Full-Time Private Chef
Placement
In New York
Long-term placements only (90 days+). Michelin-trained estate chefs.
3 vetted candidates in 14 days | Up to 6-month replacement guarantee on Executive placements.
Schedule a Confidential ConsultationDiscreet process · Personal reply within 24 hours
We place private chefs in dedicated roles within private households
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The kitchens and institutions where our chefs trained.
From the Founder
Founded by a Private Chef, Built for UHNW Families
Chris Demaillet, Founder of Montclair Chef
- 19 years as a private chef to billionaires and high-profile families
- Michelin-trained, with a global network of elite private chefs
- We place full‑time private chefs only, for long‑term UHNW households.
Featured by Business Insider and Family Office Exchange's FOXCast.
"They found us a low-ego, Michelin-trained chef with a great attitude who actually understands New York household pace and our family's specific needs."
Director of Residences, Manhattan
How It Works
Consultation
A confidential call to understand your household, dietary needs, and the personality that fits. Conducted by our founder personally.
Curation
A personally vetted shortlist within 14 days. Three candidates selected specifically for your household.
Trial
Paid trial days in your home before any commitment. You see how the chef works in your kitchen before you decide.
Ongoing Support
Up to 6-month replacement guarantee on Executive placements, with continued support after the chef joins.
Personally Vetted Chefs | Trial Days Included | Absolute Discretion
For Family Offices & Estate Managers
Hiring on behalf of a principal? We take a detailed brief on the household and handle the search from there: salary guidance for your local market, candidate notes and visual portfolio on every shortlisted chef, a structured paid trial day in the residence, and up to 6 months of replacement support on Executive placements.
What Our Clients Say
VERIFIED GOOGLE REVIEWS · 5.0 RATING
Montclair runs a very conscientious and thorough agency. I found them to be very proactive and listened and provided excellent options for the position we were looking to fill. We will certainly use Montclair again in the future.
Patrick B., Family Office Manager, New York
Our Principal needed a private chef for their residences in Manhattan and the Hamptons. Montclair Chef was a great partner. They found us the perfect fit: a discreet, low-key professional who truly understands how to cater to our family's specific needs.
Julia K., Director of Residences, New York
Very efficient service, we had a great match within the first two candidates. The hands-on experience of the founder was a strong advantage.
Mika H., Executive PA, SoHo, NYC
Our family office manages a complex portfolio across the US and Europe, with frequent travel. Montclair Chef delivered a flawless solution. They provided a chef who is not only a culinary talent but also an expert in managing our family's needs wherever we travel.
Family Office, US & Europe
In my search for a traveling private chef, Montclair came highly recommended. Just a week after our initial meeting, I already received the first profiles of great candidates. The selection process was not easy. Thank you.
Nicole E., House Manager, Long Island
Great selection of candidates, thorough vetting process, and ongoing support that ensured the chef was well integrated with our chef team. Excellent and professional services.
Mark S., Director of Residences, New York
Up to 6-Month Replacement Guarantee
If your chef leaves or isn't the right fit in the first 6 months, we run a new search at no additional agency fee. Combined with paid trial days in your own kitchen before any commitment, your decision is protected twice.
Our fee is success-based: you are invoiced only once you appoint a chef through us.
Schedule a Confidential ConsultationWhat We Don't Do
No events. No catering. No short-term or general staffing placements.
We place, and are expert in, one role only: full-time, long-term private chefs for UHNW households.
Most are Michelin-trained, with genuine private-service experience.
Confidential. Your details are never shared with chefs or third parties without your consent.
Everything You Need To Know
What protection and guarantees do you offer if the placement doesn't work out?
- Trial in your own home. We arrange paid trial days in your kitchen before any commitment, so you can see how the chef works with your household and routines.
- Replacement guarantee. If your chef leaves or proves not to be the right long-term fit, we conduct a new search at no additional agency fee: up to 2 months with our Gold package and up to 6 months with Executive placements, our most popular option.
- Success-based fee. Our invoice is issued only once you appoint a chef through us, so your investment is always tied to a successful placement.
How quickly can you find us a chef in New York?
You receive a shortlist of 3 vetted candidates within 14 days of your consultation. The full process, including interviews and a paid trial day in your home, usually runs 3 to 6 weeks depending on your schedule.
How do you vet your chefs? Can we trust them in our home?
Every chef goes through full employment-history review and direct reference verification with previous UHNW households when possible. All candidates can sign an NDA before any introduction. Most are Michelin-trained, with a proven record of discretion in private service.
Can our chef travel with us and work across multiple properties?
Yes. Many of our New York families split time between Manhattan, the Hamptons, Palm Beach, or Aspen. We place chefs experienced in traveling with the family and keeping the same standard at every residence.
Can you handle our search discreetly? We already have a chef in post.
Yes. This is common. We run the entire search confidentially: your household is never named to candidates until it is necessary, and no part of the search becomes public. Your current chef will not know a search is underway.
Do you specialise in specific dietary requirements or cuisines?
Yes. We place chefs experienced with kosher, halal, plant-based, gluten-free, allergy-safe, and medically guided diets, plus health, longevity, and performance nutrition. Tell us what your household needs and we match for it.
What does a full-time private chef cost?
Full-time private chefs in New York typically earn $140,000 to $250,000 or more per year, depending on experience, specialism, and whether the role covers one residence or several. We give you exact salary guidance for your household during the consultation. And our fee is success-based: you are invoiced only once you appoint a chef through us.
Where do you place chefs? Do you work only in New York?
New York is one of our core markets: Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights, the Hamptons, Westchester, and the Tri-State area. We also place across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, and we coordinate for families with residences in several markets.
How do I get started?
Fill in the form below to schedule a confidential consultation with our founder. Tell us about your household and what you need. You get a personal reply within 24 hours.
Case Study
When Three Agencies Failed Before Us
A Manhattan family with residences across the city and beyond had already gone through three placement agencies, each one sending chefs who could not hold up under real New York household demands: inconsistent standards, poor fit with the family's routine, one who lasted barely a month. When they came to us, we placed a Michelin-trained chef who understood the city, the pace, and the standard the family actually expected. Fourteen months later, that chef is still with them.