Private chef or caterer: which to choose?
By Mélida Karine Pierre · updated
A caterer delivers food prepared elsewhere; a private chef cooks in your home, right before the meal, and serves it. For 2 to 20 seated guests, a private chef offers a more personal experience and dishes at their best. For a large buffet of 60 or more, a caterer is often a better fit.
Comparison
| Private chef | Caterer | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it's cooked | In your home, right before service | In a central kitchen, then transported |
| Service | Included, at the table | Often optional |
| Menu | Tailored | Catalogue, sometimes adaptable |
| Ideal size | 2 to 40 guests | 20 to several hundred |
| Clean-up | Included | Varies |
What about an intimate wedding?
Between 20 and 60 guests, both work. The chef then offers a catering format with service staff, keeping hot dishes cooked on site.
Frequently asked questions
Is a private chef more expensive than a caterer?
Per person, often slightly more, but service and clean-up are included. For a small group, the gap is small.