Creative Buffet Chef – Winter Season 2026/2027

Do you love preparing delicious homemade food, colourful salads and beautifully presented buffet dishes? Would you enjoy spending the winter in the Norwegian mountains?

Lillehammer Fjellstue is a small, family-run mountain lodge located at Nordseter, just 15 minutes from Lillehammer, Norway.

We are looking for a creative, independent and reliable chef to join our friendly international team for the winter season, starting in late December 2026.

We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys cooking, takes pride in preparing good food and appreciates working in a small, well-established team.

Our kitchen and food philosophy

At Lillehammer Fjellstue, we believe that good food doesn't have to be complicated.

Every morning, we serve a traditional Norwegian breakfast buffet with a selection of cold dishes.

In the evening, our guests enjoy a homemade dinner buffet featuring a hot fish dish, a hot meat dish, soup, vegetarian options, fresh salads, cold fish and meat selections, and the dessert of the day.

We are not a large hotel with an extensive buffet selection. Instead, we focus on good homemade food, fresh ingredients, variety, attractive presentation and dishes our guests genuinely enjoy.

We value teamwork, mutual respect and a positive working atmosphere. Our chefs have clearly defined responsibilities but help each other whenever needed.

Your main responsibilities

Your primary responsibility will be preparing and presenting the cold section of our daily dinner buffet, including:

• Preparing and beautifully arranging platters with cold fish, meat and other savoury selections.

• Creating fresh, colourful salads, vegetable dishes and homemade dressings.

• Preparing homemade vegetarian pies, occasional pizzas and other simple vegetarian dishes.

• Preparing and arranging the cold breakfast buffet for the following morning.

• Presenting and replenishing the evening buffet during service.

• Planning daily preparations and food quantities according to guest numbers.

• Contributing to stock control, efficient ingredient use and reducing food waste.

• Maintaining excellent food hygiene, safe food handling and a clean, organised kitchen.

We are flexible in how we divide responsibilities between our chefs.

Who are we looking for?

We would love to hear from someone who:

• Has relevant experience from a professional kitchen, restaurant, hotel or catering business.

• Enjoys preparing cold dishes, salads, vegetables and vegetarian food.

• Has a good eye for presentation and takes pride in making food both tasty and attractive.

• Can work independently, plan ahead and take responsibility for their own kitchen section.

• Has good knowledge of food hygiene, food safety and allergen management.

• Is organised and understands the importance of controlling food costs and minimising waste.

• Communicates well in English.

• Is reliable, flexible and enjoys working as part of a small team.

• Respects different working styles and appreciates a friendly, supportive working environment.

Formal culinary education is an advantage, but practical experience, reliability and a genuine passion for cooking are just as important to us.

You do not need a background in fine dining or large hotels. Experience from smaller restaurants, guesthouses or cafés can be equally valuable.

Working hours and winter lifestyle

Working hours are mainly in the afternoon and evening.

We offer flexibility when organising shifts, and split shifts may be possible for those who would like to enjoy cross-country skiing or other outdoor activities during the day.

Nordseter is a beautiful and peaceful mountain destination, with excellent cross-country skiing trails and winter scenery right outside the door.

What we offer

• Full-time seasonal employment from late December 2026 until the end of March / beginning of April 2027.

• Free staff accommodation with your own private bedroom, and shared kitchen and living areas (6 people sharing)

• A friendly, international team with several long-standing employees.

• A small, family-run workplace with a personal and welcoming atmosphere.

• A well-organised kitchen with established routines and clear responsibilities.

• The opportunity to contribute your own ideas and cooking skills within our food concept.

• Beautiful mountain surroundings and excellent opportunities for cross-country skiing and outdoor activities.

How to apply

We would love to hear about your kitchen experience and why you would like to spend the winter working with us!

To be considered for the position, please send:

• Your CV.

• A personal motivation letter explaining why you would like to work at Lillehammer Fjellstue.

• Work certificates from previous employers and contact details for references.

• A short description of your experience with cold buffets, salads, vegetarian cooking and food presentation.

Photos of dishes you have prepared yourself are also very welcome!

Send your application to: jobs@lillehammerfjellstue.no

Learn more about our mountain lodge at www.lillehammerfjellstue.no.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Warm regards,

Bente & the team at Lillehammer Fjellstue