Executive Chef

Cherry Valley Club, located at 28 Rockaway Avenue in Garden City, NY, is a prestigious private membership golf club with a history spanning over 110 years. Situated just 20 miles east of New York City on Long Island, this family-oriented club boasts approximately 750 members and thrives as a social and recreational hub. The club operates with annual gross revenues exceeding $10 million, with its Food and Beverage division contributing approximately $3 million. This division supports an active calendar of private functions, including around twenty golf outings and weddings each year. The club’s amenities include an 18-hole golf course designed by Devereux Emmet, two practice ranges, six red clay tennis courts accompanied by a pavilion, four platform tennis courts with a dedicated facility, and a grand main clubhouse. The clubhouse features locker facilities, a ballroom with a capacity of up to 275 people, a grill, a club dining room, and a bar seating about 200 guests. Additional features include a patio bar with a pizza oven and grills, as well as a busy snack bar during the warmer seasons. The golf course is operational year-round, while the clubhouse is open for ten months annually, with peak business during golf and holiday seasons.

The Executive Chef role at Cherry Valley Club is a leadership position that holds responsibility for all culinary aspects of the club's food and pastry production. Reporting directly to the General Manager and working closely with the Food and Beverage committee chair, the Executive Chef oversees a talented culinary team including the Banquet Chef, Sous Chef, and Pastry Chef. The role is pivotal in maintaining the club’s high standards for food quality and sanitation while ensuring the member experience exceeds expectations. This position requires an experienced individual with a minimum of eight years in food production and management, ideally holding a bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management, or alternatively 15 years of relevant experience. The Executive Chef is charged with planning and monitoring food production costs, developing menus in conjunction with management, and establishing food purchase specifications and standard recipes. They must be adept in wine and food pairing, contributing to the development of the club’s wine list. The chef must also be prepared to handle emergency situations relevant to the role and consistently uphold the highest professional culinary standards.

Additional responsibilities include supervising and evaluating kitchen management staff, coordinating kitchen operations efficiently within budgeted labor costs, ordering products and supplies, and maintaining sanitation and safety standards throughout kitchen areas. The Executive Chef must implement controls to minimize waste and theft, train employees on safety and sanitation procedures, and develop standardized recipes and presentation techniques that ensure consistent quality and cost control. This role involves significant budgeting duties, including projecting and tracking food and labor costs to meet financial targets. Regular attendance at food and beverage meetings, consultation with banquet committees on event food production, and direct involvement in cooking or supervising complex preparations are also key duties. The Executive Chef will manage the employee meal program, develop and update kitchen policies and procedures, recruit and manage kitchen staff performance, and ensure a clean and well-maintained kitchen environment. Providing ongoing professional development and motivating the team through cross-training and advancement opportunities is essential. The role holds a visible presence during busy periods and is involved in hosting taste panels to evaluate menu items and maintaining safety training and compliance with OSHA and food safety standards. Physical demands include long periods of standing, walking, lifting up to 50 pounds, and working in hot, humid, and noisy environments. This position offers a competitive salary range of $160,000 to $175,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience, paired with a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance, a 401K plan, annual bonuses, and vacation time. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their resumes and cover letters to the General Manager, Rachel Kramer, at [email protected].