The Casey Community Center is seeking professional chefs to develop and lead recreational activities online and in its licensed commercial kitchen as part of the Let’s Cook@Casey program. We are accepting proposals based on suggested themes below or dynamic new subject matter befitting the local community and virtual audiences. Preference will be given to programs that focus on cooking from scratch. The selected chef instructors will be compensated and their names will be included in Let's Cook@Casey marketing materials for the City of Gaithersburg.

Proposals

Chef instructors are expected to develop and present class curriculum. Virtual classes should be 1.5 hours in length. In-person classes should be 1.5 – 3 hours in length. Class themes may cover any topic related to food and beverage preparation. Virtual classes should be formatted as "hands-on" with a finished product at the end of the class; in-person classes may be formatted as hands-on, demonstration, or lecture-style presentations. Class topics offered thus far have included: Italian Classics, Indian Instant Pot, Holiday Sweets, Japanese Cherry Blossom Dinner, Great British Baking, Homemade Kimchi, and more.

Terms

Selection:

-All proposals must be the original work of the chef instructor and all recipes taught in the classes must be the property of the chef instructor. Recipes will need to be submitted and approved in advance of the class.

-Proposals should include the class theme, format (virtual, hands-on, demonstration, or lecture), approximate class length, and an overview of the included recipes or lecture material.

-Professional chefs are considered to be anyone earning money by developing menus and preparing food. This includes personal chefs, caterers, culinary instructors, food truck owners, farmers market vendors, hospitality chefs, and others.

-Formal culinary training (or equivalent work experience) is required for all chef instructors; and a valid Food Managers card is required for in-person class instructors.

-In-person class chef instructors must be insured and will be required to present a current Certificate of Insurance naming the City of Gaithersburg as an additional insured.

-A committee of city staff (including chefs and programmers) will select the proposals to be developed and scheduled with the chef instructors.

Agreement

For the proposals selected, the Casey Community Center will:

-Negotiate one contract per program term (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) with the chef instructor.

-Market programs and chef instructor’s name and affiliation (if desired) in the City of Gaithersburg’s marketing outlets

-Register participants

-Provide a secure online platform for virtual classes (Zoom).

-Format and print recipe books for each class

-Provide in advance of in-person classes an inventory list of available cooking and serving pieces (including pots, plates, knives, etc.)

-Provide for in-person classes a clean and licensed kitchen for preparation and instruction

-Provide for in-person classes a temporary alcohol permit and sell beer and wine to patrons over 21 at all programs (please note chef instructors are not permitted to consume alcohol at any time during City of Gaithersburg programs)

-For virtual classes, Chef instructors will receive as compensation a flat rate determined by registration fees as follows:

    -$105 for 3 registrations

    -$140 for 4 registrations

    -$175 for 5 or more registrations (up to 12)

-For in-person classes, Chef instructors will receive as compensation 70% of the program registration fees. Program registration fees for all adult programs are:

    -$55 per person for hands on instruction

    -$45 per person for demonstration instruction

    -$35 per person for lecture instruction

-Casey Community Center will not provide food for any virtual or in-person classes and no equipment beyond what is listed in the kitchen inventory. Chef instructors are expected to buy any necessary technical equipment for virtual classes and bring any necessary specialty equipment for in-person classses.

Promotion

The City of Gaithersburg will advertise scheduled programs via multiple outlets, including press releases, printed material, City-operated social media, and City of Gaithersburg website.

Schedule

Proposals will be considered and approved on an ongoing basis. Programs will be scheduled from July 2021 to June 2022.

Questions? Contact:

Let's Cook@Casey Team

Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture

Casey Community Center

810 S. Frederick Ave | Gaithersburg, MD 20878

LetsCook@gaithersburgmd.gov