Anyone can present a résumé. The difference between a capable chef and the right chef for your home lies in how thoroughly they have been vetted — and vetting is where Executive Chefs at Home is uncompromising.
What we look for
We work only with the top five percent of chef talent — typically Michelin-caliber chefs, or those with comparable pedigrees. Culinary excellence is the entry point, not the finish line. Every chef we consider is measured against three standards:
- Craft. Training at a leading culinary school or through stages at top restaurants, a strong résumé built in fine dining, and, as a rule, a minimum of around three years’ experience.
- Character. Discretion, professionalism, reliability, and the temperament to work with grace inside a private home.
- Fit. The less tangible chemistry between a chef and a particular family — which, in private service, matters as much as anything on a résumé.
How we vet
Our process is deliberate, and every chef we present has moved through each stage.
- Sourcing from a trusted network. We work from relationships rather than job boards. Many of the chefs we place come by referral and are known to us personally, which is how we reach talent that is rarely on the open market.
- Credentials and experience. We review training, restaurant and private-service history, and the specifics of each chef’s background.
- Culinary assessment. We evaluate skill directly, against the standard our clients expect.
- In-depth interviews. We look beyond ability to temperament, communication, and how a chef operates within a household.
- Reference verification. We verify all of a chef’s references, speaking with prior principals, estate managers, or employers to confirm both performance and character.
- Background checks. At your request, we run comprehensive checks — criminal history, identity, credit, and employment verification.
- A full-time trial. Before any commitment, the chef cooks for you full-time for one to two weeks. This is not a single dinner or a tasting; it is the real thing, so you know exactly what daily life with the chef will be like before you decide.
Our guarantee
Our work does not end when a chef is placed. We remain available to both household and chef, and we stand behind every placement with a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the fit does not hold within that window, we will find you another chef.
Why it matters
Inviting a chef into your home is an act of trust. The rigor of our vetting is what earns it — the assurance that everyone we present has been examined not only for what they can cook, but for who they are. It is also what allows our placements to last.
To understand how a placement comes together from your side, see our guide to how to hire a full-time private chef. When you are ready, our team will begin with a confidential conversation about your household.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How selective is Executive Chefs at Home?
- We work only with the top five percent of chef talent — typically Michelin-caliber chefs, or those with comparable pedigrees. The chefs we place are trained at leading culinary schools or through stages at top restaurants, with strong résumés built in fine dining and, as a rule, a minimum of around three years' experience.
- How do you vet private chefs?
- Through a multi-stage process: sourcing from a trusted network, reviewing credentials and experience, a direct culinary assessment, in-depth interviews, verification of all references, background checks at the client's request, and a one- to two-week full-time trial in your home. Only chefs who meet our standard for craft and character are presented.
- Do you run background checks on private chefs?
- At your request, we run comprehensive background checks — covering criminal history, identity, credit, and employment verification — and we verify all of a chef's references with prior principals, estate managers, or employers.
- Can I trial a chef before hiring?
- Yes. The chef cooks for you full-time for one to two weeks, so you experience exactly what daily life with them will be like before any commitment is made — not a single dinner, but the real thing.
- How do you find your chefs?
- Primarily through relationships. Many of the chefs we place come to us by referral and are known to us personally, rather than sourced from public job boards — which is how we maintain access to talent that is rarely on the open market.
- What happens if the chef isn't the right fit?
- Every placement is backed by a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the fit does not hold within that window, we will find you another chef. Our aim is a lasting match, and we stand behind our work.