Profile

FULL-TIME FAMILY COOK / ASSISTANT PRIVATE CHEF

Private Estate, Cotswolds
Full-time, permanent
5 days per week | 2 consecutive days off
Salary dependent on experience

A wonderful opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and passionate Family Cook / Assistant Private Chef to join a lovely private family on their beautiful working estate in the Cotswolds.

This is a particularly exciting opportunity for someone at the beginning of their culinary career who loves good, seasonal food and would like to develop their skills within a private household. The successful candidate will work closely alongside a highly experienced and knowledgeable Private Chef, with the opportunity to learn, evolve and gradually take on greater responsibility.

At the heart of the role is delicious, unfussy and beautifully prepared home cooking, with a strong emphasis on seasonality and making the very best use of produce grown in the estate's extensive kitchen garden and from the wider farm.

The family are passionate about good food and would love to find someone who shares that enthusiasm: a naturally creative and imaginative cook who enjoys looking at what is growing in the garden and thinking about what they can make with it. Making the most of seasonal abundance is an important part of the kitchen, including preserving, pickling and preparing home-grown produce to be enjoyed throughout the year.

The household principally consists of two people, with close family regularly coming and going. They enjoy entertaining at home, particularly Sunday lunches for approximately 8–12 guests, as well as around five shoot weekends throughout the year.

This is a warm and welcoming household with a fantastic wider estate team. The successful candidate will be personable, discreet and happy to be client-facing, becoming a valued part of both the household and the wider team.

THE ROLE

• Working closely with the Private Chef, responsibilities will include:
• Preparing fresh, seasonal family meals using home-grown and locally sourced produce
• Assisting with menu planning and developing an understanding of the family's tastes and preferences
• Making imaginative use of produce from the kitchen garden and wider estate
• Preserving and making the most of seasonal gluts from the kitchen garden, including chutneys, jams, pickles, preserves and other produce for use throughout the year
• Preparing for relaxed family meals, Sunday lunches, house guests and entertaining
• Assisting the Private Chef during approximately five shoot weekends each year
• Helping with occasional larger events and particularly busy periods
• Shopping, provisioning and maintaining well-organised food stocks
• Receiving, checking and putting away deliveries
• Maintaining excellent standards of kitchen cleanliness, organisation and presentation
• Working collaboratively with the Private Chef and wider household and estate team
• Being flexible and willing to help wherever required within the kitchen

THE IDEAL PERSON

The family are not necessarily looking for someone with years of private household experience. In fact, this could be an exceptional first step into private service for a young or newly trained cook with excellent foundations, natural ability and a genuine desire to learn.

A Ballymaloe-trained candidate would be particularly welcomed, or someone from a similar background with a genuine appreciation for seasonal, produce-led cooking.

Above all, we are looking for someone who:

• Has a genuine love of food and ingredients
• Is creative, imaginative and interested in developing as a cook
• Understands and appreciates seasonal, garden-to-table cooking, including preserving and making imaginative use of home-grown produce throughout the seasons
• Is eager to learn from an experienced and knowledgeable Private Chef
• Is receptive to guidance and keen to continually develop their skills
• Has the intuition to learn and understand the family's individual preferences
• Is personable, warm and comfortable interacting with the family
• Is calm, organised, hardworking and reliable
• Enjoys being part of a close-knit household and wider estate team
• Is discreet, flexible and willing to muck in when required
• Takes real pride in maintaining high standards

Previous experience within a private household would be advantageous but is not essential. Good culinary training, strong foundations and, most importantly, the right attitude and enthusiasm are more important.

A driving licence and own transport will be required due to the rural Cotswolds location.

HOURS

This is a full-time position working five days per week, with two consecutive days off during the week.

Due to the nature of a private household, weekend work will form part of the role; however, the successful candidate will have, on average, one weekend off in every three throughout the year.

Flexibility will be required around entertaining, family gatherings and the approximately five shoot weekends held each year.

Salary: depending on experience 

This really is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to begin or develop a career within a private household. The role offers the chance to work with wonderful ingredients in a beautiful setting, learn from an experienced Private Chef and become part of a friendly and established estate team.