Ahmed Al-Rashid

01 · Your myCHEF experience

Ask how the proposed menu will work in your setting

For a multi-course dinner, discuss the preparation sequence, staffing and the pace you want between dishes. For household cooking, focus on the meals, portions and routine that need support. The role you need may look very different across those two settings.

Use your enquiry to describe the result you want rather than relying on a job title to define the service. myCHEF can then discuss a proposed chef and the practical support required. Any specific experience or capability that is essential to your decision should be confirmed during that conversation.

03 · Your myCHEF experience

Choose courses that belong together

A memorable dinner menu is more than a list of favourite dishes. Think about how the courses follow one another: a fresh beginning, a satisfying main course and a finish that complements what came before. Repeating the same rich ingredient or cooking style throughout can make a meal feel heavier than intended, even when each dish is good on its own.

Share your must-have dishes and let the chef recommend the supporting courses. If a particular main course is the centrepiece, the starter and dessert can be chosen to balance it. The menu should also respect the kitchen and service team, especially when several plates need to reach the table together.

Consider the pace you want. A relaxed family gathering, a birthday dinner and an interactive tasting menu may all use different course structures. Agreeing the format early makes it easier to discuss portions, staffing and timing. The most persuasive menu is one that sounds enjoyable to your guests and can be delivered comfortably in the setting.

05 · Your myCHEF experience

Plan arrival time around preparation, not just mealtime

The time you want to eat is different from the time the chef needs to arrive. Ingredients may need preparation, several dishes may need different cooking stages and the table may need attention before guests sit down. Give the team your preferred meal time and ask for an arrival schedule that reflects the agreed menu.

For recurring visits, consider when the kitchen is busiest. Breakfast routines, school departures, deliveries and household staff schedules can all affect access to the workspace. A sensible start time allows the chef to work comfortably while keeping disruption to your household low. If you work from home, mention rooms or periods that need to stay quiet.

Also confirm when the service is expected to finish and what happens if plans run late. Additional tasks or extended service may require more time and an extra charge under the agreed terms. Raising these possibilities before the day is easier than trying to negotiate them while a meal is already underway.

07 · Your myCHEF experience

Translate a favourite cuisine into a focused brief

A cuisine name opens the conversation, but particular dishes and flavours help a chef understand what you mean. Italian might suggest handmade pasta to one household and grilled fish with simple vegetables to another. Middle Eastern cooking can mean a relaxed mezze table, regional home-style dishes or a more formal sequence. Share examples rather than expecting one label to communicate every preference.

Mention the intensity of flavour you enjoy, preferred ingredients and any dishes that have personal significance. If your household likes several cuisines, discuss how they should appear across the week or within an occasion. Variety can work beautifully when the menu has a clear structure and does not ask the kitchen to produce too many unrelated preparations at once.

Ask the proposed chef which parts of the brief best match their experience. A candid conversation about strengths is more useful than promising every possible dish. The resulting menu should feel personal while remaining realistic for the available time, equipment and service format.