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Domestic Staff Agency

Private Chefs

Passionate about first-class cuisine and experienced in managing kitchen staff, our Private Chefs are second-to-none.

Overview

Aware of each family member’s particular needs, a private chef is accustomed to creating inventive, diverse meals for individuals and larger parties.

A private chef will be adept at running the kitchen, managing staff, stock-taking, and maintaining professional levels of safety and hygiene. This ensures the finest levels of cuisine delivered right from your kitchen, thanks to our chefs who have logged years of experience working in luxury residences for high profile clients.

At the forefront of their craft, a private chef is dedicated to sourcing only the freshest and finest ingredients to create seasonal menus (or a bespoke menu) that tantalize the taste buds and leave a beautiful and lasting impression. Their passion for amazing food is reflected in every delicious dish they serve, elevating the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Whether you’re busy and need a chef full time or hosting an event, a dinner party in your own home or simply seeking to enhance your dining experience, a private chef will expertly craft a delicious meal, that surpasses all expectations (much better than most catering companies). 

From preparation to presentation, a private chef will oversee every aspect of the dining experience, leaving you to relax and enjoy the company of your guests.

Duties and Responsibilities

    • Catering for all meals & snacks for the whole family and staff – mainly lunch and dinner.
    • Coordinating with household staff to make sure the timing is correct for lunch and dinner.
    • Handling the grocery shopping as well as online orders from selected purveyors.
    • Keeping the pantry and larder of the household kitchen stocked with food and pre-ordering when necessary.
    • Preparing weekly menus for the family, ensuring that they are healthy and balanced and in accordance with dietary requests and requirements.
    • Keeping the chef’s kitchen clean at all times, as well as all other personal spaces.
    • Catering for special events including children’s school packed lunches, dinner parties, picnics, or barbecues.

    Qualifications

    While having been trained at a world-renowned school like Le Cordon Bleu, The Culinary Institute of America or competed in the famed Bocuse d’Or (Concours mondial de la cuisine/World Cooking Contest) isn’t a requirement for a Private Chef, bien sûr, many people prefer that their personal chefs have a level of training that exceeds that of a talented cook.

    Most have attained an Associate’s Degree (2 years) or have graduated from a culinary institute (4 years) while others have interned or completed the course of their culinary training at prestigious or even Michelin-starred restaurants.

    Private chefs must have a working knowledge of ingredients, recipes, cooking styles and even plating and may be required to have expertise in a variety of global cuisines or specialise in a certain regional cuisine to satisfy a client’s longing or preferences for home-cooked flavours.

    Some Private Chefs have baking and pastry knowledge and skills, as preparing a full meal is often the main course is required. Some carry a food handler’s permit or are registered with a national restaurant association from their native or adopted country of residence. Some professional private chefs have additional certifications in areas like food safety and preparation, sanitation, and nutrition.

    Private Chefs are able to accommodate and adapt to special diets and are accustomed to catering to the needs of a variety of diets: macrobiotic, raw, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, allergen-free, Paleo, pescatarian, Mediterranean, Muslim, Kosher, Hindu (Vegetarian Jain), and prohibition of course the 7 major allergens: wheat, buckwheat, dairy products, eggs, peanuts, shrimp and crab).

    How they will help

    Busy families without a surplus of time to worry about shopping for or preparing food are creating a rapidly increasing demand for the most talented chefs who, in today’s competitive market, have many employers from which to choose. Parents whose children may have food allergies (or may be merely allergic to healthy foods) may require the skills and cajoling of a Shrek-like Genie who can grant the wishes of even the most demanding and peculiar young master.

    Private Chefs get along with people and the happy you aren’t prone to emotional displays and tantrums, a common misinformed stereotype of a chef. They enjoy interacting with friends and clients and pleasing people comes naturally to them!

    People in the public eye may need to stay camera-ready and in tip-top condition for weeks or even months at a time. Private Chefs can be instrumental in helping a client manage cravings, satisfy a need for late-night comfort food (sans regret!), and be able to fulfill unusual requests and cater to finicky palates.

    They can even be called upon to function as ‘the enforcer’ when dietary restrictions and caloric restrictions necessitate a coach’s encouragement and relief from the rigors and loneliness of self-discipline.

    And with a focus on delivering the finest dining experience, great food and outstanding service, private chefs bring their extensive background in creating bespoke menus for high profile clients in luxury residences to every meal they prepare.

    Indulge in a bespoke fine dining experience, with a private chef London and let their extensive background, incredible passion for fresh food, and commitment to delivering unparalleled flavour elevate your taste buds to new heights.

    Private or Personal

    The terms Private Chef and Personal Chef are often thought to be interchangeable, and many people consider them to be one and the same. They are not, and the difference can be defined quite easily. A private chef often works in a large residential home, on a yacht, or even on their employer’s private plane and is usually employed by one person or family at a time, as a private, exclusive chef.

