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Personal Chef Industry

Hi! Just thought I'd introduce myself~ I'm the wife of a personal chef-to-be here in Minnesota. My husband has been cooking since he was 15 and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY in 2004. He works full time as Chef de Cuisine at a restaurant, but he is finally ready to try personal cheffing as a part-time job. We're testing the waters- we live in a VERY small town (under 3000 people), but we still believe there is at least a limited market for his services. It doesn't seem like anyone else within a 50 mile radius is doing this. He has done several private dinners in the past few years for people in the area, and has built up a good name for himself locally. We are really excited about putting him out there as a personal chef and seeing what happens!

GOOD for you both!

Being a restaurant's Chef de Cuisine, msy limit his abilitty to do dinner parties, often held on weekends. Though, many an "Intimate Dinner" are known to be held mid-week, better fitting to his schedule. He controls his availabilty to his clients as well.

The decision to begin part-time is a wise one. Starting out and setting up, marketing and promoting his new endeavor takes time and maintaining his full time job will give both of you more comfort and stabilty in the beginning to get you rolling.

His restaurant may also allow him to utilize their commercial kitchen space for some of his events if they support him on this endeavor. As often can be the case.

Do not be discouraged by the size of your community, 3000 residents is a nice start to begin "word of mouth" and excitement regarding a new concept and service in your area.

Best wishes in your pursuit. As a former Executive Chef in many well known and significant operations. I absolutely love seeing another fight to break away from the brutal hours and life of Restaurants, etc.

Great for both of you and congratulations on your decision.

Best wishes. - John

Thanks for the encouragement, John! It may have been the issue of private dinners versus his schedule that kept us from pursuing this for so long. We couldn't envision how to do anything like that on a regular basis without quitting his job.

But being a personal chef in the standard sense of preparing dinners ahead for families is a bit more flexible- dare we even dream of daytime work hours??? Weekends off???

We are going public next week and starting our marketing plan- I have an in with a local high-end gift shop and they've agreed to put a mini-flyer/coupon for my husband's services in each customer's shopping bag. We'll supplement that with bigger flyers around town encouraging people to go to that shop and pick one up. And he's going to do a local cable cooking show as well. Can't wait to get started!

Oh, my pleasure Whitejangmi.

YES, you certainly may dare too!

Nice marketing start, keep plugging and don't get discouraged. It does take a good deal of time, commitmentand patience to get comfortably rolling.

Have you become APPCA members yet?

I couldn't be more supportive of that move.

Feel free to contact me directly, if you would like to. It always helps to speak directly or e-mail, sometimes when just starting up.

Keep your chin up. Both of you. You're going to be fine.

I promise. - John

Thanks for being so open! I was going to shoot you this in an email, but I guess I don't have access to your address. I'm quite limited in my permissions here... so that would answer the question that no, we haven't become members. All you out here in the Visitor's section sure make it sound awfully desirable. But if we were to do that, it would all be put on credit card, and yikes~! That's not something we want to do right now. Summer is a much better season for the restaurant and hubby will be making considerably more moola~ might see where we're at at that point! When did you become a member, if you don't mind? Right at the beginning, or after you'd been going at the pc biz for awhile?

I have been a member for over a year and just had my first cookdate. This way, I learned the biz slowly, had time to create a website, practiced different techniques, had my logo designed, and got business cards and brochures done,got my biz license, dba, biz account, insurance. And got access to the forum. This way I could research everyone else's advice and experience. And save time by not making mistakes others have. It is a great benefit, learning the ropes through others experiences.It is well worth it!