Guest Author - Yvonne Russell

Having a stranger in your house takes some getting used to. I still clean up the night before the cleaner comes. Crazy, I know… but I’m sure I'm not the only one.

In a time starved world and busy schedules, there is a growth in home oriented services. We are embracing the concept of having someone with expertise and time to help us out. These services are not only becoming more readily available, but are in fact, growing exponentially.

Personal Shopper, Personal Trainer, Personal Life Coach, Personal Concierge and Personal Image Consultant are just a few available services. A service that is becoming increasingly popular is that of the Personal Chef.

A Personal Chef offers a range of services which may include
- Menu planning
- Diet and nutrition information
- Grocery shopping
- In home Preparation & Cooking
- Serving Guests
- Storage e.g. Freezing
- Cleaning Up

The Personal Chef brings all their own professional utensils and cooking equipment. You don’t have to worry about the cleaning up. That is all done for you as well. They also carry their own liability insurance. The cost depends on the scale of the occasion, the services and ingredients required.

Your exact menu and meal needs can be discussed and negotiated, to suit each situation or occasion. A Personal Chef can cook for one person or a group. You can use their services for one occasion or on a regular basis. It’s this flexibility which is part of the attraction.

Some Personal Chefs will even organise a Cooking Party. This is a hands on event. You and your guests can cook up a storm, with the expert tuition and guidance of your Personal Chef. Then, of course, you all sit down to enjoy the results of your culinary creativity. This is a great idea for a special get together.

As well as cooking for a specific occasion, you can also arrange for additional quantities to be frozen. This seems perfect for the business traveler who wants to take care of meals for the family while she is away. Your spouse or kids can just pop the meal into the microwave or oven. You can have peace of mind knowing they are eating… and that they are eating well.

The single business traveler – male or female would also appreciate having an extra stash of food in the freezer, on their return. Do you want to treat someone else? How about a special treat for a new mother? This would be a great gift for someone recuperating from an operation. Perhaps an elderly person not keen on cooking, would appreciate this gesture. Anniversaries and special occasions are other opportunites to surprise someone. Of course, you can always treat yourself too… no justification needed.

The American Personal Chef Assocation says “With more than 5,000 active Personal Chefs providing these invaluable services, industry experts predict the number of Personal Chefs to be in excess of 10,000 by the end of this decade”. Entrepreneur Magazine says that the personal chef business is among the fastest growing businesses in the U.S. There is also a growth in the number and popularity of Personal Chefs in Australia and the U.K.

To find a Personal Chef in your area, check with the American Personal Chef Association.
To find out more about Personal Chefs, check out our BellaOnline Personal Chef Site.