Chalet Chef

Chalet packages are booked by guest parties for premium prices and are all inclusive. They include catering, concierge and all-around hospitality. Reputation is everything for these companies with food playing a crucial role – repeat business is a result of food quality and reviews. A Chalet Chef may also be the Chalet Host in a smaller chalet. Or the chalet would require Chef and Host. Typically a couple would apply for both roles. The role requires cooking, cleaning, serving, hosting and often taxiing guests to slopes.

A Chalet Chef is employed to cook superior meals using fresh produce. Guests will often enjoy the slope-side restaurant or mountain-top eateries by day, but mornings and afternoons/evenings need to be catered for. So, breakfast, afternoon tea and a 4-course dinner, 5 days per week. Menus and food meet hungry and appreciate guests! Customer service skills are important, as you get to know the guests and tailor the food for them during their stay. Cleaning must be to a to hotel standard.

Hard work, early starts but in a relaxed environment with plenty of time on the slopes. Most Chalet Hosts have two well-deserved days off every week (normally mid-week). On these days, most chalet companies offer breakfast as normal, just without the ‘hot’ options and you can still expect a tasty afternoon tea, although it might be cookies rather than a freshly-baked cake. There is no evening meal, so this is a chance for you to explore the local restaurants in your resort. Furthermore, guests are often out skiing during the hours of 11am and 4pm, providing an opportunity the Chalet Chef to enjoy their free ski pass and equipment hire.

There are no formal or legal requirements for qualifications, however they often pave the way for more efficient and better-quality work. Companies may have discretionary policies regarding expected qualifications of candidates. Furthermore, competitive roles are best navigated with full credentials. All chalets and recruiters will want a measure of culinary experience and/or professional exposure.

This is a great entry level professional chef role for graduates or a change of direction for more experienced professionals, given the diversity of Chalet Chef positions. There’s potential to work through to more luxury chalets or switch over to a mountain-top hotel or restaurant too. Regarding other experience, customer services skills, basic French language are both useful for applicants. Compulsory requirements include; UK passport and address. Aged 21 years. UK driving licence. UK bank account. There is good demand for Chalet Chefs, so it’s a very realistic career pathway/progression.

Independent working, full of enthusiasm, hospitality, always on-hand and accommodating to changes, events or requests. In charge of provisioning, ordering, stock taking alongside cooking, hosting and cleaning duties. In summary, available 7am to 10pm with an approximate interval between 11am and 4pm to enjoy the slopes or meet with friends and colleagues. Worth being aware that cooking at altitude has additional challenges, which include; water takes longer to boil, ingredients take longer to cook, recipes may need additional raising agents, sugar and seasoning added.

In tandem with the great array of different chalets, the positions of Chalet Chef also vary greatly. Graduates can expect to earn circa £250 per week plus benefits with a full-time position (35-40 hrs). The added benefits being significant and include; flights, accommodation, food, medical insurance, free ski pass and equipment hire. There will be chalets that pay less and that pay Chalet Chefs more depending on the candidates CV.