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The Personal Chef
Personal chefs are joining personal trainers and life coaches in the retinue of people who service busy people’s lives.
Although Private Chefs have been around for a long time, the Personal Chef originated in the US and is enjoying a phenomenal success as more and more people find they no longer have time for food preparation at home.
Clients
The Personal Chef's clients are not only celebrities throwing lavish parties, but professional people with hectic schedules who don’t have the time or interest to plan, shop for and prepare daily meals. Typically such people are tired of relying on restaurants and supermarket ready meals, and want to eat freshly prepared, preservative/additive-free meals at home.
Home Entertaining
Many people choose to entertain at home, it's safer, more comfortable and you can keep an eye on the baby! One client recently pointed out that although she thought it expensive at first, when she calculated the cost compared to eating out, along with the baby-sitter fee and a taxi so they could drink wine, the Personal Chef service was cheaper.
One clear advantage that a good and capable Personal Chef can provide is a complete choice to the clients preference. Food is chosen and cooked the way you want it, you pay market prices for the ingredients and a fee for the chef plus travel if more than ten miles.
A Trusted Friend
A Personal Chef is, like your hairdresser, your fitness trainer or any other personal service provider, a good and trusted friend who strives to provide a service dictated by you. Although some chefs stick to a menu list, the best Personal Chefs will create menus purely for the client, the menu suggestions are just for ideas. After a while the chef learns the likes and dislikes of the client and can be left to plan an absolutely perfect dinner celebration from a quick 'phone call or EMail request. The menu is sent with the quote, the date fixed, deposit paid and your celebration meal is a piece of cake. No fuss no mess no work for you. Enjoy your evening with your guests without a worry in the world. At the end of the evening your kitchen is cleared and cleaned, any food left is packed and stored in the fridge for the next day if you wish. You pay the chef the balance and relax for the rest of the evening.
Will Cook Anywhere
" But I only have a tiny kitchen" you may ask, No problem all things are taken into account when the menu is designed. If necessary much of the pre-preparation can be done in advance at the chef's own place of work. Vegetable peeling, de-boning etc. All the messy stuff is taken care of. The dishes will be designed to suit the occasion and the venue. A very experienced chef will have cooked in many different environments and is capable of literally cooking on a bonfire if he/she has too. (Refer to Keith Floyd cooking programmes!)
Chefs
The personal-chef phenomenon started out in the US and over the past two years demand has rocketed. American new-business analysts have earmarked personal cheffing as one of the top 20 new growth businesses. Overheads are low — there’s none of the risk of setting up a restaurant. Personal chefs don’t necessarily need to have their own ultra-sophisticated professional kitchen, merely a portable batterie de cuisine.
Every day brings a new enquiry from someone who wishes to start up in business as a Personal Chef. This site is designed to give information and support to such people. Currently I have 3 chefs on my books who I feel confident enough to pass on work if I am already booked up or if the job is too far away for me. I have been a Personal Chef for a number of years now and have run my business purely via my web site since 1999. It is the most successful form of advertising with almost 90% of enquires resulting in work. I feel now that this business is ripe for take-off in Great Britain. I am now hosting web pages for Personal Chefs, designed and managed by myself and updated regularly as the Chef requires for a very reasonable fee. Not only does this give the new Chef the exposure on the net that I have been able to generate over the past few years it also gives support from someone with hands on experience of this work. PersonalChef.UK works closely with several other sites to provide multi-linked pages that ensure a prominent web presence. Being associated with PersonalChef.UK your page will carry the company name and your own name or chosen title.
When a potential customer searches for personal chef in UK you can be sure your page will be associated with a link in the first few selections the search engine picks. I design the page to contain items suited to your specialised skills and the areas you wish to work. For information on this service please EMail your request to PersonalChef.UK
Become a Chef
" Do I need to be a qualified Chef?"
It helps! but cooking experience is the essential ingredient here, along with confidence and an amiable non-flappable personality. If you have ever worked as a cook/housekeeper or cook/butler you have all the right beginnings.
If you cook for people other than family, on a regular basis you are probably well on the way to becoming a Personal Chef. I don't mean flipping burgers and frying chips, this is by no means 'fast food' although it helps if you are quick! Each Chef develops their own clientele individually. You learn to specialise according to your ability and the clients enjoyment. The most rewarding experience is to be asked back for more of the same. Of course you will need a Food Hygiene Certificate from your local Authority as will anyone who works with you, including family members. Cooking in other peoples homes does not require a licence or other red tape, however, for the benefit of you and your clients it is advisable to take as many courses as you can on the specialties you intend to pursue. Many famous restaurants and hotels offer short courses which, although expensive, are also very enjoyable. Keep up to date with food ideas and trends until you are confident enough to develop your own style and recipes
If you intend to go into this seriously it is advisable to obtain insurance (I personally carry insurance for up to £5m.) If you think that is excessive don't, your next job could be in a palace! PersonalChef.UK can provide insurance advice and recommendations. You will also require a vehicle with some form of refrigeration or cold storage for transporting ingredients. If you are cooking in your own kitchen remember that it has to be licensed and regularly inspected by the local authority. All these points and more are covered in the soon to be released DVD and Video 'How to Become a Successful Personal Chef'
Many experiences, recipes, ideas, costing etc are available if you become a PersonalChef.UK Associate for information about this send an EMail request to PersonalChef.UK

Themed Dinners
Themed Dinners are fast becoming the new 'going out' Just imagine dressing up as Marie Antoinette for a 'French Revolution' Themed dinner, or perhaps you would like to be Captain Edward J Smith having his 'Last Dinner on the Titanic' sitting beside 'Nellie' Widener in all her finery straight from Paris. The Personal Chef able to create these dinners with the flair and style that they naturally require, is not far short of a film director as well as a great chef. If you are a truly creative person who loves to see people enjoying themselves and can function under extreme stress without flapping. If you are willing and able to research and provide clients with character, costume and setting information. You will undoubtedly have found your forte here. The most requested keyword for my web site is 'Babette's Feast' and that is what started me on the Themed Dinner adventure. It is a never ending one and immensely satisfying not just for the chef but for the host or hostess if it all goes well. With help and advice from PersonalChef.UK it will always be a roaring success.
Fay Olinsky
Personal Chef.UK Ltd.

Recipes
Fays-Home-Cooking .comRecipes are available on the DVD Video release of 'How to Become a Successful Personal Chef' along with a recipe book with information link and service when you become an Associate of PersonalChef.UK
For information Email PersonalChef.UK