Founding Prep Cook: Shape a Chef-Driven Opening Kitchen

Chetola Resort; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Founding Team bonuses

Performance bonuses

Advancement opportunities

Access to local ingredients

Balanced scheduling when possible

Job summary

Haven, a chef-driven restaurant opening in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, is assembling its founding kitchen team. This role focuses on prep work, mise en place, and developing the foundational systems that will define the restaurant’s standards.

Founding team members participate in pre-opening training and tastings, shaping recipes, workflows, and culture. Experience in fine dining is a plus, with opportunities to grow as the restaurant opens.

Qualifications

• Basic to strong knife skills and a desire to continue improving.
• Ability to follow recipes, specifications, and instructions accurately.
• Strong attention to detail and consistency.
• Ability to stay organized and manage multiple prep priorities.
• A positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Prepare ingredients and components with consistency, precision, and care.
• Execute daily prep lists efficiently while maintaining high standards of quality.
• Wash, trim, peel, cut, portion, and process produce, proteins, and other ingredients according to established specifications.
• Prepare sauces, stocks, dressings, marinades, and other foundational components.
• Follow recipes accurately while developing a deeper understanding of technique, flavor, and ingredient function.
• Support whole-product utilization and minimize food waste.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and professional workstation.

Skills

Knife skills

Attention to detail

Organization

Curiosity

Work ethic

Reliability

Teamwork

Willingness to learn

Job description

Haven, a chef-driven restaurant opening in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, is assembling its founding kitchen team. This role focuses on prep work, mise en place, and developing the foundational systems that will define the restaurant’s standards.

Founding team members participate in pre-opening training and tastings, shaping recipes, workflows, and culture. Experience in fine dining is a plus, with opportunities to grow as the restaurant opens.