Personal chef
Encyclopedia
A personal chef is a chef
who prepares meal
s for a client in the client's home kitchen
, based on the client's needs and personal preferences. In most cases these meals are left packaged in containers and refrigerated or frozen for the client to enjoy later. Some personal chefs, however, instead focus on cooking for dinner parties and other special occasions in the client's home, which means they are responsible for shopping
, preparing the meal, serving the guests and cleaning up afterward. The menu is preplanned and discussed with the client, then prepared in their home. According to health-department guidelines, all food must either be prepared in the home of the client or in a kitchen that has passed an official health inspection.
Note that a personal chef is distinct from a private chef, which refers to a chef who is employed exclusively by one client, and in some cases lives in the client's home.
When hiring a personal chef to provide either a packaged meal service or to cook for a dinner party, a menu
and a budget
are submitted for the client's approval. Typically, the chef is given approval, a deposit, or (if familiar with the guest/frequent client) an expense account for the menu. The client pays for this in addition to the cost of the chef's services and gratuity.
Some personal chefs also provide meal planning and budget planning for homeowners and second homeowners who are busy with their own lives, but insist on nutritious and tasty
meals for their families. Many personal chefs also offer personalized cooking instruction in the privacy of the client's home, either one-on-one or in groups.
In terms of experience, personal chefs tend to be chefs who have worked in restaurant
s, hotel
s, catering
or all three. It is not uncommon for some personal chefs—particularly those who cook for dinner parties and special occasions—to be employed in a restaurant or catering job full time and work as a personal chef in their spare time for extra income. Potential clients can either research personal chefs in their area via online membership registries such as Hire A Chef, or they may choose the services of a personal chef staffing agency such as Big City Chefs to match them with a pre-screened professional chef.
Various training programs are also offered by the American Personal & Private Chef Association and the United States Personal Chef Association.
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
who prepares meal
Meal
A meal is an instance of eating, specifically one that takes place at a specific time and includes specific, prepared food.Meals occur primarily at homes, restaurants, and cafeterias, but may occur anywhere. Regular meals occur on a daily basis, typically several times a day...
s for a client in the client's home kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
, based on the client's needs and personal preferences. In most cases these meals are left packaged in containers and refrigerated or frozen for the client to enjoy later. Some personal chefs, however, instead focus on cooking for dinner parties and other special occasions in the client's home, which means they are responsible for shopping
Shopping
Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....
, preparing the meal, serving the guests and cleaning up afterward. The menu is preplanned and discussed with the client, then prepared in their home. According to health-department guidelines, all food must either be prepared in the home of the client or in a kitchen that has passed an official health inspection.
Note that a personal chef is distinct from a private chef, which refers to a chef who is employed exclusively by one client, and in some cases lives in the client's home.
When hiring a personal chef to provide either a packaged meal service or to cook for a dinner party, a menu
Menu
In a restaurant, a menu is a presentation of food and beverage offerings. A menu may be a la carte – which guests use to choose from a list of options – or table d'hôte, in which case a pre-established sequence of courses is served....
and a budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
are submitted for the client's approval. Typically, the chef is given approval, a deposit, or (if familiar with the guest/frequent client) an expense account for the menu. The client pays for this in addition to the cost of the chef's services and gratuity.
Some personal chefs also provide meal planning and budget planning for homeowners and second homeowners who are busy with their own lives, but insist on nutritious and tasty
Tasty
Tasty is the third studio album by American recording artist Kelis, released on December 9, 2003 by Star Trak Entertainment and Arista Records. Considered the breakthrough of Kelis' career, she was able to expand her success across Europe while aching new markets in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia...
meals for their families. Many personal chefs also offer personalized cooking instruction in the privacy of the client's home, either one-on-one or in groups.
In terms of experience, personal chefs tend to be chefs who have worked in restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s, hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s, catering
Catering
Catering is the business of providing foodservice at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, public house , or other location.-Mobile catering:A mobile caterer serves food directly from a vehicle or cart that is designed for the purpose...
or all three. It is not uncommon for some personal chefs—particularly those who cook for dinner parties and special occasions—to be employed in a restaurant or catering job full time and work as a personal chef in their spare time for extra income. Potential clients can either research personal chefs in their area via online membership registries such as Hire A Chef, or they may choose the services of a personal chef staffing agency such as Big City Chefs to match them with a pre-screened professional chef.
Various training programs are also offered by the American Personal & Private Chef Association and the United States Personal Chef Association.