The Bellingham Herald

"Palate-specific" personal meals are now available for busy families and business executives from Cloud Catcher Bay Gourmet, a customized in-home personal chef service.

Owner and operator Rob Albrecht prepares the personal meals, cooked with fresh ingredients, in private homes.

"With so many households where people are working, meal planning and preparation becomes an extra burden," Albrecht said in a press release. "Frozen entrees and take-out food, while convenient, are loaded with salt and preservatives. You may save preparation time but your family's health and well-being suffers in the long run."

Clients Connie Bookman, a small business owner, and her partner, Stan Lloyd, said Catcher Bay Gourmet is the perfect service for them.

"It gives us precious time together at the end of a busy day," Bookman said in a press release. "No shopping, no cooking, no cleaning up."

"When we add up the food and restaurant bills, we realize we aren't spending any more than we did before ... but we're eating like kings," Lloyd said.

Albrecht meets with each client to determine their specific dietary needs, the menus are created and then a cooking day is selected.

"I shop for all the food, come into the client's home every other week and cook about 10 meals," Albrecht said. "Then I fresh freeze or refrigerate them and clean everything up."

Albrecht is a member of the American Personal Chef Association. To contact him, call 220-5605 or visit the Web at www.cloudcatcherbaygourmet.com .