Dinner Made Simple

Austin American Statesman - October 18, 2005

Personal Chef Cooking Up New Business by Ginger Cowles

'Lifelong foodie' launched career after watching episode of 'Recipe for Success'

Last fall, Toni Scott knew she wanted to go into business for herself again, but she didn't know quite what she wanted to do. A self-proclaimed "lifelong foodie," she was watching the Food Network one day and stumbled on "Recipe for Success," a show about foodies trying to start a small business.

The show featured Monique Smith, a personal chef in Atlanta. She caught Scott's attention. "She sounded just like me: She reads cookbooks like novels and feels the way about pots and pans that some women feel about clothes and jewelry," Scott said. Scott, 46, had never heard of the personal chef industry but immediately knew it was for her. A few months later, Scott was in Atlanta at a weeklong course at the Culinary Business Academy, whose instructor was Smith. After months of research and marketing, Scott launched her Dinner Made Simple personal chef service in July.