FOOD & DRINK
CHEF JARRETT Chef Jarrett offers custom-tailored services to meet any culinary need (no need too small). His distinctive culinary style provides a unique meld of some of your all-time favorite dishes designed to provide a "taste beyond expectations.” Learn more at PlateworksbyChefJ.com.
GOOD EATS
Chef Jarrett offers tips on choosing between a personal chef and private chef to make your next dining experience exceptional. HERE ARE many benefits to hiring a
private or personal chef. These trained, professional chefs can help clients meet dietary needs and personal preferences, create meals around a busy schedule, prepare one-of-a-kind dinners for anniversaries and special events, as well as help with entertaining. When choosing a private or personal chef, it’s important to know the difference between the two, as both have similarities. A private chef is employed by a single household on a full-time basis, cooking every meal, every day. Private chefs are part of the household staff; they may live on or off the premises. A personal chef prepares meals for multiple clients, either in a client’s kitchen or out of a commercial kitchen. These meals are then stored or delivered with instructions for heating and serving. You can also hire a personal chef for a one-time event, special occasion or romantic dinner. There are many perks to hiring a personal chef, but the biggest may be that it allows you to enjoy top-notch cuisine in the comfort of your home — you don’t have to fight traffic, you’re able to imbibe without the worry of how you’re getting home, there are no parking fees or wait times and, best of all, the chef is there to do all the work for you. Plus, you get the chef’s total
creative cuisine that isn’t always given freely in a restaurant or catering company setting.
Quality Training and Experience
Both personal and private chefs require quality training, which can come from a culinary school as well as experience in the culinary profession. When choosing a chef, it’s important to find one with extensive experience. This experience can be from a restaurant, catering company, corporate dining, or any other field, but keep in mind that the chef’s background should mirror your needs. For instance, if you host large parties, the chef you choose should have experience in large-scale dining from a catering or banquet background. It’s also important to note that not all chef experiences are created equal. A qualified chef should be an expert in more than one type of cuisine. If you favor a particular cuisine, be sure to inquire about it.
Quality of Food
Above all else, taste is the final arbiter of food quality. When inquiring about private and personal chef services, take the time to try their food. Most do a tasting for a minimum price. Before you commit to a chef, be sure to look at their social media. 95% of the time if the chef’s presentation is great, amazing food will follow. ■
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