If you are at all familiar with Food Network you have most likely seen Chopped or other cooling competitions. Oftentimes you will hear that one of the contestants is a personal chef. Well, if you have culinary chops, love to be in the kitchen and have a passion for food then this could be a career for you!

What do Personal Chefs Do?

According to Indeed.com a, “Personal chefs prepare meals for clients, which can be an individual, a family or a group of people, such as a professional sports team. They assemble menus, shop for ingredients and prepare meals based on dietary preferences and requirements. Personal chefs may produce fresh meals daily or create week-long portions for their clients. Most personal chefs need a high school diploma and extensive experience, though most pursue a degree from a culinary school.”

What Makes A Great Personal Chef?

To be a great personal chef you need several skills and they are not confined to the kitchen.

  • Culinary Skills-  You need to know your way around a kitchen.  An understanding of cooking methods, food safety, and nutrition are key.
  • People Skills- In order to interact with the public people skills are a must.  The ability to talk to and relate to others is especially important when working in someone else’s home.
  • Business Sense- If you are a self-employed personal chef you need to have some level of business skill.  You will be in charge of setting appointments, billing, marketing your services, taxes, etc.  Having a basic knowledge is very important.
  • Soft skills-  To be successful you will need many soft skills such as time management, organization, communication skills, and creativity.

What Kind of Education Do I Need ?

Personal chefs can run their own business or be an employee of a professional company. So this career works well for entrepreneurs or for those that want the stability of working for some else. To get started as a personal chef you need a minimum of a high school diploma but a degree in culinary arts is preferred. Many people that work in this industry first gain experience in professional kitchens, restaurants or other areas of the food service industry before taking on the role of a personal chef.

Interested yet?

If you think a career in the fast paced work of cooking could be part of your future take a look at the culinary arts programs available right here in North Carolina.

Wake Tech
Johnson and Wales University
Carteret County Community College

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