FAQs

How does your menu work?

Our Chefs work hard to provide you a healthy, balanced menu every week. Each  weekly menu opens on Wednesday morning, and closes at 11 a.m. on Friday. Every week, Chef Hannah and the team bring new meals to your table, while rotating in fan favorites. 

How do your meal plans work?

The structure of our meal plans stays the same each week (please see the "What It Includes" tab in each meal plan), you will receive new item weekly according to your chosen meal plan.  You can set it and forget it with our subscriptions - no extra work on your part!

How do your delivery dates work?

Orders must be placed by 5pm on the Friday before the following Monday delivery. Please email questions to alternativechefinfo@gmail.com 

When do you deliver?

We deliver on Monday's from 10:00am until 5:00pm. Your food is temperature controlled with ice packs and cooler bags while in transit and  will stay cold for up to three hours after delivery. If someone is unavailable to receive the order,  leave a cooler and frozen ice packs out for us to safely deliver. Our drivers are instructed NOT to use cooler bags or coolers left by customers unless they contain frozen ice packs (otherwise, the cooler creates an even warmer environment than ambient air, and is more dangerous to your food). 

I didn't receive my delivery!

Despite our delivery team's best efforts, a delivery can end up on the wrong doorstep - or in the wrong hands. If you cannot locate your delivery, please contact us the day of delivery so we can track it down for you. 

I need to change my delivery address!

If you need a weekly order delivered to a different address, please let us know by Sunday before delivery. Change requests on Monday will have to be pulled off the route and delivered on Tuesday. We don't want to make a mistake with our routes.

What if I need to cancel my order? 

We understand that plans can change and life can throw us curveballs, and you might need to cancel an order after our Friday noon deadline.

• Cancellations before noon on Friday - 100% refund
• Cancellations Friday thru Monday - 0% refund. By this time, we are fully committed to production numbers, and all material expenses have been incurred. You can choose to gift your order to a friend. If so, please let us know right away, as route planning will need to be updated. Alternately we can donate your order to one of our local charities. 

What if I need to skip my subscription order?

You can skip any week you like. Please understand that the date you see in your account is the day the order will be created, NOT the actual delivery date. If you're not sure that you're skipping the correct day or week - please drop us a line at alternativechefinfo@gmail.com

We can't refund orders that are not properly skipped and arrive when you are not expecting them - these would be treated as same-day cancellations.  

What if I need to cancel my subscription?

Cancellations can be managed in your customer portal. 

Is Alternative Chef food 100% gluten free and health conscious?

Yes we are! We operate a dedicated gluten-free kitchen in Charlotte, NC. In addition to those dietary standards, we use small amounts of low glycemic sweeteners such as organic maple syrup, organic coconut sugar, organic coconut nectar, organic date sugar, and organic agave nectar. We’re also big fans of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet, and use limited amounts of simple carbohydrates in our meals. We even have grain free options, if that’s your preference!  If you have any questions about our nutritional guidelines and practices, please e-mail us at alternativechefinfo@gmail.com. We are proud of the way we make food and would love to talk about it with you!

May I pick up my order?

If you choose to collect our order on Mondays, we will happily refund your delivery fee. Ask for a code to use to cancel the delivery fee when you order.

Do I need to tip my delivery driver?

Our drivers work hard to ensure your meals arrive ready for you to enjoy, tips are always appreciated!

Can I get delivery to an apartment, into a gated neighborhood, or to an office?

Yes. Just include any gate codes, apartment numbers or any special instructions in your delivery notes.

Is Alternative Chef food organic and locally-sourced?

We source as much local, organic, and pesticide-free ingredients as possible. We do not cut corners when purchasing our produce because we believe that the best food is made from the purest ingredients. We are currently partnering with a number of NC small farms for produce and proteins.

Can I reuse the packaging?

Absolutely. We use recyclable containers that can be reused. The containers with the clear lids and black bases are both dishwasher safe and microwave safe. You can also send them back to us (once cleaned) with your bag and ice packs and we will recycle them for you or donate them! If your driver determines your containers have not been cleaned before being returned, they will leave them for you to wash.

What do I do with my bag and ice packs after delivery?

We will trade out your previous bag and ice packs when we make the next week’s delivery. If you will not be ordering from us for a while we can schedule a pick up. Simply e-mail alternativechefinfo@gmail.com and we will take care of the rest!

Do you cater?

Yes! We would love to cater your next party or event. Email alternativechefinfo@gmail.com  fill out our inquiry form here, or call us at 980.216.6846