Wealthy Indians are increasingly replacing restaurant outings with personalised chef-led dining experiences at home, according to reports from Business Standard. From anniversary dinners and milestone birthdays to wellness-focused family gatherings, private chefs are emerging as one of luxury's newest status symbols. Social media has enabled chefs to build direct relationships with clients and showcase their work, while changing entertainment patterns favor smaller, more intimate experiences centered around food, conversation and personalisation.
Unlike home chefs who prepare food from their own kitchens, private chefs are professionally trained culinary specialists who travel to client homes and cook on-site. According to Business Standard, one chef-booking platform charges a base fee of ₹4,500 for up to 15 guests and up to 10 dishes, with additional guests costing ₹100 per person and extra dishes at ₹200 each. A booking confirmation fee of ₹1,999 is paid upfront, with the balance settled directly with the chef on the event day. Private chefs typically arrive around three hours before serving time and prepare dishes buffet-style, leaving service and post-event clean-up to the host. The chef's role is specifically defined as curating the menu and cooking the meal, not providing full-scale catering with waiters and housekeeping staff.
Private chefs offer restaurant-quality food with customised menus and ingredients sourced according to preference. As reported by Business Standard, Chef Narendra Mehto, trained at Jaypee Vasant Continental, serves diverse cuisines including Indian, Chinese, Continental and South Indian options. Health-conscious consumers increasingly request less oil, lighter preparations and more vegetables, with soybean oil commonly used for cooking. South Indian and Chinese fare remain among the most requested options, reflecting popularity of regional and Asian cuisines at home. The model particularly appeals to consumers who want freshly cooked food and personalised menus without the higher costs associated with full-scale catering, offering flexibility for intimate dinners and family celebrations.
Entrepreneurs like Ramola Bachchan are tapping into growing demand for personalised restaurant-quality food delivered to customers' doorsteps. According to Business Standard, Bachchan launched Accidental Chef in 2020, offering curated menus spanning Eastern Mediterranean, Japanese, Thai, Southeast Asian, Italian and European cuisines. Her most popular offering is the Mezze Basket priced at ₹4,000 for a medium platter, ₹6,000 for a large platter and ₹7,000 for an extra-large version. Orders require at least one day advance notice to ensure fresh ingredients and premium products are sourced.
Luxury hotels and hospitality groups are increasingly being approached to recreate five-star dining experiences inside private residences, as reported by Business Standard. Ranjit Batra, CEO of Ventive Hospitality, which operates luxury properties including Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott, notes that requests often come from ultra-high-net-worth families looking to host private celebrations while retaining luxury hotel service standards. Private chef experiences for family dinners may start at ₹2,500 to ₹25,000, while premium experiences with multiple courses and service staff can range from ₹50,000 to several lakh depending on guest count, cuisine and chef credentials.
