Hire a Private Chef
Our private chef recuitment service brings high-end restaurant standard expertise directly to your home. Everything from menu planning to speciality sourcing. You might need a personal chef daily, for entertaining, or both. Whatever your needs we will find you the very best chef.
We recruit exceptional private chefs for those who demand only the best. We handpick the chefs we recruit from the top-tier of the profession for high and ultra-high net worth individuals and families who expect nothing but the highest standards.
Hire a private chef with us and we will match your specific requirements with a professional who has the experience and excellence you can only find by using our market knowledge and network.
For more than a decade our private chef agency has perfected our recruitment services, so when you contact us you’re just one step away from hiring a chef of the highest quality.
At Morgan & Mallet, we place over 1,200 household staff every year, with private chefs representing one of our most requested positions.
We work with High Net Worth individuals and families to recruit the very best private chefs and our standards are extremely high. Contact us today to tell us your requirements and we will find your chef.
- 10% of our private chef recruitment agency requests seek chefs with Michelin-starred experience.
- Our extensive database boasts over 4,500 private chefs and cooks globally.
- The highest demand for professional chef recruitment comes from the United States, accounting for 35% of placements.
- The UAE and Middle East follow closely, representing 20%.
- France and Monaco also contribute significantly, with 20%.
- Switzerland accounts for 15% of the demand in our placements.
- The UK’s strong culinary culture is reflected in its 10% share of global private chef demand.
Trust Built on Experience
Morgan & Mallet (M&M) was established in 2015 in London, by two ambitious French co-founders. Since then M&M has grown to establish offices among the luxury capitals of the world, including Monaco, Geneva, and Paris.
Due to ever growing demand – often by client referrals, offices were set up in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Our expertise comes from actually having done the jobs we hire for. Laurine Mallet worked as a nanny for high-net-worth families in London and Paris, while Morgan Richez served as a butler and personal assistant to ultra-wealthy households.
This hands-on experience drives our 96% placement success rate.
Our private chef recruitment agency candidates average 8 years of experience in high-end environments. This is company policy that comes directly from our founders’ firsthand experience in luxury households.
Top Five Most Popular
Cuisines Requested
French
Italian
Japanese
Arabic
Plant-based
What is the Difference
Between a Personal Chef
and a Private Chef?
A personal chef typically serves multiple clients, preparing meals in advance that clients reheat throughout the week. They visit your home once or twice weekly, cook several meals, package them, and leave.
A private chef works exclusively for one household, preparing fresh meals daily. They become part of your household, learning your family’s preferences and adapting menus to your lifestyle.
In both cases, the best chefs will be able to adapt to personal requests such as a ketogenic diet or strict management of food allergies such as celiac.
The choice depends on your needs. Personal chefs offer flexibility and lower costs, while private chefs provide dedicated, premium, personalized service.
How Much Does a
Private Chef Really Cost?
Private chef salaries vary significantly by location and experience. In major cities, annual salaries range from $75,000 to $150,000, with top chefs commanding up to $200,000.
location | Market Characteristics | Average Salary Range | Specialties |
|---|---|---|---|
New York | 91% manage multiple residences; need flexibility between Manhattan apartments and Hamptons estates | $90,000-$180,000 | Diverse international cuisines; kosher expertise common |
Los Angeles | 71% have worked for entertainers or athletes; 58% specialize in wellness-oriented cuisine | $85,000-$160,000 | Plant-based, gluten-free, performance nutrition |
Miami | 66% coordinate with multiple staff; 71% work in estates with show kitchens | $75,000-$140,000 | Latin and Caribbean fusion; yacht service experience |
San Francisco | 44% have worked with high-end food technology, including DNA-based diets or gut biome analysis.
57% use smart kitchen systems | $95,000-$175,000 | Tech-integrated meal planning; sustainable sourcing |
Location also affects availability. Dubai shows highest demand with 56.88% of M&M chef placements, while established markets like the diverse cities of London and New York offer more candidate options.
