Are you the chef we are looking for?
Food is at the heart of Sahanlahti. In our kitchen, local food means working with nearby producers, seasonal ingredients and making things from scratch. Our menus feature fish from nearby lakes, mushrooms and berries from the surrounding forests, and the best produce from local farms. We value knowing where our ingredients come from, clear flavours and careful craftsmanship.
Our three very different restaurants – the lakeside restaurant Koskivahti, our open-fire restaurant Pajapirtti and the summer restaurant Rantamakasiini – offer a varied working environment for a chef. Pajapirtti’s open-fire dinner was named Finland’s Best Food Tourism Product in the 2026 Hungry for Finland competition. We are proud of the achievement and want to continue developing Sahanlahti’s food together with a skilled team.
What do we value?
We are looking for someone with at least five years of experience working as a chef and a genuine enthusiasm for food, the restaurant industry and our way of working with local ingredients. You are keen to learn, develop your skills and bring your own ideas to the team. You are able to plan and carry out your work independently while also working well as part of a team.
Organisation and cleanliness are particularly important to us. You keep your workstation in order, think ahead and help make sure the kitchen runs smoothly even during busy periods. We value good teamwork, a responsible approach to work and a fair and respectful attitude towards your colleagues.
The work changes with the seasons At Sahanlahti, both the work and the of the team vary with the seasons. During the summer season, our kitchen team consists of around 15 people. In winter, you will be part of a three-person kitchen team, with additional staff joining when needed.
Your work will cover the full range of food preparation for our restaurants and events, from mise en place to finishing and plating dishes. In the smaller winter team, independence and the ability to manage the bigger picture are especially important. In summer, the emphasis shifts more towards working as part of a larger team.
Throughout the year, the same things matter: great flavour, careful work and pride in what you do. We offer a varied role working with local food, opportunities to develop your skills and the chance to help shape Sahanlahti’s food experiences. In our kitchen, high standards and a relaxed, good-humoured way of working belong together.
A good everyday life in Puumala Alongside the landscapes and nature of Lake Saimaa, Puumala also offers some very practical benefits: free early childhood education and care, a low municipal tax rate, and a good availability of both rental homes and properties to buy. There is space here to live, enjoy your free time and build a good life outside work as well.
Interested?
Tell us about yourself, your experience and what inspires you about cooking. The starting date is flexible and will be agreed together, but no later than February 2027.
For more information, or to send your informal application and CV, please contact Head Chef Eetu Suojasalo: +358 50 322 3664 eetu.suojasalo@sahanlahtiresort.fi
We will review applications during the application period and move forward as soon as suitable candidates are found.
Application deadline: 13 November 2026.