Your Manhattan kitchen becomes a professional culinary studio when you work with Urban Feast. We bring restaurant-quality cooking directly to your home, whether you live in a Chelsea loft, Upper West Side apartment, or Tribeca penthouse. You choose the menu. We handle everything else—from sourcing ingredients at Union Square Greenmarket to cleaning your kitchen after service.
Exquisite, Personalized Meals Cooked In Your Manhattan Home
Professional in-home cooking eliminates meal preparation stress while maintaining control over ingredients plus portions. You avoid crowded restaurants, save time on grocery shopping, plus enjoy meals designed for your specific preferences. Each dish reflects your taste, dietary requirements, plus wellness goals.
Our chefs serve busy Manhattan professionals who need consistent meal preparation, families requiring specialized nutrition plans, plus individuals hosting intimate dinner gatherings. The service adapts to your schedule plus lifestyle demands without compromise.
Working in Manhattan homes means understanding the unique challenges of urban kitchens. Our chefs navigate compact spaces, work with existing equipment, delivering the same quality you expect from the city’s finest restaurants. From studio apartments in Hell’s Kitchen to spacious kitchens on the Upper East Side, we adapt our process to your environment.
Our Personal Chef Services
Urban Feast provides three core service categories to match different client needs across Manhattan.
Weekly Meal Preparation delivers ready-to-eat meals for five to seven days. Your chef arrives at a scheduled time, cooks multiple dishes based on your meal plan, packages everything in labeled containers, then stores them properly in your refrigerator or freezer. This service suits professionals working long hours in Midtown offices, parents managing family schedules, as well as anyone reducing daily cooking responsibilities. Each week brings new flavors while maintaining nutritional consistency.
Private Event Catering brings restaurant experience to your Manhattan home gatherings. The chef creates a custom menu for your occasion, shops for premium ingredients, prepares courses in your kitchen, serving guests directly. We handle dinner parties for 8 to 20 people, birthday celebrations, anniversary dinners, plus business entertainment in neighborhoods from SoHo to the Financial District. Each event receives the same attention to detail you expect from Manhattan’s top restaurants.
Specialized Dietary Support addresses specific health and wellness requirements. Our chefs prepare meals for clients managing diabetes, following ketogenic protocols, recovering from medical procedures, or building muscle mass. Each meal plan reflects guidance from your nutritionist or physician while maintaining flavor as well as variety. We work with Manhattan’s leading medical practices to ensure our approach aligns with your care team’s recommendations.
All services include complete grocery shopping, kitchen use during cooking hours, proper food storage, plus thorough cleanup. You provide the kitchen space and basic equipment. We supply expertise, ingredients, as well as labor.
How The Urban Feast In-Home Chef Service Works
Starting personal chef service follows a clear process designed for Manhattan residents’ convenience.
Initial Consultation happens via phone or video call, lasting 30 to 45 minutes. You discuss food preferences, dietary restrictions, schedule requirements, and kitchen setup. We assess your needs and recommend the service model that fits best. Manhattan clients appreciate this efficiency—no need to travel to an office or arrange a home visit before committing.
Chef Assignment matches you with a culinary professional suited to your requirements. Each chef brings unique training and specializations. Some focus on Mediterranean cuisine, others excel at Asian fusion, while several specialize in plant-based cooking. We consider your preferences, schedule, plus dietary needs when making assignments. You receive your chef’s background, certifications, along with areas of expertise before the first service.
Menu Development begins with your input. You share favorite dishes, ingredients you avoid, plus cuisines you enjoy. Your chef proposes a menu that balances nutrition, flavor, as well as variety. The menu changes with seasons, your feedback, in addition to ingredient availability. Nothing repeats unless you request it. Each week brings different preparations and flavor profiles.
Shopping and Preparation, along with preparation, happens on your scheduled service day. Your chef arrives with fresh ingredients purchased that morning from Union Square Greenmarket, Whole Foods, or specialty purveyors in your neighborhood. Cooking begins immediately. Most weekly meal prep sessions run three to four hours. Event catering requires longer preparation times based on menu complexity.
Storage and Instructions ensure proper food handling. Each container receives labels showing contents plus the preparation date. Your chef provides reheating instructions for each dish. Refrigerated items typically maintain quality for five days. Many dishes freeze well, extending their life to 30 days or more. You receive guidance on storage times for every item.
