Chillchalet accommodation in the French Alps

FAQs about Chalet Training Holidays

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		* Course Outline * Dates and Price * Frequently Asked Questions * I want to be a chef, is this course suitable for me? * I have never cooked before, will I be able to keep up? * I am comfortable cooking, will it be too basic for me? * Who are the tutors? * Some courses guarantee me a job at the end, do you do the same? * If I come with my partner, do we get a discount? * Where will I be staying, and how will I get there? * I am worried about cooking at altitude. Will this course teach me what I need to know? I want to be a chef, is this course suitable for me? On this holiday you will be taught in pairs to cook a three course dinner for 12 with canapes and a vegetarian option, of the type served in chalets. If you want to get a job as a chef, where you will be expected to create your own menus and budgets, and do all your own shopping, there are more detailed cookery courses you can do which might suit you better. Our programme is more geared towards people who want to work for established companies as chalet hosts. Such companies will always give their staff menus, recipes and shopping lists to follow, and don't expect their staff to have trained as chefs. The confidence you will gain on this holiday, will be enough to reassure you, and potential employers, that you are willing and able to follow their recipes successfully. back to list ... I have never cooked before, will I be able to keep up? We have had many people come to us in the past who swear they can't even make toast, and they have gone on to be very competent hosts. You will be following detailed recipes, written especially for people who have little, or no experience in the kitchen, with one on one support from our staff. They will give you as much support as you need, from explaining the difference between boiling and simmering to showing you the best way to chop an onion. We are not talking about preparing you to enter master chef, but after your holiday, you will be able to cleanly, efficiently and safely follow any recipe your future employers might give you. back to list ... I am already comfortable cooking, will it be too basic for me? If you are already happy following a recipe, you may not need too much support from our chalet staff while you are cooking, but the time will also be spent showing you what level of cleanliness employers will expect in the kitchen and informing you about food storage and health and safety. The cooking sessions and dinner are also about all the other aspects of chalet host employment, such as how to deal with chatty guests when you have lots of pans on the go, or the best way to serve and lay the table for 12 people. back to list ... Who are the tutors? The cooking sessions are led by people who have been cooking in chalets for over 8 years, and have worked for a range of companies, big and small. The other workshops are led by invited experts in each field. All have had at least 10 years experience in their area, and are well placed to know what chalet employers will be looking for in potential employees. The programme was designed by an experienced training practitioner, with input from several winter season employers about what they view as important when recruiting chalet staff. We'll shortly be posting a list of tutors names and biographies on this site. back to list ... Some courses guarantee me a job at the end, do you do the same? We think it's misleading to promise you a job, just because you've done one course, because so much about chalet hosting is about your social skills, which are impossible to teach. What we can guarantee is that if you are pleasant, willing to learn and follow the advice you are given on one of our training holidays, you will get a job. back to list ... If I come with my partner, do we get a discount? Unfortunately we can't offer discounts for couples. There is only room for 10 people on each holiday, and the places are sold individually. back to list ... Where will I be staying, and how will I get there? You will be staying in our chalet in Bourg st Maurice which is linked to the Les Arcs lift system in the Paradiski area of the French Alps. Included in the cost of the trip is a train ticket from London St Pancras to Bourg st Maurice via Paris. We will give you a detailed break down of the journey along with your tickets well in advance. To ensure you get the maximum amount of time on the slopes, we will book you overnight sleeper trains for the journey from Paris to Bourg. If you would rather travel during the day, let us know when you book, and we'll make alternative arrangements for you. back to list ... I am worried about cooking at altitude. Will this course teach me what I need to know? It is a myth that cooking at altitude is completely different to at sea level. It is true that the boiling point of water is slightly different, so some recipes are altered to account for this, but we will explain all this all in detail to you. Rest assured, the company you end up working for will have already have made any necessary alterations to the recipes they expect you to follow, so it's nothing to get overly concerned about. back to list ... Read the course outline...