Culinary Development Chef - Catering

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness benefits

State-of-the-art kitchen facilities

Performance-driven incentives

Dynamic and creative work environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Nelspruit is seeking a Creative Culinary Development Chef to lead menu creation for their catering division. The role focuses on developing innovative dishes, testing recipes, and ensuring quality across events while aligning with dietary requirements.

You will work hands-on with the Head Chef and operations team, monitor food costing, sourcing, and kitchen management, and train staff on new dishes and presentation standards.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a Chef with focus on menu development and culinary innovation.
• Demonstrated expertise in creating diverse menus, including dietary options.
• Strong understanding of food costing, sourcing, and kitchen management.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, test, and refine menus for catering events.
• Stay abreast of culinary trends and applying them to menu development.
• Collaborate with Head Chef and operations to ensure feasibility and scalability of new dishes.

Skills

Menu development

Culinary innovation

Food costing

Kitchen management

Sensory evaluation

Dietary accommodation

Education

Culinary qualification

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly creative and innovative Culinary Development Chef to lead menu creation and refinement for their catering division based in Nelspruit . This role is critical in ensuring our catering offerings remain at the forefront of culinary trends, catering to diverse tastes and dietary requirements. You will be responsible for conceptualizing new dishes, developing recipes, conducting taste tests, and collaborating with the culinary team to bring innovative menus to life. This is a hands-on role for a passionate chef dedicated to elevating the catering experience through exceptional food quality and creativity.

Key Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, develop, and test new recipes and menu items for various catering events.
• Stay abreast of current culinary trends, ingredients, and techniques, applying them to menu development.
• Collaborate with the Head Chef and operations team to ensure feasibility and scalability of new dishes.
• Conduct food tasting sessions and gather feedback for menu refinement.
• Ensure all developed recipes adhere to food safety and hygiene standards.
• Train kitchen staff on new dishes, preparation methods, and presentation standards.

Requirements

• Significant experience as a Chef , with a strong focus on menu development and culinary innovation.
• Demonstrated expertise in creating diverse and appealing menus, including options for various dietary needs.
• Excellent understanding of food costing , ingredient sourcing, and kitchen management.
• Passion for food, creativity, and a commitment to quality.
• Strong sensory evaluation skills and attention to detail.
• Relevant culinary qualifications or extensive professional experience.

Benefits

• Excellent annual salary and performance-driven incentives.
• Opportunity to shape the culinary direction of a leading catering company in Nelspruit .
• Access to state-of-the-art kitchen facilities.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• A dynamic and creative work environment that fosters innovation.