Compassionate Kitchen Coaching Testimonials
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Ayushi A.
“I signed up for Jamie-Claire's 5 lesson program after having an initial consultation with [them] over the phone last year. I wanted to improve my techniques and intuition when it came to cooking healthy, Asian meals. I discovered several options for cooking lessons and classes on-site, but what drove me to choose Meal Mate DC was Jamie-Claire's down-to-earth vibe and [t eir] earnestness/honesty when it came to answering my questions.
It's been a great experience. Having Jamie-Claire coach me through cooking principles, such as how to build layers of flavor, how to cook in fat vs water, has helped me become more confident.
The coaching was also tailored to my requests -we would discuss in advance what would be interesting to talk about and learn. These were the themes, in order:
1) cooking a good stir fry (we implemented a wide range of ingredients and discussed how to properly chop the veggies and layer the wok)
2) preparing cabbage 5 different ways (focus was on texture and oil vs water based cooking techniques)
3) trip to HMart (we discussed the selection of ingredients and product at HMart and how they're used in cooking)
4 and 5) creating bases (we made Italian and Thai bases and froze them so that I can easily leverage them to create a dish in a matter of minutes)
Overall, I would highly recommend Meal Mate DC!
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Ahyeong P.
“Meal Mate DC is everyone's dream come true. The meal coaching concept might be new to many (it definitely was for me initially), but it will soon revolutionize how people approach food and help everyone fall in love with cooking. This service is for everyone, even those who already love to cook and might think they don't need extra help getting into the rhythm of cooking more regularly and easily. What I appreciated most from working with Jamie-Claire was learning to cook with what I already had in my own kitchen. They taught me that cooking a delicious and wholesome meal doesn't necessarily require fancy ingredients or a fully equipped kitchen; it can be done whenever and wherever with what you already have. Each time they visited, they effortlessly created scrumptious and innovative dishes that I never imagined myself making in my very own kitchen with ingredients I already had. They are excellent at teaching complex cooking concepts and techniques in an easily digestible manner. With their guidance and teaching, I now feel extremely confident about approaching rather complex cooking techniques with more fun and ease.
Jamie-Claire is hands down the most brilliant cook I've ever met. I feel extremely fortunate to have worked with them and tasted their amazing meals countless times. Trust the process with Jamie-Claire and you will never look at cooking the same.”
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Sara H.
"I cannot even begin to articulate how awesome the experience was with Jamie-Claire. I hadn't heard of a compassionate cooking coach before and had no idea how much I needed that kind of support. I have always had issues with cooking and food related to my health, and just thought I needed someone to give me a few tips on how to make some meals. But Jamie-Claire provided so much more than that. They helped me assess my needs, reframe how I think about food and cooking, identify a process that would work better for me, in terms of planning meals, and so much more. With only two sessions together, I feel like my whole perspective on food and cooking has shifted for the better, and it was all thanks to the amazing skills of Jamie-Claire. So supportive and incredibly prepared, organized and structured in the way they shared their expertise and ideas. I feel incredibly lucky to have found Jamie-Claire [redacted]. I cannot recommend them enough!"
Personal Chef Client Reviews
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Kristen M.
“I am so lucky to have found Jamie-Claire and Meal Mate DC! With three small-ish kids, finding time to cook a well balanced meal while juggling after-school activities, over-booked schedules and the chaos of weekday life has proven next to impossible. But with Meal Mate DC, we are actually sitting down for a DELICIOUS, home cooked, family dinner by 6:30pm!! Jamie-Claire makes it so easy. [They] takes care of the menu planning, the grocery shopping, the cooking, the cleaning and leaves all of the meals with preheating instructions and pairing suggestions neatly organized in your fridge. I couldn't think of a better way to treat myself and my family. Every single meal has been absolutely divine - from the main course down to the sides. It's also been wonderful for my children to be exposed to an array of cuisines and flavors. We can't wait to see what Jamie-Claire cooks up next!
Additionally, we hired Jamie-Claire to prepare an array of appetizers for a neighborhood party in our home last weekend. [They] could not have done a better job. Once again, the food was beautifully prepared, immaculately displayed and everything tasted fantastic. Jamie-Claire's incredible talent radically elevated our event - [they] made us look so good!! Hosting events can actually be fun when you let Jamie-Claire take the wheel! We already can't wait to hire [them] for our next event.
Final note, Jamie-Claire embodies the grounded, calm, loving and warm energy you want in your home, in your kitchen and preparing your meals. I wholeheartedly believe that the energy of person cooking a meal flows through their fingers and into the food. Their energy is thus absorbed by whomever eats the meal. If that person can't always be me (which it can't) I couldn't think of a better human being to take that role than Jamie-Claire.”
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Atul R.
“Jamie-Claire has been an absolute game-changer for my family. As a single father with a demanding work schedule and a teenage daughter, I used to struggle to find the time to cook healthy meals--or cook at all. Ordering out became our default, but it wasn't the healthiest option for us.
Since Jamie-Claire started coming to our home, everything has changed. [They[ prepare delicious and healthy meals for the week, tailored to our tastes and nutritional needs. The meals are not only balanced and fresh, but they also save us so much time and stress. Knowing that my daughter and I can sit down to a home-cooked, nutritious dinner every evening is an incredible relief.
Jamie-Claire is more than a personal chef--[they’ve] brought care, creativity, and health into our home. [Their] professionalism, attention to detail, and passion for what [they do] truly shine through in every meal. I can't thank [them] enough for the positive impact [they’ve] had on our lives. Highly recommend [their] services to anyone looking to transform their eating habits or ease the load of weekly meal prep!”
