How to hire a private chef
What to define before the search begins, how to assess beyond the tasting, and why household fit decides whether a placement lasts.
6 minute read
Global reach. Personal selection. Complete discretion.
Exceptional peoplefor exceptional environments.
We identify and place trusted professionals for private residences, estates, superyachts, villas and luxury operations worldwide.
Recruitment beyond the résumé.
Professional experience is only one part of a successful private placement. The right professional must also bring judgement, discretion, adaptability and the personality to live inside your world. We select for all of it.
One standard, wherever your world is.
Private Residences
Principal homes where the household runs to an exacting private standard.
Estates and Villas
Country estates and seasonal villas, often with visiting principals and guests.
Superyachts
Galleys and interiors at sea, where certification and adaptability are non-negotiable.
International Travel
Professionals who move with their principals across residences and time zones.
Private Events
Single occasions delivered to a private standard, from intimate dinners to celebrations.
Luxury Operations
Exclusive hospitality environments operated to a private-client standard.
Private culinary talent, selected with precision.
Our most developed expertise within UHNWI Chef: chefs for households, estates, villas and superyachts, assessed on craft, discretion and how they live inside a private kitchen.
- Permanent chefs
- Temporary and seasonal chefs
- Yacht chefs
- Travelling chefs
- Event chefs
- Dietary and wellness specialists
How the search works.
Rigorous for us. Effortless for you. Every stage is handled personally and in confidence.
Confidential consultation
A private conversation to understand the household, the role and how the professional must fit into your world.
Requirement definition
We agree the brief in writing: responsibilities, location and travel, start date, compensation range and the personal qualities that matter.
Talent search
We approach suitable professionals directly through our network. Most searches are never advertised.
Assessment and vetting
Experience review, professional interviews, reference checks and identity verification, assessed against the brief and the household.
Shortlist presentation
A concise shortlist of genuinely suitable candidates, each presented with our assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Interviews or trial
We coordinate interviews and, where appropriate, trial days or trial periods, handling logistics and feedback discreetly.
Placement and follow-up
We support offer, agreement and arrival, then remain in contact with both parties as the placement settles.
Your world does not stay in one place. Neither does our search.
Searches regularly span residences on different continents, seasonal movement, superyachts and relocation. We assess documentation, mobility and genuine willingness to travel as part of every international brief.
United Kingdom and Europe
Principal residences, country estates and city households.
Mediterranean
Seasonal villas and the summer yachting circuit.
Middle East
Private households and family operations recruiting internationally.
Americas
Residences and estates from New York to the Caribbean winter season.
Asia-Pacific
Internationally mobile principals and exclusive hospitality environments.
Privacy is not an additional service. It is the foundation.
Every search is handled in confidence from the first conversation. The following remain private at every stage, shared only with your consent and only where necessary.
- Client identities
- Household requirements
- Candidate profiles
- Private locations
- Travel schedules
- Compensation
Selected on more than skill.
Before any introduction, every candidate passes a vetting process built for private environments.
Experience review
Career history examined in detail, with particular weight on private and luxury environments.
Professional interviews
Structured interviews assessing capability, judgement and motivation for private service.
Reference checks
Direct conversations with previous employers and senior colleagues, not written notes alone.
Identity and documentation
Identity, right to work and relevant certifications verified before introduction.
Discretion assessment
A candidate's history of confidentiality and conduct around principals is examined explicitly.
Lifestyle compatibility
Working style, temperament and personal circumstances matched to the household, not just the role.
International readiness
Passports, visas, driving licences and genuine willingness to travel confirmed against the brief.
Role-specific requirements
Maritime certificates, culinary specialisms, languages and other requirements verified per search.
Looking for the right professional?
Tell us what you require, where the role is based and how the professional must fit into your world. We will guide the search from there.
Ready for your next private appointment?
We represent exceptional private-service professionals selectively and confidentially.
Insights from private service.
Read all insightsYacht chef requirements: what owners and captains expect
Certification, provisioning judgement and galley temperament: what separates a capable chef ashore from a chef who thrives at sea.
5 minute read
Trial days in private service: how to run them well
A well-structured trial protects both household and professional. Scope, payment and expectations should be agreed before anyone cooks a meal.
4 minute read
Every successful placement begins with a private conversation.
Tell us what you require, where the role is based and how the professional must fit into your world. We will guide the search from there.