Chef Denny Wilhelm of "Your Culinary Companion" is from the blue-collar town of Toledo, Ohio. Denny grew up in a family of good but not great cook. His brother Jim has gone on to become a Professional Culinary trained Chef and enjoys a great career in the "commercial" industry. Both Jim and Denny have become the ones that the family calls with those, "how do you cook this?" questions.

Denny learned to cook in his early teens out of what his mother thought was necessity. To quote his mom, "It was during those early teen years that I finally realized that Denny needed to learn how to take care of himself totally, As no woman in her right mind was going to take care of him for very long!" And so began what would one day and after more them a few different occupations later become, "Chef Denny" of Your Culinary Companion A Personal Chef Service.

While cooking was something that he enjoyed he never really wanted to "run the kitchen". Then one day his wife gave him "THE" cookbook. There were other cookbooks that he used from time to time over the years, but the "Passion of Barbeque" from the KCBS- changed it all. That $10.00 cookbook ended up costing hundreds of dollars in spices and meats in the 1st month, which led to Denny wanting to "run the kitchen."

He had friends that owned restaurants and he would, "mess around" in their kitchens on his days off from his regular job. This let him know that while messing around was fun, he didn't want to do "commercial" cooking on a regular basis.

So for years Denny cooked at home and did "special" meals and deserts for family and friends. While others enjoyed his food and told him he should open his own place he knew that was not what he wanted to do. Then on one of those days off while watching the "Food Network" on TV, he saw a show on Personal Chefs. His first thought was, "I can do that!" He then started his research of the industry and found a home at PCN. It is here that he found a place that would let him learn to "run the Kitchen." And while neither Sharon nor Wendy "Take care of him", they certainly do have to "keep him in line" from time to time!

With a background in sales, and enjoying cooking for others the personal chef business is a natural fit for him. "I love the process of the sale, but it is all a means to an end, that of cooking and bringing families back to the table, and enjoying the smiles that my food puts on their faces."

In his free time Denny enjoys the University of Michigan Football, Watching sprint car racing on dirt, boating and spending time with his family. Denny is also one of a group of personal chefs at PCN that are currently taking a course study to become a Nutritional Consultant to further his health and wellness approach to his cooking.