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100 %
Last replied
6 May 2025
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Description
CHEF NEEDED!
Hello! I'm Jamie, an English guy running a cycling-focused guest house in the beautiful French Pyrenees, in Villelongue, close to the most famous Tour de France climbs. I would love to share these mountains with you over the course of a summer season. I offer fully catered cycling holidays, both guided and self-guided, and for road and gravel cycling. I host groups of up to 12 riders in an old farmhouse. I provide their airport transfers, routes, breakfast, dinner and homemade ride snacks. I love what I do and - though it's a cliché - I really feel like all our guests leave as friends. My ethos is 'nothing is too much trouble' and the guest experience is everything. This is my livelihood, business and passion, so I work hard and set high standards.
This area is amazing for any outdoors lifestyle and offers exceptional opportunities for cycling, hiking, trail running, climbing and river sports. The road cycling is world famous and the Tour de France will pass within 2km of our house again this year. Revered climbs such as the Col du Tourmalet, Hautacam, Luz Ardiden and Col du Soulor are all within 10km. The mountain biking is equally celebrated, with the Enduro World Series and UCI Downhill World Cup both visiting Lourdes many times over the years, plus great lift-served MTB parks in several of the ski areas. Less well known is the XC and gravel riding which is sensational as it uses lots of the nordic ski trails and often goes much higher than the roads. Look up Pic du Midi de Bigorre and see for yourself!
I am looking for a chef to work this summer, or at least a month, from late May to late September.
If you love the mountains and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing hungry cyclists loving your food, I think you would really enjoy working here. You get to eat with the guests, there's a lot of free time, and it's always a great vibe.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Interests
Politics / Social justice
Writing
Winter sports
Adventure sports
Fitness
Cycling
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Learn English/French, explore, hike, cycle, run, see the Tour de France…
I am based in the heart of the Pyrenees and you will have a big chunk of each day free, plus a few days off when we don't have guests in the house, so you will have every opportunity to make the most of being here, whatever that looks like to you.
If you're a cyclist yourself, I will be very happy to ride with you and show you all of our favourite routes, with rides tailored to your fitness level.
Equally, if you would like to spend your time relaxing in the garden, enjoying the tranquility of our quiet village, of course you could do that.
Whatever the mountains mean to you, I would love to help you maximise your experience here.Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Help
Your role is preparing three-course dinners for the guests.
'Bistro sports' is the goal for each dinner. They should be hearty, healthy, nutritious and satisfying for hungry cyclists who are burning up to 4000kcal each day on their rides.
Presentation is important and there should be some 'wow factor' when each dish is served. We like to present attractive plates and then place extra portions on the table. It's important that there is plenty to eat!
We often have guests with various dietary requirements, so these need to be accounted for.
Additionally, you will do the grocery shopping (I have a small electric car you can use for this) and sometimes help with making and packing ride snacks. You and the housekeeper will clear up after dinner each night.
Because the season spans five months (May through September) I hope that you can stay for at least one month and ideally longer.
This is a paid placement.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be a modern caravan in the garden with access to a shared bathroom.
You will be welcome to eat with us and share the food prepared for the guests. All your food and drink is provided.
Your only expenses during your stay will be your days out, and most of the best activities don't cost anything - outside is free!
What else ...
If you fly here we can collect you from Lourdes airport, which is just 25 minutes away. If you drive here, we have plenty of parking.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Great WiFi with lots of options of places to work from, including outside. We have a small dog.
Space for parking camper vans
No limit. Lots of parking.
Can possibly accept pets
Well behaved and socialised pets welcome.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
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