed to support your unique nutritional needs. We recommend choosing dishes that work in pairs or trios as full menus, or mix and match to cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert.

To update your payment method, log into your account and head to your Account Dashboard. In the drop down menu, select Payments. Under “Payment Methods” you can input or modify your existing card information.

Our gathering menus are designed with one starter to sate guests upon arrival, four family style dishes to cover proteins, grains and starches, leafy vegetables, and hearty vegetables, and a dessert. This formula also helps us staff your gathering with the minimal number of chefs so you feel comfortable and least imposed upon in your own home. If you would prefer more dishes, we also offer an extended menu, which you can choose upon booking.

Your Culinista chef is personally shopping for groceries before arrival. Traffic or long lines at the market may cause a delay. If your Culinista chef is going to be more than 30 minutes late, we'll reach out immediately to let you know.

Yes! Anyone with a Culinistas account can make a referral using a unique URL, which can be found in the Culinista Credits section of their Account Dashboard under Referrals.

Once your referree has successfully completed their first service, you’ll receive an email letting you know the Culinista credits have been added to your account, which you can apply toward any service.

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