Lead Banquet Chef

Hilton Mystic; Madison (CT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Madison Beach Hotel is seeking a Lead Banquet Chef to oversee all banquet culinary operations for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations on Connecticut’s coast. You will lead creative menu development, high-volume production, and a collaborative kitchen culture to ensure memorable dining experiences.

The role requires 5+ years in banquet or high-volume environments, strong leadership, and a focus on quality, safety, and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in banquet or high-volume culinary environments; hotel experience preferred.
• Proven leadership and cross-department collaboration.
• Strong time management and event-day execution.
• Creative menu development and adaptability under pressure.
• Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Banquet Menu Development — Design seasonal menus reflecting coastal flavors for events.
• Event Execution — Lead culinary production for events 20–200 guests with quality and presentation.
• Kitchen Leadership — Supervise and train banquet staff; maintain a productive, safe kitchen culture.
• Collaboration With Event Teams — Align culinary plans with event logistics and guest expectations.
• Inventory & Cost Control — Manage orders, vendor relations, portions, and waste to meet targets.
• Quality & Consistency — Ensure flavor, freshness, and presentation meet hotel standards.
• Health & Safety Compliance — Enforce ServSafe and sanitation protocols.
• Innovation & Guest Experience — Introduce new concepts and signature banquet dishes.

Skills

Culinary Expertise

Leadership

Time Management

Creativity

Technical Skills

Job description

Join Our Culinary Team as the Lead Banquet Chef

The Lead Banquet Chef oversees all culinary operations for banquets and special events at the Madison Beach Hotel, a luxury beachfront property known for elevated coastal cuisine and exceptional guest experiences. This role blends creative menu development, high-volume execution, and team leadership to deliver memorable dining moments for weddings, corporate retreats, holiday events, and private celebrations.

Key Responsibilities

• Banquet Menu Development — Design seasonal, innovative banquet menus that reflect coastal New England flavors while meeting client preferences, dietary needs, and event themes.

• Event Execution — Lead all culinary production for events ranging from 20 to 200 guests, ensuring consistency, quality, and impeccable presentation.

• Kitchen Leadership — Supervise banquet cooks, prep teams, and dish staff; provide hands‑on training; maintain a positive, efficient, and safety‑focused kitchen culture.

• Collaboration With Event Teams — Partner closely with the Executive Chef, F&B Director, DOSM and Banquet Manager to align culinary plans with event logistics, timelines, and guest expectations.

• Inventory & Cost Control — Manage ordering, vendor relationships, portioning, and waste reduction to meet food cost targets without compromising quality.

• Quality & Consistency — Uphold Madison Beach Hotel’s standards for flavor, freshness, and presentation across all banquet dishes.

• Health & Safety Compliance — Ensure full adherence to ServSafe and hotel sanitation protocols.

• Innovation & Guest Experience — Introduce new culinary concepts, action stations, and signature banquet dishes that elevate the hotel’s event offerings.

Required Skills & Experience

• Culinary Expertise — 5+ years in banquet or high-volume culinary environments; hotel experience preferred.

• Leadership & Communication — Proven ability to lead diverse kitchen teams and collaborate across departments.

• Time & Workflow Management — Skilled at organizing production schedules, plating timelines, and event‑day execution.

• Creativity & Adaptability — Ability to customize menus, pivot quickly, and maintain excellence under pressure.

• Technical Proficiency — Strong knife skills, batch cooking, banquet plating, and familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment.

Why Madison Beach Hotel?

Located directly on the shoreline, Madison Beach Hotel blends luxury hospitality with the charm of coastal Connecticut. As Lead Banquet Chef, you’ll shape the culinary identity of weddings, milestone celebrations, and corporate events in one of the region’s most scenic venues.

Distinctive Hospitality Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.