A winter in Verbier, a summer in Crans-Montana, a long Christmas in Gstaad or a ski week in Courchevel or Megève: a chalet season is family time at altitude. Days are full, appetites are big and the kitchen rarely rests. A private chef for the whole season turns that kitchen into something you no longer have to think about.
Why a seasonal chef rather than one-off dinners
Booking a chef for a single celebration dinner works for one evening. A chalet season is different. It is breakfast before the first lift, snacks packed for the slopes, a warming après-ski meal, children who eat earlier than the adults and friends who arrive on Thursday instead of Saturday. A seasonal chef lives inside that rhythm and cooks for it every day.
Après-ski and long active days
After a day of skiing, hiking or mountain biking, everyone wants food that is hearty and comforting. That does not have to mean fondue every night. A good chalet chef balances mountain classics with lighter, nourishing plates: slow-cooked broths, roasted vegetables, fresh fish, whole grains and desserts that feel generous without weighing anyone down for the next morning.
Children's schedules and arriving guests
Ski school, naps and early dinners for the little ones, then a later table for the adults. Guests who announce themselves a day ahead. A seasonal chef plans around all of it, on a flexible schedule agreed with you from the start.
Planning before you arrive
The best seasons start weeks before your first day in the chalet. We gather your family's preferences, allergies, favourite dishes and the dates you expect guests, then build a first menu plan with your chef. The chef arrives with a clear idea of the first week, so the kitchen is ready when you are.
Season planning checklist
- Arrival and departure dates, plus the weeks you expect guests
- Allergies, intolerances and dietary preferences for each person
- Children's meal times and favourite dishes
- Mountain days that need packed lunches or snacks
- Evenings you plan to eat out, and evenings for special dinners
- Kitchen equipment in the chalet, and anything missing
Shopping in mountain villages
Mountain villages have wonderful producers: alpine cheese, cured meats, local bread, fruit and vegetables from the valley. They also have small shops, short opening hours and very busy weekends in high season. A chef who shops daily learns where to go and when, and plans larger shops ahead of the rush. Food cost is billed separately, based on receipts, so you always see exactly what was spent.
Managing allergies and preferences
With family and friends coming and going, one table can hold a nut allergy, a vegetarian teenager and a grandparent who prefers simple food. A seasonal chef keeps track of every guest's needs from week to week, so nobody has to explain twice and nobody feels like an exception.
Keeping one chef for the whole season
Continuity is the real luxury. One chef who knows your children's names, how you take your coffee and what the family wants after a long day saves you dozens of small decisions. If your chef is unavailable, we arrange replacement cover, and regular check-ins with us keep the season on track. Everything sits within one monthly agreement.
What to look for in a chalet chef
- Real experience cooking for families over weeks, not only for events
- Calm, discreet and at ease in a shared family home
- Able to cook hearty mountain food as well as light, healthy menus
- Organised with shopping, budgets and receipts
- Flexible when plans change with the weather
Every placement with Le Petit Marché starts with a trial day or a trial week, so you can see the chef at work in your own kitchen before committing to the season.
A note from Nicolas
"I am a French chef and I have spent 26 years cooking for people, many of them active families who love the mountains as much as I do. My background in longevity coaching shapes how I think about chalet food: it should give you energy for tomorrow as well as pleasure tonight. Le Petit Marché started in Singapore, and today we place and manage private chefs for families in Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Monaco."
Nicolas Reynard, founder
Learn more about our private chef service in Switzerland and our seasonal and extended stay chefs.
FAQ
Can we book a chef for only part of the season?
Yes. Seasonal and extended stay placements are built around your dates, whether that is the holiday weeks or the full winter or summer season.
Do you place chefs in the French Alps as well as Switzerland?
Yes. We work with families in both Switzerland and France, so a chalet in Courchevel or Megève is as welcome as one in Verbier, Crans-Montana or Gstaad.
How does the trial work?
Every placement starts with a trial day or a trial week. You meet the chef, taste their cooking in your own kitchen and decide together before the season begins.
Plan your chalet season
Tell us your dates, your chalet and your family, and we will start planning your season. Request a Private Chef
