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Chef Host Cookery Course

This intensive 5 Day Chef-Host Course is a practical, confidence-building programme designed to prepare you for life working as a cook or host in a ski resort, shooting lodge, chartered yachts and private villas. Combining hands-on cookery with essential theory and service skills, the course mirrors the pace, pressure, and expectations of real seasonal work. You’ll learn how to cook hearty, crowd-pleasing classics, cater confidently for special diets, plan menus efficiently, and deliver warm, professional service to high-expectation guests – all while staying organised, calm, and healthy during a demanding season. By the end of the week, you’ll have a strong recipe repertoire, real-life service experience, and clear guidance on how best to secure an entry level chef-host job to begin your global culinary career....
Why Choose This Course?
  • Designed specifically for real chef-host work
  • Hands-on, practical, and supportive learning environment
  • Covers both cookery and hosting, not just recipes
  • Focus on employability and career progression
Ready to start your cooking season with confidence? This course gives you the skills, knowledge, and mindset to step into a private chalet, lodge, villa or galley kitchen feeling positive, prepared and professional.

Practical Cookery Programme

Day 1 – Foundations & Classics

Focus: Kitchen safety, hygiene, and core techniques

Day 2 – Bistro-Style Cooking

Focus: Balanced menus and flavour pairing

Day 3 – Breakfasts & Comfort Food

Focus: Morning service and family-style favourites

Day 4 – Hosting, Dinner Party Service & Canapés

Focus: Presentation, confidence, and real guest experience

Day 5 – Special Diets & Modern Inclusive Menus

Focus: Inclusive cooking and confidence with alternatives

Good to know

  • Aspiring cooks in ski chalets, shooting lodges, chartered yachts and private villas
  • Gap year travellers and seasonal workers
  • Nannies and private household cooks
  • Home cooks looking to transition into private catering or seasonal work
  • Anyone wanting practical cookery skills with a clear career pathway to travel the world

No professional kitchen experience is required – just enthusiasm, reliability, and a willingness to learn.

Each day combines hands-on practical cookery with theory sessions delivered in person and online. You’ll cook, taste, troubleshoot, and refine your skills throughout the week.

  • Food safety and kitchen hygiene
  • Knife skills and vegetable preparation
  • Soups and sauce making
  • Meat, poultry, fish, and seafood preparation and cookery
  • Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free cooking
  • Baking breads, cakes, and desserts
  • Breakfast, brunch, and afternoon tea preparation
  • Canapés, starters, and presentation skills
  • Menu planning and portion control
  • Batch cooking and cooking for groups
  • Cooking ahead and efficient reheating
  • Adapting recipes for cooking at altitude, remote locations or with limited equipment
  • Waste reduction and resourceful chalet cooking
  • Professional plating and formal service

Chef-Host Life & Kitchen Management

  • Introduction to the role of a chef/host
  • Menu planning and seasonality
  • Reducing waste and being resourceful in a chalet kitchen

Service & Guest Experience

  • Breakfast service planning and timing
  • Basic table setting for breakfast and dinner
  • How to serve food and drinks at the table
  • Managing high-expectation guests
  • Portion control and presentation
  • Keeping calm and professional under pressure

Health, Balance & Efficiency

  • Keeping yourself healthy during a season: food, rest, and balance
  • Catering for special diets: GF, DF, Vegan
  • Afternoon tea service and presentation
  • Planning ahead to maximise downtime
  • Making the most of quieter periods during a season
  • Menu planning using core techniques learned

Careers Session

A dedicated session focused on helping you prepare for chalet work:

  • Building a CV
  • Interview techniques and common questions
  • First impressions and professionalism
  • 5 days intensive cookery tuition from our friendly and experienced teachers
  • Online and in person theory and practical hosting training sessions
  • A repertoire of recipes to use into your career
  • Real dinner party catering experience
  • All ingredients and equipment
  • One branded EFDA apron
  • Food Hygiene and Safety in Catering Level 2
  • A solid portfolio of recipes and transferrable cookery skills and techniques
  • Confidence cooking for dinner parties and varied dietary needs
  • Realistic insight into chef-host life and expectations
  • Practical meal set up and service and hosting skills
  • Clear next steps towards employment as a seasonal chef-host
  • An EFDA Certificate in Chef-Host Cookery Skills
  • Food Hygiene and Safety in Catering Level 2 Certificate

£995

  • -
  • 9am - 5pm (with a late start and finish on Thursday)

Terms and conditions

“The cook school put me in touch with Castle Terrace, a good portion of my career was spent there… it’s great the connections you can make on the back of a course at the cook school.”

Sam Yorke

Head Chef and Owner of Michelin starred restaurant Heron

“The cookery school gave me the skills, knowledge and confidence to be able to see it through and make a living out of doing something I’ve always loved”

Emily Crisp

Private Chef and Caterer

“…what really stood out to me was its reputation for high-level training in a supportive environment… The technical knowledge, attention to detail, and efficiency I have learned have all shaped how I think about food, whether I’m cooking myself or talking about it in my work.”

Pippa Perriam

Food & lifestyle social media influencer

Still have questions?

We understand the significance of this decision, and are always happy to arrange a call or tour with our Head Teacher for anyone with interest in our Professional Course Programme.

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