Discover your dinner solution at The Chef and His Wife

Thursday is Halloween, which means Friday starts the season of planning for family holiday meals and gatherings.

Chef Tim Mulderink, owner of The Chef and His Wife in Hixson, is offering Chattanoogans ideas to help them with meals during this rush period.

"I define our business on three levels: fully cooked carryout meals, catering and our four flavors of pimento cheese that are now carried in 25 Food City stores from Cleveland through Chattanooga to Dalton, Georgia," Mulderink described.

The chef began his business in Chattanooga nine years ago while working as executive chef at Volkswagen. He started running The Chef and His Wife part-time, which eventually grew into a full operation complete with a retail storefront in the Hixson/Middle Valley area. Mulderink is proud that The Chef and His Wife was the first official carryout meal business in Chattanooga.

"In our store and on our website, we have fresh and frozen meals available in single and family sizes," he pointed out, adding year-round customer favorites - such as chicken pot pie, quiche and take-and-bake pizzas - are always available.

"You can come in, choose your dinner, take it home to heat, eat and enjoy," he said.

The Chef and His Wife storefront is filled with cases of prepared foods from which customers may choose take-home meals. / Photo by David Humber

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, Mulderink and his team are ready to help. Customers just place their orders and set their tables. The Chef and His Wife is offering family-size meals with a full Turkey Day menu including everything from roasted turkey that's sliced off the bone, moist and flavorful, to cornbread dressing, all the way to a free pumpkin pie with orders over $100.

"Everything we produce is made from fresh ingredients," Mulderink said. He added there are gluten-free and Keto items on their menus as well for those with dietary needs and restrictions.

"We offer a lot of variety, so that when families have different tastes, they can each get what they want."

Mulderink said he listens to his customers all the time, and what he hears is that their food has flavor, they are a dinner solution to having a good meal at home with the family on an affordable budget and, most importantly, without the stress and hassle.

"In our catering business, we're very big on customizing to clients' budgets and needs," the chef said. "So, if you have a certain menu you're wanting, you can give us a call and we will schedule a consultation to plan your event."