Chef - Full time/Permanent

About the Company

London House Bendigo is a stylish, modern café and restaurant located at 53 Bull Street in the heart of Bendigo, Victoria. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional food and great coffee in a relaxed, welcoming environment — ideal for breakfast, brunch, lunch, high-tea or a casual drink. We emphasise quality and creativity, using fresh local produce to deliver a dining experience that stays true to Bendigo’s community vibe.

Role Purpose

The purpose of the Chef role is to lead the kitchen operations — to plan, coordinate and prepare high-quality dishes in line with our menu philosophy; ensure consistency, food safety, and efficiency; and contribute to menu development and kitchen team growth. As Chef at London House Bendigo, you will be responsible for setting culinary standards, managing kitchen operations, assisting in menu design, and ensuring every dish served meets our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

In this role you will:

• Plan and organise the preparation and cooking of food for all service periods (breakfast, lunch, high-tea, functions).
• Assist in or lead menu planning — collaborating on seasonal, modern dishes based on fresh local produce, aligning with London House’s style.
• Estimate food and labour costs; order and manage food supplies and inventory; control stock and minimise waste.
• Prepare, cook, and present dishes to a high standard of taste, consistency, and visual appeal.
• Monitor quality and consistency — at all stages of preparation, cooking and plating to ensure high standards of taste, hygiene, and presentation.
• Enforce hygiene, food safety, and sanitation standards in the kitchen; ensure compliance with relevant regulations and internal policies.
• Supervise, mentor and train kitchen staff — junior cooks, kitchenhands, and support staff to maintain smooth kitchen operations and consistent quality.
• Coordinate workflow in the kitchen during busy service periods, ensuring timely delivery and efficient operation.
• Work closely with front-of-house staff when required — liaise to ensure smooth service flow, handle special dietary requests or catering for functions/private events.
• Assist in planning and executing special events or functions (e.g. high-tea events, private dinners, group bookings) by preparing function menus and catering services.
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness, organization, and safe storage practices (food storage, temperature control, waste management).
• Monitor and manage food costings, portion sizes, waste, and kitchen inventory to support profitability and cost-efficiency.
• Keep up-to-date with food trends, local produce availability, and seasonal changes, suggesting new dishes or menu changes accordingly.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in kitchen operations, efficiency, and customer satisfaction — provide feedback, suggest improvements, and implement kitchen best practices.
• Ensure compliance with workplace health & safety standards and internal operational procedures at all times.

What We Are Looking For

• Minimum 1 year of professional kitchen experience (ideally in a busy café/restaurant or similar dining environment), with a track record of delivering consistent quality under pressure.
• Relevant qualification such as Diploma in Hospitality Management or Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery (or equivalent).
• Strong culinary skills — ability to prepare, cook and present dishes to high standard, with good knowledge of food safety, hygiene, portion control, and kitchen operations.
• Good organisational skills, ability to manage inventory, costs, kitchen supplies — with an eye for minimising waste and maintaining cost-efficiency.
• Leadership potential — capable of supervising, mentoring and training junior staff, maintaining discipline, consistency, teamwork, and communication within kitchen and with front-of-house.

Why Join Us

• Be part of a vibrant and friendly café/restaurant in the heart of Bendigo — a venue that values local produce, creativity, and quality cuisine.
• Opportunity to shape and influence menu and kitchen culture — contribute ideas, help design dishes, and leave your mark on a growing hospitality spot.
• Fair and competitive salary reflecting the responsibilities and expectations of the role.
• A supportive, hands-on kitchen environment where you can grow your skills, take leadership, and develop professionally.
• Exposure to a variety of services — daily café service, high-tea events, private functions — offering a diverse and dynamic work experience, not just routine cooking.