I'm trying to get started, and I've been making a list of things I need to buy. Of course, I don't want to overspend, so what kinds of things should I get, and what should I leave off the list? Things like knives and pans are obvious, but what about stuff like a mandoline, potato masher, Silpat, salad spinner, etc?
Hello and welcome, in my opinion, it is more about what you need rather than what you don't need.
Before I would spend any money on additional items you may need for your cookdate, I would invest the money with joining APPCA. You will find that all the information you need to start your official business is in the training materials that the APPCA will provide for you.
I know first hand how exciting it is to start your own business, but I also, know first hand that we took our time, checked out every organization out there for personal chef's for about 2yrs.
If you are serious about making a lifestyle change and have any questions, please call Chef Candy Wallace, the fabulous founder of this organization and she will be happy to answer any and all questions that you may have.
Yes, definitely use your own equipment when first starting out. You will soon find out what you need based on what type of jobs you land as well as what menu's you create. Don't buy stuff you think you may need. Buy stuff you need for your next job that would hopefully be useful for other jobs. Hope this helps.
I have a "standard" kit and then I have a "secondary" kit. The standard kit gets hauled into every cookdate; it has been refined over six years. Mine will differ from yours as your style and the dishes you prefer to do will differ. My "secondary" kit gets hidden in a nice compartment in my 2007 Toyota Rav 4 that could easily fit an illegal alien. (KIDDING!!!) One of the reasons we bought the vehicle.
I don't pack separately for every cookdate--don't have that kinda time.
I don't carry a mandoline as I like to keep my fingers in tact, hate blood and I find a nice sharp Mac Santoku can do the same job. Potato masher - secondary kit. Salad spinner - Buy for the client as a "new client gift." Silpat - secondary kit.
Until you really start rolling, it's impossible to really tell you what you're going to need. Just one of those things you have to figure out as you go along.
Hey guys, thanks for the advice. I guess I should have mentioned that I really don't have any equipment at all right now because I still live with my mother. When I move out, I am planning to get one set of stuff that would be used both at home and on the road, at least initially, so I wanted to make a list with the business in mind. My main reason for asking this is because I'm a gadget geek and a bit of an impulse buyer, and I just wanted to know which items could wait. Judging by your post, Carol B, it looks like all the examples I used are things I should put off.
When I first started out in 2002, I would shop at dollar stores for stuff like mixing bowls and utensils. I also started using my own equipment, supplementing with the dollar store buys. Then, once business picked up, I bought an inexpensive set of cookware.
I found that I typically used one 12" skillet and one dutch oven the most. Perhaps another 8-10" skillet too. Other than that, a couple of baking sheets, a can opener and a colander. I never have carried a mandoline and still don't, even though I'm in a commercial kitchen now. A good knife and a paring knife will take you almost anywhere.
Here is something to remember when selecting cookware that you will be carrying to your client's kitchens.
You will be CARRYING it, so you don't want to invest in a set of All Clad or Calphalon or anything else particularly heavy, because you will tear your shoulder and elbow joints right out of their sockets if you are hauling it around twice per day (that's IN and OUT of your client's house).
Look for cookware that is LIGHT, conducts heat evenly and cleans up easily.
When your business is officially operating; you can invest in a set of AllClad or whatever you prefer for your home kitchen, but I would still carry the lighter cookware in my mobile kit.
Clients who already have good cookware and equipment are a joy. Many of them tell you -"Please feel free to use our cookware, food processor and Kitchen Aid mixer". Bless their hearts! That means you don't have to carry all of your own equipment.
Taking care of yourself is important! Good luck and have fun setting up your business! Candy
hanks Candy You just rid me of the quilt of using my clients 12 piece calphalon set. It's really great cookware, Her matching roasting pans are cleaner now than ever since I use and clean them by hand. All I really need is a knife and a hand blender
