{"id":188715,"date":"2026-04-29T15:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T13:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/?post_type=news&#038;p=188715"},"modified":"2026-04-30T18:06:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T16:06:40","slug":"dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/","title":{"rendered":"Dimitri FEYS: finance student by day, private chef by night"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Dimitri FEYS, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/programs\/grande-ecole-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Grande \u00c9cole Program<\/a> Master\u2019s in Finance student at I\u00c9SEG, thrives at the intersection of finance and culinary arts. Beyond the spreadsheets and financial models of his graduate studies, Dimitri has turned a growing passion for cooking into a professional venture as a private chef. Balancing cooking, professional training, and a demanding degree, he is carving out a space for himself in the culinary scene. He reflects on how this journey began and how he bridges these two seemingly opposite worlds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-188681\" width=\"205\" height=\"294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking.jpg 552w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking-105x150.jpg 105w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking-400x573.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px\" \/><figcaption>Dimitri Feys<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-ieseg-orange-color has-text-color\">Dimitri, when did you first get into cooking?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It all started during the Covid lockdown. I began cooking at home, mostly for myself. I never took formal classes; I\u2019m entirely self-taught. I learned the ropes by watching countless videos online and following chefs on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, I started cooking for family and friends. As my skills improved, I wanted to take it to the next level. One day, while scrolling through Instagram, I discovered the world of private chefs. I did some research, reached out to pros in the field to understand their business model, and realized I really wanted to try it out for myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-ieseg-orange-color has-text-color\">How did you land your first clients?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I started through word-of-mouth, using my inner circle as a &#8220;test market&#8221; for my first services. After that, I contacted several platforms that connect private chefs with clients. A company called &#8220;Pr\u00e9mices&#8221; reached out because they were looking to expand their network in Lille. I did a trial dinner, received great feedback, and was invited to join their roster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-ieseg-orange-color has-text-color\">What is the experience like for you and how does it all work?<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/plat-bis.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-188700\" width=\"218\" height=\"252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/plat-bis.jpg 542w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/plat-bis-259x300.jpg 259w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/plat-bis-130x150.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/plat-bis-400x463.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px\" \/><figcaption>A dish by Dimitri Feys<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s always some stress at the beginning, but the moment I step into a kitchen, I feel right at home. The pressure fades, and I just enjoy the process. Beyond the food itself, it\u2019s a great way to meet new people. Guests are usually curious and ask a lot of questions about the &#8220;private chef&#8221; trend. The conversations are always rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I offer a curated menu of my signature dishes, usually with three options each for appetizers, main courses, and desserts. I also handle custom requests. Whether it\u2019s an allergy or a specific dietary restriction, I always find a way to adapt the recipe. Communication is key\u2014I make sure to check for any dietary requirements well in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-ieseg-orange-color has-text-color\">You\u2019re also preparing for a professional cooking certification alongside your studies at I\u00c9SEG\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, I started a professional chef certification program a few months ago. It\u2019s an online course with videos, tutorials, and assignments, which gives me the flexibility I need to balance it with my Master\u2019s degree program.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking2-1-583x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-188708\" width=\"183\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking2-1-583x1024.jpg 583w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking2-1-171x300.jpg 171w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking2-1-768x1349.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking2-1-875x1536.jpg 875w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking2-1-1166x2048.jpg 1166w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking2-1-85x150.jpg 85w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking2-1-400x702.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-cooking2-1.jpg 1206w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 183px) 100vw, 183px\" \/><figcaption>Dimitri Feys<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The curriculum is very thorough. It covers everything from technical skills\u2014like knife work and cooking methods\u2014to food safety regulations, which are critical. You have to master storage temperatures, sanitation protocols, and very specific industry standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The final exam includes an oral presentation, a professional portfolio, and a four-hour practical test in a kitchen where I have to prepare a full three-course meal. There\u2019s also a comprehensive theory exam. My goal is to be certified by July. I try to put in at least one hour of study a day, though I have to stay flexible depending on my exam schedule at I\u00c9SEG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-ieseg-orange-color has-text-color\">Finance and culinary arts: two worlds appart?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Actually, they complement each other quite well. If I decide to pursue cooking long-term, I\u2019ll eventually launch my own business. That\u2019s where my finance background becomes a major asset. Understanding the numbers side of a business is vital. My time at I\u00c9SEG has already taught me a lot about entrepreneurship. Plus, having a finance degree provides a solid safety net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-ieseg-orange-color has-text-color\">What\u2019s next for you?