Job description
Join our renowned Heritage Kitchen & Co. in the heart of New Orleans, where traditional Louisiana and regional cuisines are celebrated with modern technique. We seek a seasoned chef to lead menu development, mentor a skilled culinary team, and ensure authentic flavors while upholding the highest standards of quality and service. This is a full-time role offering competitive compensation, benefits, and a vibrant, culture-rich work environment.
Responsibility
- Lead, supervise, and train kitchen staff in traditional cooking methods and contemporary plating.
- Design and refine menus that honor regional classics while incorporating seasonal avant-garde elements.
- Oversee mise en place, recipe standardization, and quality control to ensure consistency across all dishes.
- Monitor inventory, ordering, and cost controls to optimize profitability without sacrificing authenticity.
- Collaborate with front-of-house team to ensure exceptional guest experiences and dietary accommodations.
- Maintain strict hygiene, food safety, and sanitation standards in accordance with local regulations.
- Mentor junior cooks, develop training programs, and foster a collaborative kitchen culture.
- Engage with suppliers to source authentic ingredients and support local producers.
Qualification
- Minimum 5-7 years of professional culinary experience in traditional or regional cuisines, with leadership roles.
- Proven track record in menu development, recipe costing, and plating artistry.
- Formal culinary training or equivalent apprenticeship; certification in food safety (ServSafe or local equivalent) preferred.
- Excellent palate for salt, fat, acidity, and aromatics; ability to recreate authentic regional flavors.
- Strong leadership, communication, and team-building skills; ability to manage high-volume operations.
- Flexibility to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed in a busy restaurant setting.
- Fluency in English; knowledge of Louisiana culinary heritage is a plus.
- Passion for hospitality, sustainability, and preserving traditional culinary techniques.