Café Chef / Cook — Specialty Sandwiches & Pastries

Latasse; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

LaTasse Café, a premium French‑café located in Downtown Newark, seeks an experienced Café Chef or Cook to craft specialty sandwiches and pastries for a busy daytime service. You will use fresh ingredients, ensure consistent portions, bake pastries, and keep a well‑organized prep station.

The role is full‑time, 35–40 hours weekly, with morning and daytime shifts, including weekends. Applicants should have at least two years of café/restaurant experience, follow recipes, maintain food safety, and

Qualifications

• At least two years of professional food preparation experience in a café, restaurant, deli, or sandwich shop.
• Skill in preparing specialty sandwiches with consistent quality.
• Knowledge of bread selection, ingredients, flavor combinations, and portion control.
• Current food handler certificate required before first shift.
• Ability to operate café ovens safely and follow pastry instructions.
• Strong organization, cleanliness, teamwork, and order accuracy.
• Reliable attendance and commute to Downtown Newark.
• Weekend availability required.
• Culinary training and experience with French-style sandwiches preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare specialty sandwiches (e.g., jambon-beurre, chicken and provolone, tuna, vegetarian options).
• Prepare ingredients per recipes, balancing flavor, texture, and presentation.
• Handle breads, meats, cheeses, vegetables, and spreads to maintain freshness.
• Organize ingredient prep and keep station stocked.
• Follow recipe and portion standards; suggest improvements.
• Bake and finish ready-to-bake pastries; monitor oven times and temperatures.
• Maintain attractive pastry displays and monitor product freshness.
• Coordinate with baristas for in-person, pickup, and delivery orders.
• Package and label orders clearly for transport.
• Follow food safety, allergen precautions, and storage/date-labeling procedures.
• Rotate stock, track waste, and communicate shortages.
• Clean and sanitize utensils and prep areas.
• Complete opening, closing, and shift handover duties.

Skills

Food preparation

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

Culinary training

Tools

Café ovens operation

Job description

Café Chef / Cook — Specialty Sandwiches & Pastries

LaTasse Café | Downtown Newark, NJ | On-site.

Position: Full-time, approximately 35–40 hours per week. Pay: $18–$20 per hour. Schedule: Primarily morning and daytime shifts, including weekends. Flexibility to cover other scheduled shifts is required. Café operating hours are 6:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

LaTasse Café is seeking an experienced chef or cook with a strong understanding of specialty sandwich preparation, ingredient quality, and presentation. Our menu features French-inspired and café-style sandwiches alongside coffee, pastries, fresh juices, and smoothies. You will prepare sandwiches with consistent flavor and portions, bake and finish ready-to-bake pastries, and maintain an organized food preparation station.

Reporting to the Café Manager, you will bring culinary skill, reliability, and attention to detail to every order.

Responsibilities

• Prepare specialty sandwiches, including jambon-beurre, chicken and provolone, tuna, and vegetarian options.
• Prepare ingredients according to approved recipes, balancing flavor, texture, and presentation.
• Handle breads, meats, cheeses, vegetables, and spreads carefully to maintain freshness and quality.
• Organize ingredient preparation before service and keep the station stocked.
• Follow recipe and portion standards; recommend improvements for management approval.
• Bake and finish ready-to-bake pastries, following product instructions and monitoring oven times and temperatures.
• Maintain attractive pastry displays and monitor product freshness.
• Coordinate with baristas to complete in-person, pickup, and delivery orders efficiently.
• Package and label orders accurately, keeping products presentable during transport.
• Follow food safety, allergen precautions, temperature control, storage, and date-labeling procedures.
• Rotate stock, track waste, and communicate ingredient shortages.
• Clean and sanitize utensils, equipment, and preparation areas.
• Complete opening, closing, and shift handover duties.

Required qualifications

• At least two years of professional food preparation experience as a chef or cook in a café, restaurant, deli, or sandwich shop.
• Demonstrated skill preparing specialty sandwiches with consistent quality.
• Understanding of bread selection, ingredient preparation, flavor combinations, and portion control.
• A current food handler certificate is required before your first shift.
• Ability to operate café ovens safely and follow ready-to-bake pastry instructions.
• Strong organization, cleanliness, teamwork, and order accuracy.
• Ability to work efficiently during busy service.
• Reliable attendance and a dependable commute to Downtown Newark.
• Availability for agreed shifts, including weekends.
• Culinary training and experience with French-style sandwiches are preferred. Training will be provided on LaTasse’s recipes and pastry products.

Experience

Full-time.

Salary

$18 – $20 hourly.

About LaTasse

Latasse Café is a premium French-café located in the heart of Newark. We specialize in handcrafted beverages, fresh smoothies, bakery items, sandwiches.