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I haven\u2019t decided yet if I want to be a private chef full-time and in the long term, but I want to have all the tools ready so I can make an informed choice later. Ideally, I\u2019d like my future career to involve the food industry in some way, whether that\u2019s launching a restaurant group or handling the financial side of a group.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-menu-contact.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-188741\" width=\"246\" height=\"340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-menu-contact.jpg 641w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-menu-contact-217x300.jpg 217w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-menu-contact-108x150.jpg 108w, https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dimitri-menu-contact-400x554.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 246px) 100vw, 246px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dimitri FEYS, a Grande \u00c9cole Program Master\u2019s in Finance student at I\u00c9SEG, thrives at the intersection of finance and culinary arts. Beyond the spreadsheets and financial models of his graduate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":188692,"menu_order":0,"template":"","news-category":[60],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Dimitri FEYS: finance student by day, private chef by night<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dimitri FEYS, a student at I\u00c9SEG, has turned a growing passion for cooking into a professional venture as a private chef.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dimitri FEYS: finance student by day, private chef by night\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dimitri FEYS, a student at I\u00c9SEG, has turned a growing passion for cooking into a professional venture as a private chef.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"I\u00c9SEG\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/IESEG-School-of-Management\/358733860458?fref=ts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-30T16:06:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/menu--1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1083\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"484\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alice GOYAU\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@IESEG\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Ieseg\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/edu\/school?id=12453\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/IESEGChannel\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/IESEG-School-of-Management\/358733860458?fref=ts\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IESEG\"],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/IESEG-Logo-2012-rgb.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/IESEG-Logo-2012-rgb.jpg\",\"width\":\"1000\",\"height\":\"311\",\"caption\":\"Ieseg\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/\",\"name\":\"I\u00c9SEG\",\"description\":\"School of Management\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/menu--1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/menu--1.jpg\",\"width\":1083,\"height\":484},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/\",\"name\":\"Dimitri FEYS: finance student by day, private chef by night\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-29T13:35:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-30T16:06:40+00:00\",\"description\":\"Dimitri FEYS, a student at I\u00c9SEG, has turned a growing passion for cooking into a professional venture as a private chef.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"I\u00c9SEG\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Students\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news-category\/students-en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Dimitri FEYS: finance student by day, private chef by night\"}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Dimitri FEYS: finance student by day, private chef by night","description":"Dimitri FEYS, a student at I\u00c9SEG, has turned a growing passion for cooking into a professional venture as a private chef.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Dimitri FEYS: finance student by day, private chef by night","og_description":"Dimitri FEYS, a student at I\u00c9SEG, has turned a growing passion for cooking into a professional venture as a private chef.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/","og_site_name":"I\u00c9SEG","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/IESEG-School-of-Management\/358733860458?fref=ts","article_modified_time":"2026-04-30T16:06:40+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1083,"height":484,"url":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/menu--1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Alice GOYAU","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@IESEG","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#organization","name":"Ieseg","url":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/edu\/school?id=12453","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/IESEGChannel","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/IESEG-School-of-Management\/358733860458?fref=ts","https:\/\/twitter.com\/IESEG"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/IESEG-Logo-2012-rgb.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/IESEG-Logo-2012-rgb.jpg","width":"1000","height":"311","caption":"Ieseg"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/","name":"I\u00c9SEG","description":"School of Management","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/menu--1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/menu--1.jpg","width":1083,"height":484},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/","name":"Dimitri FEYS: finance student by day, private chef by night","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2026-04-29T13:35:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-30T16:06:40+00:00","description":"Dimitri FEYS, a student at I\u00c9SEG, has turned a growing passion for cooking into a professional venture as a private chef.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/dimitri-feys-student-chef-cooking\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"I\u00c9SEG","item":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Students","item":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/news-category\/students-en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Dimitri FEYS: finance student by day, private chef by night"}]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/188715"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/188715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":188750,"href":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/188715\/revisions\/188750"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ieseg.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-category?post=188715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}