Caterer Versus Private Personal Chef: Information and Catering Resources
Home Based Catering vs. Personal Chef
Wondering if what you are doing when you cook at friends' houses is a catering job, or wanting to know how to become a personal chef? Caterers and personal chefs are similar in that they create food for others for profit. The main distinction is that a personal chef cooks food strictly on site at the client's house whereas a caterer prepares much of the food off site that is served at the event.
Personal Chefs
A personal chef brings the food, cooks it in the client's kitchen, then serves it or stores it for later use by the client. The personal chef may use standardized recipes that have already been costed and measured out, or the recipes may come from the client's repertoire. Personal chefs are useful for families with members on a special diet or want particular ethnic foods prepared in a special way. They are hired to create family meals for when schedules are tight and ordering take-out or fast food isn't an option for health reasons. Personal chefs can also cook recipes that are requested by dieticians and nutritionists for their clients.
Look at the links below for personal chef resources, and educational or certification opportunities.
Becoming a Personal Chef
Personal Chef Resources
- United States Personal Chef Association - Personal Chef Training and Membership
Personal Chef Education and Personal Chef Membership: United States Personal Chef Association (USPCA) - American Personal & Private Chef Institute & Association - Professional Personal Chef Suppor
American Personal & Private Chef Association: Personal Chef Training, Certification, Personal Chef Support, Conferences & Personal Chef Association Membership. - ACF_CM5 | Personal Certified Chef
ACF (American Culinary Federation) certification rules and requirements for PCC, or Personal Certified Chef. - Personal Chef Association
Social Networking site for foodies, personal chefs, culinarians, and other folks who simply love to prepare and eat glorious food. - Find and Hire a Personal Chef in Your Area
Find a Personal Chef Service and other culinary professionals in your local area.
Caterers
A caterer prepares the food offsite, like at a commissary kitchen or other professional kitchen. Caterers must use proper food handling procedures, just like any other food handler, to ensure food prepared hot stays hot, or if cold stays cold. Foods that must be reheated or that are finished cooking on site are generally kept in special containers that can be transported easily and kept well. Caterers often provide entire party packages for their clients, supplying everything from food, props and staff to make it all seamless.
The links below provide resource information for caterers and catering professionals.
Resources for Caterers
- National Association of Catering Executives
Support to the catering profession. Open to the public and business professionals. - The International Caterers Association
The International Caterers Association (ICA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education, mentoring and resources for professional caterers. - Sustainable Catering Association
Sustainable Catering Association - the source for information about sustainability in catering. - Catersource Magazine, Conference & Tradeshow
Ideas and inspiration for caterers and catering professionals. - The Convenience Caterers & Food Manufacturers Association
CCFMA Mission Statement: "Dedicated professionals providing every resource needed to enhance the mobile catering industry." - Professional Certification for Caterers
Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE) designation.