Private Chef for Week-Long Poconos Vacation

Complete guide to hiring a private chef for your week-long Pocono vacation rental or estate stay. Pricing, what to expect, and maximizing the experience.

Private Chef for Week-Long Pocono Vacation Stays

Quick Answer: Week-long private chef service for Poconos vacation homes typically costs $275-550 per person per day depending on coverage level. Full comprehensive service ($425/person/day) includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, provisioning, and kitchen management—roughly $16/meal. For a family of 8 over 7 days, expect $23,800 for full coverage, offering significant savings vs. restaurant dining while providing resort-level convenience.


Why Choose Multi-Day Private Chef Service

Ready to Experience Luxury Dining?

Schedule a consultation to discuss your private chef experience.

The Vacation Home Paradox

You've invested in a beautiful Poconos vacation rental—Lake Wallenpaupack waterfront, mountain retreat, or ski-in property. You're there to relax and make memories. But reality sets in:

Without Private Chef:

  • Daily meal planning and grocery shopping
  • 2-3 hours/day cooking and cleanup
  • Restaurant reservations and travel
  • Coordinating dietary needs for your group
  • Missing activities for meal logistics
  • Stress over "what's for dinner"

With Private Chef:

  • Zero meal planning or shopping
  • Zero cooking or cleanup
  • Restaurant-quality meals in your rental
  • All dietary needs handled seamlessly
  • Maximize activity time
  • Complete vacation relaxation

Time Savings: 3-4 hours daily = 21-28 hours over a week recovered for actual vacation


Multi-Day Service Options

Start Planning Your Event

Contact Chef Keith to create your perfect dining experience.

Tier 1: Dinner-Only Coverage - $275/person/evening

Ready to Book?

Contact us to begin planning your private chef experience.

Daily Schedule:

  • Chef arrival: 4:00 PM
  • Service: 4-course dinner prepared and served
  • Service time: 6:00-9:00 PM
  • Complete cleanup
  • Chef departure: 10:00 PM

What's Included:

  • Custom menu for each evening (7 different menus)
  • Premium ingredient sourcing
  • Professional cooking and plating
  • Wine pairing recommendations
  • Complete kitchen cleanup

Best For:

  • Groups handling own breakfast/lunch
  • Flexible daytime activities
  • Desire for nightly fine dining
  • Budget-conscious while wanting quality dinners

7-Day Pricing Example (8 people):

  • $275 × 8 × 7 = $15,400
  • Averages $220/person total, $31/meal

Tier 2: Essential Coverage - $325/person/day

Daily Schedule: Morning (8:00-10:00 AM):

  • Breakfast service (continental luxury or hot options)
  • Fresh juice, premium coffee
  • Cleanup

Midday:

  • Packed lunch provisions for activities OR
  • Simple lunch service at property

Afternoon (3:00-4:00 PM):

  • Snack service setup
  • Afternoon refreshments

Evening (6:00-9:00 PM):

  • 4-course dinner
  • Professional service
  • Complete cleanup

What's Included:

  • All groceries and provisioning
  • Three meals daily
  • Snack service
  • Kitchen management
  • Dietary accommodations

Best For:

  • Families wanting comprehensive coverage
  • Active groups needing picnic lunches
  • Balance of coverage and value

7-Day Pricing Example (8 people):

  • $325 × 8 × 7 = $18,200
  • Averages $260/person total, $12/meal

Tier 3: Full Coverage - $425/person/day

Daily Schedule: Morning Service (7:30-10:00 AM):

  • Full hot breakfast (eggs Benedict, pancakes, etc.)
  • Fresh-squeezed juices
  • Breakfast meats
  • Fresh fruit and pastries
  • Premium coffee and tea

Mid-Morning (10:30 AM):

  • Snack refresh for late risers

Lunch Service (12:30-2:00 PM):

  • Plated lunch OR
  • Gourmet picnic provisions for boat/activities
  • Fresh salads, sandwiches, sides

Afternoon (3:00-4:00 PM):

  • Appetizer and refreshment service
  • Charcuterie, fresh fruit, beverages

Evening Service (6:00-10:00 PM):

  • 6-course dinner
  • Wine pairing recommendations
  • Professional presentation
  • Extended service time

What's Included:

  • All Tier 2 benefits
  • Enhanced menu complexity
  • More courses at dinner
  • Interactive elements
  • Premium beverage recommendations
  • Extended chef availability

Best For:

  • Luxury vacation experience
  • Groups wanting zero meal logistics
  • Food-focused vacation
  • Special celebrations

7-Day Pricing Example (8 people):

  • $425 × 8 × 7 = $23,800
  • Averages $340/person total, $16/meal

Tier 4: Luxury Comprehensive - $550/person/day

Everything in Tier 3, Plus:

