Many clients often ponder the advantages of hiring a chef who works as a couple versus hiring a chef alone. While in both cases the chef is expected to be adept in preparing superior cuisine for both family dining and parties, there are certain differences between hiring a domestic couple vs. hiring a chef.
Communication Benefits of a Domestic Couple
A chef who works as part of a couple team is quite often a skilled, meticulous housekeeper who is more than willing to help keep the home well organized. When you hire a chef only, you expect to get superb cooking period. The vast majority of chefs simply do not get involved with cleaning any other part of the home other than the kitchen.
On the other hand, chefs that work as couples tend to be better in working with other staff and in personal relations. Perhaps this comes from years of interaction with their partner and working successfully with them over a long period of time. Some chefs become “rugged individualists” who tend to want to do it all on their own. Some become authoritarians who try to boss other staff around rather than working cooperatively with them as a team.
Domestic Couples Share Responsibilities Better
Also, in a couple situation, the chef often has their partner working as a prep cook/sous chef to both speed up the process and to allow him or her to concentrate on preparing a superb meal. The chef who is on their own often does not have this support. They usually have a more daunting task in the kitchen, with meal preparation proceeding at a somewhat slower pace.
At parties, the chef who is part of a couple team has a distinct advantage. For one, he or she generally has a partner who is skilled at serving formally or informally at the table. Secondly, the partner often helps to coordinate the smooth flow of the various dinner courses. The chef working alone doesn’t have this advantage of working together with a trained professional for years. They also do not have the synergy needed to avoid chaos as the party proceeds.
Bottomline is, hiring a domestic couple might be a smarter move. It might cost you more, but the increased efficiency will surely make it all worth it.
SOURCE: Household Staffing International
