Simply put, The Culinistas make in-home chef services easy and affordable. Business partners Jill and Tiana, wanted a way to help top culinary talent find private chef work, while also providing a service for families to eat well in the home — “from weekly meal prep to special occasions, though a high tech-high touch approach.”
We caught up with the women behind the brand to discuss what sets them apart, what inspires them, and the everyday joys of happy clients.
We think that the concept of The Culinistas is genius. How did you come up with it?
We saw an honest and real desire among people to come back to the table. Families we knew needed home-cooked, healthy, and delicious food but didn't have the time or wherewithal to make it. We've always believed that food is the great connector, and we wanted to make it easier and less stressful for loved ones to share meals with one another.
How did your past professional lives inform the business model and mission for The Culinistas?
Jill has worked as a private chef, a restaurant reviewer, and written several cookbooks along the way. Gathering people around food that makes everyone feel good is her life’s work. Tiana spent five years as an investor and advisor at J.P. Morgan, where she watched busy mothers struggle to get healthy, delicious meals on the table for their families. She saw how a large institution could cater to each client's needs, and this grew into her business philosophy of personalized customer service at scale.
What sets The Culinistas apart from other home chef services?
We are truly a custom, in-home service. That means no stock menus, no delivery, no reheating. Our chefs are vetted, trained, and background checked. Everything is cooked in your home kitchen, and never pre-made. We specialize in weekly meal preps as well as everyday celebrations of 4 to 12 people, but our services extend to holiday cooking, postnatal services, long-term chef placements, and more.
What are the benefits of having a chef in the home versus getting ready-made meals delivered?
You can literally see how the food comes together, the quality of the ingredients, the methods of preparation, and the care our chefs put into their craft. That's a level of trust you will never have with a meal delivery service. Also, you never have to worry about getting the wrong order or someone stealing it off your front porch.
How do you come up with new dishes and meal plans?
Our culinary team is inspired by every element of life — from music to nature to a smell or an emotion. We have a finger on the pulse of the culinary world, and are always incorporating new ideas and tastes.
What is the best client experience or feedback you've had to date?
We receive tons of glowing feedback for our postnatal services! Here's a recent email from a client:
"We are thrilled with everything! The food is delicious! Coming home after an exhausting week with a baby and seeing my fully stocked fridge was just about the greatest thing ever. We are looking forward to our next visit!”
What makes your Postnatal Service unique from your other offerings and meal delivery services at large?
Our Postnatal Service ensures new mothers are nutritionally supported during their fourth trimester. Postnatal nutritionists and lactation experts helped us curate menus for any maternal need, from high/low/medium galactagogues to simple self-care.