Cleanup and Departure with Departure leaves your kitchen spotless. Surfaces get wiped down, dishes return to cabinets, trash goes to the chute or designated area. Many clients report their kitchens look better after service than before. This thoroughness reflects our respect for your space plus our professional standards.
Accommodating Your Dietary Needs and Preferences
Manhattan residents follow diverse dietary approaches. Urban Feast chefs prepare meals for virtually any nutritional protocol or food preference.
Medical Dietary Requirements receive careful attention. We cook for clients managing celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney disease, plus cardiovascular conditions. Each meal plan follows medical guidance while maintaining appeal. Cross-contamination prevention protocols protect clients with severe allergies. Ingredient sourcing meets the highest purity standards.
Performance Nutrition supports athletes as well as fitness enthusiasts. Our chefs prepare high-protein meals for muscle building, carbohydrate-timing protocols for endurance training, along with nutrient-dense recovery meals. We calculate macronutrients precisely and adjust portions based on training cycles. Manhattan fitness professionals trust our nutritional accuracy.
Plant-Based Cooking extends beyond basic vegetarian fare. Our chefs create vegan meals that satisfy protein requirements, provide complete amino acid profiles, delivering the flavors that make plant-based eating sustainable long-term. We source from specialty suppliers who understand the importance of ingredient quality in plant-based cuisine.
Cultural and Religious Dietary Laws shape many Manhattan residents’ food choices. We prepare kosher-style meals (though we cannot provide certified kosher service), halal preparations, plus cuisine that respects various cultural traditions. Our chefs understand the importance of these preferences and never suggest compromises.
Autoimmune Protocols like AIP, low-FODMAP, plus elimination diets require specialized knowledge. Our chefs trained in these protocols understand which ingredients trigger inflammation versus which support healing. We maintain detailed ingredient logs so you can track how foods affect your wellbeing.
Food Allergies and Intolerances receive absolute priority. We prevent cross-contamination through separate preparation areas, dedicated equipment, plus careful ingredient verification. Many Manhattan families with severe allergies rely on our service because restaurant dining presents too much risk.
Sample Menus
These menus represent typical week-long meal preparations for Manhattan clients. Every menu gets customized to your preferences.
Mediterranean Week
Breakfast Options
- Greek yogurt with honey, walnuts, plus seasonal fruit (141.7 grams or 5 ounces per serving)
- Shakshuka with whole grain bread (tomatoes, peppers, eggs poached in spiced sauce)
- Frittata with spinach, feta, plus sun-dried tomatoes
Lunch Selections
- Quinoa tabbouleh with chickpeas with lemon-tahini dressing
- Grilled chicken souvlaki with tzatziki and Mediterranean roasted vegetables
- White bean and kale soup with garlic and rosemary
Dinner Entrées
- Herb-crusted salmon with roasted Brussels sprouts with sweet potato (approximately 170.1 grams or 6 ounces fish portion)
- Moroccan-spiced lamb meatballs with couscous with harissa yogurt
- Eggplant moussaka with Greek salad
Asian-Inspired Week
Breakfast Options
- Miso soup with tofu with scallions, steamed rice
- Congee with chicken, ginger, plus century egg
- Vietnamese-style omelet with herbs with nuoc cham
Lunch Selections
- Thai basil chicken with jasmine rice with cucumber salad
- Korean bibimbap bowl with marinated beef with vegetables
- Vietnamese spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce (rice paper rolls, approximately 20.3 centimeters or 8 inches long)
Dinner Entrées
- Teriyaki-glazed salmon with stir-fried bok choy with brown rice
- Massaman curry with chicken, potatoes, plus peanuts
- Szechuan-style mapo tofu with steamed broccoli
American Comfort Week
Breakfast Options
- Buttermilk pancakes with berry compote and turkey sausage
- Vegetable with cheese omelet with whole grain toast
- Breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, black beans, plus salsa
Lunch Selections
- Turkey with avocado club sandwich with sweet potato chips
- Chicken tortilla soup with lime and cilantro
- Cobb salad with grilled chicken and herb vinaigrette
Dinner Entrées
- Herb-roasted chicken breast with garlic mashed potatoes with green beans
- Grass-fed beef meatloaf with roasted root vegetables
- Pan-seared pork chops with apple compote with Brussels sprouts (approximately 198.4 grams or 7 ounces per serving)
Each menu includes appropriate portions based on your caloric needs and activity level. We adjust serving sizes for weight management, athletic training, or medical requirements.
