First Cook

Wilson Farm, Inc.; Lexington, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilson Farm is seeking an experienced First Cook to join our culinary team in Lexington, MA. This hands-on role requires ownership of a station, scratch cooking, and a commitment to high-quality, seasonally driven American-French inspired dishes for our retail farm stand.

You will work alongside seasoned culinary professionals under the leadership of our Master Chef of France, contributing to daily and seasonal production while maintaining high standards for taste, presentation, and food safety.

Qualifications

• Approximately 3 years of professional cooking experience in a scratch kitchen, restaurant, hotel, prepared-food operation, or similar culinary environment.
• Strong fundamental cooking and food preparation skills.
• Experience with French, American, European, or similar cuisine is a plus.
• Ability to independently manage a station and prioritize production needs.
• Strong attention to quality, consistency, organization, and detail.
• Availability to work approximately 45-50 hours per week, generally 7:00 AM-5:00 PM, including Saturdays and Sundays.
• ServSafe certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and produce high-quality food for sale in our retail farm stand, following established recipes, production standards, and specifications.
• Take ownership of an assigned station, including mise en place, production, organization, sanitation, and end-of-shift responsibilities.
• Ensure food is prepared accurately, consistently, and on schedule while maintaining high standards for taste, appearance, freshness, and food safety.
• Work closely with the Chef and culinary team to execute daily and seasonal production needs.
• Utilize fresh, seasonal ingredients, including products grown and sourced by Wilson Farm.
• Maintain proper food storage, labeling, rotation, and handling practices.
• Keep work areas clean, organized, and ready for efficient production.
• Assist other stations and team members as needed to keep kitchen operations running smoothly.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety requirements.
• Contribute to a professional, respectful, and team-oriented kitchen environment.

Skills

Station ownership

High-volume kitchen

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Job description

Description

Wilson Farm is seeking an experienced and motivated First Cook to join our culinary team.

This is a hands-on opportunity for an accomplished cook who takes pride in their craft and enjoys working with fresh, seasonal ingredients in a fast-paced, high-quality kitchen. Our prepared foods are made for our busy retail farm stand, with a focus on consistency, flavor, presentation, and the quality our customers have come to expect from Wilson Farm.

As a member of our culinary team, you will work alongside experienced culinary professionals under the leadership of our Master Chef of France, preparing American-French inspired cuisine and a wide variety of seasonal prepared foods.

We are looking for someone who can confidently take ownership of a station, work independently when needed, and also jump in wherever necessary to help the kitchen succeed. If you have a strong culinary foundation, enjoy scratch cooking, and want to continue developing your skills in a unique farm-to-kitchen environment, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Prepare and produce high-quality food for sale in our retail farm stand, following established recipes, production standards, and specifications.
• Take ownership of an assigned station, including mise en place, production, organization, sanitation, and end-of-shift responsibilities.
• Ensure food is prepared accurately, consistently, and on schedule while maintaining high standards for taste, appearance, freshness, and food safety.
• Work closely with the Chef and culinary team to execute daily and seasonal production needs.
• Utilize fresh, seasonal ingredients, including products grown and sourced by Wilson Farm.
• Maintain proper food storage, labeling, rotation, and handling practices.
• Keep work areas clean, organized, and ready for efficient production.
• Assist other stations and team members as needed to keep kitchen operations running smoothly.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety requirements.
• Contribute to a professional, respectful, and team-oriented kitchen environment.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Approximately 3 years of professional cooking experience in a scratch kitchen, restaurant, hotel, prepared-food operation, or similar culinary environment.
• Strong fundamental cooking and food preparation skills.
• Experience with French, American, European, or similar cuisine is a plus.
• Ability to independently manage a station and prioritize production needs.
• Strong attention to quality, consistency, organization, and detail.
• Ability to work efficiently and maintain composure in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Dependable, punctual, and committed to being part of a collaborative kitchen team.
• ServSafe certification is a plus.
• Availability to work approximately 45-50 hours per week, generally 7:00 AM-5:00 PM, including Saturdays and Sundays. This position typically has two scheduled weekdays off and requires additional holiday availability based on business needs.

Physical Requirements

This is an active, hands-on kitchen position. Candidates must be able to:

• Stand and work on their feet for extended periods, typically 8-10 hours.
• Regularly lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Work safely around commercial cooking equipment and in environments that may include heat, cold, and temperature changes.
• Bend, reach, lift, carry, and perform repetitive food-preparation tasks throughout the workday.