Two paths. One standard.
We're a connector. Hosts come for the dinner; chefs come for the calendar. We approve every chef, hold every chef to the same standard, and step out of the way once the introduction is made.
From inquiry to your table.
- Step 01
Submit an inquiry.
Tell us the date, the city, your guest count, and a couple of words about the night. Three minutes.
- Step 02
We match within 48 hours.
We check our network for an approved chef in your area, available on your date, and a fit for the night you described.
- Step 03
Meet your chef.
We introduce you on a call. The chef walks through how they work, sample menus, sourcing.
- Step 04
Plan directly with the chef.
Menu, price, timing — handled chef-to-host. Lighthearted stays close in the background.
- Step 05
The dinner.
The chef arrives, cooks, serves, and cleans. You enjoy your guests.
Four gates to the network.
- Gate 01
Apply.
A short form: your background, sample menus, current insurance, the city you cook in.
- Gate 02
Interview.
A 45-minute call with our team. Values fit, sourcing fit, service fit.
- Gate 03
The Lighthearted Kitchen course.
An internal training on how we run a meal — values, sourcing, hospitality, the standard. Self-paced, several modules.
- Gate 04
Final approval.
You go live in the directory. We start sending you matched host inquiries.
The same four gates for every chef.
Form & documents
Background, sample menus, certificate of insurance.
Values & fit
45 minutes with our team — sourcing, service, the standard.
Internal training
Lighthearted Kitchen course — modules + a brief assessment.
Live in the network
Profile published. First introductions begin.
Plain numbers, on both sides.
A small platform fee for hosts, a revenue share with chefs. No hidden numbers, no surprise line items.
[ Fee structure is illustrative for the redesign — Chelsey to confirm final percentages before launch ]
What we do, and what we don't.
We're a connector and a standard — not an event production company. Once you're matched, you work directly with your chef.
- Vet, train, and approve every chef in the network.
- Match hosts with chefs in their area, on their date.
- Stay reachable on both sides if anything needs attention.
- Hold our chefs to a single standard — soil, season, service.
- Run, staff, or produce the event ourselves.
- Set the chef's menu or per-guest pricing.
- Source ingredients on the chef's behalf.
- Take a fee that isn't on this page.