What Our Manhattan Clients Are Saying
Real feedback from Urban Feast clients across Manhattan neighborhoods:
Sarah M., Upper West Side – “Working 60-hour weeks in finance left no time for proper meals. Urban Feast changed that completely. My chef arrives Monday mornings; by lunchtime, my refrigerator holds a week of restaurant-quality meals. The Thai basil chicken rivals anything in Chinatown. The cleanup is so thorough I’ve never found even a single grain of rice. This service gave me back my evenings and improved my health measurably.”
James and Rachel K., Tribeca – “We hired Urban Feast for our anniversary dinner rather than making reservations at a crowded restaurant. Chef Sebastian arrived with flowers and printed menus for each guest. His watermelon gazpacho was the best cold soup we’ve ever had. The pan-seared halibut with summer vegetables showed real technical skill. Having this quality at home, without the noise and rushed service of Manhattan restaurants, made our celebration truly special.”
David L., Chelsea – “As someone managing Crohn’s disease, restaurant meals always carried risk. Urban Feast worked directly with my gastroenterologist to develop meals that support my treatment plan. The food tastes incredible despite avoiding my trigger ingredients. My chef understands cross-contamination protocols better than most restaurants. Inflammation markers improved after three months of consistent, proper nutrition. This service literally improved my health outcomes.”
Jennifer and Marcus T., Upper East Side – “Finding time to cook healthy meals for our three kids while managing demanding careers seemed impossible. Urban Feast solved this problem. Our chef prepares kid-friendly meals our children actually eat alongside more sophisticated options for adults. The variety keeps our family from getting bored. The time we saved not grocery shopping and cooking goes directly to family activities. Our children’s pediatrician noticed improved nutrition markers at their last checkup.”
Michael R., Financial District – “Training for my first marathon while working in investment banking created impossible scheduling demands. Urban Feast provides precisely portioned meals that match my training phases. High-carb preparations before long runs, protein-focused recovery meals afterward. My performance improved noticeably once nutrition became consistent. The convenience of grabbing prepared meals from my refrigerator between early morning runs and long work days cannot be overstated.”
Why Choose Urban Feast for Your Personal Chef Needs?
Manhattan offers numerous personal chef services. Urban Feast stands apart through specific advantages developed over years serving demanding clients.
Experienced Culinary Professionals form our team. Every chef completed formal culinary training at institutions like the Culinary Institute of America, Institute of Culinary Education, or international programs at Le Cordon Bleu. Beyond education, our chefs worked in Manhattan’s competitive restaurant scene. They understand the standards that Manhattan diners expect because they’ve delivered those standards in professional kitchens.
Personalized Menu Development respects your individuality. We never use template meal plans or rotating menus unless you request them. Each client receives unique dishes reflecting personal preferences, cultural backgrounds, as well as nutritional requirements. The relationship evolves as your needs change with seasons, life stages, plus health goals.
Transparent Communication eliminates uncertainty. You receive detailed ingredient lists before each shopping trip, clear pricing without hidden fees, plus direct contact with your assigned chef. Questions get answered within hours, not days. Schedule changes accommodate your life with reasonable notice.
Rigorous Food Safety Standards protect your health. Our chefs maintain current food handler certifications, follow proper temperature controls, prevent cross-contamination, also labeling all prepared items with cooking dates. We source ingredients from reputable suppliers and inspect everything before use.
Flexible Service Models adapt to changing needs. Weekly meal prep clients can add occasional dinner parties. Event catering clients can transition to regular service. You pause during vacations, increase frequency before busy seasons, plus adjust menus whenever desired. The service shapes around your life, not the reverse. This flexibility also extends to our service areas, allowing us to bring a Personal Chef in The Bronx to clients who need our specialized support.
Local Ingredient Sourcing supports New York food systems. We purchase from Union Square Greenmarket vendors, specialty shops in ethnic neighborhoods, along with regional farms whenever possible. This approach provides better ingredient quality while supporting local producers. You taste the difference in every meal.
Cost efficiency emerges over time. Weekly meal prep typically costs less per meal than quality takeout while delivering better nutrition and zero preparation time. Event catering compares favorably to restaurant private dining rooms when considering the intimate setting and customization.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does personal chef service cost in Manhattan?
