Hiring a personal chef is no longer solely the domain of the rich and famous; many working-class families also rely on personal chefs. Personal chefs prepare menus and meals for families or individuals and have many responsibilities. In order to become a personal chef, certain skills, training and education are desirable.
Culinary Training
All chefs benefit from appropriate vocational training, including personal chefs. This training can come in the form of actual hands-on experience in a commercial kitchen, although many aspiring chefs choose to earn degrees in the field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that this educational training comes in either community college, technical schools, culinary school or a hospitality degree in a 2-year or 4-year college or university. Hotels and restaurants may also train people in-house to become chefs. During this training, aspiring chefs learn food preparation and safety skills, as well as business management and accountancy skills. Classes also include topics such as menu planning, food storage, portion control and accounting. Through these degree programs, future chefs often work in an internship or apprenticeship, adding to their culinary experience.
Certification
Once a chef graduates from their culinary program of choice, they should become certified in order to work as a private chef. The American Personal and Private Chef Association and the American Culinary Federation provide certification training for personal chefs. This certification shows that the chef knows and follows food safety rules and has above average skills. Certification can lead to higher pay for personal chefs. Certification programs from the American Culinary Federation take about 30 hours. The American Personal and Private Chef Association offers several different certification options, including home-study and a live two-day seminar training program.
Organizational Skills
As a personal chef, organizational skills are a must. Personal chefs are responsible for planning client menus, keeping up with food allergies and taste preferences, delivering food in a timely fashion and handling the business end of the operation. In many cases, a personal chef will have more than one client to care for, in which case the meal plans for each client have to be maintained and monitored. Another reason organization skills are required for a personal chef is that often, personal chefs are self-employed. This means they must handle their own administration, financial, accounting and taxation details, in addition to doing the cooking work. Financial mistakes can break a business.
Interpersonal Skills
Private chefs cater to specific needs of a family or individual. Because they work on such a personal level, these chefs need to have strong interpersonal skills. They must be willing and able to work with people from all walks of life and all personality types, since not every client will be the most agreeable. Because of this, a high level of patience is needed. A personal chef must know deal with client demands in such a way that isn't damaging to his or her reputation.
Versatility
The life of a private chef can, at times, become hectic. Private chefs must be able to handle any last-minute demands of a client. This can include rescheduling, adding on meals, throwing together a last-minute dinner party or cooking for more people than originally anticipated. Private chefs need quick thinking and a cool head in order to handle any changes that might come their way and remain flexible to any potential changes in a client's schedule.
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