Job Description

Job Description

Mise - Private Chef

Reports To : The Principal

Work Schedule : Full-Time, On-Site

Location : San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Start Date: ASAP

Salary Range: $150,000 - $175,000

Overview

A Bay Area family seeks a warm, approachable Private Chef to join their household team and create nourishing, farm-to-table meals that bring their family together. This role supports a family that values authentic connections, sustainable living, and creating meaningful experiences around food. The ideal candidate will embrace the family's philosophy of wholesome, locally-sourced cuisine while fostering an engaging, educational environment that welcomes participation from all family members.

The successful candidate will be the culinary heart of the household, crafting varied menus that accommodate diverse palates while maintaining a focus on organic, seasonal ingredients sourced from the property's garden and local farmers' markets. This position requires someone who views cooking not just as meal preparation, but as an opportunity to nurture family bonds and create lasting memories through food.

We seek a versatile, down-to-earth professional who excels at creating approachable, nutritious cuisine without pretension. The ideal candidate brings genuine warmth to their interactions, particularly with children, and understands that the best meals are those that bring families together. The family gravitates toward Mediterranean cuisine as their foundation but seeks a chef with genuine curiosity and capability across international cuisines—someone who could confidently prepare an African stew one day, create Persian dishes with garden-fresh pomegranates the next, and craft Salvadoran pupusas or other global comfort foods with equal skill and enthusiasm.

This opportunity offers the chance to work with a family that deeply appreciates good food prepared with care and intention. The role is perfect for someone who believes that the kitchen can be a place of learning, laughter, and connection, where children develop healthy relationships with food and families create traditions that last a lifetime.

Expectations

• Minimum five years of professional culinary experience in private households, farm-to-table restaurants, or similar environments with demonstrated expertise in whole foods cooking and seasonal menu planning.
• Strong foundation in diverse international culinary traditions with particular emphasis on wholesome, family-friendly cuisine that prioritizes nutrition and flavor over elaborate presentation or haute cuisine techniques. Mediterranean cooking forms a strong base, with the versatility to explore global cuisines authentically.
• Genuine enthusiasm for working with children and creating an inclusive kitchen environment where young family members can safely participate in age-appropriate cooking activities and develop culinary skills.
• Expertise in sourcing and working with organic, locally-grown ingredients with the ability to collaborate effectively with garden staff and navigate farmers' markets to select the finest seasonal produce.
• Flexibility to adapt cooking styles and techniques to accommodate varied palates within a single household, creating meals that satisfy both adult and children's preferences while working creatively with texture challenges.
• Culinary curiosity and adaptability to explore and master dishes from various cultural backgrounds—from Ethiopian and Persian to Salvadoran and beyond—with a willingness to learn new techniques and expand the family's culinary horizons. Experience with Taiwanese or broader Asian cuisine would be valued.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a warm, engaging personality that makes family members and guests feel comfortable and welcome in the kitchen environment.
• Ability to plan and execute casual family dinners as well as larger gatherings for up to 20 guests, maintaining consistent quality while adapting presentation styles to suit different occasions.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to maintain a clean, functional workspace throughout the cooking process, leaving the kitchen in an organized state for housekeeping staff to complete final cleaning.
• Commitment to sustainable practices and minimal waste, with creativity in utilizing garden produce and whole ingredients while avoiding processed or canned foods entirely.

Responsibilities

• Daily Meal Preparation & Shopping : Begin mornings by sourcing fresh ingredients from the property's garden or local farmers' markets, then prepare nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that accommodate the family's varied schedules. Create portable breakfast items like smoothies, chia puddings, and wrapped breakfast bars for busy school mornings, along with family-style platters for shared meals that allow each family member to select their preferred portions.

• Garden-to-Table Coordination : Collaborate weekly with garden staff to utilize estate-grown produce, including seasonal fruits and vegetables. Plan menus that highlight fresh ingredients while supplementing with carefully selected items from local farmers' markets and organic suppliers. Maintain a zero-tolerance policy for canned or processed ingredients.

• Family Engagement & Education : Foster an inviting kitchen atmosphere where family members feel welcome to observe, learn, and participate. Create age-appropriate opportunities for children to assist with meal preparation, from simple plating tasks to basic cooking techniques, supporting their development of culinary skills and healthy food relationships without creating entitlement.

• Menu Development with Creative Protein Preparation : Design varied weekly menus featuring family-style service that balances familiar Mediterranean favorites with exciting exploration of international cuisines. Work creatively to make proteins appealing through different preparations (such as transforming meats into sausages or other formats) while respecting individual preferences and gradually expanding food horizons.

• Event Support : Prepare family-style meals for weekly gatherings of approximately 20 guests, creating abundant platters that encourage sharing and conversation. Occasionally support special events with more formal service, including printed menus and cocktail party formats as requested.

• Kitchen Management & Coordination : Maintain an organized, efficient workspace while remaining flexible enough to accommodate family participation. Work considerately with housekeeping staff by maintaining an "organized workspace" throughout service—keeping prep areas tidy and cooking areas manageable for efficient final cleaning by the housekeeping team.

• Dietary Adaptation : Prepare specialized items as needed, including steamed vegetables for the youngest family member, portable meals for school commutes, and dishes that creatively address texture sensitivities while maintaining nutritional value and expanding palates over time.

• International Cuisine Integration : Bring the world to the family's table through authentic preparation of global dishes, with Mediterranean cuisine as a foundation while regularly incorporating diverse international flavors and techniques, creating a truly international dining experience that reflects the family's adventurous palate.

• Service Style : Excel at family-style plating, creating single, abundant presentations from which all family members can serve themselves according to their preferences, fostering communal dining while respecting individual tastes.

Benefits

• Healthcare Coverage : Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance benefits package currently being established. During the initial implementation period, the family will provide full reimbursement for all medical, dental, and vision insurance costs to ensure continuous coverage.
• Time Off : All major holidays off, plus additional paid time off
• Performance Recognition : Performance-based compensation reviews
• Professional Growth : Opportunities for culinary education and skill development
• Work Environment : Supportive family atmosphere that values work-life balance

Important Note: As the family is currently building their household team infrastructure, there will be an initial setup period for formal payroll and benefits systems. During this transition, the family is committed to ensuring all benefits are provided through a reimbursement structure until formal systems are established, guaranteeing no gap in coverage or compensation.

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