Chef

Ita-ca Llc; Costa Mesa (CA); In loco; USD 65.000 - 90.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Competitive pay

Career growth

Stable restaurant

Growing responsibilities

Descrizione del lavoro

Ita-ca Llc in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking an experienced Italian cuisine chef/cook. The role requires strong background in authentic Italian cooking, reliable independence, and fluency in English.

You will work in a small, quality-focused kitchen producing fresh pasta, sauces, pinsa romana, piadina, soups, salads, and more, with an American breakfast/brunch menu. The candidate should be versatile, cost-conscious, and able to manage station duties while collaborating with the kitchen team.

Competenze

• Strong previous experience in Italian cuisine is required.
• Fluent English is required.
• Experience preparing food from scratch.
• Ability to follow standardized recipes precisely.
• Understanding of portion control, food cost, inventory and waste management.
• Willingness to work weekends and be punctual.

Mansioni

• Prepare and execute dishes according to established recipes and quality standards.
• Maintain high standards of food quality, taste, presentation, and portioning.
• Follow recipes carefully with specified quantities and portions.
• Understand food cost, portion control, and waste reduction.
• Work efficiently during busy service periods and independently during slower periods.
• Organize daily prep based on kitchen needs and monitor inventory levels.
• Assist with ordering from approved suppliers after training.
• Receive and store deliveries; keep a clean, organized kitchen and workstation.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and health regulations.
• Communicate effectively with management and team.
• Take ownership of your station and be reliable on weekends.

Conoscenze

Italian cuisine expertise

Fluent English

Reliable and punctual

Organized and independent

Food cost & inventory

Recipe following

Waste reduction

Team & solo work

Calm under pressure

Formazione

Culinary school (preferred)

Descrizione del lavoro

Experienced Italian Cuisine Chef / Cook

Benefits / Perks

• Competitive Compensation
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Stable, established restaurant
• Opportunity to take on increasing kitchen responsibilities

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Chef/Cook with a strong background in authentic Italian cuisine to join our team.

We are an established, independently owned Italian restaurant focused on high-quality, authentic Italian food. We are not a large-volume corporate kitchen, so we are looking for someone who is reliable, responsible, organized, hands-on, and able to work independently when necessary.

Strong fluency in English and solid experience with Italian cuisine are non-negotiable requirements. Weekend availability and punctuality are also essential.

Our kitchen prepares a wide variety of dishes, including fresh pasta, pasta sauces, pinsa romana, piadina and flatbread sandwiches, soups, salads, and other traditional Italian specialties. Most of our recipes are original Italian recipes, and many of our products are prepared from scratch.

We also offer an American-style Breakfast/Brunch menu every morning until approximately 1–2 PM.

Because we are a relatively small restaurant, our cooks and chefs need to be versatile. During busy periods, you will work closely with the rest of the kitchen team; during slower periods, you must be comfortable working independently and responsibly managing the kitchen and your station.

Quality is extremely important to us, but so is cost control. The right candidate must understand the importance of following recipes, respecting portion sizes, minimizing waste, monitoring inventory, and using ingredients responsibly.

As you become familiar with our operation, we would also expect you to help identify purchasing needs, monitor inventory levels, communicate shortages, and eventually place orders directly with our approved suppliers.

Visit our website to learn more about our restaurant, menu, and concept.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and execute dishes according to our established recipes and quality standards
• Maintain consistently high standards of food quality, taste, presentation, and portioning
• Follow recipes carefully, including specified ingredient quantities and portion sizes
• Understand the importance of food cost, portion control, and waste reduction
• Work efficiently and calmly during busy service periods
• Be comfortable working independently during slower periods
• Organize and complete daily prep based on actual kitchen needs
• Monitor ingredient and inventory levels and identify products that need to be reordered
• After training, assist with and eventually manage ordering from approved suppliers
• Receive and properly store deliveries
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen and workstation
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and health regulations
• Communicate effectively with management and other team members
• Be punctual, dependable, and available to work weekends
• Take ownership of your station and help the entire kitchen operate smoothly

Qualifications

• Strong previous experience in Italian cuisine is required
• Previous professional experience as a Chef, Cook, or experienced Line Cook
• Fluent English is required
• Strong knowledge of Italian cooking techniques, ingredients, sauces, pasta, and traditional recipes
• Experience preparing food from scratch
• Ability to follow standardized recipes precisely and consistently
• Strong understanding of portion control, food cost, inventory, and waste management
• Ability to work both as part of a team and independently
• Excellent organization and time-management skills
• Ability to remain calm and productive under pressure
• Reliable, punctual, responsible, and professional
• California Food Handler Card or appropriate food-safety certification
• Culinary school education is preferred but not required

We are looking for someone who takes pride in cooking great food, respects ingredients and recipes, understands that quality and cost control go hand in hand, and wants to become an important part of our kitchen team.