How do I apply for a chef job?

One WhatsApp message: your name, the role, three lines of experience and your base area. Shortlisted chefs cook a paid practical assessment — the same cook-off every chef on the bench has passed.

Do you hire seasonal festive staff?

Yes. From August to November we build the December bench — chefs, servers and bartenders for festive-season events. Apply early in the window; super-peak dates are allocated first to proven bench members.

Is this freelance or employed work?

Both exist. A small employed core team covers delivery-critical lines, and the vetted partner bench takes confirmed event shifts with rates agreed in writing beforehand. Strong bench work is the path to core-team roles.

CAREERS

Cook With Us

We are building the Cape Town bench now — chefs, servers, bartenders and coordinators. Apply with one WhatsApp message.

myCHEF editorialReviewed by the Cape Town teamLast updated October 2026

We expect the standard on our vetting page: verified ID and right to work, real references, a practical cook-off, food-safety training, and a post-event review culture you take seriously. Punctuality and a clean kitchen are not negotiable.

What we expect, and what you get

In return: confirmed bookings with written briefs, groceries handled for you, a named coordinator on every event, and rates agreed in writing before you accept a shift. You cook; we handle the client, the shopping and the admin.

Written briefs and agreed rates before every shift
A coordinator owns the client — you own the food
Core-team roles grow out of the bench as bookings grow

The roles we hire

Four lines, one standard.

01Chefs — tasting menus, braai, villa stays and events; core team and partner bench
02Servers — plated service, wine service and guest-facing calm under pressure
03Bartenders — event bars, classic cocktails and responsible service
04Coordinators — client briefs, quotes, logistics and event-day command

How to apply

One WhatsApp message is the application. Send your name, the role, your experience in three lines, and where in Cape Town or the Winelands you are based. We reply within 1 hour in operating hours, and shortlisted chefs cook a paid practical assessment.

Festive staffing: from August to November we build the December bench — extra chefs, servers and bartenders for the festive season. If you want festive work, apply early; the super-peak window books out first.

Questions, answered.

We update this guide annually — figures re-verified October 2026.

Related guides & services

Chefs plating courses at the pass, tickets on the rail, warm kitchen light

How We Vet Our Chefs

Every chef who carries the myCHEF name — employed core or partner bench — passes the same five checks. Here they are, disclosed in full.

Chefs plating courses at the pass under warm kitchen light

A Chef Company, Not a Marketplace

myCHEF Cape Town is the third kitchen of the myCHEF family — a group operating since 2015, with sister operations in Bali and Dubai.

Table setting detail with linen, cutlery and a handwritten place card

Talk to a Human

One real coordinator answers every message — not a call centre. WhatsApp is fastest; every route gets a reply within 1 hour, 08:00–20:00 SAST.

Get an exact quote.

We handle everything else — menu, shopping, cooking, service, cleanup. Guaranteed.

Chat on WhatsApp Request a quote

Replacement-or-refund · Fixed itemised quote · Published cancellation tiers