I think this board is great!

[Personal Chef]

I have been using Cooking Light recipes professionally for about a 1 1/2 years now (in the Clearwater, FL area) but never bothered to view the message board as it's been my experience on other boards that information passed is useless and there can be some nastiness amongst users. Well this board is totally different!!! You'll be seeing a lot of me and am glad to have discovered all of you!

[Packy]

I pulled up your website. What an interesting career you have. I would love to hear more about it. I'm going to start culinary school in August and really want to do something like what you do when I graduate as opposed to going to work in a restaurant. Anyway, it seems fascinating and welcome to the BB.

[Personal Chef]

Thanks so much for your interest!!! May I direct you to USPCA.com? They are a terrific personal chef organization. I would not have been able to start my personal chef business without them. I enjoy being a personal chef a lot! If you have any questions after visiting USPCA.com do not hesitate to ask me!

[Wendy w]

Hi! Welcome to the bulletin board. You will learn a lot here. I have been here for about 10 months now and it has enhanced my cooking and there are some wonderful people!

You are in my dream job and I really like your website!! Thanks for the information, I will definitely be looking at it.

Wendy

[This message has been edited by Wendy w (edited 06-27-2001).]

[SusieO]

Hello, Neighbor!
(I live a little north of Clearwater, in Pasco County)

Welcome to the BB. Careful, it's addictive.

[LGBurns]

Welcome! I think a lot of us on this board dream of being personal chefs. What a great job. Look forward to getting to know you. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[HDgirl]

Hi P. Chef,
Did you attend the undergraduate program or did you home study?

[Personal Chef]

The undergraduate program was not available when I signed up. I did receive training though from the USPCA.

[tracey67]

Sorry to jump in in the middle of this thread, but I just had to say how whole-heartedly I agree with Personal Chef about this board being different. This is actually the first board I've ever posted on (although I've lurked on a few others). I completely agree about how nasty some of the other boards can be. I remember looking at one board where finally a couple of people posted messages about how it was becoming nasty (it was also a cooking board - though not CL) and the responses to these people were AGAIN really nasty. Everyone here though seems so nice and helpful and accepting of different views/opinions (on some other boards, you'd have to watch your back -for instance- if you said that you didn't like arugula).

Anyway, I just wanted to officially say hello to everyone. I'm not sure why, but I've been really shy about posting online (I'm really not very shy in person) - but after reading everyone's messages I feel a little more comfortable. Oh - and Personal Chef - you also get my admiration for having a great job!!

[joyous]

Everyone here though seems so nice and helpful and accepting of different views/opinions (on some other boards, you'd have to watch your back -for instance- if you said that you didn't like arugula).

I've never been active on a cooking board before. I'm amazed that people could argue about food. Disagree, certainly. But get angry because you eat raw tomatoes and I think they're vile poison? Unreal.

[cjm]

Personal Chef - ditto - welcome. I have received many, many helpful hints (not only related to cooking either) and great recipes on this bb. I'll confess though, this is the only bb I've ever experienced (guess I'm spoiled).

Your website is great. How do you cook? I mean do you cook a week's worth of meals in one day? Do you go into each individual's home or do you cook at your house and deliver??? In my "next life" Personal Chef is what I want to be.

[This message has been edited by cjm (edited 06-27-2001).]

[wish]

I'm new here, although I've been lurking for a few weeks. This board is addictive! I have a question- I have been thinking about being a personal chef, and I'm trying to decide between joining the USPCA, or the APCA. What made you decide to join the USPCA? Did you feel that the training materials and recipes provided were enough to get you started?

[Jewel]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I AM a Personal Chef, I just don't get paid anything for it! Well, except the smiles and hugs when he loves it...(blush!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Packy]

I've been on the USPCA website now for about 2 hours. I'm trying to absorb everything. Thanks. Did you go to culinary school? Are you going to the meeting being held in San Antonio in August?

[Personal Chef]

No, I'm self taught. I like to say "I'm not a fancy cook but I cook great food." I've always loved cooking and finally found a career where I can do it all the time! Unfortunately, I will not be attending the conference.

[GayeC]

Welcome. This is a great bulletin board. I am sending the link for your beautiful Web site to my sister, who is considering becoming a personal chef (she and two friends have recently started a dessert business).

[Melina]

Hi Personal Chef,
Welcome to the board. I've been a member about six months and I can tell you that this board is as impressive to me now, as it was when I first joined. The members here never fail you.

I marvel at how you can plan for, cook and please, the same individuals on a daily basis. I love to cook, but I never thought of becoming a personal chef. Actually, my dream is to have one. It's one of my "when I win the lottery" fantasies. I would probably keep cooking, but I'd have someone talented to play with.

I'm glad that we're going to have you here. From your posting it's easy to see that you're going to make a very good place even better.
Melina

[Personal Chef]

Thanks for asking!!! I cook 10 days worth of meals (serving 2 people) in the clients home using all my own pots, pans, spices, utensils, etc.

[Personal Chef]

At the time I joined, I had never heard of the APCA. From what other have told me though, you get more for your money with the USPCA. I have no regrets joining the USPCA.

[Personal Chef]

Thank you all for your kind words!!! You've amazed me with your support!

[Packy]

I'm surprised with all the posting on this one topic that you don't already have the status of member instead of junior member. It won't be long because we obviously have lots of questions for you. How many hours a week would you say you work. How did you get your first clients. Did you send how flyers or something?

[suziking]

Personal Chef - I just checked out your web site too! Very cool! How long does it take you to cook ten meals for a family?

What a fun job! Maybe after my kids get older.....

Thanks for sharing your fun career!

[Personal Chef]

Packy, I try to keep work days limited to 2-3 a week. Getting started has been tough. I ended up hiring a business coach who has helped me a lot. Advertising did not work for me so now I rely on word-of-mouth and networking groups.

[Personal Chef]

Suziking, it takes me 5-6 hours to cook 10 meals. I'm glad you like my website!!

[Chef Sharon]

Being a Personal Chef is a wonderful way to make a living if you love to cook. Please check out Personal Chefs Network too! You'll find it at http://www.personalchefsnetwork.com My business partner and I would love to have you join us!

My own clients love to come home to freshly prepared food and not have the stress of preparing meals for their families. Where I live, I cook for a lot of kids so my menu is a lot different than you might think. You do not have to be a gourmet cook to get started, just a love for cooking like I have. I spent 17 years as a nurse before I re-careered and I'll never work for someone else again!

I get most of my recipes from Cooking Light because they are so delicious and low-fat as some of my clients are watching their cholesterol levels. I've also found that my clients have shared wonderful recipes with me too. As a member of PCN you'll be privy to thousands of tried and true recipes in addition to what you already know.

Good luck and we also have a free ~Open Kitchen~ forum at our site for those of you interested in finding out more.

Your friend in TX,

~Sharon

[Beth]

I'm curious about the definition of meals. Does that mean 10 different meals for a family of 4-6, or basically food for 2 wks?

[Chef Sharon]

Most of us prepare 5 entrees per cooking session providing 4 servings of each one. If a family of 4 are having dinner, then one entree will serve them dinner, however, if our clients are a couple with no children then they will enjoy the same entree twice between sessions. Likewise, a single client will enjoy the entree four times between cooking sessions. There are many ways to package the food depending on how many are in the family.

Typically, for a family of four we will cook for them on a weekly basis, for couples every two weeks, and singles about once a month. This can vary depending on appetites and needs of course. You find out all their requirements during your initial consultation with them and decide before your first cheffing date.

I hope this answers your questions!