Kuad Community Guidelines
At Kuad, we are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and high-quality experience for both home chefs and customers. Our platform connects talented home chefs with busy professionals and families looking for fresh, home-cooked meals. These guidelines set clear expectations to ensure a positive and seamless experience for everyone involved.
1. Respect and Professionalism
For Chefs:
- Treat customers with respect, professionalism, and courtesy at all times.
- Communicate promptly and clearly with customers regarding orders, special requests, or scheduling via Kuad website.
- Maintain a professional demeanor, including appropriate attire and hygiene while cooking in a customer’s home.
- Avoid offensive or discriminatory behavior based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, or any other characteristic.
For Customers:
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Treat chefs with kindness and respect their time and effort.
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Clearly communicate dietary preferences, allergies, and special requests in advance.
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Provide a clean and safe cooking environment if the chef is preparing meals in your home.
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Avoid discriminatory or inappropriate behavior.
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Respecting the Chef's Creative Independence:
- Give space for creativity: We encourage customers to allow chefs the freedom to work independently and use their expertise in the kitchen. Chefs are professionals, and their skills and creativity are essential to delivering the best dining experience.
- Minimize interruptions: While it’s natural to be curious about the meal being prepared, we ask that customers avoid asking excessive questions about the recipe or cooking process during the service.
- Respect the process: Trust that the chef is bringing their experience and knowledge to the table. If you have specific requests or dietary restrictions, please communicate them before the cooking session begins, so the chef can prepare accordingly.
2. Food Safety and Quality Standards
For Chefs:
- Maintain proper food safety certification (e.g., food handler certification) as required by local laws.
- Confirm with the customer their dietary requirements and preferences at the time of ordering.
- Follow strict hygiene practices, including:
- Washing hands frequently.
- Using gloves when handling food.
- Keeping a clean cooking space.
- Storing food at the appropriate temperatures.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients and avoid expired or low-quality items.
- Adhere to safe food preparation and handling procedures to prevent contamination.
- If feeling unwell, refrain from cooking and notify customers in advance.
- Chefs should use separate utensils and surfaces for allergen-free meals.
- Label meals: Label containers with the date of preparation and, if applicable, include recommended storage and consumption time (e.g., "Eat within 3 days").
For Customers:
- Store delivered meals properly to maintain freshness.
- Store food safely: Ensure all prepared meals are placed in airtight containers and stored in the fridge or freezer if not immediately consumed.
- Refrigerate perishable items: If meals aren't being immediately consumed, store all perishable items at or below 40°F (4°C). Refrigerate any leftovers within two hours (one hour if the temperature is above 90°F/32°C).
- Frozen meals: If freezing food, ensure it is properly sealed and provide the customer with reheating instructions.
- Reheat meals according to the chef's instructions.
- Follow chef’s reheating instructions: When reheating meals, ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to maintain food safety.
- Consume in time: Enjoy prepared meals within the timeframe recommended by the chef to ensure optimal taste and food safety.
- Share your preferences in advance: To ensure the chef can deliver the best meal tailored to your needs, please provide clear information about any dietary restrictions, preferences, and allergies when placing your order.
- Be specific: If you have preferences regarding ingredients, spice levels, or any other aspects of the meal, kindly communicate them before the chef begins preparing. This helps avoid interruptions and ensures a smooth cooking experience.
- Health and Well-Being Considerations:
- Notify the chef if anyone in the family is unwell: If you or anyone in your household is feeling unwell, please inform the chef as soon as possible.
- Chef's discretion: The chef will have the option to decide whether or not they feel comfortable proceeding with the booking, or reschedule given the health situation. We ask that both chefs and customers prioritize safety and well-being in such cases.
- Cancellation due to health concerns: If the session needs to be cancelled due to health reasons and it impacts you financially under our cancellation policy, please email us at support@kuad.us to make alternative arrangements.
3. Kitchen and Home Preparation
For Customers: To ensure a smooth cooking experience, please take the following steps before your scheduled service:
- Prepare your kitchen: Empty the dishwasher, clear the sink, and ensure counter space is available.
- Set aside storage containers for meal prep and leftovers.
- Stock essential cooking and cleaning supplies**, such as your preferred choice of cooking oil, salt, pepper, tin foil, paper towel, dish soap, trash bags, and a broom.
- Check your kitchen equipment: Ensure that stove burners, ovens, broilers, and dishwashers are in working order. If anything is not functional, please inform Kuad in advance.
- Ensure kitchen access: Make sure someone is available to let the chef in or provide clear instructions for access.
- Accommodate the cook: Let them know about household preferences, including shoe policies, smoke alarms, pet rules, trash and recycling procedures, and washroom locations.
- Make space in your fridge: Reserve room for groceries, prepared meals, and leftovers.
- Communicate about pets and children: If you have specific kitchen rules regarding children or pets, inform your chef in advance.
- Tipping policy: If you feel your chef provided an exceptional experience and wish to offer appreciation, you will have the opportunity at the end of the transaction.
- Customers should not record or photograph chefs without consent.
For Chefs:
- Arrive on time and respect the customer’s space.
- Use only the kitchen tools and ingredients provided or agreed upon.
- Clean up after cooking, ensuring the kitchen is left in the same condition as upon arrival.
- Follow any household rules related to pets, children, or restricted areas.
- Chefs should respect customer privacy and not share personal details or photos of the home without permission.
4. Order Fulfillment and Reliability
For Chefs:
- Accept orders only when you are fully available to prepare and fulfill them.
- Notify the customer immediately if unforeseen circumstances prevent order completion.
- Prepare and deliver meals on time, during your booking window.
For Customers:
- Be available for the agreed-upon delivery time or communicate alternative arrangements in advance.
- Provide accurate contact details and address information to avoid delivery issues.
5. Safety and Security
For Chefs:
- When traveling to a customer’s home, prioritize safety by verifying the address and using trusted transportation.
- Report any concerns regarding customer behavior, food safety, or service quality promptly by emailing support@kuad.us.
- Chefs should have a basic understanding of kitchen fire safety and first aid.
For Customers:
- When a chef is visiting your home, provide a safe and welcoming environment.
- Report any concerns regarding chef behavior, food safety, or service quality promptly by emailing support@kuad.us.
- Customers should have a working fire extinguisher and first-aid kit available.
- Kuad conducts background checks on chefs to enhance customer trust. However, Kuad shall not be liable for any claims or damages on behalf of the customer due to the actions or inactions of the chef.
6. Payments and Cancellations
For Chefs:
- Process transactions only through Kuad’s approved payment system—no cash payments.
- If a customer cancels at the last minute, follow Kuad’s cancellation policy found in terms of service.
For Customers:
- Pay through the Kuad platform—do not offer cash payments.
- If you need to cancel a booking, do so within the timeframe outlined in Kuad’s cancellation policy within our terms of service to avoid unnecessary charges.
7. Reporting Issues
If any issues arise, such as:
- A food safety concern
- A missed or late service
- Unprofessional behavior
- Safety concerns Please report them to Kuad’s support team (support@kuad.us) immediately. We take all reports seriously and will investigate accordingly.
8. Violations and Consequences
Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in:
- Temporary or permanent suspension from Kuad’s platform.
- A warning or probationary period.
- Further action as necessary based on the severity of the violation.
By using Kuad, all home chefs and customers agree to follow these community guidelines to ensure a safe, respectful, and enjoyable experience for everyone. Thank you for being part of the Kuad community!