chef London, England
Job description
Sous Chef - Cake Production
We have a fantastic career opportunity at our Cake Production Kitchen for an experienced, confident and energetic Sous Chef who has a high level of attention to fine detail, a love for cakes, cupcakes, confectionery and afternoon tea, and who is a natural team leader with great management and organisation skills.
About Us
At Peggy Porschen we work through the year, weaving captivating seasonal narratives seamlessly throughout our cakes & confectionery, Parlour installations and lifestyle retail range: including books, gift items and baking kits. A trailblazer for creative cake artistry and picture-perfect cafes, our legion of fans knows us for exceptional attention to detail and unique designs that capture hearts. We are a destination for escapism, dreaminess and unwritten permission for visitors to connect with their inner child through a love of a fairy-tale colour palette and mouth watering tastes, all with a twist that is relevant to modern life.
Combining beautiful aesthetics with femininity and romance, every part of the Peggy Porschen experience is packed with prettiness and exquisite detail. Our award-winning pastry chef team ensures that customers can expect the epitome of taste and quality in every bite.
With a focus on quality ingredients, traditional baking methods and creative flavours combined with beautiful design and exquisite craftsmanship, every step of the customer experience is carefully curated. With seasonally changing Parlour installations and edible collections to match, there is a constant buzz surrounding our leafy corner cafes as visitors from all over the world flock to see and experience the latest offerings.
About the role
Peggy Porschen is a family-owned business built on a love and passion for our craft, and we believe that a team who loves what they do is able to create magic (Peggy Porschen magic to be precise). This is a key role within our company and we are looking for an experienced Pastry Sous Chef who identifies with the Peggy Porschen ethos and style and will translate this through their work ethic, high standards and values. We are a small, close-knit team and we are looking for a friendly, approachable/outgoing personality with team spirit as well as natural leadership skills and a strong sense of responsibility, professionalism and diligence.
Reporting to the Pastry Head Chef, you will be supporting them in managing the kitchen and in delegating, leading and motivating a small, well-organised team of pastry chefs, bakers and kitchen porters. As well as managerial support duties, you will play an instrumental role in the daily production and lead by example as you do so.
You will have fantastic time management and multitasking skills and an exceptional eye for detail. Your work is methodical and organised and you will ensure that all our cakes, cupcakes and confectionery leaving our kitchen are being produced in a timely manner to the highest quality in taste and appearance. You have a can-do attitude, and never cut corners nor compromise on standards.
You will have excellent pastry know-how including baking, layering & icing skills using various types of sponge recipes, cake fillings, icings, chocolate and buttercreams. Furthermore, you will have fantastic decorating skills such as the perfect masking cakes, various buttercream techniques and hand piping with royal icing. You will also understand how to work with different sugar and modelling pastes and be able to create delicate sugar work such as blossoms and flowers.
Main tasks & responsibilities:
- Reporting to and supporting the Pastry Head Chef as 2nd in command
- Supervising and delegating tasks to the production team, ensuring the smooth running of the daily production and tight quality control
- Actively taking part in the daily production and able to work in all sections (baking, layering, decorating)
- Training, observing and monitoring the production team
- Stock control and rotation of materials and ingredients
- Ensuring that all health and safety, and food safety standards and procedures are being monitored and adhered to
- Assisting with seasonal recipe development
- Leading by example and promoting a positive work environment and supporting the Head Chef in building a well trained, well-bonded, productive and satisfied pastry team
- Able to work flexible shifts
Professional requirements:
- Pastry Degree
- Minimum 2 Years Sous Chef level experience at a similar luxury patisserie establishment
- Level 3 Health & Safety
- Level 3 Food Safety
- English fluent
- Basic computer skills
- Trained in cake decorating and sugarcraft
- Keen interest in cakes and cake decorating
- Excellent skills in finishing
- Min. 2 year UK work visa
- Already a UK resident (EU settled or pre-settled status)
Personal attributes:
- A ‘can do’ attitude
- Organised and tidy
- Strong work ethic
- Natural leadership skills
- Team player who believes in working together towards one common goal within the company
- Excellent communicator
- Fantastic time management skills and multi-tasker who thrives under pressure
- Friendly & approachable
- Responsible and accountable
- Uses criticism constructively and is able to apply constructive criticism
- Team motivator who gets everyone on board
- Flexible and open-minded
- A keen eye for detail
- Takes pride in maintaining a high standard consistently and throughout
- Great ability to train and pass on knowledge
- Keen interest in seasonal recipes and designs
- Loves their craft & profession
- Forward-thinking and driven to succeed and exceed expectations
We offer:
- Full-time
- Salary - competitive (£x)
- 40 hrs/week
- 28 days holiday
- Paid lunch breaks
- 50% off layer cakes and cupcakes
- A birthday cake on your birthday
- you can access 50% of your wages before payday through Wagestream
- Employee Assistance Programme
- The opportunity to join a wonderful team within an amazing company and help us grow to the next level
- Location: South West London
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: From £30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Gym membership
- Health & wellbeing programme
Schedule:
- Day shift
Ability to commute/relocate:
- London: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Baking and Cake decorating: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
