Personal chefs who graduate from Liaison College of Culinary Arts have at least one thing in common and that is a passion for cooking. They put that passion to work in the homes of their clients, creating and executing weekly meal plans that cater to specific tastes and dietary needs.

Course participants must first obtain a Cook Basic – Level 1 Diploma offered at the college. Future personal chefs need a background in the basics of nutrition, baking and food theory, quality food preparation, culinary techniques and food safety and sanitation. Since most personal chefs run their own business, the personal chef diploma program expands on the business training offered in the basic program.

Market research, creating a business plan, financing and strategic marketing, is included in the comprehensive program that equips passionate cooks for this career. Food-related courses instruct students how to package, label and safely store the foods they prepare for the client’s use. Preparing meals in a client’s kitchen requires special procedures that are part of personal chef training along with how to cater to client needs.

In order to complete the diploma course, students do a one-week placement with a volunteer family. At the end of the week the family is contacted for a report on the service.

According to Murline Mallette, executive director and owner of Liaison College of Culinary Arts in Hamilton, personal chefs are hired by busy families who need convenient, nutritious meals and by individuals who have special dietary considerations due to medical conditions.

In the case of a family, Mallette says that it is usually the mom who consults with the personal chef, although children take part occasionally to express their food preferences.

“They talk about the food that they like and the food they never want to see again as long as they live,” explains Mallette of the children’s input.

In addition to putting together a healthy meal plan, the meeting allows for discussions around the time frames for eating and food preparation. Typically, the personal chef will be in the home twice a week to prepare food for two or three day’s worth of meals. Shopping for the ingredients is also part of the package – another time saver for busy parents.

The service makes it possible for a time-strapped parent to simply pull a meal out of the fridge and either heat it or serve it cold, as required. Unlike prepared food purchased at a grocery store, these healthy meals are tailored to their own family’s tastes and nutritional needs.

A personal chef can contribute to a family’s social life too by preparing a meal for guests. In some case the chef becomes the entertainment as guests watch the meal being prepared and get a cooking lesson at the same time.

To find out more about the various programs offered at Liaison College of Culinary Arts, visit www.liaisonhamilton.ca.