Enhanced Ingredients:

  • Premium proteins (Wagyu features, diver scallops, lobster)
  • Fresh truffle courses (when seasonal)
  • Caviar service
  • Ultra-premium sourcing

Wine Service:

  • Sommelier-curated pairings with dinners
  • Wine procurement included
  • Champagne breakfast options

Interactive Experiences:

  • One culinary class during stay (pasta making, sushi rolling, etc.)
  • Tableside preparations
  • Chef storytelling and engagement

Special Dietary Excellence:

  • Parallel luxury menus for all restrictions
  • Creative accommodations without compromise

Best For:

  • Ultra-luxury vacation experience
  • Food enthusiasts and connoisseurs
  • Special anniversary/celebration vacations
  • Groups who appreciate culinary excellence

7-Day Pricing Example (8 people):

  • $550 × 8 × 7 = $30,800
  • Averages $440/person total, $21/meal

Sample Week Schedule: Full Coverage

Monday: Arrival Day

Dinner (7:00 PM): Welcoming casual elegance

  • Grilled steaks | compound butter
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Caesar salad
  • Summer berry tart

Tuesday: Full Lake Day

Breakfast (8:30 AM):

  • Eggs Benedict
  • Breakfast potatoes
  • Bacon and sausage
  • Fresh fruit
  • Pastries

Lunch (Noon - Boat Day Packed):

  • Gourmet sandwich selection
  • Pasta salad
  • Fresh fruit
  • Cookies
  • Beverages

Dinner (7:00 PM): Lakeside Seafood Feature

  • Oysters on half shell
  • Lobster bisque
  • Pan-seared halibut | lemon butter
  • Seasonal vegetables
  • Chocolate mousse

Wednesday: Relaxation Day

Brunch (10:00 AM):

  • French toast bar
  • Smoked salmon display
  • Eggs to order
  • Mimosas and fresh juice

Afternoon Snacks (3:00 PM):

  • Charcuterie and cheese board
  • Fresh vegetables and dips

Dinner (6:30 PM): Italian Evening

  • Antipasti platter
  • Handmade fettuccine Alfredo
  • Chicken piccata
  • Tiramisu

Thursday: Activity Day

Get Started

Schedule a consultation to discuss your culinary vision.

Breakfast (8:00 AM - Early for hiking):

  • Breakfast burritos
  • Fruit smoothies
  • Coffee and tea

Lunch (Packed for trail):

  • Trail-ready gourmet lunches
  • Energy-focused provisions

Dinner (7:30 PM): Steakhouse Night

  • Wedge salad
  • Prime ribeye | truffle fries
  • Creamed spinach
  • Bourbon pecan tart

Friday: Mid-Week Celebration

Breakfast (9:00 AM):

  • Pancake bar with toppings
  • Breakfast meats
  • Fresh fruit salad

Lunch (1:00 PM):

  • Grilled chicken Caesar wraps
  • Summer salad
  • Fresh lemonade

Dinner (6:00 PM): Special Celebration Multi-Course

  • Foie gras appetizer
  • Lobster bisque
  • Scallops | cauliflower puree
  • Intermezzo
  • Filet mignon | truffle potatoes
  • Cheese course
  • Soufflé

Saturday: Interactive Experience

Breakfast (8:30 AM):

  • Continental plus hot options

Lunch (12:30 PM):

  • Light lunch buffet

Afternoon (3:00 PM):

  • Interactive pasta-making class
  • Team participation
  • Learn fresh pasta techniques

Dinner (7:30 PM): Pasta created together:

  • Handmade fettuccine | truffle butter
  • Ravioli duo (lobster and mushroom)
  • Gnocchi | brown butter sage
  • Seasonal salad
  • Tiramisu

Sunday: Departure Preparation

Breakfast (8:00 AM):

  • Full breakfast spread
  • Departure preparations

Brunch/Early Lunch (11:30 AM):

  • Casual elegant send-off
  • Easy departure-friendly service

What's Included in Multi-Day Packages

Comprehensive Coverage

Pre-Arrival:

  • Menu planning consultation
  • Grocery provisioning
  • All ingredient procurement
  • Dietary survey and planning
  • Kitchen equipment assessment

Daily Service:

  • Chef arrival and prep
  • All meal cooking and presentation
  • Between-meal kitchen maintenance
  • Provisions restocking
  • Flexibility for schedule changes

Complete Management:

  • All food costs included
  • Kitchen organization
  • Leftover storage and labeling
  • Recipe sharing when requested
  • Dietary tracking

Post-Departure:

  • Final deep clean
  • All dishes and cookware cleaned
  • Kitchen restored to arrival condition

What You Provide

Kitchen Facility:

  • Functional kitchen with stove, oven, refrigerator
  • Basic cookware and utensils
  • Serving dishes and tableware
  • Dining space

Information:

  • Final guest count
  • Dietary restrictions and preferences
  • Daily schedule and activity plans
  • Preferences and favorites

Access:

  • Key/code for chef arrival
  • Clear kitchen space for chef use

That's It: Everything else is handled


Cost Comparison: Chef vs. Alternatives

Restaurant Dining (Family of 8, 7 days)

Learn More

Discover how we can elevate your next gathering.

