Executive Chef

HEAD CHEF / EXECUTIVE CHEF — CASA FUEGO

Location: Lower East Side, New York City

Position: Full-Time Head Chef / Executive ChefRestaurant: Casa Fuego — Latin Fusion Restaurant & Lounge

About Casa Fuego

Casa Fuego is a new Latin fusion restaurant and nightlife concept opening on the Lower East Side.

Our food will take inspiration from across Latin America rather than one specific country, bringing different ingredients, techniques and traditions together through a contemporary NYC lens.

We’re building a restaurant that should feel exciting enough for a night out while still being somewhere guests return to because the food is genuinely excellent.

We’re looking for a Head Chef who wants to help us build that food program from the beginning.

The Role

This is a pre-opening culinary leadership position.

You’ll work directly with ownership to develop and refine the Casa Fuego menu, establish the kitchen operation, source vendors, build the BOH team and get the restaurant ready for opening.

We’re not looking for someone to simply execute an existing menu.

We want a chef who brings ideas.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Help develop and refine the opening Casa Fuego menu
• Create dishes influenced by cuisines throughout Latin America
• Develop recipes, plating standards and preparation procedures
• Conduct menu testing and tastings with ownership
• Cost every dish and help establish profitable menu pricing
• Source ingredients and develop vendor relationships
• Build kitchen prep and production systems
• Recruit and train the opening BOH team
• Establish kitchen schedules and staffing requirements
• Manage food cost, waste and inventory
• Maintain consistency and quality during every service
• Establish sanitation, food-safety and DOHMH procedures
• Work with the GM to create smooth FOH/BOH service
• Help develop special menus, events and seasonal dishes
• Continue evolving the menu after opening based on guest response and seasonality

The Food

We’re interested in a chef who understands that “Latin fusion” shouldn’t mean throwing every Latin cuisine onto one menu.

The menu should feel intentional.

We’re open to influences from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Central America and beyond — while giving the chef room to create something distinctly Casa Fuego.

We want bold flavors, beautiful presentation and dishes people talk about after they leave.

Who We’re Looking For

Ideally, you have:

• 5+ years of professional kitchen experience
• 2+ years in a Chef de Cuisine, Head Chef or Executive Chef-level position preferred
• NYC restaurant experience strongly preferred
• Experience opening a restaurant is a major plus
• Strong knowledge of Latin American ingredients and cooking techniques
• Experience developing menus and recipes
• Strong understanding of food costing and kitchen economics
• Experience hiring and managing BOH teams
• Knowledge of NYC DOHMH food-safety requirements
• Ability to operate calmly and effectively during high-volume service
• Creativity without sacrificing consistency or profitability
• Strong leadership and communication skills

Pay: $78,199.18 - $94,175.36 per year

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Work Location: In person