Ditch Takeout: Get Personalized Meals Cooked Just for You!
I wanted to title this post: Viva Chefs- the best way to eat custom made food with trustworthy ingredients (without breaking the bank!). But then, you’re probably thinking, “I’ve heard this claim on every food website that’s ever existed.” Trust me—we get it! But here at Viva Chefs, we’re not just another meal service. In fact, we started this company because Vaibhav and I couldn’t find affordable in-home cooks for our own families. Viva Chefs is a platform to connect busy parents and professionals with local cooks and chefs who prepare meals right in their kitchen, completely customized to their tastes.
“There are so many healthy food companies out there! How is Viva Chefs different?”
Great question. Let’s break down some of the most common options and see how we stack up:
1. Delivery Apps (UberEats, DoorDash)
Sure, you’ve probably scrolled through these apps occasionally looking for healthy food, only to end up ordering pizza or burgers and fries. These platforms offer convenience but not much when it comes to genuinely healthy options. Even the “healthier” options are usually overshadowed by temptations on the menu. And don’t forget the delivery fees—ordering from these apps regularly is not cheap!
2. Meal Kits (Hello Fresh, Sunbasket, Home Chef)
Many, if not most of us have tried meal kit services that deliver ingredients to your doorstep. While they seem like a good idea at first, here’s the reality:
• They’re pricey.
• They’re rarely customizable to fit strict dietary needs (think celiac, nut allergies, etc.), and vegetarian options are limited.
• And let’s not forget—you still have to cook! After a long day, who has the energy to spend an hour chopping, cooking, and then cleaning up?
3. ‘Homemade’ or ‘Chef-made’ Meal Delivery (Shef.com, CookUnity.)
These services let you order meals made by local chefs and home cooks. While they seem great on paper, they come with their own set of problems:
• Quality of ingredients is hard to verify.
• Food freshness can be hit or miss.
• Plastic containers pile up quickly, and sustainability goes out the window.
• And again, the cost is not insignificant.
4. Other Personal Chef Services (Culinistas, Chef agencies etc.)
Personal chef services like Culinistas send chefs to your home to prep meals for the week. While that sounds good in theory, it comes with a few drawbacks:
• It’s Expensive (with a capital E)—think hundreds of dollars per visit.
• They typically hold the barrier of entry for cooks and chefs really high, restricting your options (cooks have to be through certain culinary schools to be able to work for them)
• There’s very little variety in terms of cuisines.
• Most of the times, these platform are low tech, so navigating it all without a streamlined platform becomes a challenge (think no reviews, no chef profiles).
Why Viva Chefs Is Different
This is where Viva Chefs comes in. We’re democratizing access to local cooks and chefs through our easy-to-use website and apps. Our chefs decide their own rates, offering affordable options for everyone. Whether it’s a passionate home cook earning some side income or a chef with experience at upscale restaurants, we cater to a wide variety of culinary preferences and budgets. With Viva Chefs, you’re not stuck with overpriced, pre-packaged meals or the hassle of cooking from a kit. You get:
• Meals customized to your taste and dietary preferences.
• No clean-up or prep hassle—our chefs do it all in your own kitchen.
• Transparent costs, with rates starting from $75 per visit for up to four meals for a small family.
• A variety of local chefs, offering diverse cuisines without gatekeeping who can join.
Our approach allows you to experience fresh, home-cooked meals tailored to your needs, without the high costs or limitations of other services. So, if you’re ready to ditch the delivery apps and meal kits and get healthy, delicious meals right in your kitchen—Viva Chefs has you covered.
Check out some of our amazing chefs now!