Has anyone ever hired a private chef for Christmas dinner?

[Soulsista14]

I’m cooking dinner for 12 this year and I’ve felt stressed about it for the last month. The amount of food I’ve had to buy has cost a small fortune as no one has offered to bring anything. We have the money to pay for everything but it’s not the point really.

WIBU to consider hiring a private chef next year for dinner? I know it’ll be ridiculously expensive, but how much are we really talking? £50 per head? £100? £200? I have no idea, but the thought of having to do this next year is making me want to cancel all future Christmas’s.

What a fabulous idea to have a chef prepare your Christmas lunch. If the Waitrose/ M&S options ever became too much to handle we absolutely would do this. Fortunately we will be a party of 6 adults and a child so perfectly manageable to allow M&S the honour. We add a touch of chic with a Fortnum hamper but a chef sounds very tempting. Any recommendations for the Cheshire area anyone?

I’m panicked because the housekeeper is taking a few days off, god help us!

I always forget the stuffing!! I make it but leave it in the fridge or oven!!

Same here donethis!

It has become a Christmas tradition in this house to get to the stage of clearing the plates from the table before I say "OH! Hang on - I forgot the stuffing! Would you have liked some?"

I cook for 11 most years and really don't get why it's stressful.. it's just a roast with as many or few extras as you fancy.
I do the meat Xmas eve (as My Mum's a veggie and doesn't like the veg being cooked at the same time.fair enough), then around 11am xmas day I peel the spuds and veg and non meat extras, bung stuff in the oven at intervals and usually forget something (stuffing at supper later always goes down well if I forget it) and the pigs in blankets go in the smaller oven so as not to contaminate the veg.

Puddings, ready bought and usually not needed til evening as we are all stuffed, and a ton of nice cheese and crackers..bingo.

However we have gone out for Xmas dinner a few times and I have to say that is even better,

My friend is getting one this year, he doesnt actually cook at her house, he cooks everything and delivers it and serves it up. I dont think it's too expensive at all, he is booked out for the entire day so there must be a market for it.
I will find out a bit more for you but its probably too late for this year, I'd say anyone decent would be booked but maybe book it for next year.
No need to get stressed, I'm sure you have plenty of other food if you make a balls of it. Good luck.

I’m panicked because the housekeeper is taking a few days off, god help us!

^

Yeah friggin housekeeper needs a few days off, what's up with that, eh?

We are going to our adults kids this year and they are having it catered. They asked if everybody would be ok with getting a caterer and us each paying paying for our own.

I got a come dine with me winner to cook a meal for a dinner party. He was a relative so didnt pay him. He was just glad of the opportunity to show off again

Probably no need. There's a very good thread currently running about getting things done the night before.

I'd do that. Peel potatoes the day before Plus pre prepared veg? The day before. Silver foil trays. Cook a big ham? Would that all help?

If you have some money to throw at this, get a cleaner in to deep clean your house and decluttering your kitchen. Buy a ready made starter like pâté or soup, order the main from cook or M&S so all you have to do is shove it in the oven, and use disposable foil trays so you don’t even have to wash up your roasting trays. Get a ready made pudding. Get 3 plastic washing up bowls, and when you go to serve dinner, fill two with hot soapy water and line them up. As you clear each course, scrape the food waste into the empty one, drop the cutlery into one of the hot water ones and the plates in the other. This should ensure absolutely no prep needed, barely any cooking apart from sticking some trays in the oven, and minimal clean up after.

Why don't you just go out to eat instead?

I am a private chef, I charge £100 per person for Christmas day lunch, I provide all the food, cook, and clean up afterwards.

Have used private chefs a couple of times, on weekends away. Well worth the money, and it's not that much more than good restaurant prices really. It's incredibly convenient. Or could you not buy it all pre done from Waitrose and cheerfully ask your guests for a contribution?

I usually cook for 20, but am having a break this time-Just immediate family.
Whilst I'm actually quite chaotic person I find having it planned in my head is the key and also not worrying, So what if they get dinner at 4 not 2, no one will starve with ten bixes of quality street and loads of crisps around.
Peel your potatoes and carrots, put your sprouts, broccoli, etc in bowls at 4 or 5 on xmas eve whilst watching tv and mix your stuffing etc whilst drinking and watching more tv.
In the morning oarboil potatoes put meat in and potatoes too. When potatoes are 80% cooked remove and foil. Take put jear and foil when cooked. Turn io heat. Put in parsnips, puts, stuffing etc.
Put veg on.
Put potatoes back in without foil at end
Gave your plates laid out in a huge surface. Gold io staple important for this.
Cut meat whilst veg cooking .
Plate food production line style (if they object they leave it)
Buy Turkey gravy from m and s or similar.

I buy xmas pudding and make about 3 other desserts 2 days before.
I dont get her up about the time, and TIN FOIL IS YOUR BEST FRIEND. I also never drink when I'm cooking and ban others from the kitchen as it interferes with my brain space.

They must wash up. I then eat losts of desserts.

My parents often pay for the meats. It does however still cost a fortune (aldi veg etc has been incredible at reducing the cost now though) because of the sheer numbers. Luckily no one really drinks much so that's a bonus.