Personal and private chefs are among the highest paid in the food industry. Their clients are generally wealthy and very often famous. There is a definite difference between the two titles, which we’ll explore a bit more. Read on to find out how to break into personal and private chef careers.
Private Chef Vs Personal Chef: What’s The Difference?
Private chefs will have one long-term client whom they prepare meals for. You may be required to live in your client’s home and supervise kitchen staff or work on your own making meals daily. Private chefs are responsible for menu creation, preparation, and clean up. You will also be in charge of the food shopping and keeping track of what is needed within the household.
Personal chefs have a few different clients. You prepare meals in advance that your client can just serve and eat. You may have some of the same responsibilities as a private chef, such as menu creation, prep, and clean up. However, most personal chefs do not live in their clients' homes.
Becoming A Personal Or Private Chef
Most clients prefer their personal or private chef to have formal culinary training and have a culinary arts degree. It is also beneficial to have restaurant kitchen experience. Careers as personal or private chefs are considered upper-level positions, so you need the credentials to go along with that.
A degree with hands-on training, which most culinary schools offer, is the best route to take. Because many who hire personal and private chefs have dietary restrictions or a well-rounded palate, obtaining a culinary arts degree will best prepare you for this role.
Most states require a personal and private chef to have a food and safety certificate and a business license.
- The American Culinary Federation offers personal chef certifications: You’ll need to complete the educational requirement, 150 hours of post-secondary ed, and nutrition courses.
- SafServ is located in most major cities and offers a certificate in food safety, which is highly regarded and recommended.
- There is also a private chef certification offered by The United States Personal Chef Association. The requirements for obtaining this trademarked certification are two years' experience as a personal chef with all the job duties that go along with it such as menu planning, financial decision making, and marketing. This certification also gives the chef liability insurance.
