PersonalChef
10th March 2006, 11:40
Since 1986 I have earned my living as a professional Chef in various aspects of the catering industry including films and TV advertising, weddings and outside catering, event catering, delicatessen and cheese purveyor, patisserie and wedding cakes. Two top class restaurants as well as a private Chef. For a few glorious years my husband and myself were the proud owners of a beautiful and well known restaurant in Northamptonshire. We then both spent ten years in private service...yes its a long story! However it has been a happy and fulfilling experience, and sometimes an hilarious one.
In 1998 I started Fays-Home Cooking and was the first American Style Personal Chef in the UK. I cooked weekly food for the freezer and Dinner parties at weekends for all types of people. Sometimes I was asked to do Corporate and Small Business functions. Very occasionally I would be called from people in the film industry who remembered me from the past, I would then prepare food and present it for filming for adverts or other productions as a Food Stylist. I particularly loved those jobs.
I worked for a short while as Chef to Anouska Hempel and what a learning curve that was. I will always be grateful for that opportunity.Over the years my style has changed with the needs of clients and now I tend to specialise in 'real food' Healthy and robust with fine classic flavours and good presentation.I now get far more work than I can possibly cope with alone and in 2002 I set up Personal Chef UK Ltd in order to represent and help similar chefs who wish to become Personal/Private Chefs. Despite what some may think this is not a 'get rich quick' profession. It takes hard work and extreme dedication with a patient and knowledgeable personality. However with a little help and some relevant previous experience the right person can become a great personal Chef who will be in demand for years to come. I have trained and encouraged several of these and now they are great chefs in their own right...well on the way to a fulfilling career.A Personal Chef is not a Caterer We do not purchase ready made food in bulk and serve it, as happens in pubs and some restaurants and catering companies. All food is bought to order and prepared, then cooked in the clients home.
Some chefs have dedicated licensed kitchens and will prepare food for larger functions in them before transporting to the venue in suitable vehicles.
We have many famous clients from Film and TV and Sports personalities to large Corporations and even Royalty. Many of our clients are from abroad and we specialise in Hal al and kosher cooking as well as special diets etc.
I also provide food tasting advisory services to companies like McCormick and others.
For the past 3 years I have been providing corporate gifts and prizes of Chef and Butler services to a large number of international companies. I travel all over the UK and Europe and have chefs based in many areas.
In 1998 I started Fays-Home Cooking and was the first American Style Personal Chef in the UK. I cooked weekly food for the freezer and Dinner parties at weekends for all types of people. Sometimes I was asked to do Corporate and Small Business functions. Very occasionally I would be called from people in the film industry who remembered me from the past, I would then prepare food and present it for filming for adverts or other productions as a Food Stylist. I particularly loved those jobs.
I worked for a short while as Chef to Anouska Hempel and what a learning curve that was. I will always be grateful for that opportunity.Over the years my style has changed with the needs of clients and now I tend to specialise in 'real food' Healthy and robust with fine classic flavours and good presentation.I now get far more work than I can possibly cope with alone and in 2002 I set up Personal Chef UK Ltd in order to represent and help similar chefs who wish to become Personal/Private Chefs. Despite what some may think this is not a 'get rich quick' profession. It takes hard work and extreme dedication with a patient and knowledgeable personality. However with a little help and some relevant previous experience the right person can become a great personal Chef who will be in demand for years to come. I have trained and encouraged several of these and now they are great chefs in their own right...well on the way to a fulfilling career.A Personal Chef is not a Caterer We do not purchase ready made food in bulk and serve it, as happens in pubs and some restaurants and catering companies. All food is bought to order and prepared, then cooked in the clients home.
Some chefs have dedicated licensed kitchens and will prepare food for larger functions in them before transporting to the venue in suitable vehicles.
We have many famous clients from Film and TV and Sports personalities to large Corporations and even Royalty. Many of our clients are from abroad and we specialise in Hal al and kosher cooking as well as special diets etc.
I also provide food tasting advisory services to companies like McCormick and others.
For the past 3 years I have been providing corporate gifts and prizes of Chef and Butler services to a large number of international companies. I travel all over the UK and Europe and have chefs based in many areas.