Seasonal Work with Esprit or Total!

Focus on…Stuart Manson, Chef

Stuart Manson is a 27 year old Overseas Seasonal Chef who works in an Austrian ski resort every winter. Having worked in a local hotel as a commis in his early teens, he completed a GSVC 2 and 3 in Scotland and then left to find more practical experience and adventure. Since then he has worked all over the world in various restaurants and hotels.

"I was first drawn to seasonal work by the people. We were all working for the same reason, a work and lifestyle balance that was unavailable back home. I wanted to get involved in the training of our staff and the setting up of our many resorts and, obviously, the skiing, hiking and mountain biking in the fresh air of the Alps made it an irresistible opportunity.

"I enjoy the challenges thrown up by working aboard. The food products are different, as are the recipes and techniques, and the language here can vary from one dialect to another as you move from valley to valley. The best feeling is knowing that your guests are enjoying a fantastic holiday in the fresh powder, and you can see in their faces how much they appreciate the effort that you are going to.

"There are some downsides, flight delays or diversions on 'transfer day' are never good and poor weather can quickly remove the smiles from the guest’s faces. I once made a buffet for two o’clock in the morning knowing full well that it wouldn’t be touched because the arriving guests were too tired to even think about food.

"If anyone out there is considering seasonal work I would just say 'stop wondering about it and try it!' I have some of the world’s most exciting skiing right on my doorstep to enjoy in my time off. My friends back in Scotland save up all year for a week’s skiing and it is in my back garden every day. It is so rewarding and the lifestyle professionally and socially can’t be beaten. It is hard work, and at times you wonder what you are doing so far from home, but the sense of pride that you get at the end of a good season and the friends and experience that you gain definitely make it all worthwhile."