Private Chef vs Personal Chef — What’s the Difference?

People ask me this all the time:“So… what’s the difference between a private chef and a personal chef?”

It’s a great question—because while the titles sound similar, they actually describe two quite different ways of cooking for people. And funnily enough, I do a bit of both.

What’s a Private Chef?

That’s what most people know me for.

When I’m working as a private chef, I’m creating an experience for a one-off event. It might be a dinner party in your home, a hen night in a holiday cottage, or a birthday celebration with a few courses and some canapés. You send me a request, and I’ll suggest one of my three seasonal menus—Relax, Celebrate, or Indulge—based on your budget or the kind of night you’re planning.

From there, we tweak the menu together if needed, add any little extras, and I take care of everything—from cooking to serving, to cleaning up at the end. You just sit back and enjoy it.

What’s a Personal Chef?

A personal chef is usually someone who cooks regularly for a person or household. That might mean a fridge full of meals prepped for the week, or daily meals cooked fresh—depending on the client’s lifestyle and dietary needs. It’s more about ongoing food support and less about hosting or events.

It’s usually not a “sit-down-and-be-served” experience—it’s about convenience, nutrition, and time-saving.

So, What Do I Do?

A little bit of both.

While my main focus is private dining, I also run Howe’s Dish of the Day—my ready-meal business. It’s like a personal chef service without the in-house cooking. I prep and cook everything myself, using quality ingredients and proper techniques (we’re talking stock reductions, not shortcuts). Then I package it all up and sell it fresh each week—ready to heat and eat at home.

So whether you want me in your kitchen cooking for guests, or in your fridge waiting with something delicious for a Wednesday night, I’ve got you covered.

Looking for a special evening in?Fancy skipping the cooking during the week too?You can definitely do both.

Learn more at www.chefathome.eventsOr check out our meals at Howe’s Dish of the Day

However you like your food—we’re here to help you Relax, Celebrate, and Indulge.