Frequently asked questions

Serving the DuPage County, Will County, Greater Chicagoland area, Southwest Michigan, and Northwest Indiana with willingness to travel with proper accommodation.

Bulk food preparation is done in our private kitchen while core service of the experience (roasting/searing/plating/garnishing/vegetable cookery/a-la minute) is executed day of the event. This model has continued to be successful by allowing us to maximize our time catering to you efficiently, giving more flexibility to our client’s schedule or any time constraints, as well as keeping costs more economical with us not needing to be in your residence/venue for longer than 1-3 hours for most occasions.

This depends on the client. Chef Cornelius is happy to shop at your favorite store upon request. Otherwise, Chef Cornelius will shop at organic grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and wholesale outlets for high-volume events. This sometimes takes two, three, or more trips to find the ideal ingredients. Chef Cornelius only uses the highest quality ingredients that fit within your budget.

Yes! Chef Cornelius creates customized cooking classes either privately or for small groups.

Indeed. Chef Cornelius has sample menu(s) prepared that are full of his most popular or highly requested dishes cooked for clients in the past. You will find something you will enjoy, and alterations can be made to meet your preferences. 

Yes, please refer to our many platforms of reach from social media(s), interviews and featured articles, as well as glowing testimonials readily available across our Google Business page.

No, you do not. All we ask is that arrangements are made for our team to access the venue and begin working. In most cases, clients are working, running errands, or enjoying care-free hosting while the chef is cooking.

Depending on the number of dishes, type of service, and guest count – the average experience can run from 1-3 hours. We are happy to accommodate your schedule wherever we can be flexible. Times ultimately vary depending on the complexity of the menu and your preferences.

With mindfulness to execute the best we possibly can, Chef Cornelius believes that the visual and entertainment portion of your experience is as important as the quality of the food. All we ask is ample space while cooking to guarantee our success in the dishes we envision as well as your safety.

Typically 1-2 weeks is preferred. Please contact Chef Cornelius if services are needed any sooner as we are no stranger to last-minute events with proper accommodation.

Have your kitchen counters free of clutter, your sink cleared, and dishwasher. With respect to our team’s comfort and safety, Chef Cornelius is an animal lover/caretaker and only prefers that pet(s) be kept away from food preparation areas for maximizing healthy and sanitary areas while food is out. Access to fridge/freezer space is greatly appreciated though not required.

Each experience is all-inclusive of grocery costs/preparation, labor, service, travel, cleaning, and consultation. Specialty or more premium ingredients such as caviar, as well as additional courses and/or staffing, if necessary, will be at an added cost.

Absolutely! We provide a kid’s menu upon request.

The cost for groceries can vary from client to client depending on their individual needs. The average grocery budget for a personal chef service is $100 to $150.

A 50% commitment is required upon reservation to lock in your calendar date and begin sourcing what/if any special-order ingredients or materials needed for your experience. The final 50% deposit is to be paid on the day of service.

We require a 2-week notice for cancelling an experience or chef service. If we do not receive notice within 2 weeks of the date, your 50% deposit is forfeited.