Relief chefs who walk in and run the section

What relief chef cover is for

Relief cover fills a gap in a kitchen that otherwise runs well: a chef off sick, a sous chef on holiday, a head chef who has left before the replacement starts, or a run of weddings that the permanent team cannot cover alone. The relief chef steps into the existing rota, follows the existing menu and standards, and leaves the kitchen as they found it.

How Zolt relief chefs are chosen

Relief work needs chefs who read a kitchen fast. We select relief chefs for breadth of experience across hotel, restaurant and volume catering, for the ability to run service without supervision, and for the temperament to join a team for a week and leave it stronger. Every relief chef has been interviewed by a working head chef and reference-checked with their last two kitchens.

Relief Sous Chef and Head Chef cover

Senior relief cover is a different job from section cover. Our relief Sous Chefs and Head Chefs manage ordering, rotas, food safety records and the brigade as well as service, and are used by hotels to steady a kitchen for two to eight weeks between appointments. Written confirmation sets out responsibilities, hours and the rate before the placement starts.

Short-notice relief cover

Ring the booking line for cover needed today or tomorrow. If a suitable relief chef is available within reach of your venue we will confirm them on the phone; if not, we will say so straight away rather than leave you waiting.