TV shows like Top Chef and
magazines like Lucky Peach have brought the concept of eating out—or, at least,
eating well—into people’s living rooms. Now, chefs have followed them, with a slew of in-home dining options giving foodies a reason to never step into a restaurant again.
Tavolo: Tavolo, the Boston restaurant renowned for its pasta (and whose meatballs grace the pages of Bon Appétit), is now coming right into
fans’ kitchens. Homebound hosts can arrange for a two-hour visit from owner Chris Douglass or chef de cuisine Nuno Alves, either of whom will prepare an Italian meal for up to 15 guests. In addition to the $60 per person fee covering ingredients and a list of suggested wine pairings (presented in advance, so the host can prepare accordingly), the package also includes step-by-step instruction for preparing the dish at hand, be it lamb pappardelle, squash risotto, or any of the other stand-out items on the menu.
Beauty and Her Feast: Kiki Luthringshausen has been a virtual cooking teacher since she launched her blog,
Beauty and Her Feast, in January 2011. But now the Chicago foodie is instructing in real life, too. Those salivating over Luthringshausen’s recipes—recent posts have included chicken and sausage gumbo, and arugula salad with roasted sweet potatoes—can sign up for one of her
in-home private cooking classes. Each two-hour session covers three recipes, with prices ranging according to the size of the group and the ingredients needed. Students can make special requests, but expect the options to fall in line with the
Southern Italian fare that Luthringshausen was raised on.
Kitchit: The kinds of top chefs seen on TV can now be booked to come to one’s house.
“Bespoke dining” service
Kitchit, which launched in San Francisco in September and has
since expanded to Los Angeles, facilitates pairings between cooks looking to connect with diners and eaters looking for a more personal experience. Dinner party hosts can scan through chef profiles (all vetted and many from big-name restaurants), which include bios, photos of sample dishes, menu suggestions, and reviews from other users. The chefs take care of everything—including cleaning up afterwards—which means that a fine dining experience is possible without ever having to lift a finger.
