Piccolo Forno (Instagram: @piccoloforno.in) is seeking an experienced and passionate Head Chef to lead all culinary operations at our Italian café in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

The Head

Chef will be responsible for delivering exceptional Italian cuisine while ensuring operational excellence, food quality, consistency, profitability, and compliance with food safety standards.

This role requires a hands-on leader who can inspire the kitchen team, maintain high culinary standards, develop innovative menus, and contribute to an outstanding dining experience for every guest.

Responsibilities: KITCHEN OPERATIONS

Lead the day-to-day kitchen operations, ensuring smooth and efficient service.

Oversee food preparation, cooking, plating, and presentation while maintaining consistency across all menu items.

Develop, standardize, and maintain recipes, preparation methods, and plating guidelines.

Ensure all dishes meet Piccolo Forno’s quality standards before service.

Monitor kitchen workflow to maximize efficiency during peak service hours.

Ensure proper maintenance and cleanliness of all kitchen equipment and facilities. MENU DEVELOPMENT & CULINARY INNOVATION

Design and update seasonal menus in collaboration with management.

Develop new recipes and limited-time specials aligned with the café’s concept.

Continuously improve existing dishes based on guest feedback, ingredient availability, and operational efficiency.

Source quality ingredients while maintaining authenticity and consistency. FOOD COST & INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

Manage food cost targets through effective recipe costing, portion control,



and waste reduction.

Monitor daily inventory levels and coordinate procurement with approved vendors.

Conduct regular stock counts and investigate inventory variances.

Forecast purchasing requirements based on business volume and seasonal demand.

Minimize food wastage through proper storage, rotation, and production planning. TEAM LEADERSHIP & STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Recruit, train, mentor, and supervise kitchen staff.

Develop work schedules and allocate duties to ensure efficient kitchen operations.

Foster a positive, disciplined, and team-oriented kitchen culture.

Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching.

Ensure all team members follow kitchen SOPs and food safety practices. QUALITY ASSURANCE & FOOD SAFETY

Maintain the highest standards of food quality, taste, freshness, and presentation.

Ensure full compliance with FSSAI regulations and food safety guidelines.

Maintain kitchen hygiene, sanitation, cleaning schedules, and temperature logs.

Implement and monitor standard operating procedures for food handling and storage.

Ensure a safe working environment for all kitchen employees. COLLABORATION & BUSINESS SUPPORT





Work closely with café management to align culinary operations with business objectives.

Support private events, catering, workshops, and special promotions.

Assist in menu pricing and profitability analysis.

Contribute ideas to improve guest satisfaction and operational efficiency. Qualifications

Minimum 5 years of professional culinary experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership or Head Chef role.

Strong expertise in Italian cuisine, including artisan pizzas, fresh pasta, antipasti, sauces, desserts, and modern café-style offerings.

Knowledge of Continental cuisine is an added advantage.

Proven experience in menu planning, recipe development, and food presentation.

Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing kitchen teams.

Thorough knowledge of food safety, hygiene standards, and FSSAI regulations.

Experience in inventory management, procurement, vendor coordination, and production planning.

Strong understanding of recipe costing, food cost analysis, portion control, and menu profitability.

Excellent organizational and time-management skills.

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen environment while maintaining attention to detail.

Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Basic proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets for inventory and reporting is preferred.

Culinary degree or formal professional chef training from a recognized institution is preferred.

Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, evenings, and event schedules as required.

📌 Head Chef (Italian Cuisine) (Udaipur)
🏢 The Golden Ladle
📍 Udaipur