PLEASANT GROVE — It's not as far-fetched an idea as it may seem.
Life coaches are telling today's nuclear families they ought to consider hiring a personal chef because 21st century soccer moms just don't have the time to shop and prepare nutritious family meals.
Bringing in a personal chef can reduce stress, plus one can have stuffed cannelloni with steamed broccoli for dinner or pan-seared honey mustard salmon with couscous and green beans almondine instead of hot dogs.
Mindi and Glen Pincock believe having a personal chef can be a boon to a family, whether it's a new mother with a baby, someone recovering from surgery or just a typical overly busy family. That's why they started "Traveling Chefs" in Utah County one year ago.
Glen Pincock is an experienced restaurant chef and a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute.
He wanted more time home with the family, so when he and his wife started brainstorming and found the Personal Chefs Association online, it seemed a natural fit.
Customers fill out a questionnaire, choosing the foods they like and listing the ones they don't. Then, with the Pincocks, they work out a menu for a designated number of meals.
Mindi Pincock shops. Glen Pincock cooks with the luxury of being able to focus. "I work in the client's kitchen, but I bring everything, my pots and pans, my toolbox of utensils, the ingredients and the seasonings," Pincock said. "It usually takes me about four hours from start to finish."
Some days he misses having an industrial kitchen, but he juggles things pretty well among an oven and four burners. When he's done, the client has 10 to 12 delicious, hearty meals to eat and freeze.
"We even supply the containers, which are microwavable and ovenproof," said Mindi Pincock. "We do it all from start to cleanup."
A client can order any number of meals and define whether the meals are low-fat, salt-free, vegetarian or gourmet. They can be spiced up or customized for the sensitive palate.
The average set of meals starts at $120 for five and goes up from there.
"When you think about it, you could spend that much eating out several times a week," said Mindi Pincock.
"I like it because I don't have to cook or clean up," said Anna Wiersdorf.
Wiersdorf has three children already, and she and her husband just added a newborn son. "My husband cooked the first week, but he only knows how to cook burritos. Somehow you want vegetables after a while."
Wiersdorf said it's a great service that she highly recommends.
The Pincocks have about 30 clients as happy as Wiersdorf.
"We're busy. Sometimes Glen cooks two times a day," Mindi Pincock said.
The meals are selected so that they freeze and reheat well. Flavor is guaranteed.
According to entrepreneur.com, the United States Personal Chef Association had 15 members in 1992; today, it's well over 3,000.
"We think this is an idea that's arrived," Mindi Pincock said.
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