The Morgan & Mallet
Vetting Process
Our placement process averages 508 applicants for each private chef position. We shortlist to just three exceptional matches.
Some agencies may offer more chefs, but we usually present just three perfectly matched chefs from our database of 4,500+ professionals. Even by just presenting three candidates we maintain a 96% placement success rate.
Step One: Understanding Your Needs
We ask an average of 30 detailed questions about dietary preferences, lifestyle, and household dynamics. This depth reveals requirements you might not have considered.
Step Two: Global Candidate Search
Although our database spans eight international offices, the chef opportunity will still be advertised heavily, this is for two reasons. Firstly, as a growing company, we’ve found we need to be constantly adding to our database. Secondly, through experience, we realized the best high-end chefs are like wild truffles – hard to find and incredibly valuable.
Step Three: Skills Assessment
Although rare, we know resumes can be cooked up, so every candidate undergoes practical cooking tests and scenario-based evaluations. We verify claimed expertise through demonstration, not just documentation.
Step Four: Background Verification
Comprehensive checks include employment history, references, and criminal records. We verify certifications and speak with multiple previous employers.
Safety and trust are two values the company founders, Morgan and Laurine, instilled in the agency from day one.
Step Five: Cultural Fit Evaluation
Technical skills matter, but personality match determines long-term success. We assess communication style, flexibility, and household compatibility. A successful chef placement can transform a household, and is often the starting point of further placements for Morgan & Mallet.
Step Six: Trial Period Support
We support both parties to get started. Our involvement continues until both are satisfied and content. Through this extensive process 96% of the chefs we place are a long-term success.
Do Private Chefs Bring
Their Own Supplies and
Equipment?
Most private chefs work with your existing kitchen equipment and purchase ingredients using your household budget. They’ll give you a list of any specialized tools needed for their cooking style.
High-quality knives are different – professional chefs will usually bring their own. Everything else, from pots to food processors, usually comes from your kitchen and a chef can advise what you will need when they start the role.
Some households provide their chef with a credit card for grocery shopping. Others reimburse receipts or include food costs in the chef’s fee structure.
How Many Meals
Does a Private Chef
Typically Prepare?
Full-time private chefs typically prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Friday. Weekend coverage varies based on your agreement.
Some families prefer meal prep service, where the chef prepares a week’s worth of meals in one or two cooking sessions. Others want fresh meals for each service.
Event cooking and dinner parties usually require separate arrangements. Most chefs can accommodate both daily meals and special occasions.
Do Private Chefs Clean Up
After Themselves?
Professional private chefs always clean their workspace, this is a non-negotiable. This includes washing dishes, sanitizing surfaces, and organizing the kitchen after each cooking session.
At Morgan & Mallet we only place chefs that take pride in their work because our clients have the very highest of standards – leaving a clean and tidy kitchen is one sign a chef has this quality, but it really goes without saying.
Deep cleaning and kitchen organization fall outside regular duties. These services can be negotiated separately if they are needed, but it is more rare.
The Value of Professional
Private Chef Services
Is Having a Personal Chef
Worth the Investment?
Families who hire private chefs report they can gain 10-15 hours weekly that they previously spent planning, shopping, cooking, and cleaning. Getting the cooking tasks off your plate makes the time available for work, family, or anything else in your personal life.
Also, if you’re a high earner, an extra 10-15 hours a week can probably translate into more income, making the decision to hire a chef more than worthwhile.
Health improvements often justify the cost alone. Private chefs help families eat nutritiously, accommodating specific dietary needs and health goals.
The investment typically costs less than regular restaurant dining for a family of four. You get superior quality, customization, and convenience in the comfort of your own home.
Do I Have to Tip
a Private Chef?
Tipping isn’t required for salaried private chefs, as they receive professional compensation. However, holiday bonuses are customary, typically equivalent to one week or one month’s salary.
For per-service personal chefs, a 15-20% tip is appropriate. This mirrors restaurant tipping standards.
Special occasion bonuses show appreciation for extra effort. Many families tip additionally for successful dinner parties or holiday meal preparation. It all comes down to you and what you feel comfortable with, but usually when you pay a salary, that is enough.
