In house chef - expectations

[pikey]

Were going to have a dinner party for the Mrs' birthday and were going to use a 'come to your house chef' as we've had enough of prep / cooking, / cleaning up. We would have 8 people.

So we've found a few companies who do this, but they're all about the same. Taking one example; they gave us 3 menus - a £40 one that looks like KFC, a £60 one that looks iffy and a £90 one that looks nice/reasonable.

They charge £80 for a waiter

Supplying own alcohol, say another £30 a head.

8 people.

That's around £130 per person to have a meal in your own home. So that's with none of the overheads of premises, rent, kitchen, staff, furniture, etc... or all of the other difficulties and risks involved in financing and running a restaurant.

I gave some feedback thanking him for the quote but explaing we wouldn't be proceeding due to the prices being comparable to that of a restaurant. His reply surprising, claiming it was due to the price of food.

8 people x £90 = £720. I'm not sure how much a chef costs, but lets say £200 (for a few hours cooking?! I don't know), but I'm sure the food cost isn't anywhere near £500...

Are my expectations wildly out or does this surprise others as well? That eating professionally in your home is the same price as eating out.

[Rude-boy]

That sounds very ouch.

I wonder how much the figures have been massaged to show a lowish cost for the chief and then food prices can be blamed? Not saying the chief isn't worth, say £100 per hour, but it might just be that many can't accept that.

Personally I would rather spend the money on a top restaurant at that price.

[Plotloss]

pikey said:

8 people x £90 = £720. I'm not sure how much a chef costs, but lets say £200 (for a few hours cooking?! I don't know), but I'm sure the food cost isn't anywhere near £500...

So you expect them to do the job for no profit at all?

Seems on the high side of reasonable to me, given that you'll have the quality of a restaurant in the convenience of your home.

[pikey]

Absolutely.

Specifically when we were here, the other week...

[mechsympathy]

Plotloss said:

pikey said:

8 people x £90 = £720. I'm not sure how much a chef costs, but lets say £200 (for a few hours cooking?! I don't know), but I'm sure the food cost isn't anywhere near £500...

So you expect them to do the job for no profit at all?

Seems on the high side of reasonable to me, given that you'll have the quality of a restaurant in the convenience of your home.

There are also no economies of scale (if that makes sense?) and two people tied up for a night dealing with 8. What's the ratio for a normal restaurant?

[The Dude]

For eight people? Eight?

Do it yourself man! It's hardly the feeding of the 5000...

[pikey]

Plotloss said:

pikey said:

8 people x £90 = £720. I'm not sure how much a chef costs, but lets say £200 (for a few hours cooking?! I don't know), but I'm sure the food cost isn't anywhere near £500...

So you expect them to do the job for no profit at all?

Of course not, but that was my question - that the profit appears to be higher than I would have expected.

So looking at it from the other side, how much do you think a chef would charge to obtain/deliver/ prepare food and make a reasonable profit?

[pikey]

The Dude said:

For eight people? Eight?

Do it yourself man! It's hardly the feeding of the 5000...

We normally do. Bringing a company in was a thought (and has stopped there!)

[pikey]

mechsympathy said:

There are also no economies of scale (if that makes sense?) and two people tied up for a night dealing with 8. What's the ratio for a normal restaurant?

Mmm.. I thought of that, but this is the thing - does that equally outweigh the other side that there're none of the expensive restaurant overheads?

As per my example above, approximately the same price for in-home dining as in the Mandarin Oriental. One comes with convenience and the other with.. well, who knows what overheads the Mandarin Oriental has (and what they need to do to maintain a reputation)?! Certainly not a cheap operation, that's for sure!

[bridgdav]

Have you thought about contacting local employment/staffing agencies.. they will have chef's on their books who do day / evening relief work.

You get the food - choose the menu - chef comes in and cooks.

minimal commission to agency - chef gets £20-30 /hr (high wage)

Everyones happy. My bro's a chef doing relief and cover work through agencies now, only gets £10/12 hr.
With the market as it is at the moment - there should be someone....

Just an Idea - never tried it....!

HTH

[Rude Girl]

pikey said:

The Dude said:

For eight people? Eight?

Do it yourself man! It's hardly the feeding of the 5000...

We normally do. Bringing a company in was a thought (and has stopped there!)

If it's just reducing work, get Waitrose Entertaining to deliver your canapes, sorbet, starter and cheeseboard, and just concentrate on one course yourself. I'm sure you can find someone locally to assist in the kitchen for the night.

[mechsympathy]

pikey said:

Mmm.. I thought of that, but this is the thing - does that equally outweigh the other side that there're none of the expensive restaurant overheads?

I have no idea, but the restaurant overheads are shared between lots* of people.


[footnote]*A nice specific number... But 2 meals a day, 2 sittings each (maybe only one sitting at lunch) of say 50 people you're looking at 150-200.