Pastry Chef Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Pastry Chef, or Pastry Sous Chef is responsible for preparing, cooking and serving pastries in a cafe, restaurant or other food service settings. Their duties include sourcing suppliers to ensure a reliable supply of ingredients, testing new recipes and working with a team of other Chefs.

 

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Pastry Chef duties and responsibilities

A Pastry Chef is responsible for every aspect of baking and food preparation, and their typical duties include:

  • Stocking checking and ordering ingredients
  • Weighing and measuring ingredients
  • Decorating pastries and other desserts using a variety of different sauces, toppings and other items
  • Contributing ideas to the menu
  • Keeping accurate records 
  • Recruiting, hiring and training Assistants or Junior Chefs
  • Operating a variety of kitchen equipment 
  • Maintaining a clean and hygienic work environment

 

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Pastry Chef Job Description Examples:

 

Example 1

Longbow bars and restaurants is looking for for an exceptional and experienced Chef de Partie/Pastry Chef, to join us in on our amazing and exciting new venture at The George in Hathersage. [website]

Longbow Bars and Restaurants are devoted to fresh locally sourced produce, excellent service and creating a fun & energetic workplace.

As we are constantly growing, so is our team and with that more and more opportunities for development and progression become available.

Growing Company, with excellent rates of pay and real chances of progression.

Candidate Requirements

You will be part of the driving force behind the whole of the kitchen operation. You will ensure that all food is sent out to our Head Chef’s high standards and to specification. The morale of the team is paramount, and we require someone who will get involved to make sure that this is the case. We need someone who takes pride in having a clean, organised and happy kitchen.

We are looking for an individual with real passion for fresh food. We need someone that will build strong bonds with colleagues in all departments of the hotel. The ideal candidate needs to have a vision the coincides with that of the company, but most importantly must be a proactive forward thinker.

Benefits and Salary

· Meals included on shift

· Progression and development

· Great working environment

· The chance to be a part of something really special by reinventing this amazing hotel

Candidate Requirements

· Experience in a similar style venue

· Proven understanding of food safety compliance

· A passion of delivering fresh food.

· Be willing to learn, develop and improve own skills, whilst having the ability to progress and engage others

· Always attentive and proactive

· An excellent team player with exceptional communication skills

· Be fun-loving, have a great character and enjoy the culture that our industry offers.

The opportunities of this venue are fantastic, and we are on the lookout for someone, who is as passionate as we are!

Salary WILL BE BASED ON Experience

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 20-48 per week

Salary: £10.00-£12.00 per hour

Additional pay:
  • Tips
    Benefits:
  • Discounted or free food
  • On-site parking
    Schedule:
  • 10 hour shift
  • 12 hour shift
  • 8 hour shift

    Ability to reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
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    Example 2

    Job Title – Pastry Chef

    Reference No. – ID61660

    Salary - £30,000 - £35,000

    Job Type – Permanent

    Location – Whitby

    Working in partnership with an amazing Hotel venue on the East Coast of North Yorkshire that are now recruiting for a Pastry Chef who would be able to deliver their vision of sustainability and locally sourced North Yorkshire food from breakfast through to dinner in their restaurant and bar settings. The suitable candidate would have previous experience running a pastry section in a medium to large sized hotel, ideally the chef would have previous experience in sustainability and have a real passion for the use of home-grown fresh ingredients. The basic salary for this position is up to £35,000 and there is an opportunity for live in for a period whilst permanent accommodation is found if you are moving to the area. This role would suit a candidate from the immediate Whitby, Scarborough, Guisborough areas or further afield if you would be happy with relocation.

    Role:

    · Overall management & responsibility for the pastry section of the kitchen

    · Ensures the production and service of the food in the section matches the vision of the venue and the Head Chef

    · Maintain the sustainable standards focusing on sourcing local, organic, and seasonal produce whilst minimising the waste in the kitchen

    · Assist with the management of stock in the section

    · Contribute to the overall development of the hotel business by input of ideas

    · Ensure all staff training is completed for any junior staff in the section

    · Comply with all Health & Safety, Food Safety and COSHH Requirements

    · Ensure good communication throughout the kitchen department

    · Liaises with FOH staff to ensure an efficient food service delivery to the guests and all hotel clients

    Requirements:

    · Knowledge of management Food Safety, Health & Safety and COSHH

    · Previous and relative experience in a hotel or similar venue within the pastry section

    · Understanding of sustainability

    · Relevant Catering Qualifications including NVQ & Food Safety

    · Access to transport and the ability to commute or take advantage of the temporary live-in option

    Benefits:

    · Employee discounts

    · Meals on duty

    · On site staff parking

    · Share of tips & gratuities quarterly

    Job Type: Full-time

    Salary: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

    Additional pay:
  • Tips
    Benefits:
  • Discounted or free food
  • Flexible schedule
  • On-site parking
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift

    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Whitby: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work 1 year (preferred)
    • Show less 
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    What does a Pastry Chef do?

