Sous Chef

Casa Bonavita is seeking a highly skilled, detail-driven Sous Chef with a genuine understanding that simple food is often the most difficult food to execute well. This kitchen is built around delicate cooking, precision and restraint, where every detail matters - seasoning, temperature, texture, timing, presentation and consistency. The right candidate must think carefully about every element that leaves the kitchen and understand that seemingly small details can make the difference between a good dish and an exceptional one. Listening to, understanding, and accurately executing verbal instructions is essential, as is the ability to retain information, anticipate what is required, and translate direction into consistent execution.

The Sous Chef must be confident and capable of working independently, taking responsibility for the kitchen and making sound decisions without requiring constant supervision. The successful candidate will be expected to organise their own workload, identify priorities, solve problems, and maintain standards even when senior leadership is not present.

This is a hands-on leadership position. The Sous Chef will lead by example during preparation and service, maintaining calm, discipline and organisation while ensuring the wider brigade understands and consistently delivers the standards expected at Casa Bonavita.

We are looking for a chef who takes their profession seriously and demonstrates maturity, discipline, consistency, and genuine pride in their work. Only experienced, committed, and highly serious candidates will be considered for this position.

The Role

The Sous Chef plays a key role in the day-to-day running of the kitchen, supporting consistent execution across preparation and service while helping to develop and maintain a disciplined, professional kitchen culture.

The successful candidate must be comfortable taking responsibility for a service or kitchen operation independently when required and ensuring standards remain consistent regardless of who is present.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain exceptional attention to detail across preparation, cooking, seasoning, presentation, and service

• Execute delicate and technically precise cooking consistently

• Listen carefully to verbal instructions and ensure they are understood, remembered, and correctly implemented

• Work confidently and independently without requiring continuous direction

• Take responsibility for kitchen operations and service when required

• Lead the brigade calmly and effectively during preparation and service

• Ensure recipes, techniques, portioning, and presentation standards are followed consistently

• Taste and assess food continuously, correcting seasoning, texture, and execution where necessary

• Organise mise en place and ensure the kitchen is fully prepared ahead of service

• Supervise, guide, and develop Junior Sous Chefs, Chef de Partie, and Commis Chefs

• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, organisation, and kitchen discipline

• Support stock control, ordering, receiving deliveries, and correct storage

• Monitor stock rotation, fridge organisation, and food quality

• Minimise waste while maintaining the required quality standards

• Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and HACCP procedures

• Identify operational problems early and take responsibility for resolving them

• Communicate clearly with the wider kitchen and front-of-house teams

• Maintain Casa Bonavita's standards consistently, including when working without direct supervision