Don’t Feel Like Going Out? You Can Now Book a Private Chef for the Cost of a Restaurant Dinner

We know our way around a kitchen, but we’ll never be as savvy as, say, Janine Booth of Root & Bone or Michelle Bernstein of Café La Trova. Well, what if we told you the next time you hosted a dinner party, all you had to do was keep watch from the living room? 

Nope, it’s not too good to be true. Meet Chefit, a new Miami-based service that brings private chefs to your home at prices comparable to a regular meal out.

Instead of booking a chef for a specified number of hours, Chefit charges you based on the number of appetizers, entrees and desserts you want (averaging $10 to $25 a plate).  Plus, you’ll get to interact with the chef as the meal takes place, learning tips and tricks from the best in the industry.

Start by visiting the website to scope out the current chefs and their availability and offerings. (We’re bookmarking Chef Queen’s BBQ pork ribs and black garlic Caesar, along with Chef Blanca’s Peruvian churrasco and bloody Mary shrimp ceviche.) Then, just fill out the online request form with information like your address, the date and time you’d like to reserve, the number of people being fed and so on.

Say you’re looking to book a chef for you and a date: Start with a few appetizers, add two entrees and dessert—depending on the menu, that clocks in around $75 total. Add a 25 percent tip, and you’re still under $100. That’s less than most quality restaurants in Wynwood and South Beach—and the best part is, you don’t have to leave your home. (As for drinks, we’re guessing you already have a bottle of your favorite rosé in the fridge.)

Chefs come prepared with all necessary ingredients and kitchenware, and take care of all the prep and clean up. (Not having to wash dishes is worth the cost alone.) Plus, new chefs and menus are added weekly, so expect even more variety in the future.

For now, the service is available in Miami, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Time to send out the invites for next month’s dinner party.