Cafe Cook / Chef (Experienced Cook or 1st/2nd Year Apprentice)

Merak Gourmet Foods Pty Ltd; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 45,000 - 58,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Top Award Rates

No Split Shifts

Predominantly daytime hours

Only one Saturday night shift

Job summary

Merak Gourmet Foods Pty Ltd in Redland Bay, QLD is hiring a Cafe Cook/Chef (Experienced Cook or 1st/2nd Year Apprentice) to join a small, focused team during high-volume weekend service. Expect fast-paced mornings and busy lunch periods in a 70-seat gluten-free café with a stable Wed–Sun roster.

You will work closely with a tight team of 3–4, handle gluten-free dishes, and maintain standards while delivering efficient service. Training and onboarding are immediate for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Proven experience handling high-volume breakfast and lunch service.
• Reliable transport to Redland Bay (4165) for early weekend starts.
• Willingness to work Wednesday to Sunday, including weekends and public holidays.
• Experience as Experienced Café/Short-Order Cook or 1st/2nd Year Apprentice preferred.

Responsibilities

• High-Volume Service: Prepare, cook, and plate gluten-free dishes at a fast pace.
• Line management during peak weekend service for breakfast and lunch.
• Maintain kitchen standards with fast, precise knife skills and organization.
• Roster coverage across breakfast, lunch, and Friday/Saturday night dinner services.

Skills

High-volume service

Fast-paced kitchen

Reliability

Education

Apprenticeship in culinary arts (1st/2nd year)

Job description

Cafe Cook / Chef (Experienced Cook or 1st/2nd Year Apprentice)

Merak Gourmet Foods Pty Ltd – Redland Bay QLD

Job Summary

Pay Range: $33.00 – $42.00 per hour + super (Based on award classification & weekend penalties)

Hours: 25–32 hours per week | Stable Wednesday to Sunday roster (Monday/Tuesday off!)

Lifestyle Perks: No Split Shifts | Predominantly daytime hours (Only one Saturday night shift, out by 8:30pm)

Location: Redland Bay (4165) — Must have reliable transport to get here for early weekend starts

About the Role & Our Pace
Merak GF is a bustling, high-volume 70-seat gluten-free café in Redland Bay, and we are ready to welcome a reliable new hand to our kitchen team immediately.

We are not a quiet little café. When the weekend hits, our kitchen goes from consistent to extremely busy to support our booming local trade. You will be working tightly within a small, focused team of 3 to 4 people where communication, speed, and teamwork are everything. We are looking for a reliable Cook or Apprentice who thrives on the rush of a full tickets rail, keeps their head cool under pressure, and wants to work in a supportive, drama-free environment.

We are interviewing this week and ready to onboard the right person straight away. Skip the long hiring delays—apply today and lock in your roster.

Key Responsibilities

High-Volume Service: Prepare, cook, and plate 100% gluten-free food at a fast pace.

Line Management: Smash through fast-paced breakfast and lunch ticket lines during peak weekend service.

Kitchen Standards: Maintain fast, precise knife skills, a clean section, and strong organizational habits.

Roster Coverage: Work across breakfast, lunch, and our Friday + Saturday night dinner services.

About You (Applicant Criteria)
We need someone who can hit the ground running. We welcome applications from:

Experienced Café/Short-Order Cooks with concrete experience handling heavy weekend breakfasts and high-volume ticket lines.

2nd Year Apprentice Cooks ready to step up and prove you can hold down a section during peak service.

1st Year Apprentices with 6–12 months of fast-paced commercial kitchen experience (e.g., as a busy kitchen hand or prep cook) who know what a real service rush feels like.

Position Requirements:

The Need for Speed: Proven experience handling high-volume breakfast and lunch service.

Logistics: A reliable way to get to Redland Bay (4165) for early morning or weekend shifts.

Availability: Regular availability across Wednesday to Sunday, including weekends and public holidays.

What We Offer (Benefits & Culture)

Top Award Rates: Paid fully under the Restaurant Industry Award with 25% casual loading + all weekend and public holiday penalties paid correctly, every single week.

Real Work-Life Balance: No split shifts. Continuous shifts so you can actually plan your life outside of work.

Great Environment: Merak GF is a celebrated, 100% gluten-free café. We are a close-knit team that values quality food, stunning presentation, and a great workplace culture where you are respected.