Private Family Cook

Private Family Cook (Self-Employed)

Location: Cardiff / Newport Border (South Wales)

Hours: Flexible - 1-2 days per week

We are a health-conscious family based on the Cardiff / Newport border seeking a reliable, skilled, and like-minded self-employed cook to assist with batch cooking once or twice per week.

This role is ideal for someone who genuinely enjoys preparing wholesome, from-scratch food and appreciates working within a calm, well-organised household kitchen.

Our Kitchen & Food Approach

Our home prioritises:

• Organic, high-quality ingredients
• Minimally processed, whole foods
• No seed oils
• Filtered water
• Glass food storage (no plastic)
• No plastic or non-stick cookware / utensils
• Natural cleaning products

We value traditional cooking methods and nutrient-dense meals prepared from scratch.

Nutritionally, our meals are centred around high-quality proteins and healthy fats. We prioritise nourishing, satisfying food and are entirely comfortable with proper seasoning - we are certainly not a low-salt household.

Kitchen Environment

The kitchen is well-equipped and designed to comfortably support batch cooking. There are multiple cookers, multiple sinks, and ample fridge and freezer capacity.

All standard appliances and workspace features that an experienced cook would expect are available. We are also happy to consider purchasing additional equipment where reasonably required to support efficient working.

The kitchen layout is spacious, practical, and benefits from easy access and free parking.

Typical Food Preparation

The role involves preparing a variety of wholesome, from-scratch foods for family meals and batch cooking. Examples of items we regularly enjoy include:

• Sourdough bread and baked goods
• Fresh pasta made from scratch (particularly ravioli)
• Egg-based dishes such as frittatas
• Nutrient-dense breakfasts (e.g. high-protein pancakes)
• Home-made snacks and child-friendly options
• Fresh, seasonal salads and dressings
• Batch-cooked meals that reheat well (e.g. lasagne, moussaka, curries)
• Occasional sweet treats and home-made confections prepared from scratch using natural ingredients (for example marshmallow-style sweets or jelly sweets)

We also value traditional preparation techniques and regularly incorporate home-made staples such as:

• Fermented foods (including sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles)
• Kefir and other cultured foods
• Bone broths and slow-cooked foods

Experience or interest in fermentation and traditional preparation methods would be highly welcomed.

Variety & Creativity

We enjoy variety and often favour loosely themed weeks of meals, drawing inspiration from cuisines such as Thai, Indian, Malaysian, Italian, modern British, Spanish, and others.

We would welcome someone who enjoys exploring different cuisines and flavours, and who is comfortable experimenting with new dishes or concepts aligned with our whole-food, from-scratch approach.

We are very open to creativity within our style of cooking and see this as a collaborative and evolving kitchen rather than a fixed menu arrangement.

Ingredients & Provisioning

All ingredients will be provided. We maintain accounts with major supermarkets as well as specialist organic suppliers.

We are very happy to collaborate on ingredient lists with the cook/chef, after which orders can be placed directly. This arrangement is designed to prioritise the cook's time and allow them to focus on preparation and cooking.

Menu & Planning

We have a clear sense of the meals and food styles we enjoy but are very open to ideas and collaborative planning with the right person.

We recognise that it is easy for households to fall into repetitive meal patterns, and we genuinely value variety in our diet. We would greatly appreciate working with someone who enjoys collaborating on new dishes, exploring different styles of cooking, and occasionally introducing new ingredients aligned with our food philosophy.

Who We're Looking For

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience in a professional kitchen, private catering, or similar
• OR be highly capable through practical experience
• Be comfortable following recipes and learning new ones
• Enjoy cooking from scratch using whole ingredients
• Be organised, clean, and dependable
• Be comfortable working independently in a private home

Preferred Qualifications & Requirements

• Food hygiene certification
• Knowledge of allergen safety and cross-contamination awareness
• Confidence with safe batch cooking, storage, and reheating practices
• Enhanced DBS check preferred (or willingness to obtain)
• Public liability insurance preferred (or willingness to obtain)
• References from previous clients or employers

Working Arrangement & Scheduling

• Self-employed basis
• Responsible for own tax and National Insurance
• Paid via bank transfer
• Flexible scheduling to fit around other commitments

Working days typically range from approximately 4 to 8 hours, with around 6 hours per day being standard.

We are very happy to agree consistent working hours on scheduled days. The flexibility in hours is intended to accommodate the cook's existing work schedule, holidays, and personal or family commitments rather than reflecting fluctuating requirements.

We are a flexible household and are very willing to work collaboratively to establish a practical and sustainable arrangement.

Additional Information

Please note:

• We have dogs and cats in the household
• This is a calm, respectful home environment

We are seeking a long-term working relationship and value reliability, consistency, and mutual respect.

Rate of Pay

Competitive hourly rate, dependent on experience.

Privacy & Confidentiality

We greatly value our family's privacy. All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. The successful applicant will be asked to sign a straightforward confidentiality agreement (NDA), which is standard for private household roles.

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