Cook

Cook

Singh Soni Private Limited, trading as Catalyst, is looking for a skilled and reliable Cook to join our café and restaurant team in Dunedin.

Catalyst is a busy café and restaurant known for serving quality breakfast, brunch, lunch, coffee, smoothies, and wholesome meals in a welcoming dining environment. We focus on fresh ingredients, consistent food quality, good presentation, and friendly service. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to a professional kitchen culture that values teamwork, cleanliness, food safety, consistency, and care in food preparation.

Position Details

Position: Cook

Employer: Singh Soni Private Limited

Trading Name: Catalyst

Location: Dunedin, Otago

Pay Rate: $25.00 to $30.00 per hour, depending on skills and experience

Hours of Work: Minimum 30 hours per week

Business Operating Hours: 7:30 am to 3:00 pm, Monday to Sunday

Work Pattern: Rostered shifts, including weekend work and public holidays as required

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The Cook will be responsible for preparing, cooking, and presenting food items in accordance with Catalyst’s menu, service standards, and kitchen procedures. Duties will include:

• Preparing, seasoning, and cooking breakfast, brunch, lunch, and café-style menu items in line with Catalyst’s recipes, presentation standards, and customer expectations.
• Preparing and cooking dishes such as eggs, breakfast plates, brunch items, sandwiches, salads, meats, poultry, seafood, vegetable dishes, sauces, garnishes, and other café menu items as required.
• Examining food ingredients and produce to ensure freshness, quality, and suitability before preparation and service.
• Regulating and monitoring the temperature of ovens, grills, fryers, hot plates, and other kitchen equipment to ensure food is cooked safely and consistently.
• Preparing ingredients before service, including washing, cutting, portioning, marinating, seasoning, and organising food items for efficient kitchen operations.
• Cooking and seasoning food during preparation to ensure correct flavour, texture, and presentation.
• Portioning food, plating dishes, and adding sauces, gravies, dressings, and garnishes in accordance with Catalyst’s serving standards.
• Preparing food to meet customer dietary requirements, including vegetarian, gluten-free, allergy-sensitive, and other special meal requests where possible.
• Storing food and ingredients correctly in temperature-controlled areas, including refrigerators, freezers, and dry storage, in accordance with food safety requirements.
• Assisting with menu planning, recipe development, and estimating food requirements based on expected customer demand and daily service needs.
• Monitoring stock levels and assisting with ordering, receiving, and checking kitchen supplies and ingredients.
• Reducing food waste through proper stock rotation, portion control, preparation planning, and safe storage practices.
• Maintaining a clean, organised, and hygienic kitchen, including benches, equipment, utensils, storage areas, and food preparation areas.
• Following all food hygiene, health and safety, and workplace procedures.
• Working efficiently during busy breakfast, brunch, and lunch service periods.
• Coordinating with kitchen and front-of-house staff to ensure timely service and consistent customer experience.
• Assisting in training junior kitchen staff, kitchenhands, or new team members where required.
• Reporting equipment faults, food quality concerns, stock issues, or health and safety risks to management.

Required Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

Applicants must have either:

• A relevant NZQF Level 4 or higher qualification, or an equivalent overseas qualification; or
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience as a Cook or in a closely related commercial kitchen role.

The successful candidate must also have:

• Practical experience preparing and cooking café, breakfast, brunch, or lunch-style food.
• Good knowledge of food preparation, cooking methods, kitchen hygiene, and food safety practices.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced café kitchen during morning and lunch service.
• Ability to follow recipes, portion standards, and presentation requirements.
• Good time management and ability to work under pressure.
• Reliability, punctuality, and willingness to work rostered shifts, including weekends.
• Ability to work as part of a team and communicate effectively with kitchen and front-of-house staff.
• A positive attitude and commitment to maintaining Catalyst’s food quality and customer service standards.

Working Environment

Catalyst operates in a customer-focused café and restaurant environment where quality food, friendly service, and teamwork are important. The role requires early starts, weekend availability, and the ability to work efficiently during busy breakfast, brunch, and lunch service periods. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain high standards of food quality, cleanliness, presentation, and professionalism at all times.

How to Apply

If you are interest, Please apply online with your CV and/or cover letter.