A friendly, flexible and capable cook is required for a busy private fully staffed household based in Hampshire, with travel. It is important the cook is happy to work weekends, and is also available to travel with the clients to various locations including London, Italy, Switzerland and South Africa.
The family are in residence Thursday – Monday inclusive. Monday is an office meeting so the chef needs to do lunch for office staff then too. They also have monthly board meetings for 20, occasional travel to London to cook there. Switzerland travel could be up to two months in the Spring. Weekends normally 6-10pp as family come down. Numbers do vary and a need to be flexible is essential.
Main principals consist of 2 adults, with visiting family, friends and staff members to be cooked for. The clients are looking for someone willing and flexible and who enjoys working in an open plan kitchen which is central to the home – with members of staff plus clients and dogs coming in and out. The food is served by a Butler, but the clients are very staff facing, so you will need to be happy to see the clients and speak to them, but also keep your distance when needed and discretion is key. It is absolutely essential you enjoy working as a team and get on well with the other staff.
There will be times when the family are away and not in residence, and these are the periods you can have time off/weekend off. If the clients are away and you are working and not needed in the travel destination it would be great to make jams/chutneys using the garden produce/prep for the freezer.
The family enjoy salads, grilled fish, grilled eat, roast chickens, mediterranean style food, Homemade Pasta, and traditional British puddings like crème brulee, frangipane, bakewell tart, eton mess etc. Someone happy to try different recipes. Presentation of food should be fresh and modern. Seasonal, fresh, simple but delicious food with really good ingredients is key. They have a vegetable garden and would like a cook who enjoys using the fresh garden produce in their dishes. Occasional dinner parties where the cook would need to provide slightly more elaborate food but nothing complicated.
Really good, modern style presentation needed - lots of lovely Ottolenghi spread style lunches using local ingredients etc.
Accommodaiton can be provided in all locations – no bills payable. A house in Hampshire is provided which is also suitable for a partner/pet. The cook should be a driver, but own car not essential but might be useful on days off when at the UK residence. It is important the cook enjoys living in Hampshire and happy in a rural environment.
The family are looking for a cook who would be happy to travel with the family. This year there is a trip to South Africa and it would be ideal to have the cook come with them for a couple of weeks in December. There are busy and quieter times, and several long periods when the clients travel and are not in residence, and these are the times that the cook can use to take holiday.
The cook will be responsible for menu planning, shopping for ingredients, keeping control of kitchen stock, cleaning the kitchen and all equipment, preparing, cooking and presenting food. The clients are looking for someone that is friendly, a capable cook, understands flavours and differing requirements, flexible with last minute changes and adaptations, and it is essential the cook is happy to work as part of a team in a busy private home.
• Salary TBC. • Contract on Payroll • To start ASAP
If you are interested in this role please e mail your CV to ella@sugarellacooks.co.uk along with food images, sample menus and expected salary.