| Sure, movie stars can afford to pay people to whip up meals for them—but so can you. The biggest myth about personal chef services is that average people can't afford them, says John Moore, executive director of the United States Personal Chef Association (USPCA). But in fact, busy professionals are the industry's largest market.
Hiring a chef to plan, shop for and prepare 20 meals in your kitchen to freeze and eat later costs from $300 to $400 on the low end for rural dwelling people but is more costly for those in big cities, says Moore. But it may not be unreasonable, considering the time and money typically spent on planning and cooking meals for the average person. And having a personal chef is not usually a weekly expense. Most people don’t eat the prepared meals every night—only on their busy nights—so 20 meals typically last two or three weeks, says Moore.
It's fairly easy to find a personal chef service, says Moore, who estimates that there are about 5,000 personal chefs working today. Most local phone books have a personal chef service category, and a number of websites list personal chefs in virtually every zip code. The USPCA maintains a referral site at www.hireachef.com, as does the American Personal Chef Association at www.personalchefsearch.com.
Using a website referral or the yellow pages is a good way to find a personal chef, but choosing one to actually work in your home requires much more diligence, says Moore. Follow these four suggestions to ensure your chef is top-notch.
- Check each candidate’s references and inquire about their training and work experience.
- Ask the candidate for a sample menu, and initiate a discussion about their personal cooking philosophy.
- Make sure they have insurance and, if applicable in your area, a license to operate.
- Interview the candidate in person in your home, where they can do an assessment of your kitchen and your appliances.
About one third of USPCA members have obtained a Certified Personal Chef certification, which means they have completed at least two years of work and directed study. The American Personal Chef Association offers a Personal Chef Certification with comparable requirements. Hiring a certified chef is tough, because most already have long client lists, says Moore. But if you can find one, and if he or she fits with your personal philosophies, the certified chef should get the nod. |
