TODAY'S SURVEY

POLL: Menu Design

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What style do you prefer
for your menus?

	Highly graphical, no logo
	Simple design, my logo
	Highly graphical, my logo
	Other

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Personal chefs are people who prepare meals for their clients to save them effort and time, and to tantalize their taste buds or fulfill special dietary needs. This type of chef works out of a client's kitchen or from a certified offsite location. Meals are prepared according to client preferences and then frozen or stored in the clients home for later meals. Usually, personal chefs are not staff members or employees of a specific client. Personal chefs maintain a client list of several customers and offer their services on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This niche market for aspiring chefs is comprised mostly of busy two income families and couples who long for healthy meals, but don't have the time or the ability to create nutritious choices.

Personal chefs carve out a career by applying their love for food and its many presentations to a solid business plan and the dedication to succeed as a small business. There are many avenues for personal chefs to showcase their talents and passions in this business. As people work longer hours and reshuffle the traditional roles in a household, they are also bombarded through the media with stories of the importance of a healthy diet and quality family time spent around a kitchen table. Personal chefs can capitalize on this trend by offering child friendly menus, healthy and great tasting food, and keeping a client's preferences in the forefront.

Licensing is not a requirement for personal chefs, nor is accreditation or culinary school. For this profession, the main ingredients are a passion for food, an excellent palette and the ability to work hard for your clients. Professional organizations abound and many offer discount liability insurance, blogs, and schooling options. The United State Personal Chefs Association offers all these products as well as links to other sites to interest an aspiring chef or a seasoned pro. Chef2Chef has an active message board with a variety of participants. Here you will find professional chefs, newbies and school students sharing their experiences and challenges. Good advice can be found on starting your career, handling difficult customers and expanding your business.

The key to creating your career as a personal chef is to focus on the foods you love and the style which lets you express your imagination. Good customer service skills are a must and a flexible attitude will carry you a long way. Websites are everywhere for posting your skills to potential clients, but cooking is one of the jobs where the proof is in your meals. Word of mouth advertising is always your best bet; letting current customers know you have openings will get the message out there. Volunteering for community cooking events, showcasing your talents at cooking fairs and catering events will get people tasting your exciting creations.

A chef with a passion for food is obvious in the taste and presentation of a dish. The common burger and fries becomes an epicurean delight in the hands of a personal chef. Follow your heart when preparing your menu options as a personal chef and your passion will be reflected in the meal.