Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains what information The Ethiopian Chef ("we," "us") collects through theethiopianchef.com and our services, how we use it, and the choices you have.

1. Information we collect

• Contact details: your name, email address, and phone number.
• Home and visit details: your home address, entry and access instructions, who will be home during visits, and information about pets.
• Food and health-related information: allergies, intolerances, dietary restrictions, spice preferences, foods you dislike, and religious fasting practices.
• Service details: your plan, pan size, schedule, bookings, and messages you send us.
• Payment information: payments are processed by Wix and its payment processors. We do not store full card numbers.
• Website data: basic technical and usage information collected through cookies and similar technologies (see section 5).

2. How we use your information

• To plan menus and grocery lists, cook for your household, and schedule and carry out visits.
• To cook safely: allergy and dietary information is used only to prepare your food and avoid ingredients you have told us about.
• To communicate with you about consultations, visits, quotes, invoices, and changes to our services.
• To run, secure, and improve our website.
• To send occasional updates if you ask to receive them. You can opt out at any time.

3. Sensitive information

We treat allergy, dietary, health, and religious-practice information as sensitive. We collect it only with your consent, use it only to cook safely for you, limit access to the people who prepare your meals, and never sell it or use it for advertising.

4. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with:

• Service providers that help us run the business, such as Wix (website hosting, forms, booking, and contacts) and payment processors, under their own privacy and security terms.
• Authorities when required by law, or to protect the safety of our clients, our staff, or the public.

5. Cookies and analytics

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies provided by Wix to keep the site working, remember your preferences, and understand how visitors use the site. You can control cookies through your browser settings.

6. How long we keep information

We keep your information while you are a client and for a reasonable period afterward for records, tax, and legal purposes. We delete or anonymize information we no longer need.

7. Your choices and rights

You can ask us to access, correct, or delete your personal information, or to stop sending you marketing messages, by emailing hello@theethiopianchef.com. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under state privacy laws (including those of Maryland and Virginia); we will respond to requests as those laws require.

8. Children

Our services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13, other than dietary information about household members that a parent or guardian provides so we can cook safely.

9. Security

We use reasonable safeguards to protect your information, including the security features of the platforms we use. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top shows when it last changed.

11. Contact

Privacy questions or requests: hello@theethiopianchef.com.