How do you select a cook?

Scott Jensen said:

I'm in tentative talks with a company to run an office for them in Shanghai.
Due to severe food allergies and not being able to speak Chinese, I will be
needing to hire two local residents to be the cooks at my apartment. They
would split the week between them (i.e., four days on, three days off, and
then alternate next week). They would buy groceries and cook up a fresh hot
lunches and dinners. I really don't eat breakfast and if I did, it would
just be cereal, juice, and cold cuts. During the workweek, my office staff
(four people) and I would drive over and have lunch at my apartment. Due to
hosting two late-morning parties for clients each week, the cook will also
need to prepare and monitor brunch buffets for them. Applicants for the
cook job will be from a state employment agency. The agency will send all
qualified applicants to me for interviews. The question is...

How do I select a good one? I'm assuming I would eventually need them to
cook something for me. How would I best whittle them down so I'm not having
potentially hundreds cook stuff for me? And when I whittle them down to a
reasonable number, what should I have them cook for me?

Scott Jensen

If the office is already open and you are replacing the person there,
they can do an initial screening for you. Make sure you have your needs
and allergies extremely well translated (I'd suggest a round of back
translation with someone with medical terminology).

If you are opening the office, then deal through your intermediaries.

jim

JimLane said:

If you are opening the office, then deal through your
intermediaries.

I would be opening the office. However, the local firm that is assisting me
in setting up the office is pretty clueless about this as well. They're
asking me how I want to handle this.

Scott Jensen
--
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Scott Jensen said:

I'm in tentative talks with a company to run an office for them in
Shanghai. Due to severe food allergies and not being able to speak
Chinese, I will be needing to hire two local residents to be the
cooks at my apartment. They would split the week between them (i.e.,
four days on, three days off, and then alternate next week). They
would buy groceries and cook up a fresh hot lunches and dinners.

(snippage)

Quoted message said:

Applicants for the cook job will be from a state employment agency.
The agency will send all qualified applicants to me for interviews.
The question is...

How do I select a good one? I'm assuming I would eventually need
them to cook something for me. How would I best whittle them down so
I'm not having potentially hundreds cook stuff for me? And when I
whittle them down to a reasonable number, what should I have them
cook for me?

Scott Jensen

Scott, can't really help you with anything other than to say most people who
will hire out to cook for "foreigners" probably already speak English
(probably better than we do). If you have specific food requests (you
mentioned allergies) you need to tell the employment agency.

We had an excellent cook in Bangkok - she made the best thick crust pizza
ever and yes, she was Thai. She was used to cooking for 'falangs' -
foreigners. Whatever we wanted, as long as my parents could give her the
ingredients from the commissary.

As for how to select a good one, ask for recommendations and references.
And sure, let the cook prepare something for you.

Jill

Scott Jensen said:

I'm in tentative talks with a company to run an office for them in
Shanghai. Due to severe food allergies and not being able to speak
Chinese, I will be needing to hire two local residents to be the
cooks at my apartment. [snip]

How do I select a good one? I'm assuming I would eventually need
them to cook something for me. How would I best whittle them down
so I'm not having potentially hundreds cook stuff for me? And when
I whittle them down to a reasonable number, what should I have them
cook for me?

Do you have any way of getting into contact with other expats living in
Shanghai? There may even be an online community. If you can find
them, some will have experience to share with you. Since you're using
the agency to select candidates you won't have to deal with hundreds.
You may in fact have to press them to get more than one or two. If it
were me (and I wish it were!), I'd ask the final candidates (no more
than 3) to cook me one Chinese dish and one western dish (whatever one
of your favorites is). In your business entertaining you may well find
occasions when serving a Western style meal would be most appreciated
by your guests. Finally, I would probably make the final decision
based on which one I best communicated with.

-aem

"Scott Jensen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm in tentative talks with a company to run an office for them in
Shanghai.
Due to severe food allergies and not being able to speak Chinese, I will
be
needing to hire two local residents to be the cooks at my apartment. They
would split the week between them (i.e., four days on, three days off, and
then alternate next week). They would buy groceries and cook up a fresh
hot
lunches and dinners. I really don't eat breakfast and if I did, it would
just be cereal, juice, and cold cuts. During the workweek, my office
staff
(four people) and I would drive over and have lunch at my apartment. Due
to
hosting two late-morning parties for clients each week, the cook will also
need to prepare and monitor brunch buffets for them. Applicants for the
cook job will be from a state employment agency. The agency will send all
qualified applicants to me for interviews. The question is...

How do I select a good one? I'm assuming I would eventually need them to
cook something for me. How would I best whittle them down so I'm not
having
potentially hundreds cook stuff for me? And when I whittle them down to a
reasonable number, what should I have them cook for me?

