Story by Dave Eckert / Intro photo courtesy of MyChef KC
I think that most everyone would agree that time is of the essence more than ever these days. Between jobs, family activities, and life in general, most people don’t have a ton of time to pursue other activities. That includes cooking. But whether you don’t have the time, the desire, or the acumen to cook on a regular basis, there is help available, including three local options featured here.
Photo courtesy of MyChef KC
Let’s start with MyChef KC, founded by Adam Glass. “I started MyChef back in 2019, working as personal chef servicing clients on a weekly basis. I absolutely fell in love with the interactions and the ability to have creative control over the food I was preparing. During the Covid Pandemic, I decided to launch the service as I had a number of families reaching out for meal prep services, actually more than I could handle.” That led Glass to reach out to other chefs, many of whom had been furloughed or laid off. “We ended up bringing on five chefs in 2020. We now have over 30 chefs and have expanded to both St. Louis and Omaha.”
I asked Glass how MyChef KC works. “Our weekly service is our primary focus. Once a family shows interest in our services, we always speak with them directly. From the beginning, we emphasize the importance of getting to know them, not just from the food angle, but also from a human standpoint. Once we’ve outlined our service details and discern their needs, we match them up with the chef,” Glass shared.
Photo courtesy of MyChef KC
That sounds great, but I wondered about the cost. “We charge a flat hourly rate of $55, plus the cost of food. Our chefs plan each household’s menu directly with them every week. They work one-on-one to ensure preferences and dietary needs are met, but our clients are able to receive virtually any type of meals ~ flavors ~ cuisines ~ portions,” Glass told me.
To learn more, Glass encourages you to visit MyChefKC.com. There, you will find plenty of FAQs, pictures, and the inquiry form to set up a phone chat. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram @MyChefKC.
Photo courtesy of Green Girl
Melissa Houston has been at the chef’s game in one capacity or another for more than 30-years. She’s lived in 11 states and held a myriad of positions, but now she’s back home, recently engaged, and fully engaged in her business, Green Girl Personal Chef. “I started Green Girl 2019. Prior to that, I was for myself since 2016. Business was generated by word of mouth. Then, I suffered a terrible back injury. I was unable to continue in the restaurant industry and had to heal. During that time, some three years, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do and what I physically could do. I realized I should use my culinary degree and return to a healing foods lifestyle.
Photo courtesy of Green Girl
“I go to my clients’ homes usually once a week and make them a set number of dishes or a package that I set up as a flat rate for my services plus groceries I shop for. I work with their diet and goals, but my real abilities lie in my knowledge of substitutions and healthy, healing foods. I do custom menus, cooking lessons, dinner parties on occasion, and coaching in wellness, nutrition, and hormonal health,” Houston shared.
Interested? Check out Houston’s website GreenGirlKC.com, or Facebook @greengirl and Instagram @greengirlchefkc. You can also email Houston at contactgreengirl@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of Green Girl
Finally, chef Carey Weir and her multi-faceted company, Cured by Salt. Among other services she provides, Weir offers a full menu of chef-prepared meals delivered to your door. The menu is extensive. Items can be purchased in individual or family-sized meals. Dietary preferences and constraints are easily managed. And perhaps best of all, the menus are comprehensive, creative, and change weekly. “Customers order online through my website. I prep everything from scratch and deliver directly to customers’ homes on Sundays. The meals are fully cooked and packaged for easy reheating, but they’re something you’d be excited to eat, well-made food, balanced, and made with care,” Weir said.
Weir is both a chef and a sommelier based in Kansas City. She’s been cooking professionally for more than 15 years. She’s also a mom raising an 11-year-old daughter. That, she says, gives her insight into the pressures of balancing work, family, and running a household, which often includes cooking. “I know what real life looks like. I’m not creating food for a fantasy schedule. I prepare food for people who want to eat well without spending their week cooking, cleaning, and stressing out about it!” Weir shared.
To learn more, or to get on the Cured by Salt home delivery schedule, visit CuredBySaltKC.com. As Weir mentioned, new menus post every week.
