Executive Chef, Steakhouse

San Manuel is a prominent organization and one of the largest private employers in the Inland Empire, committed to fostering growth, well-being, and sustainable career development for its employees. Within San Manuel's hospitality division, Yaamava Resort & Casino stands out as a leading destination known for its vibrant entertainment, luxurious accommodations, and exceptional culinary experiences. At the heart of this resort's culinary offerings is The Pines Modern Steakhouse, the flagship fine dining venue recognized for its commitment to innovation, quality, and elevated guest experiences. This steakhouse aims to be a globally acknowledged destination, aspiring to earn prestigious accolades from the Michelin Guide, Forbes Travel Guide, AAA Five-Diamond, and the World's 50 Best Restaurants.

The role of Executive Chef - Steakhouse at The Pines Modern Steakhouse is a high-impact leadership position, reporting directly to the VP of Culinary Operations. It carries the responsibility of being both a strategic visionary and an operational expert within a luxury, high-volume setting. The Executive Chef leads the culinary direction, crafting immersive dining experiences that not only reflect contemporary luxury dining trends but also incorporate deep expertise in dry-aging, butchery, and premium steakhouse operations. This position requires the blending of culinary artistry with strong leadership skills to inspire and manage a high-performing brigade. Responsibilities span across team development, operational oversight, financial stewardship, compliance, and ingredient sourcing. The Executive Chef also plays an integral role in culinary storytelling and innovation, working collaboratively with mixologists and sommeliers to create thoughtfully curated pairing journeys that enhance guest satisfaction and elevate the steakhouse's prestige.

Moreover, this position involves a strong focus on maintaining the highest standards of food safety, sanitation, and guest service, enforcing compliance with health department regulations, AAA Five-Diamond expectations, and internal policies. The Executive Chef is expected to lead training and development initiatives, fostering continuous learning, creativity, and professional growth within the culinary team. Strong financial acumen is essential to manage food and labor costs effectively while sustaining quality and innovation. The role also requires proactive vendor relationship management to ensure premium ingredient sourcing aligned with sustainability goals. With a responsibility that includes designing menus that blend creativity with profitability, managing special culinary events, and enabling off-site culinary activations, the Executive Chef shapes the overall guest dining journey and drives the restaurant’s mission to achieve international recognition and guest loyalty.

This position demands not only extensive culinary expertise but also superior communication, adaptability, and multitasking capabilities to thrive in a dynamic environment. Candidates are expected to hold a Culinary Arts Associate's degree with significant executive level experience and supervisory background, preferably within resort or casino culinary operations. Certification such as ServSafe is required, and a gaming license may also be necessary depending on tribal regulations. Overall, the Executive Chef at The Pines Modern Steakhouse represents the pinnacle of culinary leadership within luxury fine dining, delivering exceptional quality and innovation while leading a dedicated team to exceed the expectations of an elite clientele and industry standards.