Executive Chef | Banquet & Events

The Distillery Restaurants Corp; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Distillery Restaurants Corp is searching for a creative and engaging Executive Chef to lead its Back of House Team in the historic Distillery District of Toronto. The ideal candidate will oversee kitchen operations, develop unique menus for events, and inspire their team through leadership and culinary excellence. This role offers a competitive salary and opportunities for career growth within a dynamic culinary environment.

Benefits

Food discounts at all restaurants

Opportunities for career growth

Participation in monthly cooking contests

Field trips to food producers

Recognition awards for team players

Qualifications

• 10+ years in cooking with growth in event catering.
• 5+ years in a leadership role in the kitchen.
• Education equivalent to a culinary degree.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement culinary strategies and menus.
• Train and supervise kitchen staff, ensuring high standards.
• Manage kitchen operations, including food prep and presentation.

Skills

Leadership

Team Management

Culinary Innovation

Problem Solving

Education

Culinary degree/diploma

Job description

Distillery Events and The Distillery Restaurants Corp. are actively seeking a creative and engaging Executive Chefto lead our Back of House Team!
Our event venues are located in the Distillery Historic District, one of Canada's most exciting art and shopping destinations and home to some of the top-ranked restaurants and events venues in the City of Toronto. Each of our events is unique as we cater to our guests' specific needs — whether it be an intimate cocktail party, a site-wide corporate event for hundreds, a product launch, or a glamorous wedding.
The idealcandidate will be experienced and comfortable with all facets of kitchen management, includinghiring, scheduling, training, development and coaching. DRC Chefs manage their teams to success with ahands-on approach and are expected to lead with consistency, passion and humility.
Please note: You must already have legal permission to work in Canada to be considered for this role.

What you’ll experience with The DRC:

• $90,000 plus benefits, and food discounts at all our restaurants.
• CAREER GROWTH. Lead and learn under the guidance of Distillery Restaurant Corp’s Director of Culinary, Timothy Miles as well as the talented team of Executive Chefs in each of our restaurants,
• CONTESTS. Greatest Dish Challenge: A monthlycooking competition open to all DRC cooks with a $250 CASH prize!
• TRIPS.Yes, you read that right – field trips!Selectemployees get the chance to visit artisan food producers, cooking demos, farms andsuppliersto educate and inspire!
• GOLDEN TICKETS. AKA more cool prizes awarded to team players that arerecognized for their outstanding work ethic!

What you’ll be doing:

• Developing and implementing culinary strategies, menus, and recipes that align with Distillery Events’ brand, target market, and quality standards, but also creating unique menus to cater to bespoke events.
• Training, supervising, and motivating kitchen staff, including sous chefs, line cooks, and other culinary personnel, ensuring their adherence to culinary standards and performance expectations.
• Collaborating with the Sales and Operations teams to plan and execute special events, promotions, and customized menus as needed.
• Overseeing all aspects of kitchen operations, including food preparation, cooking, plating, and presentation, to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and timely delivery.
• Managing inventory levels and ingredient sourcing, maintaining effective relationships with suppliers to ensure the availability of high-quality ingredients.
• Maintaining food safety and sanitation standards, following local health regulations and industry best practices.
• Maintaining rigorous quality control measures, conducting regular tastings and inspections to ensure consistency and excellence in food preparation and presentation.
• Monitoring and controlling food and labor costs, working closely with the management team to develop budgets, analyze financial reports, and implement cost-saving measures.
• Identifying opportunities for revenue growth and profitability enhancement through menu engineering, pricing strategies, and effective cost management.
• Fostering effective communication and collaboration between the culinary team and other departments, such as service staff, event planners, and management, to ensure seamless operations and exceptional customer experiences.
• Coordinating with vendors, suppliers, and external partners to negotiate contracts, resolve issues, and maintain positive relationships.
• Representing Distillery Events at culinary events, industry conferences, and media engagements, acting as a brand ambassador and promoting our brand.
• Other related duties as assigned.

What you’ll bring to the kitchen:

• EXPERIENCE. You have at least 10 years of cooking experience with demonstrated progressive growth in an event catering environment. You’ve been a leader in the kitchen for at least 5 years.
• EDUCATION. You’ve earned a Culinary degree/diploma and/or the equivalent in education and experience.
• A GROWTH MINDSET. You consider yourself a life-long learner and have a natural opennessto learning, coaching and career growth.
• PASSION. You have a genuine passion for events, cooking, and delivering a product beyond the greatest expectations of our guests.
• SOLUTIONS. You’re a strong problem solver with an insatiable desire toimpact performance, always looking for opportunities to improve.
• LEADERSHIP. You’re an exceptional leader with excellent relationship-building and communication skills.

The Distillery Restaurants Corporation (DRC) is committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. We encourage and welcome candidates with disabilities to apply for job opportunities with us. Please note that accommodations throughout each stage of the DRC’s recruitment process are available upon request.

The Distillery Restaurants Corporation (DRC) is committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process where candidates are respected, supported and valued. The DRC welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Please note that accommodations during every part of the recruitment and selection process are available upon request.