Terms & Conditions
Damn What’s Cooking aims to provide a seamless, culinary experience and deliver fresh, delicious meals tailored to your needs. Please read carefully before booking a consultation or selecting a service. The purchase of a service constitutes that you are in agreement with the policies listed below.
The following policy is effective 08/01/2025.
RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE
Damn What’s Cooking? reserves the right to politely refuse service that does not meet the company’s standards. This decision may be made after a consultation, before contract signing, or during service preparation based on instances such as repeated order modifications, multiple changes in service or location dates, failure to pay, or returned payments.
As a host of your event, it is your duty to make sure to keep an appropriate, safe, sanitary and comfortable environment for our staff, and if not, we have the right to leave without completing services, and there will be no money back.
BOOKING & ORDERING
CATERING & PRIVATE CHEF SERVICES
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. This deposit confirms your reservation and will be applied toward the total cost of services. All deposits must be made through our website at the time of booking. Damn What’s Cooking requires the lowest number of expected guests for catering and private chef services to be submitted to us at the time of deposit. A guaranteed guest count must be confirmed 10 days prior to the event to allow for any billing adjustments and payments to be made.
DWC only guarantees bookings if a deposit has been made and an agreement is signed. If the date requested during consultation is taken before payment is made, we will do our best to accommodate our customers without sacrificing the quality of our services. To avoid this, we strongly encourage you to submit all necessary paperwork and pay the deposit to secure the desired date.
If you book within 15 days of your requested booking date, you will be charged an additional $25 fee. Late arrivals after a 15-minute grace period, will be charged a $25 fee.
MEAL PREP PLAN SERVICES
DWC weekly menus are posted every Monday by 8:00 AM EST for the following week. Meal prep orders must be placed by Tuesday at 11:59 PM for Saturday pickup or delivery. Seasonal menu rotations occur every three months, and special holiday menus are posted 30 days in advance, including but not limited to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Custom orders require a minimum of five days' notice. Additional charges apply for customizations beyond the selected meal plan tier. Dietary restrictions and allergies must be noted at the time of order; failure to do so may result in an order modification fee. Premium ingredient requests are subject to market price adjustments.
SUBSTITUTIONS
DWC relies on the food and grocery industry to provide high-quality meals, but unforeseen circumstances may occasionally arise. In such cases, customers have the right to ingredient substitutions of equal or greater value at no additional cost. Substitutions may occur due to supply chain disruptions, quality control issues, food recalls, or seasonal availability. Customers will be notified via email of any significant changes, and all declared allergens will be accommodated with safe substitutions.
To maintain a smooth ordering process with minimal disruptions, DWC follows a structured substitution policy. Substituted ingredients will be of equal or higher quality, with nutritional value maintained within a 10% variance. Customers will receive email notifications for significant changes and have the option to opt out, canceling their order for a refund. If a substitution lowers the meal’s value, a price adjustment will be provided.
MODIFICATIONS
CATERING & PRIVATE CHEF SERVICES
We understand that plans may change, and we strive to accommodate reasonable adjustments when possible. However, due to the nature of our services, no modifications or changes are permitted within 24 hours of the scheduled service or delivery.
Any menu changes or additions must be submitted and paid for at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled service. A final guest headcount and any dietary restrictions must be confirmed no later than 10 days before the event. Changes after this date may not be accommodated.
MEAL PREP PLAN SERVICES
Order changes must be submitted before the weekly ordering window closes. After this deadline, modifications are not allowed unless absolutely necessary, in which case a $15 change fee will apply. No changes will be accepted within 48 hours of pickup or delivery. Portion size adjustments must be made at the time of ordering and may incur additional charges.
FOOD PREPARATION & SAFETY
FOOD SENSITIVITIES
DWC meals are prepared in a common kitchen where food containing wheat, soy, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish are also prepared. Therefore, there is a risk of gluten and other allergen exposures. DWC is aware of common allergies and sensitivities. Unfortunately, we are unable to ensure that allergen contamination does not occur in our kitchen.
We do not recommend consuming our gluten-free foods by those with Celiac disease. We make every attempt at identifying ingredients that may cause allergic reactions, however, there is always a risk of contamination. Guests concerned with food allergies, please be aware of the risk. DWC is concerned with your health. If you are pregnant, suffer from chronic illness of the liver, stomach or blood, or if you have other immune disorders, you should eat fish and other proteins fully cooked. DWC does not assume any liability for illness caused by consumption of foods the customer is allergic to.
FOOD SAFETY
Your meals will be packaged and supplied with suggested heating and serving instructions for your convenience. DWC reserves the right to throw away food that the chef deems to be unfit for consumption. This may include the previous weeks’ meals the chef prepared. DWC is not to be held liable if you choose to ignore common food safety practices by not storing, defrosting, reheating or using proper sanitation in regards to your meals.
