Garde Manger June - September 2025

Coons Franklin Lodge is looking for a talented and dedicated Garde Manger to join our culinary team for the season from June to September 2025. As the Garde Manger, you will be responsible for preparing cold dishes and ensuring that our guests receive exceptional quality and presentation in every meal. Coons Franklin Lodge, a cherished vacation destination since 1892, offers a stunning backdrop on Trout Lake and provides a wide range of recreational activities that guests can enjoy throughout their stay.

In this crucial role, you will focus on preparing salads, charcuterie, dressings, and other cold food items while maintaining high standards of food safety and sanitation. Your creativity and attention to detail will help enhance our menu offerings and create memorable dining experiences.

Requirements

• Previous experience as a Garde Manger or in a relevant role in a professional kitchen.
• A solid understanding of food safety and sanitation practices.
• Ability to create visually appealing presentations of food items.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Physical stamina to stand for extended periods and lift heavy objects.

Benefits

The Employee Experience

One of the best parts of working at Coons is that we offer dorm-style housing. Some of our rooms are right on the water with breathtaking views of the lake.

Mornings are busy for our staff with our wood and ice service to each cabin, breakfast and lunch service, waterfront and housekeeping. Most staff is off in the afternoons before dinner service. This is the best time to be off work and either sitting on the dock, waterskiing or hitting the bike trails. Our most successful employees return year after year because of the hospitality and respect they are shown by the Coons family.

Ideal Candidate

An ideal candidate is someone who can take ownership over their job duties and operates with integrity and respect for themselves and their co-workers. The Coons family wants you to enjoy this little slice of heaven as much as our guests do.

Room and Board

We provide dorm-style housing and 3 staff meals a day. We can accommodate most dietary requests. Room and board will be deducted from your paycheck at the rate of $65 per week.

Employee Perks

Fun Things to Do at Coons When Off Duty

We highly encourage all our staff to make use of the beautiful Northwoods and the resort activities available while not working. How often do you get to live at a resort?

Activities:

There is a beautiful trail winding throughout the resort property. Biking, jogging, and hiking are very popular. Everyone is welcome to explore. Basketball is a favorite.

Tennis Courts:

There are four courts on the premises. During the time the courts are not in use, all employees are welcome to take advantage of the courts. We ask the following things: Permission is needed, proper tennis attire is required (whites), tennis shoes only, no running shoes. Should any guest want to come and use the courts, vacate the court promptly and courteously.

Waterfront:

Trout Lake is one of Wisconsin’s finest. There are two docks located on the waterfront. The swimming dock is for guest use only. All employees are welcome to use the boat dock. Employees are welcome to use the following equipment: sailing, water-skiing, canoes, rowboats, and kayaks. No motor boats. You must check out all equipment with the proper resort personnel. Once again, guests have first preference.

Golf:

Trout Lake Golf Course is located 2 miles north of the resort off HWY 51. We get a 20% discount! For more information see: http://www.troutlakegolf.com/main.html

Yoga: Staff can join in our guest Yoga class In the Lodge, Tuesdays at 10am. You must pre-register with Emily or Sarah due to limited spots available.

Getting Here and Getting Around

We are located about 10 miles from the towns of Woodruff and Minocqua. I would say about 50% of our bring an automobile with them. There is minimal public transportation and biking on the highway is discouraged.

For Fun

Fun Things to Do in the Area

Music in The Park- Sunday Nights in Manitowish

https://manitowishwaters.org/things-to-do/music-in-the-park/

Big Top Chautauqua- Although a little bit faraway, but world-renowned musical venue:

https://www.bigtop.org/

Hiking

Map it Vilas County. Great app to find hiking spots to meet your needs:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/map-it-vilas-county/id881933385

Biking

• Trails:
• Bike Rentals: Coontail: https://coontail.com/pages/rental-rates-2022