Private chefs in Dublin

Fifteen private chefs can reach Dublin city centre today, with packages priced from €30 to €198 a head. Most sit between €59 and €90. They are based in Dublin 1, 2, 7 and 24, in Malahide and Lucan, and further out in Ratoath, Naas, Wicklow and Mullingar for the chefs who travel up to 100 km.

The menus are varied. Current listings include modern European and Asian tasting menus, refined Afro-Caribbean dining, Italian cooking with a Romanian influence, Turkish and Mediterranean grills, Indian biryani, a traditional Sunday roast, a seasonal Irish menu and keto dinners. Some chefs cook halal. Several set a 25 km radius, which covers the city and most of the commuter belt. A handful set 100 km and will go on to Wicklow, Kildare or Meath.

Group size depends on the chef. Some take a table for one or two, others list up to 20 guests, and a few go to 50 or 100. Minimum order values run from around €50 to a few hundred euro, so a dinner for two and a dinner for twelve are priced differently, and the listing shows which applies before you book.

The usual bookings are a birthday or anniversary dinner at home, a dinner party for six to twelve, a small engagement dinner, or a chef's tasting menu for two. The chef shops, cooks, serves each course and clears up afterwards. You supply the kitchen and the guests.

Read the menus, compare the price per head, then book a package or message the chef to change a course or flag an allergy. Enquiring is free and needs no card.

Packages differ in length, from a three-course dinner to a tasting menu of ten or twelve courses, and each one lists its courses. Your card is only charged once the chef accepts the booking. The cancellation terms are shown before you pay. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free menus are normal requests, but flag any serious allergy in your first message so the chef can confirm the menu is safe to cook.