| iv> | | | | mechanics, and hairstylists. The contact |
| A guide to the darkest culinary secret in the | | | | information for personal chefs is rarely given out. |
| greater washington area. The fabulous meals that | | | | Why plan a special meal with a personal chef, if |
| you have been hearing about, eating, or | | | | the chef is not available because you have given |
| suspecting are not always cooked by whom you | | | | out his or her contact info to all your friends. Why |
| think. It is a special day. You want to make sure | | | | risk missing an incredible Christmas dinner |
| everything is perfect for the romantic meal you | | | | prepared by a personal chef - because your |
| are planning tonight. You make one phone call and | | | | friend has hired the chef instead. |
| then, reassured, go back to work. When you get | | | | You can look at resumes but you cannot eat |
| home, your other half is waiting for you in the | | | | words. What matters most is the food and the |
| living room. On the coffee table are two martinis | | | | professionalism. Please understand that these |
| and two appetizers. The first one is lemon and | | | | individuals spend their lives working with food. |
| saffron chicken brochettes. The second one is | | | | They are food geeks so do not be put off by |
| wild mushrooms, garlic, and thyme bouchees. You | | | | their enthusiasm for food topics. Enthusiasm is an |
| know the soup course, classic vichyssoise, is in | | | | unproven criterion. If the chef seems to be as |
| the works. The salad course will soon follow. The | | | | interested in your meal as you are, that is a good |
| baby leaf salad with roasted pepper and black | | | | sign, but only a sign. |
| olive drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette is your | | | | How do you find a good personal chef? Are there |
| favorite. You sit down, take your shoes off, and | | | | associations or companies that provide personal |
| pick up the martini. While you relax, you smell the | | | | chefs? Yes - but the important thing is the quality |
| main course of seafood raqut with lobster, scallop, | | | | of the chef. If you want someone to cook a |
| shrimp and mussels in a champagne infused | | | | special meal, it does not matter where you found |
| tomato sauce. The rice pilaf and vegetable | | | | your chef. Whether you find your chef through |
| ratatuie will accompany the main course. | | | | the yellow pages or web pages from an |
| Sure maybe you could have prepared this meal, | | | | association or independent contractor, focus on |
| but you know that you would not be sitting down | | | | what matters the food. You can find the chefs |
| now enjoying your first mouthful of brochette | | | | through a web search or the yellow page. Many |
| without worrying about the next courses. Once | | | | of the chefs can be removed from your list that |
| you made that phone call from your office, you | | | | way. If the web page does not contain a sample |
| knew that everything would be perfect. Instead | | | | menu or it does not impress you, move on to |
| of spending hours planning the meal, shopping at | | | | the next one. The best way to choose a personal |
| several different markets, and locked in your | | | | chef is through the interview and the tasting. |
| kitchen cooking and digging up your fine china, you | | | | These individuals are using the title of chef so |
| made one phone call. It was to the personal chef | | | | yes, everything about their cooking should |
| whom you hired to prepare your meal. He has | | | | impress you even the menu. Be picky. When you |
| experience working in restaurants in Europe, the | | | | interview the chef, have him or her provide menu |
| U. | | | | suggestions. If you want something that would be |
| S., and the Caribbean. His services include | | | | served at the areas best restaurants - the menu |
| everything from menu consultation to food | | | | is the first sign of quality. Ask where they will be |
| preparation to serving and finally the clean up. | | | | getting the wines. Ask where they will be getting |
| When your personal chef leaves, the kitchen is | | | | the produce. Ask where they will be doing the |
| spotless, the dinner table cleared, and you can | | | | cooking. Most chefs will supply a range of |
| enjoy the rest of your evening without worrying | | | | services. |
| about the traffic on your way home. | | | | Do you want that special someone to think that |
| The personal chef is not just for the super rich | | | | you prepared the meal? Some personal chefs will |
| anymore. Many Washington area couples are | | | | drop off the food. |
| finding that it is easier to call a personal chef then | | | | Do you want the meal served on the finest |
| to venture out to their favorite restaurants. The | | | | china? Some personal chefs will provide china, |
| food, the service, and the cost of a dinner | | | | crystal, and whatever is needed. |
| prepared by a personal chef rivals meals prepared | | | | After you have asked all the questions you can |
| at the areas finer restaurants. | | | | think to ask, the only thing that really matters is |
| Couples have different reasons for turning to the | | | | the food. Ask for a sample. If anything does not |
| personal chefs. For some, hours stuck in the | | | | impress you, move onto the next chef. |
| gridlock of their commute have made going back | | | | Remember a good chef will tailor his menu and |
| out into traffic for a meal at a decent restaurant | | | | services to your dinner, not the other way |
| unbearable. For those people, the convenience of | | | | around. |
| hiring a personal chef to prepare a meal is | | | | So what happens after you hire the personal |
| irresistible. For others, the stress of preparing | | | | chef? Imagine eating a romantic meal at home |
| those big holiday meals for large numbers of | | | | and being able to be romantic after it is over |
| holiday guests is a stress that they can do | | | | without worrying about the dirty dishes. Imagine |
| without. What are the other options? You can | | | | splitting a bottle of wine at dinner and not having |
| spend hours stuck in a kitchen or you can | | | | to worry about whom will be the designated |
| organize the trip out to the closest restaurant. | | | | driver. |
| Preparing a dinner for large numbers of people is | | | | Will I admit to using a personal chef? Yes. I used |
| no small feat. Bringing your guests to a restaurant | | | | one to help write this article. The menu that I |
| on a holiday requires reservations, transportation, | | | | included above is straight off the website of my |
| and other drawbacks. Others prefer to enjoy a | | | | personal chef. His background is borrowed also. He |
| romantic meal at home without complications. | | | | is Executive Chef Vinko Marinkovic and he is the |
| Whatever reason, Washington area couples are | | | | best-kept secret in the Washington area. Most of |
| turning to the personal chef and they are keeping | | | | his customers would not give up his contact |
| it quiet. Why? You may hear rumors that your | | | | information under threat of torture. He can |
| neighbors had a meal catered or someone must | | | | prepare a private meal for two Thanksgiving |
| have taken some cooking courses. However, you | | | | dinner for their twenty guests. Whether it is the |
| will not hear that your neighbors are using a | | | | wine from his private cellar or menus tailored to |
| personal chef. Couples are hoarding the names of | | | | your tastes from many different cuisines or the |
| the good personal chefs. What use is having the | | | | service that he provides, you will notice similar |
| number of a personal chef, if you cannot use it | | | | touches from some of the finest restaurants in |
| when you want? With holidays or special | | | | the Washington area. The difference is if you go |
| occasions always coming up, no security clearance | | | | a great Washington area restaurant, you can |
| is high enough to be trusted with the contact | | | | order what is on the menu. If you hire Chef |
| information of your favorite personal chef. | | | | Marinkovic, you can have French appetizers, with |
| If you are celebrating a special occasion, or just | | | | Italian as the main course if you so desire. |
| want to have a good meal in a relaxed setting, | | | | Restaurants are limited to what is on the menu. |
| hiring a personal chef for an evening is a great | | | | Chef Marinkovic will make whatever you ask. |
| option. The big question is how do you find a | | | | Why should you hire a personal chef? Imagine |
| good personal chef? Normally, I would suggest | | | | just being able to enjoy the most amazing meal |
| word of mouth. That works for maids, | | | | of your life. |