Scott Jensen

There is a ton of information on the web.

Go here: http://www.sallmannsres.com/relocation/domestic.html

and/or do a google search for "Hong Kong domestic help" (no quotes) and
you'll get the lay of the land.

Dimitri

"Dimitri" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Scott Jensen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm in tentative talks with a company to run an office for them in
Shanghai.
Due to severe food allergies and not being able to speak Chinese, I will
be
needing to hire two local residents to be the cooks at my apartment. They
would split the week between them (i.e., four days on, three days off, and
then alternate next week). They would buy groceries and cook up a fresh
hot
lunches and dinners. I really don't eat breakfast and if I did, it would
just be cereal, juice, and cold cuts. During the workweek, my office
staff
(four people) and I would drive over and have lunch at my apartment. Due
to
hosting two late-morning parties for clients each week, the cook will also
need to prepare and monitor brunch buffets for them. Applicants for the
cook job will be from a state employment agency. The agency will send all
qualified applicants to me for interviews. The question is...

How do I select a good one? I'm assuming I would eventually need them to
cook something for me. How would I best whittle them down so I'm not
having
potentially hundreds cook stuff for me? And when I whittle them down to a
reasonable number, what should I have them cook for me?

Scott Jensen

There is a ton of information on the web.

Go here: http://www.sallmannsres.com/relocation/domestic.html

and/or do a google search for "Hong Kong domestic help" (no quotes) and
you'll get the lay of the land.

Dimitri

Just let them cook something for you

"Dimitri" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Scott Jensen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm in tentative talks with a company to run an office for them in
Shanghai.
Due to severe food allergies and not being able to speak Chinese, I will
be
needing to hire two local residents to be the cooks at my apartment. They
would split the week between them (i.e., four days on, three days off, and
then alternate next week). They would buy groceries and cook up a fresh
hot
lunches and dinners. I really don't eat breakfast and if I did, it would
just be cereal, juice, and cold cuts. During the workweek, my office
staff
(four people) and I would drive over and have lunch at my apartment. Due
to
hosting two late-morning parties for clients each week, the cook will also
need to prepare and monitor brunch buffets for them. Applicants for the
cook job will be from a state employment agency. The agency will send all
qualified applicants to me for interviews. The question is...

How do I select a good one? I'm assuming I would eventually need them to
cook something for me. How would I best whittle them down so I'm not
having
potentially hundreds cook stuff for me? And when I whittle them down to a
reasonable number, what should I have them cook for me?

Scott Jensen

There is a ton of information on the web.

Go here: http://www.sallmannsres.com/relocation/domestic.html

and/or do a google search for "Hong Kong domestic help" (no quotes) and
you'll get the lay of the land.

Dimitri

Just let them cook something for you

I think the top priority on my list would be good language skills. THEN
see if they can cook.

I would approach it this way...hopefully you will be able to review their
resumes....Select candidates based on experience...as in where have they
worked....have they only worked in places that provide Asian menus only, or
have they worked in Hotels where they might be exposed to more international
fair or even better western menu experience...if you're not sure of the
establishments..find out what kind of menus they provided...I am assuming
since your language barrier may be an issue an interpreter may be at your
disposal....use them to pre-screen applicants for the type of experience
they may have. Then I suggest meeting with them and talking with them (if
possible) and get a general feel for their personalities. Then you can start
the cooking part...have someone translate your allergens to the cooks and
then get them to cook a couple of meals for you...only one of them being
Asian...that should give you a good start.

"Scott Jensen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm in tentative talks with a company to run an office for them in

Shanghai.

Quoted message said:

Due to severe food allergies and not being able to speak Chinese, I will

be

Quoted message said:

needing to hire two local residents to be the cooks at my apartment. They
would split the week between them (i.e., four days on, three days off, and
then alternate next week). They would buy groceries and cook up a fresh

hot

Quoted message said:

lunches and dinners. I really don't eat breakfast and if I did, it would
just be cereal, juice, and cold cuts. During the workweek, my office

staff

Quoted message said:

(four people) and I would drive over and have lunch at my apartment. Due

to

Quoted message said:

hosting two late-morning parties for clients each week, the cook will also
need to prepare and monitor brunch buffets for them. Applicants for the
cook job will be from a state employment agency. The agency will send all
qualified applicants to me for interviews. The question is...

How do I select a good one? I'm assuming I would eventually need them to
cook something for me. How would I best whittle them down so I'm not

having

Quoted message said:

potentially hundreds cook stuff for me? And when I whittle them down to a
reasonable number, what should I have them cook for me?

