3 Cook jobs available:

TORONTO CANADA AND PROVENCE FRANCE - PRIVATE CLIENT

Seeking an experienced full-time Private COOK/Chef who can prepare day-to-day Mediterranean style meals and also elevated cuisine for events, all with a focus on fresh and local products.

A busy household, the successful candidate will be required to cook for dinner parties of 8-10 people.

Applicants should be flexible with schedules for some weekends and special events.

Some travel to Europe required - French speaker a plus.

You are creative, down to earth, and love good food. Happiest cooking in your own kitchen, you are probably not necessarily professionally trained, but maybe grew up cooking with a mother or grandmother who showed you the ropes.

You keep an immaculate kitchen (and we do mean immaculate,) always, hate chef drama and hissy fits, and know that good food comes from the heart, not the food channel....

If you love food and cooking, think sourcing the absolute best ingredients is more fun than a scavenger hunt, and understand the importance of home-made stocks, you will enjoy this position.

If you know how to manage a vegetable garden, even better!

If you know that every cook’s best friend is an intelligently stocked and well-maintained pantry, read on.

If you didn't love "Julie and Julia" and think marshmallows have any place in an adult's diet, this is NOT the position for you. However, if Elizabeth David and Alice Waters are your personal heroes, and if you can't ever decide if Nigella bests Nigel, or vice versa and if you think pasta with raw tomato sauce begins with growing your own tomatoes, we may have something to talk about.

This position is full-time if candidates are available to travel a few months a year to Provence and speak some French. If not, a part-time position in Toronto could be an option.

Now down to the detail.

Primary Responsibilities:

· Daily cooking of simple, healthy meals with a focus on nutrition and fresh ingredients

· Ability to create cook more elevated cuisine for special events

· Understand the importance of incorporating local ingredients and optimize opportunities to shop at farmers markets

· Plan menus and maintain recipe database

· Kitchen inventory budgeting and management, including provisioning

· Assist with maintaining of household systems as it relates to the kitchen and events

· Assist Principal with event planning and execution

· Maintain a clean kitchen at all times

Applicant Qualities:

· Must have previous experience as a Private Cook

· Must be flexible and accommodating with work schedules

· Must have strong culinary and communication skills; proficient at planning and discussing menus with Principal

· Willing to work with an established collection of recipes; Principal is open to modifications and initiative

· Adaptable, self-motivated, with excellent time management, strong organizational skills, and attention to detail

· A team player able to work cooperatively with household staff and vendors

· Excellent computer literacy

· Polished professional presentation, must maintain privacy and confidentiality at all times

· Must have a valid driver’s license with clean driving record (staff vehicle provided)

· Able to travel with Principal as required

· French / Italian language skills considered an asset

You will join a team of creative, entrepreneurial women working from a home office where no two days are ever the same. You will take the lead in managing all things food and entertaining. You will prepare and test recipes with the principal, manage an extensive recipe data base and prepare menus and food plans for busy homes in Toronto and Provence.

Finally, this is not necessarily a position for a restaurant or professionally trained CHEF. This is a position for an excellent HOME COOK, who would be comfortable sharing the kitchen with the principal (who also likes to cook.) Cooking from the data base, (not from your head,) and a person who can develop flavour without the crutch of excessive fat and butter.
If this sounds like something between a challenge and a dream job, we look forward to hearing from you. The position is well paid for the right individual, comes with medical benefits and 3 weeks annual holiday. You must have a full Ontario Driver’s licence or be prepared to obtain one and must be legally able to work in Canada (or be a fluent French speaker, as this aids the employer with Sponsorship.)

How you have learned to cook is not relevant, so long as you are a wizard in the kitchen. Candidates who speak French and are able to travel will be an advantage. (HU3569)

COTSWOLDS -OXFORDSHIRE
HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT COUPLE
Cook-Head Housekeeper- Butler-Driver-Security
Duties are interchangeable

Large country house close to Chipping Norton – refurbished after a 2 ½ -year building project. This is the primary residence of a family of 5 which included 3 teenage children and family dog. The principals however do spend 2 days each week in London.

An experienced domestic couple is required, a couple who work well together and fulfil the duties as described between them. The housekeeper will have the support of a daily who works 3 days each week. A full gardening team is also employed.

Duties will therefore include, cooking for both the family and to dinner party standard for more formal gatherings of up to 14 people. Regularly at weekends the principals enjoy entertaining with Sunday lunches, informal lunch & supper parties. A keen cook, who enjoys fresh healthy and balanced varied International cuisine, capable to follow new recipes and so an enthusiastic cook who enjoys entertaining as well as family cooking.

Housekeeper will be hands on, with excellent laundry skills, but also capable to oversee the daily housekeeper and deal with flowers, turn down and care of the guests.

Front of house skills to include laying of tables, service, greeting guests, serving drinks, laying fires and ability to assist with any heavier cleaning. There will be some local driving, airport runs, and station pickups, occasionally you may be asked to drive to London too. You will care for the cars ensure they are clean, valeted and paperwork is in place.

SALARY NEGOTIABLE DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE, Accommodation provided 2-bedroom self-contained apartment, no children can be accommodated but a well-behaved small dog is welcome. Strictly Non-Smokers and excellent references required. Ideally both should drive. 2 days off each week usually Tuesday and Wednesday (HU3607)

HIGH STREET KENSINGTON -W8
DAILY COOK-HOUSEKEEPER
11am to 7.30pm Monday to Thursday
9-5pm Friday

Informal family of 3 which includes a 18 yr. old boy, require an experienced, self-sufficient cook-housekeeper who can take care of the daily running of this four storey home close to High Street Kensington tube station.

The property is five bedrooms but only 2 are used and you will be responsible for the daily housekeeping, cleaning, laundry, and family cooking 4 evenings per week.

The principals spend every weekend at their country house and travel abroad at least 10 weeks of the year, so you will only need to work Monday to Friday. The daily hours to accommodate cooking dinner for the family and clearing away are 11am to 7.30pm BUT you must be able to be flexible to stay later on the odd occasion. Time back will be given for these extra hours. Very occasionally you may be required to sleep over if the principals are away, but no more than 6 times per annum.

The cooking is fresh family cooking, steamed vegetables, grilled fish or meat, pasta, and salads, mainly Mediterranean in style with Ottolenghi and modern British /European too Most shopping is done online but fresh vegetables meat and fish are accessible locally

Salary negotiable depending on experience. Strictly Non-Smokers and excellent references. ASAP Start.  (HU3038)