In the Hamptons, hiring a private chef is ”like the Hunger Games”
On New York’s eastern shore, the wealthy compete over cooks for the summer.
From The Times
March 28, 2026

The rich are getting even richer in America, and in the Hamptons, where home prices have hit record highs, outsourcing much or all of the cooking to private chefs has become a competitive summer staple.

Elena Apostolides laughs while hosting a dinner party at a large dining table.

Vincent Alban/The New York Times

“It’s like the Hunger Games for private chefs,” an adviser to the wealthy said. →

MORE COVERAGE

A view inside a brick apartment building at sunset from across the street. Inside three windows, a family prepares dinner and a child holds a phone.

Photographs provide a window into the lives of New York City renters. →

A photo illustration of a remote control with several buttons missing from the normal grid of numbers.

Reality TV confronts a harsh reality as an era quietly vanishes. →

These are the microscenes beloved by New York City’s many creative sets. →

Local reporting on the stories that define the city, plus Metropolitan Diary.

Sign up for the New York Today newsletter.

Local reporting on the stories that define the city, plus Metropolitan Diary.

Get it in your inbox

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this message because you signed up for updates from The New York Times.

To stop receiving From The Times, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

facebookxinstagramwhatsapp

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

Zeta LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018