How to get a ski season job as a ski chalet chef

June 1, 2017/in Blog

Working as a ski chalet chef and what you need to know

Having great chef and kitchen skills can take you all over the world , what better place to spend a winter than running your kitchen as a ski chalet chef.

Ski companies are always on the look out for an experienced chef/cook to cater for their guests. From hearty wholesome food to top quality restaurant style cuisine. This role can be pivotal to the whole success of the guests customers so you will be at the very heart of the guests holiday.

Key responsibilities as a ski chalet chef

You will have to be up bright and early , quite often this can even mean digging your way into the ski chalet if there has been a lot of snow overnight ! The bread would generally have been delivered by the local bakery so that needs to be brought in and then you will be expected to get breakfast started.

Most ski chalet companies will expect a hot option for their guests.This can range from scrambled eggs to a full English breakfast , so this along with cereals / boiled eggs and porridge will be most of the guests starter for the day.

During breakfast is the best time to get started with the cake for afternoon tea and any prep for the evening. The more you do during breakfast the more time you can squeeze out on the slopes .

Once your guests have had a great breakfast its time to get tidied up. Lay out your afternoon tea and then if you are prepped enough ( and only you can tell ) why not head out onto the slopes .

After a hard day on the slope its time to get back in the kitchen. Hopefully your ski chalet team will have helped clear up the afternoon tea and will be setting up the table for dinner. It is worth remembering that the guests have had a hard day out on the slopes. They may have stopped for a few apres-ski drinks in the bars so they will be looking forward to a great meal and this is your time to shine .

Try to remember that as a ski chalet chef you start the day for the guests so you are setting them up for a great day. At the end of a great day on the slopes you top it all off .

Key things to remember as a ski chalet chef

You will be responsible for all stock control,adhering to companies health and safety protocol. You will be ordering in your deliveries from butchers & bakers.

This is a demanding job, generally a better paid position, it can lead to spending seasons out in the Alps.

When applying for a ski chalet chef job have a really good read through the job description .

Good luck and have a great season.

Ski chalet host , a day in the life (part 1)

May 21, 2017/in Blog, Chalet Staff, Resort lifestyle, Ski Job Description

A day in the life of a chalet host

What is it really like to be a ski chalet host in the alps?

6:30am and the alarm’s going off , turn that racket off ! Then the phone alarm starts going ( always good to have two alarms , especially after last nights antics ) .A quick view of myself in the mirror versus time left for a shower means it’s on with the company beanie ,get dressed and run round to the chalet .

YES it’s snowing big pizza flakes , which is a double edged sword as I am going to have to dig my way into the chalet . So 10 minutes later and with a little help from the baker as he delivered the morning baguettes and I am into my chalet.I discover the guests had a little party last night , clearly wine & cheese was on “their” menu . Anyhow , get on with it and it’s:

Porridge on the hob
Eggs boiling ( 6 minutes for a soft egg at this altitude)
Cereals / jam & bread out
Coffee on (thank god)
Started baking the afternoon tea ,today it’s going to be lemon drizzle cake

And it’s only 7:45am ! If it all goes smoothly I be out by 10:30.The mountains are calling me .

The next 60 minutes are all about getting the guests fed , and out of the ski chalet. It’s all about making sure the breakfast fills them up , they find all the lost goggles/gloves/children and piste maps. Do they know where they are meeting the ski guide ? have a great day guys and see you in the bar for après ski !

Finally you have the chalet to yourself

So with the chalet empty , turn up the dodgy French radio and get cleaning bogs & beds , clean breakfast , lay the table for afternoon tea , order more wine from the chalet manager for tonight ( naughty guests !) ,sweep , mop , clear more snow !

10:40am and I am outta here , text my mates , ski gear on sharpish , sandwich made and stuffed in my ski jacket . If you can accomplish all that and make it on the hill by 11am , that’s a winner.

Time to hit the slopes

You now get to spend the day with your buddies riding the slopes and face-planting in powder .Digging myself out of tree holes , eating a squashed sandwich on a freezing chairlift , a quick vin chaud , more laps of our fav tree run then a little cheeky après ski for an hour ( really wish I had peeled all the veg for tonight !)

