Festivals Executive Chef

The Distillery Restaurants Corp. is seeking an experienced and innovative Festivals Executive Chef to lead our festivals culinary team with passion for great food and memorable outdoor events. The ideal candidate is not only an exceptional event chef, but a great teacher and mentor with a strong growth mindset.  They not only understand that exceptional food is at the heart of hospitality but that they are an ambassador to Toronto's unique food and beverage culture.

Festivals venue is the Distillery Historic District, one of Canada's most exciting art and shopping destinations and home to some of the top-ranked restaurants and events venues in the City of Toronto. Each of our events/festivals is unique as we cater to the theme or vibe we’re creating – from country music fests to whisky festivals, film festivals and the Winter Village! 

The ideal candidate is not only an exceptional event chef, but a great teacher and mentor with a strong growth mindset, comfortable with all facets of kitchen management, including hiring, scheduling, menu development and budgeting. DRC Chefs manage their teams to success with a hands-on approach and are expected to lead with consistency, passion and humility. 

Vacancy Status: This position is for an existing, open vacancy. Your resume will be read by a human, and AI will not be used in this selection process.

Please note: You must already have legal permission to work in Canada to be considered for this role.

What you’ll experience with The DRC:

• $85,000 plus benefits, and food discounts at all our restaurants.
• CAREER GROWTH. Lead and learn under the guidance of Distillery Restaurant Corp’s Director of Culinary, Timothy Miles as well as the talented team of Executive Chefs in each of our restaurants, 
• TRIPS. Yes, you read that right – field trips! Select employees get the chance to visit artisan food producers, cooking demos, farms and suppliers to educate and inspire!
• GOLDEN TICKETS. AKA more cool prizes awarded to team players that are recognized for their outstanding work ethic!

What you’ll be doing:

• Developing and implementing culinary strategies, menus, and recipes that align with the festivals’ brand, target market, and quality standards, creating unique menus to cater to bespoke events.
• Training, supervising, and motivating kitchen staff, including sous chefs, line cooks, and other culinary personnel, ensuring their adherence to culinary standards and performance expectations.
• Collaborating with the Operations team to plan and execute special events and festivals, promotions, and customized menus as needed.
• Overseeing all aspects of kitchen operations, including food preparation, cooking, plating, and presentation, to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and timely delivery.
• Managing inventory levels and ingredient sourcing, maintaining effective relationships with suppliers to ensure the availability of high-quality ingredients.
• Maintaining food safety and sanitation standards, following local health regulations and industry best practices.
• Maintaining rigorous quality control measures, conducting regular tastings and inspections to ensure consistency and excellence in food preparation and presentation.
• Monitoring and controlling food and labor costs, working closely with the management team to develop budgets, analyze financial reports, and implement cost-saving measures.
• Identifying opportunities for revenue growth and profitability enhancement through menu engineering, pricing strategies, and effective cost management.
• Fostering effective communication and collaboration between the culinary team and other departments, such as service staff, event planners, and management, to ensure seamless operations and exceptional customer experiences.
• Coordinating with vendors, suppliers, and external partners to negotiate contracts, resolve issues, and maintain positive relationships.
• Representing Distillery Restaurants Corp. at culinary events, industry conferences, and media engagements, acting as a brand ambassador and promoting our brand.
• Other related duties as assigned.

What you’ll bring to the kitchen:

• EXPERIENCE. You have at least 10 years of cooking experience with demonstrated progressive growth in a festival/event catering environment.  You’ve been a leader in the kitchen for at least 5 years.
• EDUCATION.  You’ve earned a Culinary degree/diploma and/or the equivalent in education and experience.
• A GROWTH MINDSET. You consider yourself a life-long learner and have a natural openness to learning, coaching and career growth.
• PASSION. You have a genuine passion for events, cooking and delivering a product beyond the expectations of our guests.
• SOLUTIONS. You’re a strong problem solver with an insatiable desire to impact performance, always looking for opportunities to improve.
• LEADERSHIP. You’re an exceptional leader with excellent relationship-building and communication skills.

The Distillery Restaurants Corporation (DRC) is committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. We encourage and welcome candidates with disabilities to apply for job opportunities with us. Please note that accommodations throughout each stage of the DRC’s recruitment process are available upon request.

 

The Distillery Restaurants Corporation (DRC) is committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process where candidates are respected, supported and valued. The DRC welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Please note that accommodations during every part of the recruitment and selection process are available upon request.