National Personal Chef Day is celebrated every year on July 16 to recognize the talented professionals who bring personalized meals to your table. Founded by the United States Personal Chef Association (USPCA), this day highlights the value of personal chefs and their growing role in helping families and individuals eat well at home.
What Is a Personal Chef?
A personal chef is a culinary professional who prepares customized meals for multiple clients, often in the clients’ own kitchens. They create menus based on each person’s dietary needs, food preferences, and schedule. Most personal chefs prep meals in advance so clients can easily reheat them throughout the week. They also handle menu planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleanup—and sometimes cater small private events.
This is different from a private chef, who works full-time for just one household and often lives on-site.
When Is National Personal Chef Day Celebrated?
While July 16 is the main date for celebrating National Personal Chef Day, a secondary date—February 26—is also occasionally mentioned. However, the July celebration is far more widely observed.
Here’s a look at upcoming dates through 2030:
| Year | Date and Day |
|---|---|
| 2025 | July 16, Wednesday |
| 2026 | July 16, Thursday |
| 2027 | July 16, Friday |
| 2028 | July 16, Sunday |
| 2029 | July 16, Monday |
| 2030 | July 16, Tuesday |
Who Hires Personal Chefs?
Personal chefs work with a wide range of clients—busy families, professionals with limited time, people managing dietary restrictions, and those who simply enjoy gourmet meals without the hassle of cooking. Some chefs have even built a following for their work with athletes and celebrities. For example:
- Chef Jess (Jessica Swift) is known for fueling professional athletes with healthy meals.
- Chef Ryan Rondeno has cooked for A-list clients and major events.
- Chef Ann Butler is popular among families who want wholesome, home-style meals during the week.
Personal chefs also help elevate dinner parties by curating meals that suit both the occasion and the guests.
The Rise of the Personal Chef Industry
The personal chef profession has grown steadily over the past few decades, shaped by modern lifestyles, health trends, and the desire for convenience. Here’s a closer look at how this field has evolved:
- The industry began gaining traction in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as more people looked for healthier, home-cooked meals without the time commitment.
- Many personal chefs are former restaurant professionals who shifted to independent work to gain flexibility and build closer relationships with clients.
- Unlike meal prep services or delivery kits, personal chefs offer fully customized, from-scratch cooking tailored to each household’s tastes and dietary needs.
- Some chefs focus on specialty diets, like keto, vegan, paleo, or allergen-free menus, making them an essential resource for health-conscious clients.
- Personal chefs typically work as small business owners, handling every part of their service—from meal planning and cooking to marketing and scheduling.
- Technology has helped the industry grow, with online platforms making it easier for chefs and clients to connect in cities across the country.
- The cost of hiring a personal chef varies, but often ranges from $35 to $50 per hour or $300–$500 per day depending on the region and complexity of the menu.
- Many professionals also pursue certifications in food safety or nutrition to better serve clients with medical or dietary restrictions.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
📝 This article was originally published on December 2nd, 2024. It has been thoroughly updated, and the publishing date has been changed to reflect the new version.
