Frequently asked questions.

General

  • Noêma is a private chef and culinary experience service rooted in Mediterranean hospitality. We bring handcrafted, chef-prepared meals into your home, office, or event—offering gatherings, catering, and weekly meal prep designed to feel effortless and meaningful.

  • Noêma is led by Panagiotis Lenakis, a private chef with Michelin-starred experience across Europe. Our growing team of chefs are with fine dining backgrounds, including experience in Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe. We bring a blend of Mediterranean warmth and Nordic precision to every meal.

  • Our chef services are available in the Greater Stavanger area, Oslo, Kristiansand, though many of our chefs are happy to travel. For services outside of these areas, contact us.

  • Our services fall into three main categories: Gatherings, Weekly meal prep and Catering services. For more information on each, explore the links above and refer to the relevant FAQ sections on this page.

  • We are experts in private chef services and home cooking and have been vetting private chefs for almost a decade. Our platform makes it easy to hire a private chef for a casual night, a weekly commitment, or monthly.  We recognize that every household’s needs are different, so we personalize each service to ensure that you get the food and experience you want.

  • Our collection of over 200 recipes offers wide ranging choice when it comes to your meals. That said, we focus on balanced, fresh, healthy dishes made with the best quality ingredients. We develop vibrant, seasonal, and diverse menus tailored to your needs.

  • Our chefs shop locally, sourcing fresh, seasonal ingredients, and cook in your own home. No delivery coordinating. No wasteful drop off packaging. No mystery ghost kitchen.

  • We develop a diverse array of menus tailored to your needs, like gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free to name a few. To help you make as informed a decision as possible, every dish includes a full ingredient list, and dishes can be customized to omit certain items.

  • Our chefs shop locally at our favourite grocers and organic markets. They shop specifically for you and are happy to accommodate your preferences. They source the freshest and most nutrient-dense items they can find, striving to buy organic and non-GMO produce whenever possible.

  • We develop all our recipes and menus with a grocery list in mind, and our chefs are trained to shop so that they always have the correct items and the appropriate quantities to execute your service. For these reasons, we greatly prefer that the chefs shop for their services.

  • Starting with Greek Private Chefs is as simple as booking a weekly meal prep or gathering, or inquiring about a catering or custom service. Once we receive your booking, we’ll send you a confirmation email within 24-48 hours, which will include our Best Practices & Equipment List to make sure you’re set up for success.

  • Noêma is a talented and passionate team of culinary, editorial, operations, customer service, and marketing professionals. View our open roles here.

  • We’re always interested in meeting qualified chefs. Learn more about what it’s like to be a Private Chef, and how you can apply.

Weekly Meal Prep

  • After you book a service, we’ll assign a private chef for your household. Each week, your chef will suggest the dishes that match your likes & preferences and tailor the menu accordingly. Your private chef will shop for groceries, prep, and cook the dishes in your home, stock your fridge, and leave your kitchen spotless.

  • Our weekly meal prep services are available in the Greater Oslo area & Stavanger, though many of our chefs are happy to travel. For services outside of these areas, contact us.

  • The weekly meal prep service includes a private chef, grocery shopping for you and coming to your home to prepare six dishes that can be mixed and matched for 3-4 meals throughout the week.

    We recommend choosing dishes that work in pairs or trios as full menus, or mix and match to cover breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks.

  • We know that everyone eats differently. Our sizes are based on household size, but you should adjust your selection based on household appetites and how many meals per week you desire.

    That said, our sizing recommendations are:

    • Small: 1-2 person household

    • Medium: 3-4 person household

    • Large: 5-6 person household

    If your family is larger than six people, please fill out a custom inquiry form and we will provide you with a custom quote.

    You can always adjust the size of your service from week to week.

  • We recommend using our weekly meal prep service 1-2 times per week, depending on your lifestyle, family size, and food preferences. You can update the frequency of your service in your dashboard after creating an account.

  • You can expect your private chef to be in your home for 3-4 hours total. This time includes prepping, cooking, packing up, and cleaning.

  • Please see our Best Practices & recommendations.

    • Empty the dishwasher and clear out the sink before the chef arrives.

    • Set aside clean food storage containers.

    • Make sure you have olive oil, salt, pepper, tin foil & parchment paper for cooking, plus, soaps, dish rags, trash bags, and a broom for clean up.

    • Confirm that stove burners, oven, broiler, and dishwasher work; if something doesn’t work, please let us know in advance.

    • Make sure someone is home to let in the chef at the scheduled time of arrival or that kitchen is accessible without guidance.

    • Familiarize your chef with the home (shoe policy, smoke alarms, pets, trash, recycling, wash rooms, etc).

    • Leave fridge space for groceries, dishes and/or leftovers.

    • Communicate with your chef about children and furry friends’ kitchen rules.

  • Yes! We recommend having at least six containers for a small service, 10 for a medium service, and 16 for a large service to ensure that your food is properly stored to stay fresh throughout the week.

  • Weekly meal preps include six dishes to maximize variety while minimizing your private chef's time in your kitchen. Choose dishes to serve together for a few full meals, or to enhance breakfast, lunch and dinner over the course of the week.

  • No. Many clients request chef services during working hours. While not required, we recommend being home for your private chef’s first visit to give a tour of your kitchen. If that's not possible, detailed instructions via text or email work as well.

  • The cost of groceries depends on your family number and menu selection. An estimated grocery cost will be provided after you book a service, in your confirmation email. Your final grocery cost will be charged within two days of your service, along with your service fee.

Private Dinners & Gatherings

  • After you book a service, telling us the details of your gathering and your preferred menu, and we’ll match you with the ideal Greek Private chef. Your chef will arrive with groceries and handle the prep, cooking, serving, and clean up while you enjoy time with your guests.

  • Our gatherings and private dinner services are available in the Greater Oslo area & Stavanger, though many of our chefs are happy to travel. For services outside of these areas, contact us.

  • Prices vary depending on the number of guests, menu complexity, and location. Most gatherings start at 1000 NOK up to 2500 NOK per guest. Contact us with your details for a tailored quote.

  • We handle everything: planning, grocery shopping, cooking, serving, and full clean-up. We also provide tableware and can offer wine pairing or non-alcoholic beverage service upon request. There are no extra hidden fees on the price per person.

  • For private dinners or events, we recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance to secure your date and allow time for a tailored menu.

  • Yes! Menus are fully customized based on your preferences, allergies, and dietary restrictions. Vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb options are available.

  • Yes – We bring all ingredients, cooking tools, and tableware (if needed). All you need is a kitchen, a dining area and a reason to celebrate.

Office Catering

  • We provide catering for corporate events, business lunches, private parties, weddings, and special gatherings. Our menus are customized to fit your event's needs.

  • Our catering services are available in the Greater Stavanger area. Although might be possible to cater outside of those areas for special occasion. For services outside of these areas, contact us.

  • We can cater for small intimate gatherings (10-15 people) to large events of 100+ guests. Contact us with your event details, and we can create a solution that fits your needs.

  • Yes! Every menu is tailored to your event and preferences. We specialize in Mediterranean and Greek cuisine but can accommodate other styles & cuisine.

  • The price per person includes everything—menu planning, fresh high-quality ingredients, preparation, cooking, delivery, and setup. There are no hidden fees or additional costs; everything is covered in the agreed price.

  • For small events, at least one week in advance is ideal. For larger events, two to four weeks is recommended to secure your date.

  • We offer both. For larger events, we can provide on-site cooking and live stations to elevate the dining experience. Smaller orders can be delivered and set up at your location.