Pastry Cook

JKS Restaurants; New York (NY); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

JKS Restaurants, doing business as Ambassadors Clubhouse, is seeking a Pastry Cook to produce high-quality plated desserts and pastries for a fine dining setting in New York. You will maintain mise en place, decorate desserts, and assist in menu development while upholding health and safety standards in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires precision, discipline, and a commitment to hospitality, with duties extending to inventory, training, and collaboration with culinary and service teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years in an upscale kitchen or similar position.
• Formal pastry or culinary education or Michelin experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of pastry techniques, bread baking, chocolate work, and plated dessert presentation.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work cleanly, efficiently, and calmly under pressure.
• Flexible schedule with availability for nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Commitment to hospitality, teamwork, and excellence.
• Good time-management and teamwork skills
• Pride in appearance.
• Constantly strive to improve personal and professional development.
• Must be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time and lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Assist in opening and closing procedures to prepare the kitchen for service and maintain cleanliness and organization.
• Assist in the preparation, baking, and presentation of all pastry items, breads, and plated desserts.
• Execute recipes with consistency, following restaurant standards and Chef’s direction.
• Maintain proper mise en place, ensuring all pastry components are prepped and available for service.
• Decorate, garnish, and plate desserts with attention to detail, flavor balance, and aesthetics.
• Support the Pastry Chef with menu development, seasonal dessert changes, and special event offerings.
• Uphold NYC Department of Health and restaurant sanitation standards at all times.
• Properly label, store, and rotate all ingredients and finished products to minimize waste.
• Collaborate with the culinary and service teams to ensure seamless guest experiences.
• Assist in inventory, ordering, and receiving of pastry-related supplies.
• Participate in training and mentoring of junior pastry staff as needed.
• Attend briefings, meetings, and training sessions to stay informed about menu offerings, updated protocols, and industry best practices.
• Report any health & safety issues or faulty equipment promptly for resolution.

Skills

Pastry techniques

Bread baking

Chocolate work

Plated dessert presentation

Organizational skills

Under pressure

Time management

Teamwork

Pride in appearance

Physical stamina

Education

Formal pastry or culinary education

Job description

Job Description

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Pastry Cook is a vital member of the culinary team, responsible for producing high-quality plated desserts and pastries consistent with the standards of a fine dining restaurant. This role demands precision and discipline, ensuring that each guest experiences excellence in every sweet course. The Pastry Cook must uphold the standards of excellence that define JKS, professional etiquette and compliance with all health and labor regulations.

RATE OF PAY: $25.00 per hour, non-exempt, FLSA eligible for overtime

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in opening and closing procedures to prepare the kitchen for service and maintain cleanliness and organization throughout.
• Assist in the preparation, baking, and presentation of all pastry items, breads, and plated desserts.
• Execute recipes with consistency, following restaurant standards and Chef’s direction.
• Maintain proper mise en place, ensuring all pastry components are prepped and available for service.
• Decorate, garnish, and plate desserts with attention to detail, flavor balance, and aesthetics.
• Support the Pastry Chef with menu development, seasonal dessert changes, and special event offerings.
• Uphold NYC Department of Health and restaurant sanitation standards at all times.
• Properly label, store, and rotate all ingredients and finished products to minimize waste.
• Collaborate with the culinary and service teams to ensure seamless guest experiences.
• Assist in inventory, ordering, and receiving of pastry-related supplies.
• Participate in training and mentoring of junior pastry staff as needed.
• Attend briefings, meetings, and training sessions to stay informed about menu offerings, updated protocols, and industry best practices.
• Report any health & safety issues or faulty equipment promptly for resolution.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum (2) years in an upscale kitchen or similar position
• Formal pastry or culinary education or Michelin experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of pastry techniques, bread baking, chocolate work, and plated dessert presentation.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work cleanly, efficiently, and calmly under pressure.
• Flexible schedule with availability for nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Commitment to hospitality, teamwork, and excellence.
• Good time-management and teamwork skills
• Pride in appearance.
• Constantly strive to improve personal and professional development.
• Must be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time and lift up to 50 lbs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that are to be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

The statements in this job description are intended to describe the essential nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be ALL responsibilities or qualifications of the job.

JKS Restaurants (dba: Ambassadors Clubhouse) is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.