Private Chef in the Alps
The growth in the numbers of private chefs, private chef agencies and pre-cooked meal delivery services has gone hand in hand with the growing trend for clients to book large self-catered ski chalets and apartments in the Alps instead of a catered chalet. This partial swing in the market away from the traditional catered chalet model towards self-catering properties can be put down to a number of factors:
- The cost saving, provided guests shop and cook for themselves.
- Greater flexibility with regards meal-times.
- Disenchantment with poor quality cooking, especially from cheaper chalet holiday companies.
The pandemic of 2020-22 accelerated the desire for clients looking to book self-catered properties that came without staff. The need for ‘social distancing’ encouraged accommodation providers and chalet companies to offer properties that could be sold without hosting staff. Other accelerating factors can be put down to the onerous employment laws for chalet staff following Brexit, and the growing trend for skiers looking to enjoy long lunches on the mountain as a big part of their holiday experience. And clients who have enjoyed a good, long lunch do not then wish to also work their way through a calorie laden evening dinner (with cheese board to finish).
Today almost 40% of the chalet and smart apartments we feature on our website are offered on a self-catered basis (with the vast majority of these in the French Alps). Whereas some clients will be very happy to meal plan, shop, prepare, cook, serve and then clear away their evening meals this, to most people, sounds like a lot of hard work, especially after a tiring day’s skiing. It is therefore no surprise that over the last 15 years there has been a huge growth in the number of private chefs, chef agencies and pre-cooked meal delivery services throughout the French Alps.
How to find your private chalet chef
We have collated below a selection of options available for clients looking to book a private chef for their ski holiday. Most recommended options are in bold text. When you contact the chefs or agencies below please do remember to mention our name.Please note that the costs below are a guide. The cost of food and drink will usually be added and charged locally at cost price. The prices are based on a group of 8 adults (children will generally be charged less). Larger groups may also require the addition of a host/hostess to help serve and clear away. The addition of a breakfast and afternoon tea service is usually possible to arrange for a relatively small supplementary cost.
Private Chefs in the French Alps
Espace Killy area of France - Val d'Isere and Tignes
Chef agencies:
Alps Chef have an expanding team of chefs operating in Val d'Isere and Tignes. They offer a very flexible and bespoke service offering high end premium family style cooking that is well presented. All their chefs are properly trained and have years of experience. If you are looking for a very high end culinary experience their executive chef can be reserved at a supplementary cost. Wine can be provided and paid for at cost price. Larger chalet parties can also be catered for with the provision of hosting staff to accommpany the chef. Approximate price for a 6 night booking (3 x course dinners): 375.00 euros per person (2024-25 season).
Chefs in Val is a small agency set up in 2022 by Greg Tostevin and Anete Skaistkalne. Greg has 10 years' experience gained at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, a 2 Michelin star Parisian restaurant and at chalets run by Hip Hideouts. Approximate price for a 6 night booking (3 x course dinners): 460.00 euros per person (2024-25 season).
Private chefs:
Hannah Tooke has over 15 years' hospitality experience with the last 7 years spent working as a chalet girl with the highly popular YSE Ski chalet company, based in Val d'Isere. As such she knows the resort intimately and exactly where to find the best cuts of meat, the most flavoursome cheeses and the best prices for wine. She specialises in finding the most beautiful local and seasonal produce, preparing it artfully and plating it elegantly for her guests.
Three Valleys area of France - Courchevel, La Tania, Meribel and St Martin de Belleville
Chef agencies:
Mountain Chefs is a well-established and highly popular chef agency established by Tim Ball. His carefully selected portfolio of 15+ chefs will serve most of the resorts in the Three Valleys. All the chefs have their own accommodation and transport so shopping and picking up wine etc is a breeze. Menus are tailored to suit client needs but the style is truly international with chefs from Portugal, Brazil, UK and other European countries. Wine can be supplied at cost price. Approximate price for 6 nights (3 x course dinners): 390.00 euros per person (2024-25 season). This price is based on a mid-season week in Meribel.
Private Chef Courchevel is part of the expanding chef agency set up by Alexis Carini following initial success in Ibiza with his chef agency which started back in 2006. His approach and product is aimed at HNW private clients looking for private chefs in destinations such as Gstaad, Verbier, Courchevel, Marbella, Saint Tropez, St Barts and Mykonos. The service provided is high-end and chefs are accommpanied by a butler to help serve, clear away and enrich the dining experience for guests. Approximate price for a 6 night booking (3 x course dinners): 500.00 euros per person (2024-25 season). This includes the charge for the butler service (simple menus for 8 or fewer guests could possibly by run with just a chef only for a reduced price).
Mountain Relish is a small agency run by John McFetridge with 12+ chefs serving the resorts of the Three Valleys. Approximate price for a 6 night 'classic' experience (3 x course dinners): 370.00 euros per person (2024-25 season).
Private chefs:
India Cooper prepares high end food but with the rustic appeal of the farm kitchen table. She uses local markets to buy the freshest produce, and speaks with real local people about the best regional products, allowing her to create your meals in a truly considered and thoughtful manner.
Portes du Soleil area of France - Les Gets, Morzine, Montriond and Avoriaz
Private chefs
Chef Morzine. With over 20 years of cooking in the Alps there is nothing that Andrew Hogg cannot provide. From one-off dinners, to a whole week's gourmet experience, and everything in between he can tailor his service to meet your needs. Approximate price for a 6 night 'gourmande' experience (4 x course dinners) including half bottle of wine: 360.00 euros per person (2024-25 season).
Pre-cooked meal delivery service
If you are prepared to heat up your dinner and then clear away and wash-up yourself then you might like to consider a pre-cooked meal delivery service. The costs work out about half the price of a private chef based on 3 x course dinners which is an approximate saving of £200 per person per week. However, you will need to prep each meal to a lesser or greater degree (ie preparing a salad, chopping bread etc) and you will need to clear away.Huski was started in 2016 by three British skiers and is a new generation food & drink company with a team of talented foodies, drivers and logistics experts to make, source and organise your dinner deliveries so that you don't have to. They deliver to most ski resorts in France but their main kitchen is in Bourg Saint Maurice in the heart of the Tarentaise Valley. Their product is designed for clients looking for a better value way to eat tasty dinners with family favourites (cottage pie, spaghetti Bolognese etc) to Savoyard classics, fine French cooking (Coq au vin, pork Dijon etc) and curries. Dishes are flash-frozen and delivered to your door. All you have to do is focus on the serious business of skiing, and when ready to eat come back to your chalet to quickly heat up your dinner for your friends or family. You can either choose your own dishes or book a set menu. Dinners can be two or three courses and wine & beer can be added to your order.
Approximate price for a 6 night booking (3 x course dinners): 180.00 euros per person (2024-25 season).