Scott Jensen
--
Like a cure for A.I.D.S., Alzheimer, Parkinson, & Mad Cow Disease?
Volunteer your computer for folding-protein research for when it's idle.
Go to http://tinyurl.com/6fsdg to sign up your computer.

and watch everything they do as they cook...what type of habits do they
have...do they clean as they go...or do they let things pile up for
later...do they touch their face and other body parts often...do they wash
their hands often...etc...

"Gimme a Break" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:EKJUe.167806$wr.134168@clgrps12...

Quoted message said:

I would approach it this way...hopefully you will be able to review their
resumes....Select candidates based on experience...as in where have they
worked....have they only worked in places that provide Asian menus only,

or

Quoted message said:

have they worked in Hotels where they might be exposed to more

international

Quoted message said:

fair or even better western menu experience...if you're not sure of the
establishments..find out what kind of menus they provided...I am assuming
since your language barrier may be an issue an interpreter may be at your
disposal....use them to pre-screen applicants for the type of experience
they may have. Then I suggest meeting with them and talking with them (if
possible) and get a general feel for their personalities. Then you can

start

Quoted message said:

the cooking part...have someone translate your allergens to the cooks and
then get them to cook a couple of meals for you...only one of them being
Asian...that should give you a good start.

"Scott Jensen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm in tentative talks with a company to run an office for them in

Shanghai.

Quoted message said:

Due to severe food allergies and not being able to speak Chinese, I will

be

Quoted message said:

needing to hire two local residents to be the cooks at my apartment.

They

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

would split the week between them (i.e., four days on, three days off,

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

then alternate next week). They would buy groceries and cook up a fresh

hot

Quoted message said:

lunches and dinners. I really don't eat breakfast and if I did, it

would

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

just be cereal, juice, and cold cuts. During the workweek, my office

staff

Quoted message said:

(four people) and I would drive over and have lunch at my apartment.

Due

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

hosting two late-morning parties for clients each week, the cook will

also

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

need to prepare and monitor brunch buffets for them. Applicants for the
cook job will be from a state employment agency. The agency will send

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

qualified applicants to me for interviews. The question is...

How do I select a good one? I'm assuming I would eventually need them

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cook something for me. How would I best whittle them down so I'm not

having

Quoted message said:

potentially hundreds cook stuff for me? And when I whittle them down to

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

reasonable number, what should I have them cook for me?

Scott Jensen
--
Like a cure for A.I.D.S., Alzheimer, Parkinson, & Mad Cow Disease?
Volunteer your computer for folding-protein research for when it's idle.
Go to http://tinyurl.com/6fsdg to sign up your computer.

Gimme a Break said:

I would approach it this way...hopefully you will be able to review their
resumes....Select candidates based on experience...as in where have they
worked....have they only worked in places that provide Asian menus only, or
have they worked in Hotels where they might be exposed to more international
fair or even better western menu experience...if you're not sure of the
establishments..find out what kind of menus they provided...I am assuming
since your language barrier may be an issue an interpreter may be at your
disposal....use them to pre-screen applicants for the type of experience
they may have. Then I suggest meeting with them and talking with them (if
possible) and get a general feel for their personalities. Then you can start
the cooking part...have someone translate your allergens to the cooks and
then get them to cook a couple of meals for you...only one of them being
Asian...that should give you a good start.

"Scott Jensen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm in tentative talks with a company to run an office for them in

Shanghai.

Quoted message said:

Due to severe food allergies and not being able to speak Chinese, I will

be

Quoted message said:

needing to hire two local residents to be the cooks at my apartment. They
would split the week between them (i.e., four days on, three days off, and
then alternate next week). They would buy groceries and cook up a fresh

hot

Quoted message said:

lunches and dinners. I really don't eat breakfast and if I did, it would
just be cereal, juice, and cold cuts. During the workweek, my office

staff

Quoted message said:

(four people) and I would drive over and have lunch at my apartment. Due

to

Quoted message said:

hosting two late-morning parties for clients each week, the cook will also
need to prepare and monitor brunch buffets for them. Applicants for the
cook job will be from a state employment agency. The agency will send all
qualified applicants to me for interviews. The question is...

How do I select a good one? I'm assuming I would eventually need them to
cook something for me. How would I best whittle them down so I'm not

having

Quoted message said:

potentially hundreds cook stuff for me? And when I whittle them down to a
reasonable number, what should I have them cook for me?

Scott Jensen
--
Like a cure for A.I.D.S., Alzheimer, Parkinson, & Mad Cow Disease?
Volunteer your computer for folding-protein research for when it's idle.
Go to http://tinyurl.com/6fsdg to sign up your computer.

I would certainly check their knowledge of hygiene standards, if only to
find out what their attitude re precision is.