Introducing Napkin: Book a Private Chef in your Home

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AshK

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#223965 26-Oct-2017 11:55

Hi Geekzone!

We're Napkin

Napkin is an online platform for finding, booking, and enjoying amazing dining experiences prepared by private chefs just for you.
Check us out at: www.trynapkin.com and feel free to follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/trynapkin

We're a brand new startup based in Auckland.
We have private chefs across Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, and Queenstown so far, and we're always adding new private chefs to our platform for customers to try.

The basic premise of Napkin is that you can book a private chef through Napkin that will come over and prepare, create, and serve you and your family/friends with a unique dining experience that is likely to not only be delicious, but in many cases more affordable than a restaurant.

Napkin has a strong commitment toward recruiting quality private chefs for our customers and many of our private chefs are from very prestigious restaurants and have won awards too! So you can be sure of enjoying a rewarding dining experience when you book through Napkin.

We're really excited to join Geekzone and over the coming weeks please keep an eye out for free giveaways for dining experiences as well as special promo offers!

Feel free to check out www.trynapkin.com now and if you have any questions/comments/suggestions etc. feel free to send me a PM.

While Napkin is still very new, we hope that we can evolve into something over time that you all can find value in and most importantly, enjoy using.

Cheers

Ash

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Networkn
30201 posts

Uber Geek

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Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1889796 26-Oct-2017 12:35

Welcome to GZ good luck with your new venture.

I'd be keen for Sid Sahrawat to join us for dinner :)

Mighty Ape

Shop Mighty Ape for electronics, games, computers books and more (affiliate link).

AshK

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1891345 27-Oct-2017 12:57

networkn:

Welcome to GZ good luck with your new venture.

I'd be keen for Sid Sahrawat to join us for dinner :)

Thanks for the good wishes networkn.

Happy to arrange something free for you.

Just send me a PM with the listing you saw and let's see if we can work something out.

Cheers

muppet

2387 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1891352 27-Oct-2017 13:07

Hello,

Can I book two chefs and pit them off against each other, Masterchef style?

They'd come over and wouldn't be allowed to sleep for 48 hours, then both must cook a meal to my specifications under heavy lights and I judge it.

The chef who I deem to be the loser would have to leave in tears. The tears must be real.

Please tell me how must it would cost and do real tears cost extra?

Thanks,

Muppet.

PS: It would be called New Zealand MasterNapkin.

PPS: I'm registering the name MasterNapkin just in case you think of stealing my excellent idea.

PPPS: Welcome. And Sorry. When are you launching in Napier?

AshK

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1891359 27-Oct-2017 13:44

muppet:

Hello,

Can I book two chefs and pit them off against each other, Masterchef style?

They'd come over and wouldn't be allowed to sleep for 48 hours, then both must cook a meal to my specifications under heavy lights and I judge it.

The chef who I deem to be the loser would have to leave in tears. The tears must be real.

Please tell me how must it would cost and do real tears cost extra?

Thanks,

Muppet.

PS: It would be called New Zealand MasterNapkin.

PPS: I'm registering the name MasterNapkin just in case you think of stealing my excellent idea.

PPPS: Welcome. And Sorry. When are you launching in Napier?

Hahaha! Thanks for the laugh Muppet.
Your idea is fantastic, just don't think we have any private chefs that'd be keen for that at this stage.

Regarding Napkin's availability in Napier; it's difficult to say when we'll have chefs available there, but we're always on the look out for qualified and talented chefs to join us. So hopefully soon.

Cheers mate

Batman

Mad Scientist
29040 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1891360 27-Oct-2017 13:47

I would not want 2 masterchefs in my kitchen. They can cut up a whole cow, empty out the whole pantry, and you get a big white plate with 1 ravioli after 3 hours. And who cleans up the rubbish bin of wasted food?

frankv

5581 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1891361 27-Oct-2017 13:49

Had a look, and it seems like a good idea to me. Kind of Uber for cooking.

I don't like the word "Napkin". It's more American than Kiwi, I think. But I guess you plan for this to be international. But it has other connotations here.

The big problem is that until Napkin reaches some kind of critical mass, there won't be any value in chefs' or diners' star ratings.

A few questions that you might want to answer on the website:

1. Who buys the ingredients? Presumably the chef does? Who provides the pots and pans and utensils? What about special stove or refrigerator requirements? Who does the dishes? OSH?

2. What exactly is a "chef"? Surely there's some industry qualification required to call yourself a "chef"? What about hygiene and food-handling qualifications?

3. Seems to me that there's some risk in bringing someone you don't know into your home. Do you have some kind of police vetting of your chefs?

4. There's potentially some risk for the chef too, going alone (I assume) to someone's house. I see you have a "Chef Safety" page, but that seems inadequate to me. I assume that Napkin itself disclaims all risk?

