When I was a little girl, I dreamed about princes and other valiant heroes coming to rescue me. (From what, I'm not quite sure, but that's beside the point.) My swashbuckling knight-errant was shielded in armor, carried a gleaming sword and rode a massive, white stallion with a shiny coat and mane.

      

Fast forward a few decades, and my definition of a hero is very different. He actually drives a white SUV, carries a whisk and wears a toque.

He is my personal chef.
Now, it's not what you're thinking. I haven't adopted a lifestyle of the rich and famous, nor have I thrown in the towel (pun intended) when it comes to cooking. I just needed help and qualified help, fast.
As most of you know, I travel a lot for business, and last week, things got out of hand. Not only was I in the air most days and at client meetings most nights, I decided to throw into the mix a last-minute party for a few friends. What would it take to coordinate an informal dinner, right?

Well, a delayed connection, bad weather and an empty refrigerator left me in a panic the day of my fete. I had a few hours to get my act together, and there was no way I was going to pull this off without serious help. And that's when I thought to contact the U.S. Personal Chef Association.

No sooner did I log on to their site, I had found Prince Bob, certified personal chef, located in my area and willing to leap tall grocery shelves in a single bound. I was saved!

Bottom line, Chef Bob shopped, prepped dinner and left me with some finishing instructions that were easy to follow and ensured a successful event — all in a few hours and at an affordable rate.
So, the moral of this tale is 1) try not to be superwoman and 2) check out the local, personal chefs in your area. They're probably better and less expensive than any caterer, and many give private lessons in your own home; an affordable gift, too, for cooking enthusiasts or those who'd just like to feel like a hero for one night.