To be continued in part 2

Top tips to get a ski job

October 20, 2016/in Blog, Chalet Staff, Resort Staff

Ski Jobs and how to find them

Signing up for ski job boards

Ensure you have got the ski job adverts coming into your inbox every week .Sign up to the relevant websites job boards and this should be automatic for you . On Coolskijobs.com when you apply for a job you are automatically added to our job searchers list ( you can unsubscribe at anytime ).

Follow recruiters on social sites

To keep a close eye on the most recent ski jobs always follow ski recruitment companies on all of their social sites. Such as Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and Google+ , many companies will post their last minute ski jobs here first.

Attend the ski show to look for ski jobs

Head to the Ski Show armed with copies of your CV , remember though you need to be well presented.You want to give yourself the best chance of securing a last minute job . Ski chalet companies are still looking for staff at this time of the year (see below) and the best time to get there is bright and early , that way it gives you a chance later in the day to meet your buddies for a drink or two.

Keep an eye out for us at the show , if you are there than just give us a shout on twitter with the hashtag #coolskijobsbattersea , you may even find us in the bar for a drink (towards the end of the day) .

Tignes in the Autumn

Well the snow is falling in the Alps , we were out in Tignes and Courchevel yesterday. We met up with some key people , there are a lot of tour operators still looking for chalet hosts , chalet chefs , childcare , transfer drivers etc . As we left the temperatures dropped and the snowflakes started to fall . There are lots of skiers are up on the Tignes glacier currently on courses and race training .There was a real buzz in the air along with the smell of sawdust , paint and varnish !

Good luck this winter in finding your Cool Ski Job !

What to do in the summertime

September 5, 2016/in Blog

What do you think of in the summertime ?

So its summer (well it was 25C in Hemel today ! ) an all thoughts go to one of a few options :

get a job for next winter
book a flight to somewhere hot and stay for 5 months
head down under for more snow
work ass off in UK to bum next winter
starting working out what you are gonna do til it starts snowing ??

Well snow is falling in the Alps big time so here’s a little pic to make you smile .. if only you was in Courch!

So if its looking that good , then what is it like up in Tignes for the summer , well its had snow and there is a fair amount stockpiled up from the end of last winter

So if you are heading South for sun … have a blast … if you are in the greek Islands tweet us on @coolskijobs .. it would be good to catch up over an Ouzo !

The live Job-Board is coming soon and we need you coolskijobbers to spread the word .. get your buddies to join the gang and sign up here .

Enjoy the summer , ‘cos winter is coming .

Cheers from Boiling Hemel !

If you want a job next winter then make sure you Click here to register for job alerts , tweet with us on Twitter , Like us on Facebook or come pin with us on Pintrest !

‘Tis the season to be jolly !

December 5, 2015/in Blog

Latest new from the French Alps

Well the snow’s been falling all across the Alps and it looks all set to be a great start to the winter season, so if you are heading out to run a ski chalet , be a ski rep , work in a bar or any cool ski job then you must be madly excited!

Lots of resorts have opened all ready with some opening early and some even opening for free !! Yes Courchevel opens for the season with a free days skiing available if you are out there , so if you are still getting the ski chalet ready but havnt got your pass yet then this is a great chance to head onto the ski slopes

But whats happening out there right now?

Well this is the time of the season that most staff dread , if you are working in a chalet you will probably be doing inventories , practice meals , training , training and more training … generally you will not have your lift pass yet as most resorts may not be fully open … or the company is still getting all the staff passes organised . It can feel quite frustrating if you are out in the snow and you just wanna have fun but you just have to sit tight and get some work done .. the good times are just round the corner .

If you are working for a private bar / restaurant then it could well be open already and you are fueling the hangovers of the workers already in resort , it still feels weird as there are no real “Punters” out yet and if its your first season its difficult to get a real steer on what the job is all about … just wait for your first apres ski with a live band at xmas week , then you will know what to expect !

