Chef de Cuisine, Pastry - Eataly Chicago

Eataly is recognized globally as the world’s largest artisanal Italian food and beverage marketplace, renowned for providing a unique and comprehensive culinary experience deeply rooted in authentic Italian tradition. Unlike conventional chains, Eataly prides itself on being a distinct entity at every location, each bringing its own unique character and theme tailored to its local market while maintaining a shared mission: to enable guests to eat genuine Italian food, shop from a carefully curated selection of high-quality Italian, local, and homemade products, and learn through educational classes and expert product knowledge. This illustrious establishment integrates gastronomy, culture, and community engagement, making each visit a multifaceted and memorable affair for food enthusiasts and culture seekers alike.

The role of Pastry Chef at Eataly is a pivotal position within the organization, responsible for overseeing the production of all pastry offerings including Italian pasticcini, cakes, desserts, cookies, candies, and other dolci. This position reports directly to the Executive Chef and functionally to the Head of Pastry, highlighting its significance within Eataly’s culinary hierarchy. The Pastry Chef manages a diverse team, including a Sous Chef Manager and several Pastry Cooks, orchestrating operations to meet Eataly’s high standards of quality and authenticity.

As a hands-on leader, the Pastry Chef directs the production to ensure that every item served meets rigorous quality standards concerning portion size, flavor, texture, and consistency. This leadership role not only involves supervising daily production but also extends to recruiting, scheduling, payroll management, training staff in Italian pastry methods, and fostering a motivated, knowledgeable, and efficient team environment. The Pastry Chef plays a creative role, collaborating with the Executive Chef and Pastry Quality Head on new recipes and innovations. Additionally, the role requires the preparation of decorative centerpieces and management of special orders, underscoring the culinary artistic influence expected from this position. Maintaining a clean and sanitary production environment in compliance with Department of Health standards is another critical responsibility, ensuring food safety and operational excellence.

This opportunity offers a competitive salary range of $70,000 to $75,000, reflective of the experience and expertise required. The position demands a flexible onsite schedule often including evenings and weekends, physical stamina to perform various kitchen tasks such as lifting heavy equipment and remaining active for long hours, as well as proficiency in using specialized baking equipment. Eataly celebrates its employees with a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision insurance, paid time off, paid parental leave, a 401K with a match or RRSP, and enticing perks such as free daily family meals, employee discounts, cooking classes, and referral bonuses. Furthermore, Eataly is committed to equal employment opportunity, fostering a workplace free from discrimination and harassment, and embraces diversity in all forms while ensuring reasonable accommodations for all applicants.