ON-SITE PREPARATION
DWC take great pride in their work and promise to respect you, your home and your equipment. Our private chef and catering services offered are geared towards an intimate, hassle-free experience. Therefore, we will leave your space as clean as we found it, remove our personal equipment, and put away all leftover groceries in designated containers.
Please make sure your kitchen area is clean and ready on your scheduled cook-date and that your meal containers are ready for use. If DWC arrives at an unsuitable work space, we will document the area with a photo(s), and reserve the right to charge a cleaning fee of $25 will be added to the invoice for that service date, or refuse to continue service. If the kitchen does not meet basic health code standards (i.e. no running water, no electricity, etc...) the service will be automatically cancelled and the client may be billed for any inconvenience fees acquired.
PAYMENTS
SERVICE COSTS
Your payment covers base service fees for catering or private chef services and applicable sales tax at the current rate. Gratuity for staff is automatically included for all catering and private chef services at the rate of 20%. Any additional services, menu upgrades, or enhancements requested after the initial booking will be added to the final balance. Additional fees such as delivery, equipment rental, fuel surcharge fees (over 20 miles) will be included if required at the time of proposal submission.
North Carolina sales tax of 4.5% must be applied to all orders and catered functions. If your organization is tax-exempt, please notify us at the time of consultation. A tax ID certificate must be submitted upon signing the service agreement and deposit. Damn What’s Cooking has a surcharge of 20% on food & 15% surcharge on staff on public holidays.
PRICING FLUCTUATIONS
All prices are correct at time of printing and are quoted on current costs. These may vary at any time. Our quotes are valid for 7 days. Due to seasonal or supplier shortages Damn What’s Cooking reserves the right to alter or adapt menus or services.
CATERING & PRIVATE CHEF SERVICES
A final invoice will be sent for the final payment, which can be completed using any accepted payment method. The remaining balance is due no later than 15 days before the scheduled service date. Failure to submit the final balance by the due date will result in automatic service cancellation without refund. DWC will grant no payment extensions under any circumstances.
MEAL PREP PLAN SERVICES
Customers purchasing weekly meals must pay in full at checkout before their order is processed. Promotional discounts and coupon codes must be applied at checkout and cannot be combined with other offers unless stated otherwise. Order confirmation will be sent via email upon receipt, with a follow-up email confirming pickup or delivery time 24 hours in advance. All prices are in U.S. dollars. Any additional fees, such as modifications, rush orders, or change requests, must be paid at least 48 hours before the scheduled pickup or delivery. Unpaid fees may result in order cancellation.
ACCEPTED PAYMENT METHODS
All deposits must be paid directly through our website at the time of booking. The final balance for services can be paid via credit/debit cards, Square, PayPal, and Zelle. A valid card-on-file is required for all services. Clients are responsible for updating their payment information if their card expires or changes. DWC will send a notification before any charges are made to your card.
LATE PAYMENTS AND PENALTIES
To maintain service quality and scheduling efficiency, a $25 late fee will be applied to all catering and private chef service outstanding balances not received by the due date. For any returned or declined payments due to insufficient funds (NSF charge), a $20 fee will be charged and must be paid before any services can be purchased again. Clients are responsible for any collection fees should an account be sent to collections due to non-payment.
DELIVERY & PICKUP
Damn What’s Cooking requires a minimum order value of $50 for catering and meal prep delivery services; otherwise, a pick-up location will be arranged. The delivery service is limited to a 10-mile radius from Charlotte, NC, with an option for extended delivery at a rate of $1 per mile, up to a maximum of 15 additional miles. Delivery fees are distance-based, starting at $5.
For meal prep services, all deliveries and pickups will be handled on Saturdays during the pre-scheduled times sent via email 24 hours before service rendered. A recipient must be present to accept the order during the selected time frame, as the company will not make additional delivery attempts. If an order is undeliverable and there is no communication from the client, the full charge will still apply, with no refund issued. Additionally, all temperature-sensitive items must be refrigerated within 30 minutes of delivery to prevent the risk of foodborne illness.
Pickup orders will only be available during designated time slots and locations. A 15-minute grace period is provided, after which a $10 fee will apply for late pickups. If there is no communication from the client regarding an alternative pickup time within one hour, the order will be considered unclaimed, and no refund will be issued. Repeated failure to pick up orders may result in the termination of ordering privileges.