For those of you who have not sorted ski jobs yet … do not despair , we have a couple more positions available on the site , just CLICK HERE

Five days to go !

September 29, 2014/in Blog

What is happening in the next 5 days ?

Yes the season is just about upon us , Tignes kicks off at the weekend , although jobs are always thin on the ground there at the start of the season it is a good place to head if you are going to get some early slope time and try to score a job in resort, if you are still looking for winter positions then read on !

We have several jobs out in the Alps at the moment from barwork to childcare , have a look below and don’t just sit there thinking about it , lets get out to the mountains and live a little ( well .. a lot actually !)

If you are looking for a great night out this week and want to do a little networking before the season starts then why not head to the iF3 ski moie festival in clapham.

All the latest ski jobs can be found by CLICKING HERE

So if you want a ski job next winter then make sure you Click here to register for ski job alerts , tweet with us on Twitter , Like us on Facebook or come pin with us on Pintrest !

Get your ski job

October 30, 2013/in Blog

How to get a job in a ski resort

Cool Ski Jobs is here to help you all the way from deciding on what you want to do for the winter to getting ski job , having a ski pass in your hand and hitting the slopes.

Finding your ideal job in a ski resort is not down to luck , with 19 seasons experience in the Alps we know a thing or two about working out here and how to get the best jobs.

Here is your top 10 checklist to getting that ski season job

Apply for the right ski job for you , dont just hit apply now on every job
Read the job descriptions to ensure that your time and the recruiters time is not wasted
Research the resort you want to work in , you dont want to end up somewhere that just doesn’t suit you
Prepare your CV , make it look professional , concise , well presented and tailored to the job
At your interview arrive on time, well presented, have two copies of your CV , and smile
Attend next weeks ski show in London, arm yourself with CV’s and speak to every stand
Give us a shout out with the #coolskijobsbattersea and we will point you in the direction of companies with ski jobs
Keep an eye on all social media , lots of ski season jobs come out via Twitter , Facebook and even Instagram
Once you have applied on cool ski jobs you are added to our job alert list , so you will get all the jobs as they are added
You can always book a cheap early season ski holiday, or an easyjet return flight and most of all give yourself a chance in resort.Go armed with pre-printed CVs and get yourself known around resort .

So some wise words there on how you can get a ski job in the alps , good luck and let us know how you get on via the links below

Christmas Dinner Top Tips

December 20, 2012/in Blog, Chalet Staff, Resort lifestyle

Cooking Christmas dinner in your ski chalet

Right then , do not panic ! Just because you are cooking your first Christmas lunch ever and you are doing it for 12 guests in a kitchen. I know you have only just walked into it a week ago and its at altitude. We are here to help you get through it without waking up face down in a bar after getting the sack !

Top tips on cooking Christmas lunch

Firstly you need to check you have everything you need so write a list. Work through the menu first, from canapes , starters , main course , pudding and then onto coffees. Break this down into everything you will need to complete each part of the menu. you will need to include everything from pots & pans ( is the roasting tray big enough ? ) to all the ingredients ( including oils , butters etc ) .

How do chefs get it right every time ?

The most important aspect of cookery is timing , this runs true from professional kitchens to the simple cafe and you are no different. So working backwards from what time you are expecting to have pudding build an image of what time the main course should be served. Remember to leave yourself time in between courses to clear away and plate up the following course.

Now look at the timings for cooking the turkey

Approximate Roasting Times for Unstuffed Turkey
Turkey Weight	Hours
6 to 8 pounds	2-1/2 to 3 hours
8 to 12 pounds	3 to 4 hours
12 to 16 pounds	4 to 5 hours
16 to 20 pounds	5 to 5-1/2 hours
20 to 24 pounds	5-1/2 to 6 hours

Remember these times are for an un-stuffed turkey ( cook your stuffing separately its easier ) at sea level, so depending on your altitude you will need to increase these times. Always allow your turkey to rest for at least 90 minutes before you carve it, in my opinion I would aim to cook the turkey in the morning once the guests have gone out skiing and you are tidying up after all the unwrapping of Xmas pressies. Make your gravy from the juices and any stock you have built up during the week . Reheating the turkey can be achieved in a roasting tin with some of the gravy covering the meat and tightly sealed with foil , place this in the oven about 60 minutes before you are going to serve it.