Specialized
Private Chef Services
Todays households need specialized expertise that goes further than traditional cooking skills. Family chefs need to think about children’s preferences while keeping the food healthy.
Male chefs represent the majority of private chef placements, though female chefs are increasingly asked for in our private chef agency.
Travel flexibility matters for many chef positions. 44% of our Dubai placements involve international travel with the family.
Multi-residence management is standard in major markets amongst High Net Worth families. Chefs have to coordinate between properties, adapting to different kitchens and local ingredients.
What to Expect from
Your Private Chef
A typical day starts with the chef reviewing the family’s schedule and dietary needs, because this can change daily. Morning prep might include breakfast service and lunch preparation.
in the afternoon they might shop for fresh ingredients and then prepare dinner. Many chefs also handle the inventory, suppliers and kitchen organization.
Communication is essential all the time. The best chefs anticipate needs, suggesting menus based on weather, schedules, and seasonal ingredients. They’re always a step ahead, this makes for special service.
For example, in the French Riviera, one of our chefs knew that the best wild porcini mushrooms were sourced from the hills of thearrière-pays niçois in September. Chefs who take pride in their work will often look for the special ingredient needed to reach perfection.
Professional boundaries matter too. The best private chefs maintain discretion because they can often be right in the middle of family discussions and need to respect family privacy. This discretion level goes without saying for all our chefs. They are highly discreet.
Making the Right Choice
for Your Household
Consider your true needs before beginning your search. Do you need daily fresh meals or weekly meal prep? Will the chef travel with your family?
Red flags include chefs unwilling to provide references or demonstrate skills. Be wary of those who overpromise or seem inflexible about your requirements. Hiring a professional private chef recruitment agency like Morgan & Mallet can resolve all these issues before they enter the household.
Set clear expectations, including schedules, days off, special dietary needs, household rules, food budget, and overtime. Again, a trusted competent agency will offer guidance, follow up on placements, and even have legal partners to help with employment contracts.
The Different Types of Private Chef
Female Private Chef
For reasons of security, culture, or personal
preference, female private chefs are highly
sought after, offering both culinary expertise
and discretion.
Head Chef/Executive Chef
A head/executive chef is in charge of the kitchen and makes menus, oversees other chefs in a large household and works with suppliers. They are a more senior role in larger households.
Family Private Chef
Traveling Private Chef
How to Hire a Private
Chef in the USA
The American private chef market is beautifully unique, for example the range of different skills required varies from city to city.
For example in Miami, 71% of our placements are in properties with dedicated back-of-house or show kitchens, whereas in New York, 61% of chefs travel seasonally between Manhattan residences and Hamptons estates.
35% of all our global private chef requests come from the United States, making it our largest market. We established our Manhattan office in 2024 to better serve East Coast families.
New York
48% of our clients here specifically request chefs with experience preparing seasonal, locally sourced menus. The city’s food culture demands sophistication and adaptability.
Manhattan families often need chefs who understand apartment kitchen constraints and building regulations.
Los Angeles
71% of private chefs we’ve placed in Los Angeles have worked for entertainers, athletes, or high-net-worth individuals in gated or multi-residence estates.
58% of chefs we’ve placed specialize in wellness-oriented cuisine, including gluten-free, dairy-free, alkaline, low-FODMAP, and anti-inflammatory menus. Health consciousness defines LA’s culinary scene.
Miami
66% of private chefs placed in Miami have managed culinary operations in estates with many staff. The city’s international flavor creates unique demands.
63% of placements include requests for chefs skilled in rotating global cuisines – Latin, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and plant-forward. Spanish language skills provide significant advantages in this market.
San Francisco
44% of our placements in San Francisco work with clients who follow personalized menus that have been medically advised – including DNA-based diets, gut biome analysis, or functional lab-based meal planning.
39% of our chefs here are asked to maintain relationships with sustainable farms, foragers, and climate-conscious fisheries. The Bay Area’s environmental values show up in every menu.
