Everyone thinks that personal chefs have great glamorous lives. They cater literally to celebrities and can create fantastic dishes with any ingredient they desire. Yet there's also a down side - one that affects their personal lives.
Regular contributor to The New York Times, Amelia Nierenberg wrote this fascinating article in today's New York Times Wednesday Food section. Many think that a personal chef is a great job. It does have its' perkes, Hanging out with stars and athletes. Cooking with the best ingredients possible. Phenomenal pay. Personal chef,Tashea Chanelle Younge can make up to $12,800 a month. she has traeled on planes and yachts, creating delicious meals. Yet she is nothing more than the help.She knows her boundaries . It can be taxing however because she really can;t interact with her employers or their guests. The same is true for rob Li who is no stranger to cooking for others. While his parents had a resraurant in upstate New York, he is apersonal chef to a middle aged millionaire in the Hamptons. It is a glamorous holiday setting for sure but there are drawbacks. Chef Li FaceTimes with his friends in New York City as he misses the excitement and night life . He and his emplyer do get along . They're more like room mates yet the age gap makes it impossible to connect. He's lonely most of the time , filling in the hours with editing footage for his videos on TIktok and Instagram.
Yet more and more young chefs are picking up jobs. The need for personal chefs grew during Covid. Many wealthy family didn't not want to order out and wanted fresh cooked meals prepared for them. For cooks this was perfect.It was either this working in a restaurant's kitchen which can be poorly ventilated or collecting unemployment benefits . There are several agencies that do help chefs find employers. Sami Udell founded Whole Sam during th e pandemic. At first restaurant chefs sneered at the idea of being apersonal cook and Ms.Udell had to go on Craig's List looking for them. Now she receives ten messages a week from young chefs lookinf or job advice. Private Chef Match is another agency that matches cooks with employers .It has a seventy-five percent jump in applications from candidates "who wish to leave or never enter at all the restaurant world." Another agency Food Fire and Knives has also seen an uptick. These chefs are meeting a steep demand that began in the early days of the pandemic.It wasn't for making sourdough loaves but for high quality food. It can be a dream job because of the freedom and trying out new dishes. Many chefs put their work on different platforms to atrract more employers and interest.
There are many plusses to being a personal chef. Yet there is also a downside to this glam job. Like any career it has its' ups and downs.
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