Head Chef Highclere Castle
Full-time
Mid
Description
Head Chef Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle is a prestigious heritage venue well known for being the location for the successful TV series Downton Abbey. It has a thriving visitor business producing quality teas and light lunches for over 75K people per annum as well as fine dining for corporate events and family occasions which may be from 10 to 60 people in the Castle and surrounding buildings.
The Head Chef will be responsible for a busy kitchen team consisting of a Sous Chef, Pastry Chef and a junior as well as a full time kitchen porter. Experience of working in a quality restaurant or at least 4 Star hotel is vital for the key roles as described below:
Key roles are:
Staff management to ensure the efficient organisation of kitchen tasks, overseeing holidays & training and ensuring a safe working environment at all times.
Food preparation to oversee the presentation and preparation of all food to the highest standards whether for visitors or corporate and family events.
Menu planning – Head Chef is responsible for all menu planning whether for Afternoon Teas and light lunches for our Castle visitors or for corporate dinners/lunches & receptions. Working with Lord & Lady Carnarvon on menu choices for both their and other Castle events.
Critical culinary skills are: use of knives, efficient use of ovens, gas cookers and other kitchen equipment as well as plating techniques. Understanding flavours and ingredient profiles of English and continental cuisines is an integral part of this role. Menu development and the ability to adapt dishes for dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan and gluten free are essential skills. An interest is the cooking of gamebirds, venison and livestock produced on the Estate is appreciated.
Business success
Understanding and maintaining gross margins on bought in food stock and dry goods is key to success in our business.
Cost control and gross margins – It is the responsibility of the Head Chef to order from suppliers at the best price manage gross margins for optimum profitability.
Food safety & hygiene knowledge is mandatory as well as ensuring all fridges and freezers are operating properly at the correct temperature and relevant foodstuffs are kept separated. Understanding key allergies and the avoidance of producing the wrong ingredient for a potentially allergenic person is vital for this role.
Leadership – Head Chef will be an enthusiastic leader of the kitchen team fostering a creative and productive atmosphere and obtaining the best from their team as well as liaising well with the Head Butler and Front of House staff.
The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic, well organised, and self-motivated person who will work well as the leader and be a team player within a busy kitchen environment. It is essential that the candidate has good communication skills, both written and verbal, and is computer literate. They role does require work on public holidays and weekends throughout the year and during the busy public opening season which runs through the Spring and Summer months. There is less evening work as compared to a restaurant or hotel business.
This is an exciting role and career enhancement for someone who is keen to work in a beautiful historic environment with a long history of fine hospitality and quality meals produced to the highest standards.
We offer a salary of £48K-£51Kper annum plus accommodation on the Estate
Highclere Castle is a prestigious heritage venue well known for being the location for the successful TV series Downton Abbey. It has a thriving visitor business producing quality teas and light lunches for over 75K people per annum as well as fine dining for corporate events and family occasions which may be from 10 to 60 people in the Castle and surrounding buildings.
The Head Chef will be responsible for a busy kitchen team consisting of a Sous Chef, Pastry Chef and a junior as well as a full time kitchen porter. Experience of working in a quality restaurant or at least 4 Star hotel is vital for the key roles as described below:
Key roles are:
Staff management to ensure the efficient organisation of kitchen tasks, overseeing holidays & training and ensuring a safe working environment at all times.
Food preparation to oversee the presentation and preparation of all food to the highest standards whether for visitors or corporate and family events.
Menu planning – Head Chef is responsible for all menu planning whether for Afternoon Teas and light lunches for our Castle visitors or for corporate dinners/lunches & receptions. Working with Lord & Lady Carnarvon on menu choices for both their and other Castle events.
Critical culinary skills are: use of knives, efficient use of ovens, gas cookers and other kitchen equipment as well as plating techniques. Understanding flavours and ingredient profiles of English and continental cuisines is an integral part of this role. Menu development and the ability to adapt dishes for dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan and gluten free are essential skills. An interest is the cooking of gamebirds, venison and livestock produced on the Estate is appreciated.
Business success
Understanding and maintaining gross margins on bought in food stock and dry goods is key to success in our business.
Cost control and gross margins – It is the responsibility of the Head Chef to order from suppliers at the best price manage gross margins for optimum profitability.
Food safety & hygiene knowledge is mandatory as well as ensuring all fridges and freezers are operating properly at the correct temperature and relevant foodstuffs are kept separated. Understanding key allergies and the avoidance of producing the wrong ingredient for a potentially allergenic person is vital for this role.
Leadership – Head Chef will be an enthusiastic leader of the kitchen team fostering a creative and productive atmosphere and obtaining the best from their team as well as liaising well with the Head Butler and Front of House staff.
The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic, well organised, and self-motivated person who will work well as the leader and be a team player within a busy kitchen environment. It is essential that the candidate has good communication skills, both written and verbal, and is computer literate. They role does require work on public holidays and weekends throughout the year and during the busy public opening season which runs through the Spring and Summer months. There is less evening work as compared to a restaurant or hotel business.
This is an exciting role and career enhancement for someone who is keen to work in a beautiful historic environment with a long history of fine hospitality and quality meals produced to the highest standards.
We offer a salary of £48K-£51Kper annum plus accommodation on the Estate