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LaRel R.
“Jamie-Claire took such great care of me, my partner, and my newborn through our love language: food. Over the course of my entire 4th trimester (the full 3 months postpartum) Jamie-Claire cooked homemade meals targeting high iron, protein, veggies & fiber with organic produce. They suggested meals as well as took recommendations and made them more healthier and nutritious than I could've imagined. Even for meals that were considered treats or cheat meals Jamie-Claire upped the stakes in their creations (e.g. I was craving pizza bites, they cooked homemade calzones, I was craving a deli sandwich they cooked a chickpea salad sandwich with homemade focaccia and homemade chips with sour cream & onion dip, among many other amazing meals!!). We intentionally saved during our pregnancy to be able to afford a private chef postpartum and I couldn't have asked for a better Chef during such a crucial moment in our lives. We have already made plans to book Jamie-Claire for winter meals, special events, and our next pregnancy if we decide to welcome another baby. I cannot recommend a service and person higher than what I would recommend Jamie-Claire, they're an absolute must for your healing journeys, overall nutritional goals or just because!! 5 starts all the way!”
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Haley C.
“I recently had a major life change that has made meal planning, prepping, and cooking a major challenge. Jamie-Claire from Meal Mate has supported me in finding inventive recipes that we can make in huge batches and store in the freezer, so I have easy meals on hand. I told them that I'd been having trouble getting enough vegetables, so they found tasty ways to work fantastic flavor blends that incorporate multiple veggies in one pre-frozen meal! They are incredibly creative, compassionate, supportive, and inventive, finding ways to work within my abilities and meet my kitchen goals. I am so much more confident knowing that every day, I will have food to eat that fits in my lifestyle, and I've been able to host friends more confidently knowing that if they get hungry, I will have something to offer!”
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Corina V.
“Let me start by saying Chef Jamie-Claire is truly a delight to work with and absolutely leads with compassion! Kind, personable, professional and fantastic at what they do.
My dad wanted to spoil my mom as a surprise for her birthday as it may be his last with her due to his terminal illness. My mom is a fulltime caretaker, rarely leaves the house which meant teaming up with Jamie to execute the perfect plan for mom to come home to a perfect dining experience. It was a night to remember and we are STILL raving about the pappardelle and braised beef. We were so blown away by everything and definitely interested in hiring them for more services in the future. I am personally looking forward to having chef Jamie-Claire back in our home for lessons or to share the yum they create! Thank you for everything!”
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Karen Y.
“Five stars are not enough! I hired Jamie-Claire to throw a small dinner party as a surprise engagement gift for one of my best friends, and they did an absolutely outstanding job, from start to finish. They were unfailingly responsive, worked with me to come up with a perfect menu, did a pre-event Zoom tour of my kitchen, and made me feel at ease leading up to the event. On the day itself, they could not have made life easier: They navigated my kitchen effortlessly and literally asked nothing of me, which left me free to relax and have fun decorating with my mom and sister. And the food was a dream! I requested a French brasserie-style meal, a la Balthazar in NYC, and Jamie-Claire delivered that and then some, and all gluten-free! They printed special commemorative menus with every guest's name on it, and every dish was gorgeously plated. As if that weren't enough, they left my kitchen cleaner than they found it! Every guest was blown away, and we are already plotting our next chance to hire Jamie-Clare. We loved them!”
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Donna F.
"I am delighted with Chef Jaime-Claire. I work long hours and would Door Dash or fast food. I decided to contact Meal Mate for meal-prep and delivery. I was fortunate enough to meet Chef Jamie-Claire. Now, I have healthy meals and work life balance. Chef Jaime was prompt, efficient and courteous and the food quality and presentation is exceptional not to mention delicious! The meals are customized to your taste. Chef Jamie-Claire said she wanted me to be excited about my meals. So far, she has exceeded my expectation, and I am excited about the delicious meals she prepares. I highly recommend Chef Jaime-Claire."
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Saras A.
“Jamie-Claire has worked with our family to design creative, nutritious and fun meals. They are easy to communicate with and always prompt!”
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Ayomide M.
"Chef Jamie is amazing and words fall short to explain my experience, the level of care and the seamlessness of the services offered. You won't be disappointed, do yourself a favor and get meals off your to do list!"
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DJ S.
"Chef Jamie-Claire. isthe best..[their] cuisine was amazing... everything [they] prepared was delicious. This was the best culinary experience we've ever had!!! Thank you, Chef Jamie-Claire!!!"
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Max S.
“We brought Chef Jamie-Claire in to cook dinner for us on a weekend retreat for 10 old friends, and I think every single one of us was stunned by what we got. Every dish was fabulous, Jamie-Claire was charming and professional, and we had a wonderful time. Thank you!”
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Waseem G.
“I hired Chef Jamie-Claire for my sons birthday party and [they] and [their] team were incredible! The food and speciality drink were delicious, the presentation of the food was beautiful and the I appreciated how organized and professional [they were] to work with when planning this event. I will be recommending Chef Jamie-Claire and [their] team to all friends and family!”
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Michelle S.
“My friend hired Chef Jamie-Claire to cook for a small engagement party in her home (6 people) and they were outstanding! The food was absolute perfection, from the presentation to the quality and taste. Jamie-Claire was also discreet about engaging with the guests until we encouraged them to do so. They were a delight to talk and laugh with. they also worked so hard all evening to prepare the 3-course meal. It was such a treat and I would highly recommend Jamie-Claire to anyone looking for a special experience!!”