Group Pastry Chef

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly creative and skilled Pastry Chef to lead pastry and dessert innovation for a specialty coffee shop and fine dining environment. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in artisan baking, plated desserts, viennoiserie, and premium pastry production, with the ability to develop brand-driven menu concepts from scratch. This role requires refined tasting skills, market awareness, creativity, and a deep understanding of flavor pairing, particularly in relation to specialty coffee and elevated dining experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute original pastry, dessert, bakery, and viennoiserie recipes from scratch.
• Lead creative menu development aligned with the brand identity, guest experience, and seasonal concepts.
• Conduct ongoing market research and trend analysis on current pastry, bakery, dessert, and specialty coffee industry developments.
• Study international dessert and café trends to introduce innovative, commercially relevant menu concepts. Current trends include elevated comfort desserts, hybrid pastries, global flavors such as yuzu, matcha, pistachio, miso caramel, layered textures, floral notes, and experiential plated desserts.
• Create signature desserts and baked goods that complement specialty coffee offerings and fine dining standards.
• Design premium plated desserts, afternoon tea items, cakes, pastries, and café display products.
• Conduct tastings and sensory evaluations to ensure excellence in flavor, texture, aroma, and presentation.
• Demonstrate refined palate and tasting skills with strong understanding of flavor balance, ingredient functionality, and coffee pairing.
• Collaborate with baristas, chefs, and management teams to create cohesive food and beverage experiences.
• Research and implement modern pastry techniques, seasonal ingredients, and innovative dessert presentations.
• Standardize recipes, production methods, and presentation guidelines for consistency and quality control.
• Maintain food cost targets while sourcing premium ingredients and minimizing waste.
• Train and mentor pastry team members on technical skills, plating, presentation, and quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards.

Qualifications & Skills

• Proven experience as a Pastry Chef within specialty coffee shops, luxury cafés, boutique hospitality, or fine dining establishments.
• Strong expertise in artisan baking, laminated doughs, plated desserts, chocolate work, cakes, and contemporary pastry techniques.
• Demonstrated experience in menu creation, concept development, and brand-focused culinary innovation.
• Strong understanding of current market trends in pastry, desserts, and specialty coffee culture.
• Excellent tasting and sensory evaluation skills with a refined and creative palate.
• Strong understanding of specialty coffee culture and dessert pairing principles.
• Creative presentation skills with attention to aesthetics and guest experience.
• Knowledge of kitchen operations, food costing, inventory management, and production planning.
• Strong leadership, communication, and team development skills.
• Culinary or pastry certification preferred.

Preferred Attributes

• Passion for luxury hospitality, specialty coffee, and modern pastry artistry.
• Ability to create memorable dessert experiences that elevate the brand.
• Strong awareness of international pastry, café, and fine dining trends.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and highly creative mindset.

Performance Expectations

• Deliver innovative and trend-driven pastry creations that enhance both café and fine dining experiences.
• Maintain consistency in taste, presentation, and operational execution.
• Contribute to brand growth through creative menu development and seasonal launches.
• Support revenue growth through premium pastry offerings and customer-driven innovation.

Work Location: In person