Chef Hosco

Live-in Summer Chef - Cycling Guesthouse in the French Pyrenees

We're looking for a capable, motivated chef to join us for the summer season at a small, high-quality cycling guesthouse in the French Pyrenees.

This is a unique role that sits somewhere between restaurant cooking and lifestyle hospitality: serious food, but in a relaxed, friendly environment.

The Role

You'll be responsible for preparing three-course dinners each evening for 5-15 guests. We serve a set menu of your choice each evening, with adaptations as necessary for dietary requirements.

Typical workload: ~4-5 hours per day

Our guests are here to ride big weeks in the mountains, so the food is a core part of the experience:

• Restaurant-quality cooking
• Fresh, nutritious, generous portions
• Thoughtful menus suited to guests burning 3-5000kcal/day cycling

You'll also handle:

• Daily grocery shopping (car provided)
• Kitchen organisation and cleanliness

Who This Suits

This role works best for a young professional chef who:

• Has solid kitchen experience and can work independently
• Enjoys cooking to a high standard without restaurant pressure
• Likes the idea of combining work with time in the mountains

If you have worked in a professional kitchen, you'll likely find this significantly less stressful than service in a restaurant-while still being rewarding and creative.

Pay & Conditions

• €13/hour (fixed-term French contract - fully declared)
• Payslips, social security contributions, and legal employment
• Payment via bank transfer

Included:

• All food and drink
• Accommodation (see below)

→ Your living costs here are essentially zero

Accommodation

• Private modern caravan in the garden
• Double bed
• Electricity + WiFI
• Small bathroom + awning living space
• Access to a full shower room in the house
• Large domestic kitchen with two ovens + plenty of workspace
• Electric car provided for shopping and personal use

⚠️ Important: Schedule

We serve dinner every night when guests are in-house, so there are not regular fixed nights off. However:

• The workload is relatively short each day
• Breaks do occur (especially mid/late season) and are often multiple days at a time
• This structure has worked well with previous chefs over the past 3 summers

This role suits someone comfortable with a steady daily rhythm rather than a classic rota.

The Lifestyle

This is a social, relaxed environment:

• Friendly dinners with guests each evening
• A small team (you + housekeeper + host)
• Plenty of each day free

We actively encourage staff to enjoy the area-cycling, hiking, swimming, exploring the mountains. Many of our previous staff have stayed friends.

Non-smoking environment:

Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property (including accommodation and vehicles). Applicants must be comfortable adhering to a fully non-smoking workplace.

Dates

Season starts: 30 May 2026

Season ends: 11 Oct 2026

I am open to splitting the season, so perhaps you might prefer to work half of this period.

(Flexible start/end dates depending on availability)

Apply

Please send:

• A short introduction
• Your relevant kitchen experience
• A three-course dinner menu tailored to a group of hungry cyclists
• Your availability for the summer

If you're looking for a summer that combines great cooking in a low pressure environment, great people, and an incredible location, we'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for a reliable, self-sufficient chef who can deliver consistently high-quality food in a relaxed but professional environment. You should be comfortable working independently and taking ownership of the kitchen.

Requirements:

• Previous experience in a professional kitchen (CDP level or above preferred)
• Ability to plan and execute 3-course menus for 5-15 covers
• Strong organisational skills and ability to work solo without supervision
• Confident with food hygiene, storage, and kitchen cleanliness standards
• Comfortable shopping, budgeting, and managing stock
• Calm, efficient, and consistent under light daily service pressure
• Good spoken English (French a bonus, not essential)
• Full driving licence (for shopping vehicle)
• EU work eligibility (or ability to work legally in France)

Personal qualities:

• Takes pride in presentation and guest experience
• Easygoing, sociable, and happy interacting with guests
• Enjoys a lifestyle role in a small team environment
• Positive, adaptable, and low-drama

Épanouissez-vous dans votre carrière!

Faire carrière dans l'hôtellerie-restauration est plus qu'un simple travail, c'est l'aventure d'une vie.

Hosco a été fondé en 2011 avec une vision très claire : rassembler, inspirer et proposer des offres d'emploi à tous les professionnels de l'industrie de l'accueil, partout dans le monde.

Depuis, nous avons développé un concept unique qui connecte les professionnels qualifiés, employeurs et école hôtelières du monde dans un seul et même réseau.

Hosco propose des opportunités d'emploi dans plus de 80 pays à travers le monde. Que vous recherchiez un contrat à temps plein, à temps partiel ou saisonnier, commencez votre recherche par la destination de vos rêves !

Il est également possible d'améliorez vos compétences et faire évoluer votre carrière avec Hosco Learning. Nous disposons d'une centaine de cours d'hôtellerie et de restauration dispensés par des professionnels du secteur.

Notre conseil ? Soyez la meilleure version de vous-même !