Frequently asked
Everything you ask before booking.
Pricing, what's included, allergies, cleanup, areas served. The honest answers — same answers we'd give you on a call.
About Eat Cook Joy
About Eat Cook Joy
- What is Eat Cook Joy, exactly?
- Think of us as a cooking assistant for your home. We help you plan your meals, keep track of what's already in your kitchen, and bring in a real local chef to cook the dishes you actually want to eat, on your schedule.
- How is this different from a meal kit or delivery service?
- Meal kits hand you a box of ingredients and a long list of chopping to do. Delivery apps drop off whatever a restaurant felt like making. We're the in-between: a real chef cooks fresh meals in your kitchen, using what we already know you have on hand.
Pricing
Pricing
- How much does a private chef cost?
- Meal prep starts at $95 per session for a Rising chef (120 minutes, 1 main + 1 side), $115 for two mains and two sides, and $165 for a full week's prep (3–4 mains, 2–3 sides). Skilled chefs are +30% and Seasoned chefs start at +50% over the baseline.
- Are groceries included in the price?
- Groceries are billed separately at cost. If you need the chef to shop, that's charged as one additional hour of chef time. You can also buy the groceries yourself or have them delivered before the chef arrives.
- Do I need to tip the chef?
- Tipping is optional and never expected. Most regulars who see the same chef every week don't tip per session; one-off dinner-party clients often tip $30 to $60.
- Is there a cancellation fee?
- Cancel free up to 48 hours before the session. Inside 48 hours we charge a small fee to cover the chef's lost slot and any groceries already sourced.
Groceries & pantry
Groceries & pantry
- Can you help me manage my kitchen inventory?
- Yes, this is one of our favorite parts. Before each session you can mark off ingredients you already have, and we keep a light running list of your pantry so we don't double-buy. Over time, your grocery lists get smarter and your fridge stops filling up with three half-jars of the same thing.
- What if I already have some of the ingredients at home?
- Mark them off your grocery list before the session and the chef won't double-buy them. We track your pantry between sessions so you only ever pay for what you actually need.
- Do I need to have containers ready?
- Yes please. Have enough containers ready for your prepared meals. If you're short, your chef can grab some on the way in.
How it works
How it works
- Will I talk to my chef before the session?
- Yes. For now, an Eat Cook Joy admin will start a group chat with you and your chef ahead of the session, so everyone's on the same page before anyone picks up a knife.
- Can I rebook the same chef?
- Of course. Once you find a chef whose cooking your family loves, you can lock in a recurring schedule. We hold on to your menu preferences, dietary rules, and pantry between sessions, so each one picks up right where the last one left off.
- How far ahead do I need to book?
- Most weeknights are bookable 48 hours ahead. Weekends and special menus go faster, we recommend a week if you can.
- Do I need to clean my kitchen before the chef arrives?
- No. Just clear a bit of counter space so the chef has a landing zone for groceries and tools. The kitchen leaves cleaner than it started.
Allergies & diet
Allergies & diet
- Can you handle allergies and strict dietary needs?
- Yes. Your dietary profile lives with us, so you don't have to repeat yourself. Gluten-free, dairy-free, halal, kosher, plant-based, low-FODMAP. Tell us once and we'll route every menu through it, and pair you with chefs who cook for it daily.
Service & cleanup
Service & cleanup
- Will my kitchen be left clean?
- Cleanup is part of the price. Counters wiped, dishes done, dishwasher started, trash out. We leave the kitchen cleaner than we found it.
- Does the chef serve dinner or just cook it?
- Depends on the tier. Meal prep tiers pack and label everything into containers; event tiers include plating and service through dessert.
Areas served
Areas served
- Where do you cook?
- We're live in the San Francisco Bay Area today, with new regions opening in waves. Pricing is flat per session regardless of neighborhood.
- Do you charge extra for distance?
- No. Pricing is flat per session regardless of which neighborhood you're in within an active service area.