    Pastry Chefs create desserts, confectionery and other sweet dishes such as cakes and pies. They typically work in restaurants, although cafes, coffee shops, bakeries and other food retailers may have a Pastry Chef on their staff. Pastry Chefs prepare recipes according to the existing menu and come up with ideas for new products and testing recipes for making them. They use different techniques to bring variety to their menu. Pastry Chefs in large businesses may work with a team to prepare dishes in bulk, whereas smaller establishments typically have a single Pastry Chef working alongside other kitchen staff.

     

    Pastry Chef skills and qualifications

    Pastry Chefs have specialist knowledge of the science of baking and an extensive repertoire of dishes and decorative ideas. A successful Pastry Chef candidate will have various skills and qualifications that typically include: 

    • Proven skill in baking, pastry preparation and decoration 
    • Extensive knowledge of health and safety procedures for kitchens and food preparation areas
    • Excellent attention to detail
    • Exceptional time management skills 
    • Ability to work autonomously, but also with a team
    • A food hygiene certificate or any food handling or preparation qualification
    • Ability to calculate costs and manage a budget

     

    Pastry Chef experience requirements

    Pastry Chefs need to have experience of working in a kitchen environment and baking commercially. A Pastry Chef will typically have prior experience of working in kitchens in entry-level positions where they will have had the opportunity to use a wide range of commercial cooking equipment. Applicants who have completed apprenticeships will have gained experience in a kitchen environment and learned a variety of skills. Applicants that have worked in food-service roles will have useful experience of dealing with both customers and kitchen staff. 

    High-end restaurants may require applicants to have had a certain number of years’ experience working as a Pastry Chef in a similar environment. Bakeries and mainstream cafes will typically require less experience and may accept newly qualified candidates. 

     

    Pastry Chef education and training requirements

    There are no specific educational requirements for Pastry Chefs, although most have at least some GCSEs, including maths and English (or equivalent). Pastry Chefs typically attend culinary school and complete courses such as Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Diploma in Patisserie or a City and Guilds NVQ Diploma in Food Production and Cooking – Pastry. Some Pastry Chefs complete internships under experienced professionals and receive on-the-job training in the techniques and methods used to create a selection of dishes and desserts. 

     

    Pastry Chef salary expectations

    According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Pastry Chef in the UK is £25,742 a year. This depends on the level of responsibility required for the role and the area of the country in which it is based.

     

    Job description samples for similar positions

    If you’re recruiting for a role in a kitchen, but a Pastry Chef isn’t quite what you are looking for, then have a look at these similar job description samples to see if they meet your needs:

     

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    Pastry Chef job description sample FAQs

     

    What qualities make a good Pastry Chef?

    Pastry Chefs need to be able to keep calm and focus on their work, even in highly pressurised situations. They need to be thorough and methodical in order to ensure that they produce high-quality dishes every time, but they also need to be creative and confident enough to try new things and accept honest feedback. Pastry Chefs that are enthusiastic and committed will be an asset to any kitchen team.

     

    What is the difference between a Pastry Chef and a Baker?

    Both Pastry Chefs and Bakers cook a range of baked goods, but Pastry Chefs only focus on sweet items such as desserts, cakes and pastries. Bakers cook a much wider range of items including savoury foods such as bread, pies and quiches as well as sweet items such as cakes and biscuits. Pastry Chefs are skilled in more intricate work, such as elaborate decoration on baked goods.

     

    Who does a Pastry Chef report to?

    Pastry Chefs typically report to an Executive Chef, Head Chef or Kitchen Manager. In larger restaurants there may be a team of Junior Pastry Chefs all reporting to a Head Pastry Chef, Line Chef or a Chef de Partie. In smaller establishments the Pastry Chef may report to the Sous Chef alongside a team of other specialist Chefs.  

    Job Description Examples

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