Weekly meal prep services range from $500 to $1,200 per week depending on serving quantities, dietary complexity, and ingredient choices. This typically includes 10-15 complete meals plus breakfasts. Private event catering starts at $150 per person for multi-course dinners. We provide detailed quotes during your initial consultation after understanding your specific requirements.
What kitchen equipment do I need?
Most Manhattan kitchens already contain everything necessary. We require a functioning stove or cooktop, oven, refrigerator, basic pots and pans, cutting boards, knives, mixing bowls, and food storage containers. If your kitchen lacks certain items, we provide guidance on minimal purchases. Many clients living in small Manhattan apartments successfully use our service with compact kitchens.
How far in advance should I book service?
Weekly meal prep clients usually need 7-10 days for initial setup, though we sometimes accommodate rush requests when chef availability permits. Private event catering requires 2-3 weeks’ notice for optimal menu planning and ingredient sourcing. Holiday periods book quickly—Thanksgiving and December dates often fill 6-8 weeks ahead.
Can you accommodate severe food allergies?
We maintain strict protocols for clients with life-threatening allergies. Our chefs prevent cross-contamination through dedicated preparation areas, separate equipment, and ingredient verification. We’ve safely served clients with severe peanut, tree nut, shellfish, and sesame allergies. Many Manhattan families with multiple severe allergies rely on our service because restaurant dining presents unacceptable risk.
Do you provide food for special diets like keto or vegan?
Every specialized diet falls within our capabilities. Our chefs prepare ketogenic meals that maintain proper macro ratios, vegan cuisine that provides complete nutrition, paleo protocols, Whole30 programs, and medical diets for conditions like diabetes or kidney disease. We work with your healthcare providers when needed to ensure meals support your treatment plan.
What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule?
We require 48 hours’ notice for cancellations or schedule changes. This allows us to adjust chef assignments and prevent food waste from purchased ingredients. Changes made with adequate notice incur no penalty. Emergency situations receive consideration on a case-by-case basis. Most Manhattan clients find our scheduling flexibility accommodates their unpredictable professional demands.
How do you handle leftovers and food waste?
Our portion planning minimizes waste while ensuring you have enough food. Excess ingredients often become components of future meals with your permission. Some clients request that surplus prepared food go to them in additional containers. We never discard quality food—it either stays with you or, with your approval, goes home with your chef.
Can I request specific cuisines or cooking styles?
You drive all menu decisions. If you love Italian cuisine, we’ll prepare different regional Italian meals each week. If you want to explore various cuisines, we’ll rotate through Mediterranean, Asian, Latin American, and other traditions. Many Manhattan clients use our service to expand their culinary horizons while others prefer consistent preparations of their favorite dishes.
Get Started With Your Private Chef in Manhattan
Beginning personal chef service requires three steps.
Step One: Contact Urban Feast through our website contact form, phone, or email. Provide your name, Manhattan neighborhood, preferred service type, and any specific dietary requirements. We respond within four business hours to schedule your consultation.
Step Two: Complete Your Consultation with our client services coordinator and, when possible, your potential chef. This 30 to 45-minute conversation covers your food preferences, service logistics, kitchen setup, and scheduling options. You receive a preliminary service proposal and pricing estimate at the end of the call.
Step Three: Approve Your Menu and confirm your first service date. Your chef sends a detailed menu with ingredient lists and nutritional information. You review everything, request changes, and approve when satisfied. We schedule your first service and send calendar invitations with all relevant details.
The entire process from initial contact to first service typically requires seven to ten days. Rush arrangements accommodate urgent needs when chef availability permits.
Your investment in personal chef service returns dividends in improved nutrition, recovered time, reduced stress, and consistent meal quality. Professional cooking in your home eliminates the compromise between convenience and health that defines modern urban eating.
Urban Feast operates throughout Manhattan, from Battery Park to Inwood. We serve clients in all neighborhoods and building types. We also proudly provide a Personal Chef in Staten Island for discerning clients. Our team currently includes professional chefs bringing diverse culinary backgrounds and specializations to every service.
Contact us today to begin your journey toward easier, healthier, more enjoyable eating. Your Manhattan kitchen awaits transformation into a personal restaurant serving an audience of one—you.