AshK

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1891363 27-Oct-2017 13:54

Batman:

I would not want 2 masterchefs in my kitchen. They can cut up a whole cow, empty out the whole pantry, and you get a big white plate with 1 ravioli after 3 hours. And who cleans up the rubbish bin of wasted food?

Lol the clean up would be your job!

Typically though, our private chefs sell defined dining experiences, e.g. 3 course Euro Fine Cuisine, or 4 Course Japanese etc. etc.

Our Private Chefs have a number of listings under their profile and so you'd just choose the one you want.

Check out our Chef Archana for example: https://trynapkin.com/archana.kurup/

It's all very specific. However there is flexibility to tailor-create something if you prefer.

Cheers

dmatthew

54 posts

Master Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1891369 27-Oct-2017 14:30

I like the idea. However, I was not able to take a look as the site crashed on me :(

sleepy

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1891372 27-Oct-2017 14:33

Great idea look forward to you getting someone in Dunedin

AshK

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1891373 27-Oct-2017 14:34

frankv:

Had a look, and it seems like a good idea to me. Kind of Uber for cooking.

I don't like the word "Napkin". It's more American than Kiwi, I think. But I guess you plan for this to be international. But it has other connotations here.

The big problem is that until Napkin reaches some kind of critical mass, there won't be any value in chefs' or diners' star ratings.

A few questions that you might want to answer on the website:

1. Who buys the ingredients? Presumably the chef does? Who provides the pots and pans and utensils? What about special stove or refrigerator requirements? Who does the dishes? OSH?

2. What exactly is a "chef"? Surely there's some industry qualification required to call yourself a "chef"? What about hygiene and food-handling qualifications?

3. Seems to me that there's some risk in bringing someone you don't know into your home. Do you have some kind of police vetting of your chefs?

4. There's potentially some risk for the chef too, going alone (I assume) to someone's house. I see you have a "Chef Safety" page, but that seems inadequate to me. I assume that Napkin itself disclaims all risk?

Hi Frankv,

Really appreciate your message. You've got some brilliant thoughts here.
There's a lot to unpack in it, so you'll have to excuse my brevity or over simplification of certain things. I'll try my best to provide clarification anyway.

Right off the bat, your questions which you think would be useful if answered on the website -- I 100% agree with you, and we are in the process of creating more informational content for the site.
Particularly as it concerns our private chefs.

Regarding the star rating and reviews -- You're probably right about this. Nevertheless It's a good idea to collate reviews at any rate for when you do reach a 'critical mass'. After all, even one review can make a difference for a customer looking for a private chef.

1. In terms of ingredients, our chefs supply all. The cost at which a customer purchases a dining experience reflects the cost of ingredients, labour etc.

2. That's a great question. All our private chefs are qualified or are in the process of acquiring some kind of relevant culinary qualification. Our recruitment process of chefs involves us taking a close look at a chef's qualifications and experience to ensure the best for our customers. We do not allow just anyone to be a chef with us.

3. Chef verification is extremely important to us and all verification information is displayed on the profile pages of users (chef & customer). If there is a chef that you like who is not verified, you can request that they do become verified as well. Worth mentioning is that verification is in place for both private chef and customer.

Regarding 'risk'. This is a very big topic. As with any online market place like Airbnb or Uber, there is an element of risk which exists. And like these and other online market places, Napkin requires trust from users too in order to work well.

We do our best to ensure that Napkin is a safe platform for our users, and we hope that all our users exercise common sense when interacting with each other on it.

4. Yeah there's more guides coming, for our chefs we have a vigorous onboarding process wherein all these pressing topics are addressed. It's just a matter of time till it is presented online too.

Thanks for your thoughtful comment frankv!

Cheers

AshK

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1891379 27-Oct-2017 14:43

sleepy:

Great idea look forward to you getting someone in Dunedin

Thank you sleepy! Hopefully we have someone there soon.

oakland

19 posts

Geek

#1891387 27-Oct-2017 15:08

The 'How it Works' link is not working for me from the front page.

AshK

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1891388 27-Oct-2017 15:10

oakland:

The 'How it Works' link is not working for me from the front page.

Odd! I will PM you with a question or two.

Cheers

Jeeves

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1892571 30-Oct-2017 12:54

On the "how it works" slide down - the first image of the guy standing on the globe - it overlaps the text on large screens, making it hard to read. Perhaps add a max-width value to your .steps-container img CSS class.

AshK

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1892582 30-Oct-2017 13:26

Jeeves:

On the "how it works" slide down - the first image of the guy standing on the globe - it overlaps the text on large screens, making it hard to read. Perhaps add a max-width value to your .steps-container img CSS class.

Hey Jeeves, thanks for the feedback.

Good pick up - we've been looking at all these minor areas for fix up.

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