Who this is for
Chefs and kitchen leads building the prep list for the next service who need pars, on-hand counts, and shortages captured as they walk the line.
The moment this saves you
We're low on demi, the short rib is down to four portions, the fish order didn't come, and if a single item falls off the prep list in my head we're 86ing a dish at seven o'clock tonight.
See it work
Messy spoken thought in. A clean, structured artifact out.
Prep for tomorrow, we're low on demi need a full batch, two cases of onions to dice, the short rib's down to four portions need to braise more, par on the puree is two quarts we've got half, fish order didn't come fix that, butcher twenty chickens.
Prep list (next service)
| Item | Par | On hand | To make / do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demi-glace | full batch | low | make a full batch |
| Onions (diced) | - | - | dice 2 cases |
| Short rib | - | 4 portions | braise more |
| Celeriac puree | 2 qt | 0.5 qt | make ~1.5 qt |
| Chicken | - | - | butcher 20 |
Shortages / gaps
- Fish order did not arrive: follow up with the supplier
Priority: demi and short rib first (low + needed for service).
The workflow
Record a voice note
Hit the hotkey and talk, no formatting, no typing.
Tag it with this context
Contextli shapes your words into the structured output above.
Find it later
Everything's searchable and organised by context.
Pull it into Claude or ChatGPT
Bring your contexts straight into your AI tools with the Contextli MCP.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
The prompt behind this context
I'm going to walk the kitchen and call out prep for the next service. Turn it into a prep list. Output a markdown table with columns Item, Par, On hand, and To make or do, one row per item, using only the values I give and a dash where I do not. After the table, add a Shortages or gaps section for anything missing like a late order, and a Priority line if I flag what comes first. Keep every par and count exactly, use only items I actually mention, never invent an item, a par, or a quantity I did not state. Output only the prep list, no preamble.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Use this context
One click copies it and shows you exactly how to drop it into Contextli.
Next, open Contextli, go to the Contexts page, click Import, choose From JSON, paste, then Import Context. It is ready to use.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
Related contexts
Dish R&D Note
The exact ratio and the one fix are the whole point of R&D, and they're gone by the next service. Speak the build with the times and temps, what worked, and the tweak for next time, and get a dish note with the plate cost.
Line Service Debrief
The service post-mortem is how the kitchen improves, and the 86s and bottlenecks are sharpest right after the rush. Speak what ran out, what dragged, and what sold, and get a debrief with the par adjustments and fixes for tomorrow.
Stock Count Log
Counting inventory with a clipboard is slow and error-prone, and you lose your place every time you write. Just walk the shelves and say the counts. You get a clean stock list and reorder flags, so the count takes half the time and the low-stock items don't get missed.
Questions people ask
Questions chefs ask about Prep Par List
What is the best way for a chef to capture field notes on-site without a clipboard?
Speak your observations into Contextli immediately after the walkthrough or site visit, while the details are sharp. The Prep Par List context structures your spoken description of the site into a field note with the key fields. You have a structured record before you get back to your vehicle.
How do I take field notes hands-free while walking a site?
Add the Prep Par List context to Contextli, then speak your observations as you walk. Because you are speaking rather than typing, your hands are free and you can look at what you are describing. The context formats your words into a field note when you finish.
What should a field note include to be useful later?
It should include the date, the site address or identifier, the specific observations made with location references, any issues found and their severity, and the recommended next steps. The Prep Par List context captures all of these from your spoken walkthrough.
How do I share field notes with a client or team quickly after a site visit?
After dictating your observations using the Prep Par List context, copy the structured field note and paste it into an email, a client portal, or a project tool. The output is plain text that reads cleanly without any special formatting.
How do I add this context to Contextli?
Copy the context on this page, then open Contextli and go to the Contexts page. Click Import, choose From JSON, paste it into the Import from Clipboard window, and click Import Context. It is ready to use in under 30 seconds. If you do not have Contextli yet, you can download it for free first.
Is my voice recording private? Does Contextli send it anywhere?
Your voice recording and the transcription are stored on your device only. Contextli processes your audio locally and does not send your recordings or transcription text to any server. The structured output it produces is text you control, and you decide where it goes.
Can I change what the output looks like?
Yes. Every context in Contextli is a starting point you can edit. Open the context in the app, change the instructions to adjust the structure, tone, or fields, and save. The next time you use it, the output reflects your changes. You are not locked into the default format.
Do I need to install an app to use this context?
Yes. Contextli is a free app. Download it, then copy this context and paste it into the Import from Clipboard window on the Contexts page. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.