Daily Restaurant Costs:

  • Breakfast out: $25/person × 8 = $200
  • Lunch out: $35/person × 8 = $280
  • Dinner out: $85/person × 8 = $680
  • Daily Total: $1,160

Weekly Total: $1,160 × 7 = $8,120

Plus:

  • Travel time (1-2 hours daily)
  • Reservations stress
  • Limited dietary accommodation
  • Public dining (no privacy)
  • Wait times and crowds

Self-Catering (same family)

Groceries: $800-1,200/week Plus Your Time:

  • Menu planning: 5 hours
  • Shopping: 6-8 hours (multiple trips)
  • Cooking: 14-21 hours (2-3 hours daily)
  • Cleanup: 10-14 hours
  • Total Time: 35-48 hours of your vacation

Hidden Costs:

  • Missing activities for meal logistics
  • Stress over "what's for dinner"
  • One person stuck cooking while others enjoy
  • Quality variability
  • Limited technique in rental kitchen

Private Chef Full Coverage (same family)

Investment: $23,800 for 7 days

Breakdown:

  • $425/person/day × 8 × 7
  • 21 meals per person
  • $16/meal average

What You Gain:

  • Zero cooking/shopping time (48 hours reclaimed)
  • Michelin-quality daily
  • All dietary needs met
  • Complete flexibility
  • No restaurant travel
  • Resort-level convenience

Effective Cost vs. Restaurants:

  • Saves: $8,120 - (grocery costs)
  • Premium for Excellence: ~$15,000 additional
  • Value: Reclaim 48 hours + superior quality + convenience

When It Makes Sense:

  • Vacation rental is significant investment (already spending $5K-15K/week)
  • Group values food quality and experience
  • Time is precious (busy executives, rare family time)
  • Dietary restrictions make restaurants challenging
  • Celebrating special occasion
  • Want resort-level service at private property

Ideal Vacation Properties

Perfect Fit

Get Started

Schedule a consultation to discuss your culinary vision.

Lake Wallenpaupack Estates:

  • Week-long summer rentals
  • Boat-focused activities
  • Large family gatherings
  • Waterfront entertaining

Pocono Mountain Retreats:

  • Ski vacation properties
  • Multi-family rentals
  • Executive retreat centers
  • Secluded luxury estates

Vacation Home Buyouts:

  • Full property rentals
  • Wedding weekend properties
  • Multi-generational family vacations
  • Corporate retreat venues

Kitchen Requirements

Minimum Needed:

  • Full-size stove and oven
  • Refrigerator and freezer
  • Counter space for prep
  • Basic pots, pans, utensils
  • Dishwasher preferred but not required

Chef Will Assess:

  • During booking process
  • Virtual walkthrough if needed
  • Equipment gaps identified
  • Solutions proposed (rental if necessary)

Booking Multi-Day Services

Timeline

For Summer Weeks: Book 8-12 months ahead For Holiday Weeks: Book 6-12 months ahead For Off-Season: Book 2-3 months minimum

Why Early Booking Matters:

  • Limited multi-day availability
  • Prime summer weeks fill first
  • Allows comprehensive planning
  • Secures preferred chef exclusively

Booking Process

Ready to Book?

Contact us to begin planning your private chef experience.

Step 1: Initial Contact (8-12 months before)

  • Email with dates, guest count, location
  • Preliminary needs discussion
  • Availability confirmation

Step 2: Planning Consultation (6-8 months before)

  • Detailed video/phone call
  • Discuss dietary needs and preferences
  • Activity schedule rough outline
  • Service tier selection

Step 3: Proposal (6 months before)

  • Custom service plan
  • Sample week menu outline
  • Detailed pricing
  • Contract for review

Step 4: Booking (6 months before)

  • Contract signed
  • 25% deposit
  • Date blocked exclusively

Step 5: Menu Planning (6-8 weeks before)

  • Detailed menu development
  • Dietary survey distribution to all guests
  • Preference incorporation
  • Menu finalization

Step 6: Final Details (2 weeks before)

  • Guest count confirmation
  • Last dietary updates
  • Daily schedule confirmation
  • Final payment (balance due)

Step 7: Execution

  • Chef provisioning and arrival
  • Week-long exceptional service
  • Flawless execution

Payment Structure

  • 25% deposit at booking
  • 50% payment at 60 days before arrival
  • Final 25% at 14 days before arrival

Cancellation Policy

  • 90+ days out: Full refund minus $1,000 booking fee
  • 60-89 days: 50% refund
  • 30-59 days: 25% refund
  • Under 30 days: No refund (provisioning begins, week blocked)

Maximizing Your Week-Long Experience

Pre-Arrival

Learn More

Discover how we can elevate your next gathering.