Cooking your Christmas vegetables

Sprouts are a must have on Christmas day , cook these the day before for 8-10 mins (depending on altitude ) and then plunge them straight into icy cold water to halt the cooking. Drain the sprouts and dry off nicely, store in a cling-filmed container and throw into boiling water for 2 minutes just before you serve the main course.

For your roast parsnips (panais in French) , par boil these before putting in the oven to roast , leave them in nice big pieces, that way if you leave them in a little too long they will not dry out .

Classic roast potatoes

There are a million recipes for the perfect roast potato, my trick is par boil in salted water for about 10 minutes , just enough so they give a little on the outer edge but are uncooked in the middle. Place them back in the dry pan and give a shake to fluff up the edges, sift a little flour over them as you shake them around, this will make them extra crispy. Place a large roasting tin in the oven with olive oil or goosefat ( if you can get it ) , add your potatoes to the red hot fat along with 5/6 bashed cloves of garlic and some sprigs of rosemary. Then whack ’em in the oven for a good 45 minutes on 220C for the first 20 minutes .Try to get a single even layer of potatoes ( use 2 trays if you have to) .

Final advice for Christmas day in your ski chalet

Make sure you get your table laid nice and early , that way you will stop the guests from using it to play games etc , which could seriously mess up your timings .

Don’t start drinking too early ! believe me I have made that mistake, you do not want to ruin the guests christmas and end up at chalet Gatwick for boxing day ! Remember that the guests are all having the best christmas. They have been skiing , had a couple of cheeky xmas apres ski drinkies and looking forward to a wonderful week with their family , so they are in a good mood. Just relax , run through your timings 2/3 times in your head .. add 5 minutes on here and there to allow for little mistakes and enjoy yourself.

Any problems just tweet us on Christmas day with the hashtag #Xmaspanic

Ski Jobs Blog : La Rosiere

November 14, 2012/in Blog, Uncategorized

Be Careful reading this next blog may induce you ( or seduce you ) into a season in La Rosiere , now who wouldn’t love to lunch in Italy and have dinner in France , well that could be you …read on !

This could be your dining table for the season ,
who wouldn’t want to run this chalet !!

La Rosiere sits by the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard , which is the summer link over into Italy .. of course in the winter you don’t drive to Italy … you ski there and what better way of living that kind of life than sunning a small luxury chalet for 6 guests … read on and if you can see yourself here then email us or head to the website and contact us there

More Alps Logo We are a family-owned, independent company founded in 2002.
We offer our clients an incredible service and attention to detail

Looking after a fully catered chalet for 6 can be even more demanding than the larger chalets and you will certainly feel like you are 100% there for these guests , if you think that you can run a chalet as beautiful and luxurious as ours , whilst maintaining high standards of customer care , then contact Cool Ski Jobs on [email protected] with your CV and we will be in touch

This could be your view every morning for 5 months !

How cool is cool ?

November 6, 2012/in Blog, Resort lifestyle

So you wanted the coolest job in the mountains , how about being a ski or snowboard instructor ?

spend the winter deep in the pow !

One great way to spending seasons in the powder is to hook up with an instructor school and spend the winter tweaking your skills and learning the ways of the mountain. Canada can offer a great way to kick start your instructor career and enable you to spend up to 5 months having the time of your life plus learning skills that can go on to be a lifetime on the slopes.

There are several companies offering you the chance to live the dream , we spoke to Steve at The Wintersports Company over a beer at the ski show , Steve and his wife run this great little company and can give you the chance to make a start on the coolest of cool ski jobs , with packages from 3 to 18 weeks , with accommodation , food and lift pass all included ( plus your flights and transfers) , you can spend 5 hours a day in lessons and push yourself hard to become a level 3 .. or take a more leisurely approach ..either way this could be the start of something big for you .