Cook / Chef

mabels. is a brand-new neighbourhood cafe opening late October on McLachlan Street in Orange, part of the Ever Hospitality Group family alongside Larder & Home. We're putting together our opening kitchen team — and we're after a cook or chef who takes pride in simple food done really well.

This is a hands-on, on-the-floor kitchen role built around a simple idea: a tight, carefully chosen menu done extremely well. We'd rather do a handful of dishes brilliantly than a long list adequately. You'll own the execution of that menu day to day — and have a real hand in shaping it.

What you'll be doing:

• Cooking a deliberately limited menu to a high, consistent standard every single service

• Developing dishes and specials with us — bringing creativity and ideas, not just following a spec

• Managing food cost: smart produce use, tight portioning, controlling waste and keeping margins healthy

• Prep, mise en place, ordering and keeping the kitchen spotless

• Keeping the line moving cleanly through busy periods without dropping quality

• Working closely with our front-of-house team so the whole room runs well

What we're looking for:

• Experience cooking in a cafe, restaurant or similar kitchen

• Creativity and a genuine interest in menu development — someone who wants to build dishes, not just plate them

• A head for cost management — food cost, portion control and waste are second nature

• Cert III in Commercial Cookery is great, but a strong cook without the paper is welcome too

• Someone reliable, calm under a rush, and genuinely tidy

• Pride in doing a small number of things exceptionally well

• Availability across a 7-day roster including early starts and weekends

• Valid working rights in Australia

What we offer:

• A fresh kitchen and a team that actually cares about the food

• A competitive rate, negotiated on experience

• Being part of a growing local hospitality group with room to progress

• A genuine neighbourhood cafe, not a chain

If this sounds like you, apply with a short note about yourself and your experience. We'd love to meet you.