Culinary schools can be a good resource for finding a personal or private chef, but most personal chefs have not been to culinary school. If you need a daily dose of uber-fancy French cuisine, aim for a culinary school grad, but if you are simply after good, home cooked meals that both you and your kids will eat, a culinary degree isn’t necessary. Simply give the personal chef a trial run to ensure their cooking prowess matches your family’s taste buds.

The cost of a good meal

The cost of a personal chef depends on what kind of service you choose and your location. Major metropolitan area like New York and San Francisco command higher prices than smaller, Midwestern cities like Minneapolis. According to Candy Wallace, executive director of American Personal and Private Chef Association (APPCA), the national average for a multiple-meal service (where a chef makes anywhere from five to seven separate meals) is $300 to $350 per week plus the cost of the food. That’s right, food costs extra.

Private chefs receive a yearly salary, which can run anywhere from $50,000 to $130,000 a year. If you don’t want your chef looking around for a higher-paying position, keep your salary competitive with going rates in your community and even look towards restaurants as a gauge. While kitchen staff in four-star restaurants can actually make significantly less than the waiters, an experienced executive chef at a hot spot can command a strong salary. Most private chefs also receive benefits and vacation pay from their employer. Don’t forget about employment taxes, which are about ten percent of the chef’s salary. Finally, if you use an agency to find a private chef, expect to pay a placement fee of about 10 to 15 percent of the chef’s first year salary.

The big players

Industry Associations – The top three associations’ websites dish out plenty of information on what a personal chef is all about, as well as provide easy links to find a personal chef near you. American Personal and Private Chef Association is the biggest association with over 3,000 members in all 50 states. U.S. Personal Chef Association is based in New Mexico and has chapters in 22 states, Washington, DC and two chapters in Canada. With headquarters in North Carolina and Texas, Personal Chefs Network was founded by a nurse-turned-chef in 2005.

Culinary Schools – The websites of most culinary schools are designed for prospective students, so you’ll need to call the career services office to place your order for a classically trained private chef. Some of the top schools the country are: Culinary Institute of America, commonly referred to as “the CIA”, which has branches in upstate New York, Napa Valley and San Antonio; New England Culinary Institute in Vermont; French Culinary Institute in New York; and California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.

Craigslist – You can find anything on this website, from classic cars to a private chef. Choose your nearest city, the look under Services, Household and search for “chef.” Don’t forget to do extensive reference checks and a cooking trial.

Private Chefs, Inc. – This elite agency represents over 2,000 chefs from seven offices across the U.S and one in London. Founded by Austrian-born chef Christian Paier, the agency’s clientele includes celebrities and members of royalty.