Eat – Relax – Simplify Tastebuds Personal Chef Service LLC Chef Linda Gauvry

improve their nutrition, or who just want to put good healthy meals on the table for their family. I have now grown the business into a full-time career.”

Gauvry has largely grown her business through word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients who have been using her service, many of them since the inception of her business. “I build a relationship with my clients and their families,” she says. In the beginning, it was because she cooked only in their homes. After the Covid shutdown, her business model changed to using a commercial kitchen, which she rents from Zion Lutheran Church in Enola, and then delivers the meals directly to the client’s home. But she still uses a personal connection to get to know her clients, discuss their needs and favorite foods, and learn of any issues such as food allergies, dietary requirements, or special requests such as vegetarian or vegan meals. Her goal is to simplify her clients’ lives.

Gauvry’s services run from occasional meal prep to a full service of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and can also include between-meal snacks. Her services are used by a vast array of people ranging from young professional singles, busy families who have kids constantly on the move with after school activities, to the elderly or physically challenged individuals.

Imagine having a personal chef - someone who prepares your favorite foods, understands your nutritional needs, and caters to your food desires, while always providing healthy, nutritious home cooked meals made from scratch. Is this just a dream? No, it can be your reality with these services available right here in the Harrisburg area from Tastebuds Personal Chef Service LLC, Linda Gauvry, chef.

Linda Gauvry, a graduate of Penn State University with a master’s degree in nutrition, has been a personal chef for ten years. “I started part time when my kids were young … I enjoyed being in the kitchen and cooking and I felt that there was a need for a personal chef service working specifically with people who have dietary issues, who want to

Gauvry provides the entire meal service from initial consultation and meal planning with the client, to grocery shopping, preparing, and delivery of prepared meals directly to the client’s home. A client can work with sample menus for ideas to serve as a foundation for customized meals. The sample menu is extensive with choices such as Chipotle Glazed Salmon with Chili Lime Corn and Asparagus, Cranberry Apple Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Chicken Cacciatore with Egg Noodles, Beef Brisket with Mashed Potatoes and Glazed Parsley Carrots, and many more delicious ideas ready for customization. These sample menus change seasonally to allow for the freshest produce and products available. Further customization is available such as leaving out a spice, herb, or vegetable which may not be to your liking. “All menus are customized to the clients and, whenever possible, I use local produce and products,” she adds.

After the initial conversation and meal planning is done, Gauvry sends a menu to the customer, which is then approved. All shopping by the chef is done the morning of the ‘cook day’, and the food is prepared from scratch and then packaged for delivery that same day to provide the freshest meals possible.

One of her special services is a discussion about the customized packaging of her meals for her clients. Some clients prefer each item packaged separately so the meal can be served family style, others prefer to have a complete meal in one container for ease in reheating or freezing for later use. All meals are delivered complete with a menu and very specific instructions for reheating. The meals are presented in Pyrex or BPA-free disposable containers.

Gauvry has two chefs assisting her with the meal preparations: Michael Shaffer, who is a new addition to the staff, and Michelle Andrews. Both came to Tastebuds with extensive culinary experience as well as new menu insights. She states, “This allows me so much more time to prepare specialized menus and every day is a new and different day with the preparation of foods, which I totally enjoy. Shaffer and Andrews are valuable additions to my staff.”

Although Gauvry is not doing on-site catering now, she does offer services for special events such as parties, or small gatherings. Any type of food that can be prepped in advance will be delivered directly to the client at the agreed upon date and time.

As a woman-owned business, with her own family consisting of two pre-teens and a teenager, her plate is full. “Family life is hectic, and I understand the complexities of family life, so I am able to understand the needs of my customers and their need to buy back their time.” With her personal service, her clients always know who has prepared the meal and in addition realize that everything has been prepared according to their instructions. She then adds, “My husband and kids are super supportive, and I appreciate their help pitching in with our household workload.”

Tastebuds Personal Chef Service LLC can be reached via the website: tastebuds-personal-chef. com; Facebook: TastebudsPersonalChefService; and Instagram: @tastebudspersonalchef. Or you can reach Chef Gauvry at 717-736-2579 to set up a personal consultation.