The Everyday Epicure Personal Chef Service
When Elizabeth Skipper was envisioning her third career, she knew it had to involve food and cooking. With a life-long love of good food, she’d trained in classic French cuisine and technique in Modern Gourmet’s professional chef program. She’d lived in Switzerland, traveled in Europe, and soaked up all she could of the local cuisines. Sales and marketing in high tech were no longer of interest.
She began by approaching the local high school about teaching for the evening enrichment program. Cook Better, Eat Better! classes were the result. Teaching cooking was rewarding, but teaching at the high school had its limitations. What was next?
The signs were there – an article in an airline magazine about personal chefs, ads in cooking magazines for personal chef training, and students asking if she catered. The path became clear. Her background and training were two-thirds of what was needed. The Culinary Business Academy provided the industry-specific training that was lacking.
In 2007, Elizabeth became The Everyday Epicure – “epicure” because she believes fervently in the importance of good food, and “everyday” because eating well daily is a goal. A member of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Elizabeth promotes traditional, nutrient-dense eating for optimal health and wellbeing.
At first the plan was to provide “heat and eat” meals for a number of regular clients. But in-home catering of parties turned out to be more enjoyable and more lucrative. What fun to be paid for cooking for a party and hearing everyone praise the cook! Today, Elizabeth’s business is a mix of regular clients, special occasion catering, and teaching.
A member of the Personal Chefs Cooperative and a former member of the US Personal Chefs Association, Elizabeth is happy to be enhancing other peoples’ lives with her cooking and knowledge of food. Also essential to her wellbeing are reading, walking, minimalist gardening, fiber arts, keeping up with her family and friends, occasional travel, and living a balanced life.
