Personal Chefs - Frequently Asked Questions

Not to be confused with private chefs (who are employed by a single client and often live on the premises), personal chefs provide service to a number of clients. In most cases, the personal chef will arrive at your home and spend several hours in your kitchen, preparing a number of meals in advance. These meals are packaged and refrigerated or frozen so that you can enjoy them later. Personal chefs can also be employed for dinner parties or other special occasions.

Whether you're considering hiring a personal chef or simply curious about the types of services personal chefs can provide, this article should provide you with the information you need to know.

What do personal chefs do?

Personal chefs take over your kitchen to free you from the tasks of meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning up. Personal chefs can handle regular day-to-day meals, formal dinner parties, and just about everything in between. Personal chefs can also host cooking classes in your kitchen, for an additional fee.

What kind of food can personal chefs make?

While most personal chefs do have their own particular specialty, they should be well-versed and versatile enough to customize the menu to your individual tastes. Whether you're expecting gourmet meals, a vegetarian menu, or a low-fat diet, your personal chef should be able to meet your culinary needs.

Can personal chefs cook for people on a particular diet?

Most personal chefs are willing to work with their client's doctor, nutritionist, dietician, or personal trainer to make sure the meals they prepare are suited to their clients' needs. If the meal planning becomes too complex, many personal chefs will assess an additional fee.

Where do personal chefs do their cooking?

Most personal chefs will use your kitchen for food preparation, but they will provide their own equipment and utensils. All they need from you is a refrigerator, freezer, oven, and microwave.

How much time will the personal chef spend in my kitchen?

To prepare a week's worth of meals, most personal chefs will require 5 - 7 hours, depending on the menu.