Job Description: Senior R&D; Chef – Modern Vegetarian Cuisine

Location: New Delhi, India

Department: Culinary / Research & Development

Position: Senior R&D; Chef

About the Opportunity

An exciting opportunity awaits an innovative and forward-thinking Senior R&D; Chef to lead culinary research, menu innovation, and concept development for a modern vegetarian restaurant concept in New Delhi.

We are looking for a passionate culinary professional who combines creativity, technical expertise, and a strong understanding of evolving global food trends to create distinctive vegetarian dining experiences. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the restaurant’s culinary identity, developing innovative menus, and establishing the concept as a leading destination for contemporary vegetarian cuisine.

This role is ideal for a chef who challenges conventional thinking, experiments with ingredients and techniques, and transforms creative ideas into commercially successful dishes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Culinary Innovation & Menu Development

- Research and develop innovative vegetarian dishes inspired by global cuisines, emerging food trends, and contemporary dining concepts.
- Create distinctive menus that combine creativity, flavour, presentation, and consistency.
- Explore modern cooking techniques, ingredient combinations, textures, fermentation, plant-based alternatives, and innovative food presentation.
- Develop signature dishes that establish a unique culinary identity for the restaurant.
- Introduce seasonal menus, tasting menus, chef’s specials, and new dining experiences.

2. Research & Development

- Lead end-to-end culinary R&D;, from initial concept and recipe creation to testing, tasting, refinement, and final implementation.
- Experiment with new ingredients, cooking methods, flavour profiles, and contemporary culinary technologies where appropriate.
- Conduct product trials and sensory evaluations to ensure the highest standards of taste, texture, appearance, and quality.
- Develop and maintain standardised recipes, preparation methods, portion specifications, and plating guidelines.
- Stay ahead of international food trends and identify opportunities to introduce fresh ideas to the Indian vegetarian dining market.

3. Concept Development & Culinary Strategy





- Work closely with the management team to translate the restaurant’s vision into a compelling culinary offering.
- Help position the restaurant as an innovative destination for up-to-date vegetarian cuisine.
- Identify opportunities to differentiate the concept from traditional vegetarian restaurants through creativity, storytelling, ingredients, and presentation.
- Develop a strong balance between culinary experimentation, customer expectations, and commercial viability.
- Contribute ideas for future menu extensions, signature experiences, and potential concept expansion.

4. Costing & Commercial Performance

- Develop accurate recipe costing, portion control standards, and target food-cost structures.
- Source innovative ingredients while maintaining quality and financial sustainability.
- Evaluate ingredient availability, seasonality, wastage, and supplier capabilities.
- Ensure new dishes are commercially viable, scalable, and suitable for consistent execution during high-volume service.
- Collaborate with procurement and operations teams to improve efficiency and profitability.

5. Team Leadership & Collaboration

- Lead and mentor culinary team members involved in research, testing, and menu execution.
- Collaborate with executive chefs, operations, procurement, and restaurant management to implement new menus successfully.
- Train kitchen teams on new recipes, techniques, plating standards, and quality expectations.
- Ensure all new dishes can be reproduced consistently across service periods and, where applicable, future outlets.

6. Quality, Hygiene & Compliance

- Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen organisation.
- Ensure consistency in flavour, presentation, portion size, and overall dining experience.
- Establish clear quality-control procedures for new product development and menu implementation.

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Candidate Requirements





- Proven experience as a Senior R&D; Chef, Head Chef, Innovation Chef, Development Chef, or in a similar senior culinary role.
- Strong experience in modern vegetarian cuisine, contemporary Indian cuisine, creative plant-based dining, or other relevant modern culinary concepts.
- A demonstrable track record of developing original dishes, successful menus, and distinctive restaurant concepts.
- Strong knowledge of global food trends, modern cooking techniques, ingredient innovation, and contemporary presentation.
- Experience in recipe development, food costing, menu engineering, supplier coordination, and product testing.
- A creative mindset combined with strong commercial awareness and operational understanding.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- The ability to turn experimental culinary ideas into practical, scalable, and commercially successful dishes.
- A strong portfolio of original dishes, menus, or previous R&D; projects will be highly advantageous.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a culinary innovator who thinks beyond conventional vegetarian cooking and understands how to create a memorable, contemporary dining experience.

The ideal candidate will combine creativity, culinary science, global inspiration, and commercial thinking to build a distinctive food proposition that attracts customers, generates excitement, and sets new standards in modern vegetarian dining.

Candidates from progressive restaurants, premium dining concepts, innovative Indian restaurants, contemporary plant-based kitchens, or established culinary R&D; teams are encouraged to apply.

What This Role Offers

- The opportunity to shape the culinary identity of an exciting modern vegetarian restaurant concept.
- Creative freedom to experiment with ingredients, techniques, and emerging food trends.
- A senior leadership position with the opportunity to influence menu strategy and concept development.
- The platform to develop signature dishes and create a distinctive position in India’s evolving dining landscape.

Interested candidates: Please share your updated CV along with a portfolio of signature dishes, innovative menus, and relevant R&D; projects.

Confidential recruitment | New Delhi, India

📌 Senior R&D Chef – Modern Vegetarian Cuisine (New Delhi)
🏢 Little Kitchen Help
📍 New Delhi