Frequently Asked Questions –
Personal Chef & Luxury In-Home Dining
Everything you need to know about Chef Cihan Erol’s bespoke private dining experiences across Seattle, Bellevue, and the Greater Washington area.
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What does your personal chef service include?
My service includes full menu design, ingredient sourcing, in-home cooking, professional plating, table-side service, and complete kitchen cleanup. The goal is to deliver a restaurant-level fine dining experience in the comfort of your home.
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What is the difference between a personal chef and a private chef?
A private chef typically works exclusively for one household full-time. A personal chef serves multiple clients and provides scheduled dining experiences or meal services. Personal chefs design custom menus for each event and prepare everything fresh in the client’s home.
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Where do you provide personal chef services?
Services are available throughout the Greater Seattle area, including:
Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Mercer Island, Sammamish, Medina, and surrounding areas. Travel outside these locations may be available upon request.
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How much does a personal chef experience cost?
Pricing depends on the menu, number of guests, ingredients, and service style. Most experiences are customized per event to ensure the highest quality and seasonal ingredient sourcing. A detailed quote is provided after initial consultation.
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How far in advance should I book?
It is recommended to book at least 1–2 weeks in advance. However, last-minute availability may be possible depending on the schedule.
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Do you accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies?
Yes. Every menu is fully customized and can accommodate dietary needs including gluten-free, dairy-free, pescatarian, vegetarian, and specific allergies. Please inform us during the planning stage.
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What happens on the day of the event?
I typically arrive approximately 2 hours before service to prepare and set up the kitchen. All dishes are cooked à la minute, plated, and served course by course. After service, the kitchen is fully cleaned and left spotless.
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Do I need to provide anything for the chef?
Only a clean kitchen workspace, basic cooking utilities, and refrigerator space. All ingredients are sourced and brought by the chef unless otherwise agreed.
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Can you cook for small or larger groups?
Yes. Experiences can be designed for intimate dinners for two, private family gatherings, or larger multi-course events. Menus and service style are adjusted based on group size.
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Do you offer tasting menus or fine dining experiences?
Yes. The focus is on modern fine dining, seasonal tasting menus, and Michelin-level plating techniques. Each experience is designed to feel like a private restaurant service in your home.
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Do you travel outside Seattle?
Yes, travel is available across Washington State and Oregon State, including Bellevue, Kirkland, Bainbridge Island, and other nearby destinations. Travel fees may apply depending on distance.
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How do I book a personal chef experience?
You can request a booking through the contact form on the website. After receiving your inquiry, a consultation is scheduled to discuss menu preferences, dietary requirements, guest count, and event details.
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What makes your experience different from catering?
Unlike catering, imagine a chef bringing a full restaurant kitchen experience directly to your doorstep transforming your kitchen into a professional workspace. Every dish is prepared fresh and cooked à la minute with nothing pre-made reheated or packaged. This creates a truly interactive elevated dining experience with restaurant level quality presentation and service.
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Can I customize the menu?
Yes. Every menu is fully custom-designed based on your preferences, seasonal ingredients, and dietary needs. No two events are the same.
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What are your specialties or types of cuisines that you love to create?
My cooking style is modern fine dining with a strong focus on seasonal ingredients, precision, and balance. I draw inspiration from Japanese, French, and contemporary international cuisines, often blending techniques to create refined and memorable tasting menus. My specialty is designing multi-course experiences that highlight clean flavors, elegant presentation, and a Michelin-level dining standard in a private setting.
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How does the booking process work?
Once you reach out through the website, we will confirm your preferred date, guest count, and event details. From there, I create a custom menu proposal and finalize all details before the experience. Your booking is secured once confirmed.
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Do you provide wine pairings or beverage suggestions?
Yes. I can design your menu with curated wine pairings or provide beverage recommendations that complement each course and elevate the overall dining experience.
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Can you cook in any type of kitchen?
Yes. As long as there is a functional kitchen with basic equipment, I can create a full fine dining experience. I adapt to different kitchen setups while maintaining restaurant-level execution.
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How long does a private dining experience last?
It depends on your guests’ pace and how much you would like to enjoy the dining experience. There is no fixed time limit, as the evening is designed to be relaxed, personal, and unhurried. Typically, the full experience lasts around 4 to 5 hours, including kitchen setup, service, and the dining experience itself.
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Do you bring your own ingredients and equipment?
Yes. All ingredients are sourced and brought by me unless otherwise agreed. I also bring any specialty tools needed to execute the menu at a high level, including my own professional knife set to ensure precision and consistency throughout the experience.
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Can you create custom menus for special occasions?
Absolutely. I design fully personalized menus for birthdays, anniversaries, corporate dinners, proposals, and private celebrations. Each menu is tailored to match the occasion and guest preferences.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out anytime. I’m happy to answer any of your questions to make your event smooth and seamless.