Story Tools
When I lived in Southern California as an analyst, I worked long days that started before the opening bell of the New York stock exchange (which translates into 6 a.m.). At the end of the day, as I stepped into my apartment door, the last thing I wanted to do was think about what I wanted to eat—or even worse, start cooking. So after going through a list of the main food groups in my head, it usually concluded with throwing a batch of pasta in boiling water and pouring on some tomato sauce from a jar. On better days maybe I would dig into the depths of my refrigerator to find leftover mushrooms and basil that weren’t scarred from old age. It’s a miracle that I was able to survive with this meal plan for quite some time.
So what are the supper solutions nowadays for someone with a full schedule who doesn’t want to compromise their health, time, and energy? It may include food-service bars in organic grocery stores or delis, fast food take-outs, or dining out at a local restaurant. Without a doubt there are many small delis and food bars at grocery stores that sell a variety of delicious salads and healthy entrees, though you may find yourself limited to their weekly menus and variety of choices. The option of eating out will definitely put a dent in your wallet, not to mention that restaurant meals can be heavily doused with salt to add big flavor. Also, local take-out choices like pizza and Chinese food may not be healthy alternatives. So what if you had a choice on exactly what you wanted to eat during the week with absolutely no restrictions on a set menu or maybe help you maintain your diet plan?
Another alternative for busy individuals is the Personal Chef. The Personal Chef does everything from preparing a customized menu, grocery shopping, cooking, and kitchen clean-up at the client’s home. The only work from the client’s perspective is to pull whatever they feel like eating from the refrigerator, heat up the entrees according to labeled instructions, and dinner is served! Another plus is that the client can determine how much time they would like to spend in the kitchen everyday, if any. If they are comfortable only making side dishes then the personal chef can just prepare the entrees. There is also flexibility with using organic ingredients, special diets, and ethnic entrée selections. A service like this can help people stay on track with special diets whether it’s a personal or medical-related issue. The menu plan is completely driven by the client with recommendations by the personal chef.
Is the chef my employee?
There’s always the confusion between a private versus personal chef. A private chef works exclusively for one client and prepares all or most of their meals. Sometimes they can live under their client’s roof and be available at a moment’s notice. A personal chef is a different breed where service is for multiple clients and food is prepared in the client’s home. Meals are refrigerated or frozen with clearly labeled heating instructions on the package.
Do I need an entourage?
Most people assume that with a customized service like this you would pay a very high premium. Truth is, you’re not paying celebrity prices and it isn’t as expensive as you might think. To have a personal chef prepare dinner entrees with appropriate side dishes for 2 weeks can start at $15 per meal. The price will fluctuate depending on your selections, and freezing options will go a long way. Compare this with Chinese take-out where one order of egg rolls, Chow Mein, and Kung Pao Chicken can run just as much. Which one is the healthier alternative? Chefs can price their services either as all-inclusive or broken down by chef fee plus groceries, depending on how they choose to run their business. All these details are outlined at the initial consultation. Selecting a dinner service to include refrigerated meals to be eaten the week of service plus additional meals in the freezer for later consumption is the most cost effective option for this type of service as opposed to getting freshly prepared meals every day.
It’s true that a personal chef isn’t for everyone, similarly with housekeeping or any other regular home service. But it can have value for those busy individuals and families where other priorities take the front seat and there is no compromise on health and good eating. It all depends on how one values the balance of work, chores, and leisure.
How does this all work?
Like any service-oriented profession in a home, there needs to be a level of trust with someone that cooks for you or your family. Personal chefs are interviewed and references should be available to the clients, whether it is from previous clients, culinary teachers, or any industry-related contacts. The conversation includes general eating habits, food allergies, specific food preferences, and your requirements on how frequent you will need the service. Realistically, individuals like to go out perhaps once a week to try a new or favorite restaurant, or just cook on their own every once in a while. So a service to refrigerate only 3 to 4 entrees and freeze more for the following week may work for a client with this lifestyle.
