Personal chef service expands into city homes

The online private chef service called La Belle Assiette, which offers its customers the chance to have professional chefs cook in their homes, started in France in 2012.

Since then, it has partnered 300 chefs across the UK and a further 500 across Europe.

The firm is now offering its services to people in Portsmouth after signing up a new chef, Mike Findlay.

Mike, from Botley, has been working for the company since the start of this year and he says he is looking forward to bringing his skills to homes across the area.

He said: ‘I have always had a passion for cooking, even when I was a kid. I really enjoy it and I always knew that this is what I wanted to do.

‘This type of working is great as it’s about meeting the customers, who are eating and tasting your work.

‘It’s more personal than being stuck in a kitchen. It is nice to see the reaction on people’s faces.’

Mike has 24 years of experience as a chef, and has worked at Rosette-starred restaurants as well as prestigious hotels, but he says he is enjoying the more personal service that cooking in people’s homes brings.

He said: ‘It’s a different kind of pressure, if someone does not like your food then you know about it as you are right there. This type of cheffing pushes you to be the best as it’s a one-on-one experience.’

Customers can browse menus of available chefs and caterers – starting at £39 per person for a three-course meal for six – and book them directly online.

The chef then takes care of the rest; buying the ingredients, cooking, serving and even cleaning up after.

Tanisha Sayers, event manager, said: ‘It’s really important for us to guarantee to our customers a high level service.

‘Demand is growing rapidly, particularly for the summer season, so we’re actively looking to recruit many more great chefs in Portsmouth.’

For more go to labelleassiette.co.uk