Cooking daily meals for the family is often romanticized as an act of care, but for some, it can just as easily feel like an added chore to an already jam-packed schedule. For a time, this was the reality for Gabby Firmacion and his wife Julia, who found themselves struggling to consistently cook for their family of four, especially when hiring a stay-in cook was neither practical nor convenient.
It was a haunting household dilemma—one that Gabby eventually saw not as a setback, but as a business opportunity.
How the PHat Chef started
“After interviewing friends with similar struggles and speaking with chefs about the low pay and toxic culture in professional kitchens, I saw a clear business opportunity to bridge that gap,” he said.
And so, the couple teamed up with three operations assistants, namely Rose Abing, Lyn Llanes, and Fitzhugh Dela Cruz, to form The PHat Chef where you can hire people to take care of your cooking needs. “I met Fitz, who is also a chef, through a close friend. I hired Rose after she applied to a Facebook post for VAs, and she later introduced me to her cousin, Lyn, as we expanded,” says Gabby.
Their goal is twofold: to relieve the family or individual’s burden of planning and preparing their everyday food, and to empower chefs with meaningful work, fair pay, and healthier work-life balance.
How The PHat Chef service works
The transaction starts by having the customer first fill out an online form, detailing their preferences, dietary needs, routine and location. Then they get to choose the chef, and once payment is made, they’ll finalize and customize the menu for you, which includes four cooked entrees or three cooked dishes plus two marinated proteins that they can cook on their own free time. Specific allergens and dietary restrictions are taken into consideration, and they offer a wide range of cuisines, ensuring that they have something for every kind of customer.
Their services are not limited to meal prep though. They can also cater events of up to 30 people as well as organize and host private in-home cooking classes for both adults and children. “Our adult classes often focus on upskilling home cooks, while our kids’ classes focus on fun recipes like pasta and pizza. We cater primarily to families who want home-cooked meals without relying on daily food delivery,” he adds.
To date, the PHat Chef’s most challenging request involved a child with nearly 150 ingredient restrictions. “By using AI to research viable recipes, we were able to provide delicious meals that the client was thrilled with,” claims Gabby.
Hiring a chef does more than put meals on the table—it lets you reclaim something far more elusive: your time. By taking over the relentless routine of meal planning, grocery runs, cooking and cleaning, it frees up not just time you can spend with the family but also your mental energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PHat Chef is a Filipino meal prep and private chef service that provides customized home-cooked meals for families and individuals.
The PHat Chef was founded by Gabby and Julia Firmacion together with their operations team.
Customers fill out an online form detailing their preferences, dietary restrictions, schedules, and location before being matched with a chef.
The service typically offers four cooked entrees or three cooked dishes plus two marinated proteins.
No. They also cater small events and host private in-home cooking classes for adults and children.
The service mainly caters to busy families and individuals who want home-cooked meals without daily cooking stress.