At the end of the complimentary interview, the client and chef set up a mutually agreed cook date and the chef walks away with the list of client preferences to work with. Within a few days the client will receive a customized menu plan for approval. The menu is completed at least a week prior to the cook date. Cancellation policies vary with how each chef runs their business.
On the morning of the scheduled cook date, the personal chef will shop for all the groceries. All perishables are safely stored and transported in coolers. When the chef arrives at the client’s home, he or she will need access to the kitchen to set up equipment and cook for 4 to 6 hours, depending on the number of entrees. Most chefs bring their own equipment, but if you want a grilled steak, for instance, you may need to lend your barbecue grill. All equipment use is discussed and agreed upon at the initial interview. Also, if a client is interested, the chef may recommend and know where to get the basic gadgets for your kitchen.
At the end of the day, you’ll walk into your home with wonderful aromas and a refrigerator filled with food ready to be eaten. Just read the heating instructions on the package label and dinner is served. Having a meal at home like this will give you a feeling of eating restaurant food in your pajamas.
If the shoe fits . . .
Choosing a personal chef is like trying on a new pair of shoes. You want to make sure that the person fits your lifestyle and somewhat similar values. If you only eat kosher, you’d want to find a chef that is very knowledgeable in that department. If you’re a heavy meat eater and the chef specializes in vegetarian dishes, your meat may not turn out the way you like it. Some chefs also offer catering for special events at home and cooking instruction. It’s nice to have one reliable source to go to for all your food-related needs. Shop around and speak to a few chefs to make sure they share your point of view.
Some chefs are members of a national organization. These chefs are trained by the organization’s certification program that includes topics from starting up a small business to food safety and handling. It’s also a valuable networking source for them to exchange business ideas, attend annual conferences for continuing education, and develop relationships with others in the field. Checking for references and asking questions about a chef’s experience and background is important in your search since this is a business that spreads by word of mouth.
So after years of juggling a busy corporate schedule and evening dinner dilemmas, I eventually developed the passion to cook. I left my comfort zone and secure finance job in L.A. and moved to New York to attend the Institute of Culinary Education. After a few years of trying to figure out how to marry my enthusiasm for cooking and desire to work with my community, I stumbled onto an ad for the USPCA (U.S. Personal Chef Association), which taught me two valuable things: How I can provide excellent personal chef service and how to start and run a business. I opened Your Kitchen Companion Personal Chef Service (kitchencompanion.org) and am working for people with varying backgrounds, including new mothers, retirees, working professionals, and families.
It’s refreshing to know that this type of service doesn’t just reach out to the wealthy. It’s also good to see that despite a busy lifestyle, there are still people out there that remember to sit down and enjoy a great meal every day, whether it’s prepared on their own or with a little help from a personal chef.
Luella Semmes lives with her husband, David, and son Hartley in Centerport.
PATRICIA TUCKER, Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 01:03 PMI REALLY APPRECIATED THIS WONDERFUL STORY! THE LOVELY YOUNG LADY YOU FEATURED TRULY ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF SO MANY BUSY FAMILIES TODAY! i PERSONALLY WOULD USE HER IN A HEARTBEAT FOR A LITTLE BARBECUE GET TOGETHER TO A FAMILY BIRTHDAY PARTY, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. BY THE TIME I COULD SHOP, COOK, PREPARE, ETC. I WOULD HAVE NO TIME TO BE WITH THE GUESTS THAT I WANTED TO HONOR AND SPEAK TO.
THANK YOU FOR THIS PUBLICATION. I REALLY LOVED IT!
Carol Durst, Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 11:17 AMLuella is spectacular! Trustworthy, responsive and sweet as well as talented and very capable. Hire her! Give her a try and you'll see her "shoe" fits very well and allows YOU to enjoy your event!
organicgal, Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 05:41 PMGreat article! Great publication.
File under...everything you always wanted to know about a personal chef!
This may be the new way to go as the bridge between having to cook for oneself and family and eating out. It's all about time and money and the balance between.
Thanks!
