Savor Every Bite

Welcome to Amanda Skow Personal Chef Service

About Me

I've been cooking for myself since I was in college.
I liked my cooking better than the offerings
at the student union, and I was paying
my own way, so I needed to economize. I lived off campus
in Salt Lake City. After breakfast at home,
I packed my lunch in my backpack,
along with my books for morning classes
and afternoon work. I earned a degree in journalism
from the University of Utah. It was hard work
and a great experience.

Later, while I was married to my first husband, I worked
as an editor while he attended culinary school in Vermont. I provided financial and moral support—and I learned a lot. My years of cooking along with his formal training boosted my skills and enjoyment of cooking.

After we got amicably divorced, I moved to Boise, Idaho,
and opened a personal chef service. I was in my mid 30s.
It was my first experience running a business,
and it worked. I cooked for clients in their homes,
stocking their fridges with home-cooked dishes
that they reheated for dinner. Most of my clients
were families with young children and two careers,
so they were too busy to cook, and tired of ordering pizza.
I loved it when someone would walk in and say,
"It smells good in here. What are you making?"
I heard that again and again.

One client was an elderly woman who couldn't
see well enough to cook for herself. She wrote
the word CHEF in large letters on the checks
she gave me, so the people at the bank would know
she was hiring a chef. She watched "The People's Court" with the volume turned up. I was very fond of her.
When I closed the business and moved
to the Pacific Northwest, she gave me a red umbrella, which I still have.

While married to my second husband in Seattle,
I retired from gainful employment and became a homemaker. I cooked for both of us,
preparing healthy meals for myself and kid food for him—
he was a picky eater. It worked well. When we got
amicably divorced, we remained friends,
and I still cook for him often.

Before I moved out, I went on a month-long road trip, visiting my extended family in Utah. I stayed
with each family for three days, and I cooked for them.
I had a blast, and my cooking was popular, especially my homemade ice cream. After my trip,
I bought property in Blaine, and I reopened my personal chef service. My realtor told me that Whatcom County
is popular with vacationers, so I decided to market
my services to them as well as busy people.

I now offer two services:
Celebration
Home-cooked dinners at your vacation rental or home

Stocking
Volume cooking at your home.

I look forward to cooking for you.