Guides
Private versus personal chef — the definitions, then the booking.
The industry uses the terms loosely; here are the working definitions and — more usefully — which one your Maui stay actually needs.
The definitions
A private chef is traditionally a household’s staff cook — one employer, full-time, salaried. A personal chef serves multiple clients through scheduled sessions: dinners, prep days, vacation weeks. What visitors to Maui actually want is the second pattern at a professional standard.
What your stay needs
A villa week maps to three products: the signature dinner ($150–$250 a guest) for the nights that matter, the Stay Chef day (from $1,050) for full coverage, and prep sessions for the gaps. Nobody needs a salaried employee for nine days — they need a service that behaves like one.
What it costs
Session service prices per event or per day at published lines; a household staff chef prices in salary and is the wrong tool for a vacation. The quote system assumes the service model — and says so.
Questions, answered
The service model: Stay Chef days for the core of the stay, standalone dinners for the big nights, provisioning for arrival. One written quote covers the whole pattern.
Our model is the vetted-chef network with published rates, not staff placement. For ongoing household service, ask about recurring weekly arrangements through the quote channel.
Keep reading
- guide The villa versus the reservation, honestly compared.
- guide Hiring a chef directly versus booking the network.
- guide The resort’s private dining program, versus your own kitchen.
- guide Maui guides, written to be useful.
- guide How does a private chef work in Maui?
- guide How to hire a private chef on Maui.
- guide What kitchen does a private chef need?
- guide Signature dinners: food in the band. Stay Chef: groceries at cost.
Get a written quote
The button is not “Book now.” You tell us the table; we send a written quote — and that quote is the confirmed total.