Rumour Has It Café is seeking an experienced Café Chef to prepare and cook a range of breakfast and café-style meals.

You will work in a busy Palmerston North kitchen, maintain food-safety and quality standards, manage preparation and stock, and support smooth service. The successful applicant has proven commercial cookery experience, strong grill and breakfast skills, reliability, teamwork, and the ability to perform calmly during busy daily service periods.

Key duties and responsibilities

  • Prepare, cook and present a range of breakfast, lunch and café-style meals in accordance with established recipes and presentation standards.
  • Plan and prepare daily/weekly specials.
  • Carry out daily mise-en-place and prepare ingredients in appropriate quantities to meet anticipated service requirements.
  • Operate commercial kitchen equipment, including grills, fryers, ovens and other cooking equipment safely and efficiently.
  • Monitor cooking processes to ensure food is cooked correctly, presented appropriately and meets required quality standards.
  • Ensure appropriate portion control and consistency in the preparation and presentation of meals.
  • Develope, prepare and introduce daily specials and menu items.
  • Maintain high standards of food hygiene, food safety, allergen management and workplace health and safety.
  • Maintain a clean, organised and hygienic kitchen, including cleaning and sanitising preparation areas, equipment and utensils.
  • Monitor the quality, freshness and storage of food ingredients and ensure appropriate stock rotation and use-by-date controls.
  • Order, receive, check and store food supplies and maintain appropriate stock levels at all times.
  • Minimise food wastage through appropriate preparation, storage, portion control and stock rotation.
  • Coordinate with front-of-house staff to ensure meals are prepared and served efficiently and customer requirements are communicated to the kitchen.
  • Maintain effective communication with other kitchen staff during busy service periods.
  • Provide guidance and support to junior kitchen staff and assist with training where required.
  • Follow established recipes, kitchen procedures and food safety requirements while exercising appropriate judgement in food preparation and service.
  • Assist with maintaining smooth and efficient day-to-day kitchen operations.

Skills and experience

  • At least one year of relevant work experience as a Chef or Cook in a commercial kitchen; or a relevant tertiary qualification in Cookery or Professional Cookery, or an equivalent recognised qualification.

  • Experience working as a chef or cook in a café, restaurant or commercial kitchen.

  • Competence in breakfast, short-order, grill and fryer cooking.

  • Knowledge of safe food handling and kitchen hygiene practices.

  • Ability to work efficiently under pressure during busy service periods.

  • Good communication, teamwork, organisation and time-management skills.

  • Reliable, flexible and able to work weekends or public holidays as required.

  • Full-time, permanent employment.

  • Minimum 30–35 hours per week.

  • Availability to work weekends and public holidays as required by the business.

Please apply online and attach your up-to-date CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and suitability for the role.

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