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Founding badgeFounding Chef badge — permanent
Every chef approved before public launch keeps a Founding Chef marker on their profile. It's not a trial label — it stays.
Founding Local Chefs — Applications Open
Rhode Island’s private-chef network is forming now.
We’re recruiting the founding chefs of LocalChef RI before opening to Rhode Islanders. Apply to cook on your terms — your menu, your schedule, you keep 100 percent of your rate.
Why join now
Be one of the chefs we build with.
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100% of your rateKeep 100% of what you charge
You set your prices. LocalChef adds a small service fee to the customer — never taken from your quote.
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Shape the productHelp decide what launches with us
Menu builder, package types, dietary policies — we ship the marketplace with what founding chefs tell us they actually need.
What you get on day one
Tools built for working chefs.
Full profile builder
Bio, signature dishes, packages, photo gallery, service area, availability — all editable.
LocalChef-verified identity
Background check + ID verification before your profile goes live.
Customer requests in your inbox
Rhode Islanders request you directly. You see the brief, accept, and confirm details.
No commission on your work
100% of your quoted rate goes to you. The platform fee is paid by the customer.
Control your own schedule
Set the days you take bookings, your radius, your party size limits. Pause anytime.
A note from the founder
Welcome to Rhode Island’s first private chef marketplace. I’ve been working on this idea since 2020. What kept pulling me back is what’s always been true here: Rhode Island is full of culinary artists of all kinds. Head chefs and pastry chefs in established kitchens. Line chefs ready to make their own name. Students furthering their craft at Johnson & Wales, one of the country’s most respected culinary schools. Home cooks who love feeding the people who keep asking for more. LocalChef is the place this community can be found, and the place Rhode Islanders come looking for them.
Gary, Founder of LocalChef RI
For Rhode Islanders
Are you a Rhode Islander?
Bookings open after we’ve onboarded our founding chefs. Drop your email and we’ll let you know the day LocalChef opens to Rhode Islanders.
Common questions from chefs
Things chefs ask before they apply.
How much do I earn per booking?
You set the price for each package on your profile — that's the amount you receive in full when a booking is confirmed. LocalChef adds a small service fee charged to the customer at checkout, separate from your rate. There is no commission deducted from your quote.
Do I need a commercial kitchen?
No. The host provides the kitchen — you bring the food, tools, and anything else needed to deliver the dining experience.
What about food safety / ServSafe?
All approved chefs need a current ServSafe Food Handler certification (or equivalent). If you don’t have one yet, we’ll walk you through how to get certified — it’s quick and inexpensive.
How does the background check work?
We use a third-party service that runs a standard identity verification and background check during onboarding. It's a one-time process, takes a few minutes of your time, and the results are reviewed by LocalChef before your profile goes live.
When does the marketplace open to Rhode Islanders?
We open to Rhode Islanders once we've reached our founding-chef target across the state. We don't publish an exact date because we'd rather launch with the right chefs than rush. Expect a window of weeks, not months, once you're approved.
Can I leave anytime?
Yes. There's no contract, no exclusivity, no exit fee. Pause your profile from your dashboard, or close the account entirely whenever you want.
Cook on your terms in Rhode Island.
We’re closing founding-chef applications when we hit the chef count we need. Apply now.
Apply to be a chef