At Work ... Catering To You

Name: Catering to You

Type of business: Personal chef service

Address: 56 Liberty Road Bernardsville

Telephone: 908-766-0576

Web site: http://cateringtoyouonline.com.

Number of employees: 1

Founded: May 2003

Top officer: Chef and owner Judy Streeter

"What I do is I cook for people on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or occasional basis," said owner and chef Judith Streeter.

"I have a huge menu that people can select off of and then they tell me what I want. Some people will say ‘pick for me' then I deliver it.

"Basically, I plan the menu, do all the grocery shopping, prepare all the meals, and package everything in containers and label everything and leave instructions on how to heat the food.

"I cook mostly in my home and deliver the food. But I also cook in the customer's home too if that is what is desired. I've had Jewish customers who will buy the groceries. If they are kosher I go to the home to do the cooking then package what I've made. It's more convenient for me to cook in my home because I can do more meals for people. If I cook in a person's home it's more time consuming.

"I also will cook for private dinner parties, give cooking classes in your home for participation or demonstration, and I also provide gift certificates.

"The majority of my customers who use me are busy families, and I offer a kids menu, too. I also have clients who are working women and single men who commute.

"My customers are within 30 minutes of my home. I deliver to clients living in towns in Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon and parts of Warren and Union counties."

"My business is about preparing food about the way you want it. When people find out about me and call me I send them to my Web site then they have a good picture of what I offer and what my pricing is. Once they are interested, I set up an appointment and meet with them. At that point, I will find out what herbs or spices you don't want, I won't put it in your food. If you have a food allergy, I will put nothing in your food that will cause an allergic reaction. I deal with people with special dietary concerns including gluten free diets. Catering To You is really about what you want.

"There may be other personal chefs out there and they will say ‘here's the menu -- pick from it.' But I offer a broad range of menu items. There are two different menu options: the Tradition Menu Option with all food categories, i.e. chicken, beef, pasta; and the Healthy Lifestyle menu with low fat, portion controlled entrees with calories and fat counts given for every entrée. I can provide under 500 calorie meals. Side dishes are included with the entrees.

"I also offer people sound nutrition and a weight loss system. I am a distributor of Relive International products that promotes a weight loss system using Relive products I can offer, take an accelerator capsule to curb the appetite and build metabolism and muscle mass when taken before you eat a healthy breakfast. Then a shake for lunch, a meal replacement, then eat a normal dinner or one of the healthy dinners I prepare."

"I've been in business for five years and now I'm trying to take the business to the next level and double my business. I'm really committed to getting people healthy. I want people to realize how powerful good nutrition is. We want to be healthy and enjoy our life as much as we can."

"I've recently been focusing on the healthy lifestyle. I've always been interested in good nutrition. A couple of years ago I started taking the Relive products and I saw what it could do for me -- I started loosing weight and feeling better. I felt it was something that I wanted to share with other people. My friends who have fitness places tell me that while their clients will do their fitness program, they aren't losing as much as they could because the food part isn't considered. So that is why I brought in this option to the meals I prepare."

"Hooking up with Relive International. It was a defining moment in 2005 when I realized that I could take my personal chef business and combine it with Relive International and help people in a really significant way. Before I started taking the products I was easily exhausted thinking how am I going to do this tomorrow. Now I have the stamina for the many things I do."

"I hope to be retired. My plans are to keep increasing my business. "

" To be flexible and listen to your customers."

"If you are interested in becoming a personal chef go to http://personalchef.com and that gives all the information needed and the training classes that they give are all on the Web site. It helped me significantly. It's really practical advice on how to start your business. They even have a weekend when they come to this area, twice a year. I went to it and it really got my business off the ground. I continue to be a member and get referrals from them all the time. Being part of this organization it allows you access to all the other personal chefs through an on line member board and communicate with others.

"No. I'm pretty happy with this. People love food and I like helping people and I find I make people happy when I arrive on their doorstep. My customers tell me that now they have meals with their families at home without the distractions of being in a restaurant and everyone enjoys being together over the meal. I started this after 30 years working for a corporation as a marketing executive."