About Us: Located in West Town Chicago, Aya Pastry celebrates the best of seasonal ingredients, with products crafted with precision and love. Aya Pastry offers a creative take on signature breads along with celebratory cakes, whimsical sweets, and breakfast pastries. The expansive bakery produces baked goods in large volume for our wholesale and retail customers.
Aya Pastry recently received the "Best New Baked Good Empire" title for the 2021 Eater Awards. Come on by to join our amazing team!
Who You Are? We are looking for professionals that are dedicated to their craft, are thoughtful in their actions, and very passionate and knowledgeable about the hospitality industry. It is important to be a motivated self-starter, and to possess a hunger for learning and growing. You are serious about precision and are calculated in your efficiencies. Must be proficient and respect the bakery equipment, work in a neat and organized manner. You enjoy your work, and it shows to your fellow teammates and guests alike.
What You Will Do: The Head Pastry Chef is responsible for daily operations, including but not limited to large scale pastry production, food and labor costing, training new and current employees, maintaining great hygiene and cleanliness standards, and developing new menu items.
Menu Development: Create and innovate pastry menus in line with the overall culinary concept and client preferences. Stay updated on industry trends and incorporate new techniques and ingredients into pastry offerings. Ability and knowledge to use seasonal produce to create holiday specials and FOH desserts Production Management: Supervise and participate in the production of pastries, desserts, and baked goods. Ensure consistency in taste, quality, and presentation of all pastry items. Manage inventory and control costs related to pastry production. Staff Leadership and Training: Recruit, train, and mentor pastry staff. Provide leadership and guidance to the pastry team, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. Conduct regular performance evaluations and address any training needs. Quality Control: Implement and enforce hygiene and sanitation standards in the pastry department. Monitor and maintain quality control throughout all stages of pastry production. Collaboration: Collaborate with other culinary professionals to ensure a cohesive and complementary menu. Work closely with the management team to meet financial goals and customer satisfaction targets. Customer Interaction: Adapt and adjust pastry selections based on customer preferences and feedback. What You Need to Bring to the Table: Minimum of 5 years of experience in Pastry/Bakery preferably with large production volume managing a team. Full Knowledge of baking ingredients, measuring techniques, mixing methods, kitchen equipment, and baking times. Must be able (but not limited to) cake icing, decorating, and ability to build tier cake Full Knowledge of labor cost, food cost, menu pricing, and related techniques Ability to work as a team and independently. Strong Communication skills. Attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high-quality standards. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing production needs. Knowledge of health and safety regulations in a bakery setting. Able to lift, push, and pull up to 50lbs. Knowledge of Microsoft Excel Flexible availability, including weekends and holidays is required.
