HEAD CHEF – ITALIAN CUISINE & PASTA
Somerset West: My client, a premium Italian-style restaurant focusing on fresh, high-quality Italian meals, is seeking a passionate, hands-on Pasta Chef to lead the kitchen with a focus on fresh, high-quality Italian meals. The role involves overseeing the preparation of pasta dishes, desserts and Italian specials, and managing the team to deliver exceptional culinary experiences.

Purpose of the role: To ensure consistent quality, presentation and adherence to health, safety and hygiene standards while mentoring the kitchen staff and maintaining operational excellence. The ideal candidate has a deep love for Italian cuisine, strong leadership skills, exceptional attention to detail, and thrives in a fast-paced, high-standard kitchen.

Key Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:

• Lead the kitchen operation with a strong focus on Italian cuisine, pasta dishes, desserts and traditional Italian meals
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of pasta techniques, sauces, toppings and classic Italian preparations
• Prepare, oversee and ensure consistent quality of pasta dishes, pizza toppings, desserts and other Italian menu items
• Manage the kitchen team effectively through clear instruction, mentoring and delegation
• Ensure strict adherence to health, safety and hygiene standards at all times
• Control stock, rotate ingredients and manage inventory efficiently, ensuring all items are correctly labelled and stored
• Develop, refine and maintain recipes and presentations in line with the restaurant’s standards
• Work closely with management to plan menus, specials and seasonal offerings
• Troubleshoot operational or culinary challenges and implement effective solutions
• Lead by example with professional appearance, a strong work ethic and hands-on involvement in food preparation
• Maintain cleaning schedules and ensure all tasks are completed to standard
• Communicate professionally and consistently with all team members and management
• Foster a positive, collaborative and high-performance kitchen culture

Criteria

• Proven experience as a senior chef in Italian cuisine with responsibility for pasta dishes, desserts and Italian meals
• Minimum 5–7 years’ hands-on experience in high-quality or fine-dining Italian kitchens
• Demonstrated expertise in pasta preparation, sauces, toppings and classic Italian dessert techniques
• Experience managing a kitchen team including mentoring, delegation, stock control and operational oversight
• Strong knowledge of health, safety and hygiene standards in professional kitchens
• Formal culinary training, diploma or degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent is preferred
• Additional Italian cuisine or specialised pasta certifications are an advantage
• Passionate about Italian cuisine with pride, dedication and attention to detail in all culinary work
• Energetic, organised and methodical with excellent time management skills
• Demonstrated leadership, mentoring and team-building abilities
• Proactive problem-solving skills and ability to maintain kitchen efficiency under pressure
• Excellent communication and professional presentation at all times
• Ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively while maintaining high standards and consistency