Sous Chef - Downtown, DC

Tatte is a renowned cafe and bakery brand known for its dedication to culinary excellence and genuine hospitality. With a commitment to crafting amazing food made from scratch, Tatte has established a reputation for delivering high-quality dining experiences that blend authentic flavors with innovative techniques. As a vibrant and fast-growing company, Tatte prides itself on fostering a strong team environment where passion, creativity, and professionalism are valued. Opening a new City Center cafe represents a significant expansion for the brand, underscoring its ambition to bring its signature dishes and warm hospitality to a wider audience. The establishment thrives in high-volume, fast-paced environments, consistently adhering to strict guidelines for quality, safety, and efficiency.

Tatte is currently seeking a dedicated Sous Chef to support the opening and ongoing operations of the new City Center cafe. This role is pivotal to the success and growth of the kitchen team, requiring leadership, operational oversight, and culinary expertise. The Sous Chef position involves supervising up to 25 employees, including Zone Leaders, Cooks, Prep Cooks, and Dishwashers, ensuring smooth kitchen functionality. This role demands a strong leader who can engage, inspire, and coach team members to maintain Tatte’s high standards of food quality and hospitality.

The Sous Chef will oversee production and service to meet established guidelines, enforce recipe adherence, portion control, and presentation standards, and complete daily management tasks efficiently. This role involves establishing a deep understanding of the menu through daily tastings and coaching kitchen staff on food preparation, equipment operation, and sanitation protocols based on company and regulatory standards. Inventory management is a key responsibility, balancing stock levels to stay within the set guidelines while ensuring product availability. The Sous Chef will also support the implementation of seasonal menu changes, contributing to menu innovation and customer satisfaction.

Working at Tatte demands flexibility, as the Sous Chef must adapt to schedules based on sales trends and business needs, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays. The role requires physical stamina to work ten-hour or longer shifts, with the ability to stand, squat, walk for extended periods, and handle up to 50 pounds of lifting and carrying. The ideal candidate will bring a minimum of three years’ experience in culinary or kitchen management within a high-volume foodservice environment and a comprehensive knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and cost control.

Candidates with hospitality education or culinary certificates, proficiency with systems like Microsoft Office, and experience using POS and kitchen management software are preferred. Certifications such as ServSafe, Allergen, and Chokesaver are advantageous. Tatte offers competitive pay, typically ranging from $68,000 to $81,000 annually based on experience, alongside a quarterly bonus program and a range of benefits including paid vacation, health, dental, and visual insurance, 401(k) with matching, flexible scheduling, free meals, and employee assistance programs.

Joining Tatte means becoming part of a passionate team dedicated to creating something special through food and community. The company is an E-Verify employer and welcomes candidates who are eager to contribute to an inspiring and dynamic work environment.