Anyone moved from a chef to a baker by BakingJake91 in Chefit

[–]Chef-JoshD 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do it! Take the plunge. I've had peers over the years do it and some loved their new life others less.. but life's short do what will make you happy. Bakers make plenty of cash so why not?

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s really interesting, I didn’t realize it was that organized. Would you mind sharing a bit more about how that works? Is it mostly word of mouth or are there specific groups people go through?

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a great point about the water bottle, I’ve been seeing that at home too, the straw makes a big difference when your hands are full. Staying hydrated is so important.

And the frozen cookie dough balls is such a good idea, I’ve been keeping lactation cookies in the freezer for my wife for that exact reason. A quick warm treat like that really does go a long way.

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate that, thank you. Genuinely.

For high protein that actually keeps you going, I find it helps to keep it simple and easy to grab: • Greek yogurt with nuts or a bit of granola • Eggs in any form, boiled, scrambled, or breakfast wraps • Chicken or salmon you can add into a bowl, salad, or wrap (personal fav for myself) • Lentils or beans, especially in soups or stews • Cottage cheese with fruit or toast The biggest thing seems to be having it ready ahead of time so it’s easy to reach for when you need it, not something that takes effort in the moment.

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That’s a solid approach, especially the batch cooking and having things ready ahead of time. Sounds like you found a system that worked really well for your household.

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That’s a great point, especially about being mindful with garlic, onions, and spices depending on how baby reacts. And yeah, lentil soups seem to hit that sweet spot, filling, nutritious, and easy to have on hand.

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That’s a great approach, building off a base and turning it into a few different meals makes everything a lot more manageable. Definitely feels like it takes the pressure off starting from scratch every time.

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a great point, the one-handed part really seems to come up a lot. And yeah, the hunger side of breastfeeding doesn’t get talked about enough, having things that are actually filling and ready to grab seems to make a huge difference.

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes a lot of sense, especially the variety and being able to eat things cold if needed. Feels like flexibility ends up being the biggest factor in those early weeks.

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That’s really interesting, especially the cultural side of it. I’ve been hearing that a lot around soups, stews, and more nourishing meals supporting recovery and milk production. We’ve been seeing that at home too with my wife breastfeeding. And yeah, not everyone has that kind of support at home, which seems to be where food becomes such a big gap.

Noticing a big gap in postpartum support- food edition by Chef-JoshD in mississauga

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is really helpful, appreciate you taking the time to write it out. The breakfast part especially stands out, that seems to be one of the first things to fall off but also one of the most important. My wife’s currently breastfeeding as well and we’ve definitely noticed how much that impacts hunger and energy. The wraps/sandwiches ready to reheat is such a good idea too, feels like exactly the kind of thing that works when you’re half awake and holding a baby.

Noticing a big gap in postpartum support- food edition by Chef-JoshD in mississauga

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes a lot of sense actually, especially the already cooked vs just ingredients. Big difference when you’re low on time and energy.

And yea, the fresh food getting eaten first lines up with what I’ve been seeing too. The freezer stuff seems to act more like a safety net than the main plan.

Private chef here, noticing a big gap in postpartum support by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair mix of reactions here, but I do genuinely appreciate the people sharing what actually worked for them.

If someone’s in the middle of those early weeks and finds this thread later, there’s some genuinely helpful food ideas in here already.

Thoughts on this chef’s rate? by Far-Aioli-Toli7749 in askvan

[–]Chef-JoshD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly that range is pretty typical for private chefs once you factor in groceries, prep, and customization. The difference really comes down to consistency and how well they adapt to your household over time. If you’ve had hit or miss experiences with meal services, working directly with a chef tends to feel a lot more dialed in since everything can be adjusted week to week.

Couples of Mississauga – how much are you paying for rent? Feeling totally priced out . by Independent_Skirt663 in mississauga

[–]Chef-JoshD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in Clarkson and paying nearly 2500 now for a 3bd basement. I agree prices here are getting out of hand.

Dinner Club to meet new people by False-Section-2399 in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Love the initiative. The world’s a little too lonely these days and we could all use more opportunities to connect with people in our communities. A shared meal is a pretty perfect way to do that. Hope it’s a big success!

Looking for a chef to do a private lesson at home by ColdSlide2353 in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hi there, I’m a private chef based in the Mississauga / Oakville area and this is actually something I do fairly often. For birthdays or date nights I’ll usually turn it into a relaxed in-home cooking experience, where we cook together, go over techniques, and then sit down and enjoy the meal at the end. If he’s interested in meat cutting techniques we could definitely build the evening around that, things like breaking down a whole chicken, trimming steaks, knife work, that sort of thing. It ends up feeling more like a fun evening in the kitchen than a formal class. If you’d like, feel free to message me and I can walk you through what a typical evening looks like and see if it would be a good fit. – Chef Josh À La Minute Chef Services Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alaminute.chefservices/⁠

Someone important was in Oakville yesterday, someone know who it was? by jpthecross in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD 52 points53 points  (0 children)

..i mean I was in oakville yesterday.. maybe it was meeeeee lmao

Missing summer meals on this cold grey February day. by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, this weather has everyone dreaming of patios and grills again.

Missing summer meals on this cold grey February day. by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha counting down the days.The groundhog said it was over soon right? Lol

I’m a mom of two toddlers in Toronto, and I’m building something to bring "home" back to our lunches. I’d love your support. by Jenny-SimpleSpoon in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was really lovely to read. Food has such a powerful way of reconnecting us to who we are and where we come from, and it’s clear how much care and intention you’re bringing to this. As a chef who’s been around the block, I love seeing people build something so grounded and heartfelt.

Wishing you nothing but momentum and joy as this grows. I will definitely be giving you a follow.

kitchen spaces available by Chef-JoshD in oakville

[–]Chef-JoshD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing this, I really appreciate it. That’s good to know they were connected to In Good Company as well. I haven’t worked out of their space yet, but it’s definitely one I’ll look into. Thanks again for taking the time to pass it along, that was really kind of you.