Besides her personal-chef service, Mitchell offers catering and party services, romantic dinners for two and hands-on cooking classes. This fall, she also launched a line of herb and spice mixes – called Season to Savor – just in time for the holidays.
In more late-breaking news, Mitchell recently competed against 48 semi-finalists at the Cleveland-region Aetna Healthy Food Fight – and won! On Nov. 18, she’s flying to Los Angeles for the final cook-off against the other nine regional winners. The grand prize: $10,000 in kitchen appliances. Iron Chef Bobby Flay will judge the final round, where the chefs will be challenged to make a healthy Thanksgiving dinner.
It was a little more than 10 years ago when Mitchell first got the idea to become a personal chef. She was looking for a gift for her in-laws and spotted a magazine ad for the services of a local personal chef (so she bought them a gift certificate). At the time, Mitchell was working a corporate job but was considering a career change. Inspired, she launched Dine-In Diva in 2006.
“I spent 20-some years doing things I didn’t necessarily like to do because it paid the bills,” she says. “But I’m fortunate enough at this point to be doing what I like. So I’m happy and living the American dream.”
Most fulfilling part of the job: making an impact on someone’s health and/or lifestyle
And the hard part: when customers want a recipe. “Recipes are just ideas, and [I] tend to sort of wing it.”
There’s nothing better than: “a delicious meal prepared from the freshest, seasonal ingredients.”
Memorable clients: two different couples who got engaged – over one of her romantic dinners
Typical work day: There isn’t one. “Some days I don’t work at all, and other days I’ll be in my pajamas, working until 11.”
Tips for people who want to start eating healthy: Go to the farmer’s market, and buy local produce. When you go to the grocery store, limit shopping to the outside aisles; inside aisles contain more of the processed, snack foods.
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