Senior Chef - Casual Dining Restaurant - Paarl, Western Cape

Kendrick Recruitment is searching for a passionate and capable Senior Chef for a well-loved, family-friendly alfresco dining venue on a wine estate in the Paarl Valley - known for some of the best wood-fired pizza in the area and a loyal following that speaks for itself.

This is a hands-on lead kitchen role for someone who takes genuine pride in their craft, works well under pressure and is ready to own a kitchen that has serious growth potential. The venue is heading into an exciting new chapter with a revamp on the horizon - this is a real opportunity to shape something great from the ground up.

About the Kitchen:

Wood-fired oven operation with a 24 to 48-hour dough fermentation process

Menu focused on pizza, burgers and platters

Up to 120 covers on a busy service

Strong, loyal customer base with room to grow

Minimum Requirements:

Relevant culinary qualification advantageous

Minimum 3 to 4 years' experience in a similar senior kitchen role

Proven wood-fire oven experience - advantageous but not essential for the right candidate

Solid understanding of food costing, stock control and kitchen administration

Ability to lead and manage a small kitchen team

Strong prep and service discipline with the ability to perform under pressure

Reliable, committed and takes genuine ownership of their kitchen

Stable work history with contactable references

Key Responsibilities:

Lead all daily kitchen operations across prep and service

Maintain and develop the existing pizza programme and menu

Manage stock, ordering and food cost controls

Ensure consistent food quality, presentation and hygiene standards at all times

Train and guide kitchen staff on standards and procedures

Work closely with management on the upcoming venue revamp and seasonal menu development

Package:

Gross Salary: R20,000 per month (Negotiable)

Live-out position

Should you feel you are the right fit for this role, please apply with your updated CV, contactable references, a food portfolio and a recent head & shoulders photo ASAP!

Please Note: If you do not receive feedback within 7 working days, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.