Each year on July 16th, National Personal Chef Day recognizes the dedication and hard work of personal chefs across the United States.

There’s a difference between a personal chef and a private chef. A private chef usually works exclusively for one client and typically lives in a person’s home or on the property. A personal chef may have many clients, run their own business, or work for a company.

The services a personal chef provides may include preparing meals in the clients’ homes or delivering meals already prepared. They may also create a meal plan according to dietary needs or the client’s preferences. Clients then follow instructions provided by the chef for heating the meals. Some personal chefs offer catering services as well.

Since being a personal chef is a competitive business, experience, and training is necessary. While not all personal chefs attend a culinary program, they do have years of experience and have honed their skills in the trade.

The days can be long for a personal chef. Depending on the client, their duties include shopping, preparation, and clean up. A dedicated chef with several clients will also spend long hours on their feet. Personal Chef Day acknowledges the hard work and often long lonely hours a chef puts into their craft. Many days also require additional research for clients with allergies or special diets. However, their passion for cooking and bringing nutritious, delicious meals to the table keeps them striving to create in the kitchen. The celebration dedicates the day to personal chefs with the drive to keep growing their skills and their business.

Some celebrate this holiday in February of each year.