    They most often work independently, but may also work closely with other household staff to ensure that their employer’s domestic operations run smoothly. Sometimes private chefs will work in teams if an estate’s size and scope warrants it.

    A personal chef most often serves the needs of several clients, sometimes only one per day, and provides multiple meals that are custom-designed, and often prepared in advance for the clients’ particular requests and requirements for the week or month.

    These meals are packaged and stored for future consumption in appropriate containers, along with instructions for reheating and presentation. A personal chef may also be hired to organize a menu for special events such as dinner parties and birthday celebrations.

    To be more specific, according to the American Personal and Private Chef Association (APPCA), “A personal, private chef experience serves several clients, usually one per day, and provides multiple meals that are custom-designed for the clients’ particular requests and requirements. These meals are packaged and stored, so that the client may enjoy them at his or her leisure in the future.”

    Live In or Live Out

    Traditionally, the private chef worked for a single family as a live-in employee who was on-call 24 hours a day. Today, most private chefs work for a number of different employers under a wide variety of working conditions and living arrangements, depending on a client’s needs.

    A personal chef will most commonly visit a client’s home from 2-4 times a month in order to prepare meals in advance, whereas a private chef will often live on-site and be required to order or shop for and prepare all the meals for the client, family members, and guests.

    Hire the best private chefs with Irving Scott

    Irving Scott is the epitome of luxury and refinement, offering the most impeccable private chef service in London. We understand the importance of creating a memorable experience for dinner guests, whether it be for a special occasion or simply an elevated evening at home. That is why our private chef services are unmatched in the greater London, UK area, and why we are proud to offer only the highest level of quality and sophistication.

    Our hand-picked private chefs are masterful in the art of cuisine and use only the most premium ingredients to craft delectable dishes that will tantalize the taste buds of your guests. Whether you're hosting an intimate dinner party or a grand soirée, our chefs will work with you to create a bespoke menu that meets your exacting standards and exceeds your expectations.

    At Irving Scott, we understand that every occasion is unique and absolutely fantastic, and special requests are to be expected. Our private chefs are highly accommodating and able to cater to even the most specific of requests, even on short notice.

    They also cater to special dietary requirements, ensuring that every guest can indulge in all the ingredients and culinary delights on offer. Here, we believe that every fine dining out experience should be a celebration of the senses.

    That is why we take great care in overseeing every aspect of the private dining experience, from preparation to presentation, leaving you to simply relax and savour delicious food in the pleasant company of your guests.

    Hire a private chef in London today to elevate your dining experience to new heights with Irving Scott's private chef service. Indulge in a memorable experience that is truly worthy of your discerning palate and impeccable tastes. With just a few clicks, you have have a private chef deliver the most wonderful experience.

    Read more insights on our blog

    FAQ's

    A private chef in London tends to work on a full-time contract for one sole client, often living within the household or in accommodation organised for them nearby. On the other hand, a personal chef at home provides services to numerous clients, usually once per day. Often a personal home chef will batch cook meals and leave them for the principal to enjoy at their own convenience.

    Our busy clientele are often short on time and value having a professional chef providing them with high-quality and nutritional meals that cater to their dietary needs. Some clients require diets for specific aims, such as actors preparing for a role or athletes preparing for a competition. By hiring a private chef in London, a line of communication is set up with the client’s personal trainers in order to achieve their goals whilst remaining healthy.

    Hiring a private chef in London also gives you the flexibility to choose the event date and time that works best for you. You can enjoy a relaxed and stress-free dining experience, as the chef crafts the perfect menu and takes excellent care of the event details with all the preparations, cooking, and cleanup in the most perfect way possible.

    Hiring a private chef in London also gives you the flexibility to choose the event date and time that works best for you. You can enjoy a relaxed and stress-free dining experience, as the chef crafts the perfect menu and takes care of all the preparations, cooking, and cleanup.

    We are a London-based agency that services clients all over the world.

    All candidates we put forward will be thoroughly vetted prior to placement. Additionally, we can do a criminal background check called a DBS for peace of mind.

    All candidates we put forward will be thoroughly vetted prior to placement. Additionally, we can do a criminal background check called a DBS for peace of mind.

    This depends on how many days and hours a week the head chef really is employed, but the current market dictates salaries of around £65k a year for a fully qualified full-time chef.

    Typically a Chef will be responsible for all the aspects of purchasing, preparing and cooking food. They will liaise with the principal in order to make meal plans and ensure that the food is of liking to the family.

    Some family members may have different dietary requirements and this is taken into consideration. Chefs normally travel with right chef for the family if they have multiple residences. Our chefs will always follow food safety guidelines and procedures.

    Most chefs are well versed in cooking fantastic multiple cuisines, but it is worth asking in detail about a Chef’s knowledge of the client’s favourite dishes or cooking style.