What Does a Personal Chef Actually Do

Have you ever found yourself wondering what a personal chef really does, or thought about what it’d be like to have one in your life? Behind every thoughtfully prepared dish are full days (and careers!) built on planning, creativity, customization, and exceptional service. Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at what a personal chef actually does, and why partnering with Tiny Spoon Chef brings luxury, convenience, and peace of mind to your everyday life.

What exactly does a personal chef do?

Personal chefs prepare customized meals for multiple clients on a weekly basis, tailoring each dish to their individual needs. We take preferences, restrictions, goals, and lifestyle all into account when creating personalized menus. This includes:

• Customized menu planning for each client
• Inventory checks at the client’s home, followed by grocery shopping
• Meal preparation and cooking
• Packing, labeling, and storing meals
• Kitchen cleanup
• Ongoing customization as your needs evolve

Personal chefs combine their culinary skills with hospitality, organization, and client care. At Tiny Spoon Chef, we prioritize creative menus, premium ingredients, and thoughtful planning that makes your meals unforgettable.

When needs change and fall outside of regular service, your Chef BFF is still here to support you! These are 10 Easy Unexpected Ways to Use your Tiny Spoon Chef. Our team of personal chefs are always finding new ways to add value to clients' experiences.

What does a typical day for a private chef look like?

A personal chef’s day begins at the client’s home with a quick pantry check. This ensures that ingredients are used efficiently and aren’t purchased twice. It’s a simple but important part of an organized cooking session. We also check in with our clients to see if we can restock any staples while we’re out shopping for their menu.

After reviewing the kitchen inventory, the chef heads to the client’s preferred grocery store to shop for the freshest ingredients. Produce, proteins, and pantry items are selected with care—choosing the best options available while keeping dietary preferences in mind.

Once back at the client's home, the personal chef begins preparing and cooking each meal from scratch. When the cooking is finished, the dishes are packaged according to the client’s preferences. Whether that’s individual portions for quick and easy reheating, family-style portions for customizable meals that can be built on your own, or freezer-friendly portions that can be accessible later in the week all depends on each client’s specific needs. Each container is clearly and neatly dated and labelled, and they’re accompanied by a leave sheet with easy reheating instructions that make enjoying the meals effortless.

Before leaving, the chef thoroughly cleans up after themselves, so the space looks just as tidy as when they arrived.

Do personal chefs clean up after cooking?

Absolutely! At Tiny Spoon Chef, cleanup is an essential part of the service. When the cook session is complete, your kitchen is left spotless. Surfaces are cleaned, dishes are washed and put away, the floor is swept, and the trash is taken out. You get the full luxury experience without any of the mess.

What is the difference between a personal chef and a private chef?

Although the terms sound similar, the experiences they offer are very different. Let’s highlight the differences:

• A private chef works full-time, exclusively for one household. They prepare multiple meals each day, may travel with the family, and potentially even live on-site. They become your personal cook for each and every meal throughout the week. This service is luxurious, but it also comes with a high cost and a level of commitment that doesn’t fit most lifestyles.

• A personal chef offers all the benefits of customized cooking without the commitment or price tag of hiring full-time staff.

Clients who hire a personal chef with Tiny Spoon enjoy:

• Personalized menus designed around their preferences and dietary needs
• Fresh meals cooked in their own kitchen with ingredients sourced from their preferred grocery store
• Flexible scheduling that fits their life
• A fully stocked fridge and clean kitchen at the end of each session
• The experience of having a private chef in a more approachable way, making personalized dining accessible, convenient, and stress-free

Want to dig further into the difference, check out Private or Personal Chef Blog

How does a personal chef charge?

Personal chef pricing is designed to be transparent and accessible. Instead of paying a salary or covering benefits as you would for a full-time private chef, clients typically pay personal chefs per cook session, which includes menu planning, shopping, in-home cooking, packaging, labeling, reheating instructions, and kitchen cleanup.

Tiny Spoon Chefs visit once per week for a four-hour cook session, creating typically 4–6 portions of a few entrees, but can easily be customized to include snacks, grab-and-go breakfasts, or the occasional sweet treat, all tailored to your preferences. Because each session is customized to your household size, schedule, and weekly needs, you get fresh, made-to-order meals without the ongoing commitment of a private chef. Flexible, convenient, and delicious—Tiny Spoon Chef brings the joy of a personal chef right to your kitchen. This structure gives clients full control of a personalized culinary service, designed to fit real life.

• No long-term contracts
• Complete customizations
• A luxury experience at a fraction of the cost of a staffed private chef

If you want to know more about hiring a personal chef, Our Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Personal Chef is here for you!

Curious about how a personal chef can make your life easier and your meals unforgettable? Contact Tiny Spoon Chef today to bring personalized dining to your home.

–Chef Ash