Hiring a Private Chef
in the UK
The UK has high standards for private chef services. 13.33% of our private chef and cook profiles are currently located in the UK, with a large amount in London.
The capital dominates, with 25.41% of our UK-based profiles working in the city. These chefs blend traditional British service with an international flavor, which is typical of London.
London Specifics
52% of our chefs here are trained in formal service, including silver service, guéridon, and French multi-course dining. Traditional skills remain highly valued.
46% have worked in ambassadorial, diplomatic, or royal family households. This experience gives them skills in discretion and the ability to deal with complicated or different protocols.
Gender Distribution in UK Kitchens
The UK market follows similar patterns to butler services. Female chefs are increasingly sought after, particularly in family homes.
86% of our London chef placements carry on beyond the initial term, showing high retention and satisfaction amongst our clients. Quality matches create lasting professional relationships.
How to Hire a Private Chef in the UAE
The UAE has had strong growth in private chef services and we have witnessed that. 20% of our global private chef demand comes from UAE and Middle East markets.
Following the UK government’s abolishment of the non-dom scheme, a substantial number of M&M’s UK clients set up in Dubai.
By request of our former UK clients we opened the Morgan & Mallet Dubai office in 2023 to continue serving these clients.
Dubai's Unique Requirements
58% of our Dubai-based chefs work in multiple properties following royal protocols or quite formal household structures.
56% of selected candidates are bilingual or multilingual (English + Arabic, French, Hindi, or Tagalog). Language skills open doors in this international hub.
Beyond Dubai
While Dubai leads, Abu Dhabi and other Emirates show growing demand for private chefs. 42% are chosen for their collaboration with private nutritionists, wellness doctors, or in-home medical teams.
The Middle Eastern preference for Arabic cuisine alongside French and Italian creates unique opportunities. Chefs who master multiple cuisines are in high demand.
We’d Love to Place a Professional Chef in Your Household
Finding the right private chef changes more than your meals. The right match becomes part if your life, someone you can’t do without.
Our 96% placement success rate really shows our commitment to perfect matches. Due to our extensive database, and trusted reputation by chefs we can usually find the right chef within days.
However, if your requirements are quite specialist we will tell you straight away that the search will take longer, rather than compromise on quality.
Frequently asked questions
Do private chefs work for themselves?
Most private chefs work as employees with salaries ranging from $75,000 to $200,000 annually. Personal chefs who serve multiple clients often work as independent contractors, charging per session.
When hiring through Morgan & Mallet, we help with employment contracts and insurance, protecting both parties. In every jurisdiction we have trusted legal partners to make sure everyone is protected.
Do private chefs get health insurance?
Full-time private chefs typically receive benefits including health insurance. In markets like New York and San Francisco, where 95% of our placements are full-time, medical coverage is standard.
Part-time chefs don’t often receive benefits, which is why the best talent prefers full-time private positions.
Do private chefs work alone?
It depends on household size. Smaller homes mainly have solo chefs managing everything on their own.
In larger estates, especially Miami where 66% of our chef placements work with multiple staff, chefs plan and talk with housekeepers and house managers. Even solo chefs need strong communication skills for coordinating with family members and suppliers.
Who is the chef of the billionaires?
While client confidentiality is very important, 10% of private chef requests at Morgan & Mallet specifically seek Michelin-starred experience. These elite chefs command top salaries and travel between different homes across the world.
Morgan & Mallet places chefs with royal families, tech entrepreneurs, and entertainment leaders – positions needing total excellence in the kitchen, cultural awareness, and absolute discretion.
Can private chefs accommodate different dietary needs for family members?
Managing different dietary requirements is a core skill for professional private chefs. In Los Angeles, 58% of our placed chefs specialize in wellness-oriented cuisine including gluten-free, dairy-free, and anti-inflammatory menus.
Also in most cases, we’ll only place a chef with proven experience of preparing for your specific dietary needs.
The best chefs maintain separate prep areas for allergen-free cooking and coordinate with nutritionists when needed. This expertise drives our 96% placement success rate.