Provide Detailed Information:

  • Complete dietary needs for all guests
  • Activity schedule (helps with meal timing)
  • Favorites and dislikes
  • Special requests (birthday cake, etc.)
  • Beverage preferences

Be Specific About:

  • Children's preferences (if traveling with kids)
  • Breakfast timing preferences
  • Picnic lunch needs for activities
  • Formal vs. casual dinner preferences

During Your Stay

Communicate Openly:

  • Daily schedule changes welcome
  • Feedback helps chef adjust
  • Requests for favorites can be accommodated
  • Dietary surprises? Let chef know ASAP

Enjoy Flexibility:

  • Late breakfast if you sleep in? No problem
  • Want to skip lunch for big activities? Chef adjusts
  • Early dinner one night, late another? Handled
  • Impromptu guests? Can usually accommodate with notice

Engage or Relax:

  • Some clients love chatting with chef about food
  • Others prefer chef works invisibly
  • Both approaches fine—communicate preference

Make Requests

Chef Can Often:

  • Recreate a favorite restaurant dish
  • Teach you a technique during prep
  • Adjust spice levels or flavors mid-week
  • Prepare special items for dietary needs
  • Accommodate schedule changes

Just Communicate:

  • Advance notice ideal
  • But flexibility is built into service
  • Chef's job is making your vacation perfect

Special Considerations

Traveling with Children

Get Started

Schedule a consultation to discuss your culinary vision.

Kid-Friendly Options:

  • Separate simpler preparations available
  • Familiar favorites elevated
  • Interactive meal elements
  • Accommodating picky eaters without separate meals

Example: While adults enjoy pan-seared scallops, kids get elevated chicken tenders with homemade honey mustard—both Michelin-quality execution.


Dietary Restrictions

Complex Accommodations Handled:

  • Family member with celiac? Parallel GF menu all week
  • Vegan guests? Complete plant-based luxury menus
  • Multiple allergies? Separate prep protocols
  • Cultural/religious requirements? Respected and executed

No Upcharges for Dietary Needs


Wine & Beverages

Options:

  • Wine pairing recommendations (included)
  • Wine procurement service (cost + 20% fee)
  • Service from your cellar (no fee)
  • Beer and cocktail guidance

Grocery Includes:

  • Coffee, tea, basic beverages
  • Cooking wine
  • Specialty beverages discussed

Not Included (unless requested):

  • Alcohol for consumption
  • Specialty beverages beyond basics

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the chef stay on property? A: Typically no for single-week services. Chef arrives daily, departs after dinner service. Multi-week or remote properties may include accommodation arrangements.

Q: What if our schedule changes daily? A: Built-in flexibility. Breakfast can be early or late, lunches packed or served, dinner timing adjusted. Just communicate changes.

Q: Can chef accommodate last-minute guests? A: Usually yes with 24-48 hour notice. May affect pricing if significant increase.

Q: What about groceries—can we use chef's provisions? A: All food provisioned by chef is for meals served. Personal snacks/drinks should be self-provisioned separately.

Q: Do you provide service for properties without full kitchens? A: Kitchen assessment required. Creative solutions possible but fully equipped kitchen optimal.

Q: Can we request specific meals or recipes? A: Absolutely. Share favorites during planning—chef will incorporate.

Q: What if we want a night off to go to a restaurant? A: Totally fine. Schedule built around your preferences. Adjust service days accordingly.


Book Your Week-Long Service

Include:

  • Vacation dates (arrival and departure)
  • Property location and type
  • Guest count (adults and children ages)
  • Dietary considerations
  • Service tier preference (or unsure)
  • Activity plans (if known)

Response: Within 24 hours with availability and next steps

Timeline: Book 8-12 months ahead for summer prime weeks

"Week-long private chef service transforms vacation rentals into luxury resorts. Reclaim your vacation time, enjoy Michelin-quality dining daily, and create memories—not meal stress."


About Chef Keith Kalm

Michelin-trained with extensive multi-day service experience. Chef Keith understands the logistics and variety required for week-long coverage while maintaining daily excellence.

Serving Pocono vacation homes, Lake Wallenpaupack estates, and NEPA luxury properties with comprehensive multi-day private chef services.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Chef Keith to discuss your private chef needs and receive expert guidance tailored to your event.