Chef Instructor, Culinary Experiences

Auberge Collection; Town of Gardiner (NY); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Wildflower Farms, part of Auberge Collection in New York's Hudson Valley, seeks a Culinary Educator & Chef to lead guest-facing cooking experiences, demonstrations, and seasonal programs. The role blends chef expertise with teaching and storytelling to engage guests of all skill levels.

The position involves developing seasonal itineraries, collaborating with the Head Farmer, and creating private experiences for couples and groups, while upholding farm-to-table principles.

Qualifications

• Strong professional culinary background, ideally at the Sous Chef level or equivalent, with experience in fine dining, luxury hospitality, or another quality-driven culinary environment.
• A genuine enthusiasm for teaching, storytelling, and sharing culinary knowledge.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Lead approximately five hands-on culinary classes per week, creating engaging, accessible, educational, and memorable experiences.
• Host approximately five complimentary culinary activations weekly, including demonstrations, tastings, and informal culinary encounters.
• Create a welcoming, interactive atmosphere that encourages guests of varying skill levels to participate, ask questions, and discover something new.
• Share the stories behind ingredients, techniques, culinary traditions, and the Hudson Valley's agricultural heritage.
• Design and host private culinary experiences for couples, families, and groups, tailoring the format to their interests and skill levels.

Skills

Culinary expertise

Teaching & storytelling

Guest engagement

Flex schedule

Job description

Sprung from the site of a fallow tree nursery, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection is a 140-acre retreat in New York’s Hudson Valley, just 90 minutes from New York City. Anchored by its namesake farm with orchards, heirloom gardens, and animals, the retreat offers immersive seasonal experiences like foraging walks, cooking workshops, and healing sessions. A three-mile walking trail links 65 stand-alone cabins, cottages, and suites with the Movement Studio and Maplehouse, a lofty barn home to a dynamic cooking school.

Job Description

At Wildflower Farms, food is a connection to the land, the seasons, and the people who cultivate it. We are seeking a talented, engaging Culinary Educator & Chef to bring that connection to life through memorable, hands-on culinary experiences.

Part chef, part teacher, and part storyteller, this individual will lead our guest-facing culinary programming, from intimate cooking classes in the Maplehouse to informal tastings, demonstrations, and seasonal experiences throughout the property.

The ideal candidate combines strong professional culinary skills with a natural ability to teach, entertain, and connect with people. They are as comfortable engaging a small group of curious beginners as they are working alongside our farmers and culinary team to develop a new seasonal experience.

This is a unique opportunity for a chef who finds as much satisfaction in sharing the craft of cooking as in practicing it.

Culinary Education & Guest Engagement

• Lead approximately five hands-on culinary classes per week, creating experiences that are engaging, accessible, educational, and memorable.
• Host approximately five complimentary culinary activations weekly, including demonstrations, tastings, and informal culinary encounters.
• Create a welcoming, interactive atmosphere that encourages guests of varying skill levels to participate, ask questions, and discover something new.
• Share the stories behind ingredients, techniques, culinary traditions, and the Hudson Valley's
  agricultural heritage.
• Design and host private culinary experiences for couples, families, and groups, tailoring the format to their interests and skill levels.

Seasonal Programming & Creative Development

• Develop and continually refresh a calendar of culinary experiences inspired by the changing
  seasons, farm harvests, and regional food traditions.
• Collaborate closely with the Head Farmer to incorporate ingredients grown and harvested at
  Wildflower Farms into guest programming.
• Partner with the Experiences and Culinary teams to conceive innovative classes, tastings,
  workshops, and special events.
• Build relationships with local farmers, artisans, and specialty producers to introduce guests to
  the flavors and traditions of the Hudson Valley.
• Identify opportunities to make culinary discovery an organic part of the guest experience
  throughout the property.

Guest Experience & Personalization

• Serve as a welcoming and knowledgeable culinary ambassador for Wildflower Farms.
• Collaborate with the Culinary and Experiences teams to create thoughtful culinary touches for VIP guests, celebrations, and special occasions.
• Help bring the property's farm-to-table philosophy to life through spontaneous, authentic guest
  interactions.

Program Operations

• Oversee preparation, ingredient sourcing, equipment, and setup for culinary classes and
  activations.
• Manage ingredient ordering and inventory while maintaining quality and controlling costs.
• Coordinate with the Experiences team on scheduling, guest requests, and program execution.
• Maintain exceptional standards of food safety, cleanliness, presentation, and organization.

Pay Rate: $70,000 + Commission

Qualifications

• Strong professional culinary background, ideally at the Sous Chef level or equivalent, with experience in fine dining, luxury hospitality, or another quality-driven culinary environment.
• A genuine enthusiasm for teaching, storytelling, and sharing culinary knowledge.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Additional Information

About Auberge Collection

Auberge Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine, innovative wellbeing, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 30 one-of-a-kind hotels, resorts, and residences, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world’s most desirable destinations.

For more information: auberge.com

Connect with Auberge Collection on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook , and LinkedIn @Auberge and #AlwaysAuberge

About Friedkin

Friedkin is a privately held family of global brands spanning automotive, entertainment, hospitality, investments, and sports.

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company is led by Chief Executive Dan Friedkin, and united by a mission to build breakthrough brands that redefine the status quo.

The Friedkin portfolio includes Gulf States Toyota, 30WEST, Accelerated Solutions Group, AS Roma, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Collection, Congaree, Copilot Capital, Diamond Creek, Everton Football Club, GSFSGroup, Imperative Entertainment, Legendary Expeditions, NEON, Northside Lexus, Pursuit Sports, The Friedkin Group International, USAL and Westside Lexus.

For more information, please visit www.friedkin.com

Shinrin Yoku LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/D/V. Shinrin Yoku LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all team members and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Shinrin Yoku LLC complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.