Just thinking that you might want to know a bit about me . . . especially since I will be cooking meals for you soon!

I "grew up" in a restaurant kitchen. More accurately, in the kitchens of many restaurants. My father was an executive chef and my mother ran the dining rooms. Specializing in northern Italian cuisine, my father taught me not only how to cook, but how important food is. That although thoughtful preparation is essential, the real beauty of a dish is in the enjoyment. So, ever-mindful of these precepts, Dinner Matters was born.

My passion is cooking. Working in a hot restaurant kitchen put me through college — prepping, sautéing, grilling, plating, and serving became my art. I then went on to work in media, but nudging me and invading all of my free time was cooking. After many dinner parties, cocktail parties, specialized cooking classes, and nightly dinners, I knew I had to find a way of making a career out of my passion.

So, instead of opening that little café all of my friends volunteered to fund, I founded Dinner Matters. The truth is, I love to take care of people; it is what I know best.

I look forward to meeting with you, talking about food, cooking delicious meals for you, but most of all, giving you your night back.

Danette Dennison Segroves

q: Private chef or personal chef? What’s the difference anyway?

a: Dinner Matters is a personal chef service. A private chef is employed full-time by a family or individual and usually makes 3 meals a day, quite often, living within the household. A personal chef works for several clients, generally one per day, making meals for the week and storing them safely for the clients’ convenience. Personal chefs go to great lengths to make sure that each meal is perfectly customized to their clients’ tastes.

q: Who uses a personal chef?

a: Lots of people! Not just celebrities, sports stars, and politicians. Here are some examples:

• Professionals who are too busy, tired, or lack the desire to cook.
• People looking for healthy, home-cooked meals with no preservatives, chemicals, or additives.
• Busy families with children who want to eat as a family, but have no time to get something on the table every night.
• People who can’t stand the "what’s for dinner" question and just want options available to them quickly.
• Those who love to eat, but hate to cook.
• People who are currently eating take-out or prepared foods from a grocery store on a regular basis.
• Empty-nesters who have cooked for years and want a break.
• People who are concerned with the quality of the food they put in their bodies and on the table for their families

q: Can I afford a personal chef?

a: When you consider the amount of time spent on menu planning, grocery shopping, food preparation, cooking, and clean-up, as well as, weekly calls for take-out, dining out at restaurants, and wasted food you intended to prepare... you will find that a personal chef is an affordable option to increase your quality of life and give you back those precious hours. We can work together to craft an affordable service plan to meet your needs.

q: Why my kitchen?

a: Personal chefs are required to cook in the safety and convenience of the client’s kitchen unless they have access to a commercial kitchen (and sometimes we do!). We will bring our portable kitchen to your home on the scheduled cook date. Pots, pans, whisks, knives, food processors whatever we need to make your meals amazing!

q: How long will it take?

a: Each cooking session is different, depending on the complexity of your menu choices and how many meals we will be providing. Usually preparation takes between 3 and 5 hours.

q: Do I need to be home?

a: No, the beauty of this service is that it can all take place while you are at work or running errands, or enjoying your day. This helps the chef as well; without distractions, your chef will be able to keep focused and operate safely.

q: I don’t see my favorite on your menu, can I make special requests?

a: Absolutely! We are here to make what you love. Let us know, and we’ll be more than happy to accommodate your requests.

q: Are you insured?

a: Yes, our chef is insured and also a member in good standing with the American Association of Personal and Private Chefs. Our Chef is also certified in food safety

q: Do I need to have a large kitchen?

a: No- just some counter space, a working oven and stove, and a refrigerator and freezer. Our chef has cooked in many kitchen environments, from small studio apartment kitchens to large restaurant kitchens. Your meals will be wonderful, regardless of your kitchen.

q: Can you help me out with dinner parties and entertaining?

a: You better believe it! Check out our Entertaining at Home tab. We will craft amazing food for your perfect event. Let us handle the details, so you can enjoy the party.

The average American is throwing away 14% of what they intend to cook each week and spending about 15 hours of every week dealing with dinner preparation.

Let us handle dinner, so you can have your night back.

initial assessment - our Personal Chef will meet with you to talk about food! We will discuss food likes and dislikes, allergies and intolerances, preferences, favorites, and specifics on groceries. We’ll also take a look around your kitchen to determine what we’ll need to bring to your cooking session. We’ll then set up a package that’s perfect for you.

what’s for dinner? - We can create a menu based on your palate or you can select from our menus available online and in your information packet. Let us know what you want, and we’ll make it!

shopping - Your Personal Chef will carefully select the best ingredients for each meal, whether it’s from the grocery store, organic market, farmers market, or gourmet shop. . . only the freshest and healthiest items will be included in your meals and purchased the morning of your cooking session.

cooking session - Your Personal Chef will arrive in the morning, fresh from the markets with portable kitchen in tow. We will spend the day cooking, labeling, packaging, and storing your dinner for the week. Each meal will come with complete instructions on reheating and storing. We also get that kitchen sparkling clean before we leave. The only thing left is the smell of amazing food . . .

scheduling - Please call 703.615.6788 or e-mail danette@dinnermatters.net to schedule your initial assessment or future cooking sessions.

personal chef services

Dinner Matters was the perfect solution for my busy family. We had been eating take out meals 3-4 times a week but with Dinner Matters we were able to eat fresh healthy meals specifically tailored to our tastes. The Shepherd’s Pie is fabulous and was a huge hit with both my husband and my 2 year old! It was so nice to have someone else worry about the shopping, the cooking and the cleaning for a change. Thank you, Dinner Matters for bringing family dinners back to our family.

-Meredith M. (Alexandria, VA)

cocktail party

A humongous thank you... the party was supposed to be concentrated outside on our beautiful brand new deck, but in actuality it revolved around the table inside, where your delicious selections were so creatively displayed. Your recommendations were right on the mark , and the amount of food you prepared was perfect - not like other caterers I've had who make three times more than you need! I wish I had a nickel for everyone who complimented me on every aspect of your dishes, only to have to 'fess up and give all the credit to you! You deserve it! Thank you for making me look so good!

-Maura H. (Potomac, MD)

romantic dinner

I was home recovering from surgery and not able to go out to celebrate our 15th anniversary. My husband surprised me with Dinner Matters - a personal chef to provide dinner in our home. Danette guided him to the perfect menu for us - gougères, proscuitto-wrapped melon, crabcakes with corn salad, and the most amazing profiteroles for dessert. The food was delicious, and elegant touches, including a lovely tablecloth, flowers, and menu card made the experience thoroughly memorable. Danette even chatted with our daughter while she worked, which was great entertainment for her. Thanks for a lovely evening!

-Diane A. (Arlington, VA)