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.

While we do not currently offer regular formal cooking classes, we do provide interactive chef demonstrations as optional add-on experiences before dinner service. Popular experiences include fresh pasta making, steak preparation techniques, oyster shucking, and other elevated culinary demonstrations.

These engaging additions give guests the opportunity to learn alongside our chefs while enjoying a more immersive and memorable dining experience.

Private cooking classes for smaller groups may be accommodated with sufficient advance notice and are subject to availability. Please inquire during the booking process to discuss custom experiences and class options.

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.

We recommend reserving your event 4–8 weeks in advance to ensure the best availability and planning experience. While we’re often able to accommodate shorter notice bookings, popular weekends, holidays, and wedding seasons tend to book quickly.

Events involving extensive dietary accommodations, custom menu requests, or specialty wine pairings may require additional lead time to ensure every detail is thoughtfully prepared.

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.

Once an event has concluded, we reserve the right to retain any unused food, prepped ingredients, or products provided as part of the service.

These items may be allocated toward staff meals or used to support on-site team members, including bartenders, servers, or entertainers present during the event.

This practice also helps ensure food safety and quality standards, particularly in situations where proper storage, handling, or reheating cannot be guaranteed after service concludes.

To officially reserve your event date, recognition of our terms and services and a 50% non-refundable retainer are required at the time of booking. Due to the custom nature of private dining and catered experiences, dates are not held without a deposit.

The remaining balance is due 1 week prior to the event date as outlined in our service agreement.

Accepted forms of payment include:

• Debit & Credit Cards

• Zelle

• PayPal

Late payments incur a $50 daily fee. We accept credit cards, checks, and electronic transfers

All retainers and deposits are non-refundable, as they secure your event date, planning time, staffing, travel coordination, and ingredient sourcing.

In the event of a cancellation, any payments made beyond the initial retainer may be eligible for transfer toward a future event date at our discretion and based on availability.

We understand that plans can occasionally change and will always do our best to accommodate reasonable adjustments whenever possible.