Skip to content
Now Hiring · Chefs · Servers · Bartenders

Work for MileHighCook.
The standard-setter for private events across the Mountain West.

We are not a gig platform. We are a brand. Every event runs under CIA-trained oversight — insured, background-checked professionals working from a written event brief. If you hold yourself to a high standard, and you're tired of working for places that don't, read on.

100% Client Tips Kept
Rate Up Front Stated In Every Offer
30+ Markets · 4 States
Start Application See the Process
Why Work Here

Above industry pay. 100% of client tips. Your events, your call.

i.

You choose your events

Pick the events that fit your life. No line work, no doubles, no 2am close. Take the bookings you want and pass on the ones you don't.

ii.

You arrive briefed

Menu, headcount, allergies, venue, and timing in writing days ahead. The client has already approved and paid. You never quote, invoice, or chase money.

iii.

Premium clientele

Private dinners, corporate retreats, luxury events. Homes and villas that expect — and pay for — the very best.

Roles We're Hiring

Three crafts. One standard.

Three different jobs with three different lanes. Every role works from the same written event brief — but what you own on event night is yours alone.

i.

Private Chef

The Kitchen Is Yours

Multi-course menus in private homes, chalets, and villas — intimate dinners, corporate retreats, and multi-night ski-week bookings.

You Own
  • Executing the approved menu to plating standard
  • Sourcing and prep as specified in the brief
  • Allergy and dietary compliance, verified never assumed
  • Full breakdown, cleanup, and the photo wrap-up
You Bring
  • Professional kitchen experience — CIA preferred
  • Current food-handler certification
  • Knife roll and personal tools
  • A plating portfolio, 2–5 photos, with your application
Up to $650 per event in top markets, plus 100% of client tips
ii.

Server

The Floor Is Yours

Plated service in private homes for parties of 4 to 40 — working from the same written brief the chef does, so you know the menu, count, and timing before you arrive.

You Own
  • Table setup — linen, place settings, glassware
  • Coursed service in step with the kitchen
  • Reading the room — attentive, never hovering
  • Clearing, resetting, and full breakdown at close
You Bring
  • Fine-dining or upscale-catering experience
  • Current food-handler certification
  • Black service attire, polished presentation
  • Reliable transportation to event locations
Well above restaurant floor rates, per event, plus 100% of client tips
iii.

Bartender

The Bar Is Yours

The bar program, start to finish — a custom cocktail menu matched to the event brief. Some events are cocktail-led; others pair the bar with a seated dinner.

You Own
  • The event's cocktail menu, signatures included
  • Complete setup: ice, glassware, garnish, station
  • Responsible service and guest safety all night
  • Pacing the bar so it never collides with dinner
You Bring
  • Craft cocktail repertoire, classic and contemporary
  • TIPS or state equivalent where required
  • Polished, professional presentation
  • Portable bar kit a plus
Well above standard bar rates, per event, plus 100% of client tips
The Process

What happens after you apply.

No two-month silence. Here's the path from application to active roster — and roughly how long each step takes.

01

Application Received

Every application lands in Steve's inbox, and every decision is his — no auto-rejections, ever. You'll get a confirmation email within minutes, and an answer either way once Steve has read it — usually within a few days.

02

Video Interview

Five questions, recorded on your own time. Most candidates finish in under 20 minutes. We're looking for precision, hospitality, and judgment — not polish.

03

Live Interview

20-30 minute video call with Steve. This is where we get into specifics: how you approach your craft, how you handle pressure, what you'd do in real event scenarios.

04

Paperwork & Background Check

Independent Contractor Agreement, W-9, SOP acknowledgment, certifications, background check authorization, and Square direct-deposit setup. We'll review every item as you submit it. Target: 7 days to wrap.

05

Shadow Event (Paid Hourly)

You attend a live MileHighCook event, paid at an hourly rate, with minimal responsibility — you're there to learn, not to run service. Watch the timing, watch the standards, watch how the team moves, and lend a hand where you're asked. Then you're ready to work.

06

Trial Events (Paid)

Three trial events at standard contractor rates. Each one is evaluated against the same rubric we use for every new contractor. Pass three and you're on the active roster.

Once You're On The Roster

How an event works

All-inclusive execution — you do the craft, we handle the rest.

  1. You accept an event. A text and email with the date, market, role, and rate. Take it or pass — passing never counts against you.
  2. The full brief arrives. Menu, headcount, allergies, venue details, timing — in writing, days ahead. No guesswork at the door.
  3. You work your craft. The client has already approved the menu and paid. You never quote, invoice, or chase money.
  4. You wrap and go home. A two-minute photo wrap-up from your phone closes the event out clean.
  5. You get paid. Direct deposit through Square, up to 5 business days after the event — plus any tips given by the client, 100% kept by you.

The craft differs; the bar doesn't.

Common Questions

Before you ask — here's how it works.

Is this a job or contract work?+
Every engagement is as an independent contractor. You choose which events you accept, passing on one never counts against you, and you're free to work elsewhere. No set schedule, no exclusivity.
How does pay work?+
Every event offer states the rate up front — take it or pass. After the event, you're paid by direct deposit through Square, up to 5 business days out. Tips given by the client are 100% kept by you — no pooling, no house cut. Chef rates run up to $650 per event in our top markets; server and bartender rates are set per event and stated in the offer.
Is the shadow event paid?+
Yes — shadowing is paid at an hourly rate. You attend a live event with minimal responsibility: watch the timing, the standards, and how the team moves, and lend a hand where you're asked, before your first working event.
Are the trial events paid?+
Yes. All three trial events are paid, and each is evaluated against the same rubric used for every contractor on the roster. Pass three and you're on the active roster.
What certifications do I need?+
Chefs and servers need a current food-handler certification. Bartenders need TIPS or the state equivalent where required. Everyone clears a background check before a first paid event. If your cert is expired, apply anyway and note it — it can be renewed during onboarding.
What should I have ready before applying?+
About five minutes and your background. Chefs — have two to five plating photos ready before you start. A resume helps but isn't required.
Application

Tell us about yourself.

About five minutes, one form. Chefs — have two to five plating photos ready before you start.

Which role are you applying for? *
Availability *
Current Food Safety Cert? *
Reliable Transportation? *
0 / 5 photos

Show us your work. Upload up to 5 photos of prior plating executions — your best, most representative dishes. We review every one.

Application received.

You'll get an email confirmation shortly. Steve reads every application himself, and you'll hear back either way. If it's a fit, the next step is a short video interview: five questions, about 20 minutes, recorded on your own time.

Don't see the confirmation email? Check spam, or write to steve@milehighcook.net.

Apply Now