REFUNDS
Damn What’s Cooking has a strict no refund policy for services and goods provided. In the event of unforeseen circumstances (e.g., natural disasters, emergencies), we will work with you to reschedule or provide a partial refund at our discretion. Approved refunds will be processed within 7-10 business days. It can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process a refund. Please allow up to an additional 5 business days after you've received confirmation from us for your refund to be processed. If you have not received your refund after 10 business days, please contact us.
If there is an error with your order (e.g., missing meals or incorrect items), please notify us within 24 hours of receipt. We will resolve the issue with a replacement or credit. If a meal does not meet your expectations, contact us within 24 hours with details. Credits will be issued on a case-by-case basis at our discretion. All meals that were delivered or services provided as specified but are no longer wanted or needed are not eligible for a refund.
REQUEST REFUND
To request a refund, complete the refund request form and provide your order number, the reason for the request, and any supporting information (e.g., photos of incorrect items). Forms with any missing required information will be voided and refund will not be processed.
CANCELLATIONS
CATERING & PRIVATE CHEF SERVICES
Should it become necessary for the client to cancel service, and the event date is greater than thirty (30) days, DWC shall be entitled to retain any and all expenditures to date, including but not limited to contracted labor, special orders, rentals and/or proposals costs. If the service is terminated within thirty (30) days of the event, DWC shall be entitled to retain the full deposit and seek any additional expenditures to date, including but not limited to contracted labor, special orders, rentals, and/or proposals costs.
All services terminated within fourteen (14) days of the event, DWC shall be entitled to retain any deposit paid and seek any additional losses including but not limited to contracted labor, special orders, rentals and/or proposals costs. If the client or guests fail to show up on the scheduled date and time without prior notice, DWC will seek reimbursement of expenditures for all losses incurred.
MEAL PREP PLAN SERVICES
Any orders canceled 24 hours after the weekly cut-off time will be eligible for a full refund or credit toward a future order. For our cut off times, please review our order policy above. Orders canceled 48 hours+ after the cut-off time cannot be canceled and will not be eligible for a refund due to the preparation and ingredient procurement process.
FORCE MAJEURE
Any event cancelled by DWC, the company will fully refund any deposit within ten (10) days of the date of cancellation. If the event is within thirty (30) days, DWC will reimburse the client the invoiced difference in costs and expenses that have been incurred by the client paid to an alternative provider or providers based upon the total proposal bid. The client shall make reasonable efforts to mitigate damages and obtain substantially similar services. DWC’s responsibility is limited to items covered in the last accepted proposal by client. Any additional items are at the client's expense.
Any cancellation of service must be received in writing via email to damnwhatscooking@gmail.com. All refunds, if granted, will be processed and returned to the original form of payment.
RESCHEDULING
We understand that plans may change, and we strive to accommodate rescheduling requests whenever possible. To reschedule your catering or private chef service, we require advance notice of at least 30 days. Requests made within this timeframe can typically be accommodated without additional fees, while those made closer to the event may be subject to a rescheduling fee. Requests made less than 10 days before the event may result in forfeiture of the full payment.
Rescheduling is subject to availability, and we cannot guarantee the same menu, pricing, or staffing for the new date. If the rescheduled date requires additional costs due to seasonal pricing or availability, we will notify you in advance. In cases of severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances, we will make every effort to reschedule without penalty, depending on availability. Postponements must be within two months of the original booking unless otherwise agreed upon in writing, and is subject to availability. All monies paid to date will be allocated to the new function date. Clients are allowed to reschedule up to one time without additional fees and/or termination of service.
COPYRIGHT POLICY
All content on Damn What’s Cooking, including but not limited to text, recipes, images, graphics, logos, and other materials, is the property of Damn What’s Cooking, or images obtained through licensed platforms for free use, and are protected by copyright laws. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, modification, or use of any content without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Users may share links to our content for personal and non-commercial purposes, provided proper credit is given. If you believe that any content on our Website infringes on your copyright, please contact us with a detailed notice so we can investigate and take appropriate action. We reserve the right to update this Copyright Policy as needed.
TERMS OF USE
By accessing and using Damn What’s Cooking (the "Website"), you agree to comply with these Terms of Use. The content on this Website, including recipes, articles, images, and other materials, is for informational and entertainment purposes only. You may not reproduce, distribute, or modify any content without prior written permission. We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, but we do not guarantee the completeness or reliability of any content. Your use of the Website is at your own risk, and we are not liable for any damages resulting from reliance on our content. We may include links to third-party websites, but we do not endorse or take responsibility for their content. We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Use at any time, and continued use of the Website constitutes acceptance of any changes. If you do not agree with these terms, please discontinue use of the Website.
We reserve the right to update or modify our terms and conditions at any time. Changes will be communicated through our website and will apply to future orders. For questions, contact us at damnwhatscooking@gmail.com.