Get to know your chef!
Hello there! I’m Samantha “Sam” Phelps, the Owner & Founding Chef of Farm Berry Kitchen. I’ve enjoyed being in the kitchen for as long as I can remember. My first memory of cooking was my mom teaching me how to make microwave scrambled eggs at 4 years old. (Don’t worry, my palate & skill set is much more refined now!) My background includes working my way up from a prep cook at the age of 14, to sous chef, at the age of 22 being hired as a head chef in an upscale steakhouse where I created menus, did all of the food ordering/grocery shopping, & lead the kitchen staff. I’ve always had a passion for learning different techniques of preparing gourmet meals. Over the years I’ve been a student of different cultures to learn how to authentically prepare a variety of cuisines – my cooking experience includes Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Mediterranean, & American style meals. I have a passion for serving meals that are not only delicious but also presented well. In my opinion – pretty food just tastes better! I will create a menu tailored to the needs of your household and providing a balanced, nutritionally sound diet. Want to have a sushi night? Done! Craving lasagna? Let me know. Street tacos and pozole? Absolutely! As your personal chef I offer you the luxury of enjoying expertly cooked, gourmet meals from the comfort of your home.
Gourmet meals enjoyed in the comfort of your own home... dreams do come true!
What does the personal chef service require?
As your personal chef Sam will prepare meals exclusively for private clients in their home kitchen. Depending on the menu being prepared for the week – this will take 4 to 12 hours of in kitchen time. If a meal requires equipment outside of what your home offers, she will bring the necessary items with her. The kitchen must be clean prior to her scheduled arrival; she will leave your kitchen clean before departure. Depending on your preferences she will prepare several meals each week that will be stored in the fridge or freezer for reheating. Instructions will be left for ideal reheating to ensure the quality of the meal.
What about the menu?
An excellent benefit of securing Sam as your personal chef is that the menu is tailored to your household preferences! She has a menu for you to choose from, however if you have a request of a special recipe or meal, she will happily fulfill your request! You control the ingredients, cuisine style, & portion sizes. Allergens, lifestyle, and nutritional restrictions will be followed if they are noted on the client intake form.
How does grocery shopping work?
Based on your upcoming menu, groceries must be purchased. There are 3 options when it comes to this project:
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Based on your upcoming menu, Sam prepares a grocery list for you so you can do your own grocery shopping.
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You purchase groceries & she creates a menu based on the ingredients you have on-hand.
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Sam prepares a grocery list, you approve it, she grocery shops for you. *This option requires reimbursement for the cost of groceries, as well as, compensation for labor.