$10,000, 5 Days, & 3 Meals: How A Private Chef Does Thanksgiving

Julia Chebotar treats Thanksgiving week as her busiest period, preparing multiple meals for clients and family with meticulous scheduling and menu customization. She runs a Friendsgiving on Sunday, a client Thanksgiving prepared midweek for reheating on the holiday, and a deep-fried turkey dinner for her family on Thursday, then rests on Friday. Pricing depends on menu complexity, group size, restrictions, and travel, with private dinners starting at $1,500–$3,200 plus groceries; three meals can total around $10,000. Menus are curated to client preferences with a built-in "chef's choice" to use the best seasonal produce. Grocery spend typically ranges $600–$1,200.

"During the week leading up to her favorite holiday, the New York-based chef crafts a Friendsgiving feast for her longtime clients on Sunday, a Thanksgiving meal for the same clients on Wednesday (they reheat according to her instructions on the big day), and a deep-fried turkey dinner for her own family on Thursday. In between marathon days in the kitchen, Chebotar - who also recently cooked for Martha Stewart on Yes, Chef! - unwinds with episodes of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and scrolling through TikTok. Finally, on Friday, she takes a well-deserved day off."

"Chebotar's pricing varies based on menu complexity, group size, dietary restrictions, and travel, but a private dinner starts at $1,500 - $3,200, plus the cost of groceries. For this week's three meals, the food itself and her fees total $10,000. For each gig, she presents a few curated menu options based on clients' dietary needs, favorite flavors, and theme. Once they pick the style, she'll customize it further and send a final approved menu. In order to use the best seasonal produce available that week, she builds in a "chef's choice" element."

"For a full Thanksgiving spread with high-quality ingredients, she typically spends around $600 to $1,200 on groceries, depending on guest count and specialty items. Her most expensive Thanksgiving was during the pandemic when a New York City family paid over $15,000 for a seafood raw bar, caviar service, A5 wagyu bites, and a multi-course dinner. The least glamorous dish? Turkey."

Read at Bustle