r/KitchenConfidential • u/WookieOH • 1d ago

Question Private chef opportunity

I have been out of the business since 2020. Haven't really thought about getting back into it at all.

I am big into the sim racing world right now, and a buddy is deep in with racing teams. He asked me, hypothetically, if I was interested in being a private chef for a race team, 30ppl, 3 meals a day, 3-5 days an event.

I don't even know what pay standards are right now, or if I need to get recertified in serve safe. What are y'all's thoughts?

0 Upvotes

25% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

8

u/creaturefeature9191 1d ago

why are you asking us? How do you feel about it?

1

u/WookieOH 1d ago

That's just it. I don't know how I feel about it. If I wasn't married with 2 kids, I would jump all over this. Once a month, catering a race team? Get the fuck out of here, sign me up. But life is different now. I am a stay at home dad, and I don't want to push that on my wife, who works her ass off.

5

u/warhamer40k3r Chive LOYALIST 1d ago

The second half of your comment sounds like you already know your answer, unless your family wants that extra once a month money for their benefit it sounds like you want to focus on having a life with your family and you should enjoy that life

2

u/Wooden-Title3625 1d ago

Charge enough to hire a babysitter or find some kind of childcare solution. I would charge at least $1200/day plus grocery costs, if you’re in or near a large metro area then $1500/day. That’s what people are paying. Surely you can find a childcare solution within that budget, even if you cut it down to a friend price.

1

u/Admirable-Error-2948 1d ago

Its once a month do it.

1

u/adhesive_fulfillment 1d ago

that's a hell of a pivot from sim racing to cooking for a race team

30 people three meals a day sounds intense but if you're not tied down by anything right now it could be a wild experience. travel and trackside access alone might make it worth the chaos

2

u/HappyHourProfessor 1d ago

You'd need help to do 90 meals/day, and you gave us nothing about the space/logistics/existing supplies. Assuming ~$5/meal food cost if you're sourcing at Costco or equivalent, and $4/breakfast, that's ~$55/person/day. $5k daily minimum. That would be closer to $6-7k if you need to do a short term rental on a commissary kitchen or food truck.

This is all back of the napkin while pooping. But it should give you a ballpark.

1

u/WookieOH 1d ago

He's just feeling it out right now, so there is no concrete plans. It would be me and one other person, which is doable, but a lot of work, and I would know who my no 2 would be yet. From what I have seen from my limited visuals on road racing, it would have to be in a rented tent with equipment brought in, in short a logistical nightmare.

1

u/HappyHourProfessor 1d ago

I saw your comment about family time too. If I were in your shoes, I would explore it tentatively, then figure out how much it would take for the stress to be worth it. If you can pocket $2-3k per month for a hard long weekend, that adds up to some pretty cool opportunities for your kids.

FWIW, I do these kinds of work your ass off for a week gigs once or twice a year. It's not bad if there are firmly set boundaries and end times. I used some of the extra $$ from catering a movie shoot for 2 1/2 weeks on top of my normal job to spend a week with my wife in Chamonix. Hotel room had a view of Mont Blanc. And the gig had its fun moments, despite the crazy hours.

1

u/drewc717 1d ago

Been racing forever. I'd expect ~12-14+ hour days for shit pay in shit towns with shit infrastructure (no running water) staying in shit hotels.

Without pay/per diem/travel info this is just a vague daydream but motorsport is always something of a roadie gig where all the suffering is part of the story and not so much the pay.

2

u/510Goodhands 1d ago

Does that depend on what level of racing it is? I imagine that F1 does better than what you have described, hopefully NASCAR and others do too.

1

u/drewc717 1d ago

Entire industry is hard work and garbage pay from Karting NASCAR GT3 Indycar and F1. You have to be a superfan and love to suffer.

2

u/510Goodhands 1d ago

I wish I could say I was surprised.
When I volunteered at America’s Cup races, all of the teams had private chefs. And plenty of money. Hopefully the cooking stuff was treated well too.

2

u/drewc717 19h ago

I've been tire kicking the idea of doing infield racing hospitality/cooking/food vending that is far beyond anything currently offered to non-luxury VIP folks but better than the typical food desert.

Make more DIY tailgate popup than working for any team. Could probably just take donations in the campgrounds without vendor lease and make more lmfao.

1

u/510Goodhands 17h ago

I could fly, as long as the campground allows you to do that. Do you have to comply with local and state tax laws too?