Key Skills

Job Description

Company Description Papi's Comfort Kitchen grew from a dessert café called Papi Churro into a welcoming, globally inspired comfort food concept. Papi's Comfort Kitchen values friendly service, creativity in the kitchen, and genuine connections with guests who visit the café or follow along on social media. Role Description The Kitchen Lead is a full-time, on-site role based in Utrecht, Netherlands. This role is responsible for overseeing day-to-day kitchen operations, including planning and preparing menu items, coordinating food production, and ensuring consistent quality and presentation. The Kitchen Lead supports and guides kitchen team members, assigns tasks, and helps train staff on recipes, techniques, and safety standards. Daily responsibilities include monitoring inventory, organising prep work, maintaining hygiene and food safety, and working closely with front-of-house colleagues to deliver timely and satisfying guest experiences. The Kitchen Lead also contributes ideas for specials, menu improvements, and efficient workflows that support the restaurants comfort food concept. Qualifications Strong Food Preparation and Cooking skills, with experience in a fast-paced kitchen environment. Solid understanding of Hygiene and food safety standards, including proper storage, cleaning, and handling procedures. Effective Communication skills for coordinating with kitchen and front-of-house teams. Customer Service awareness, with a focus on delivering consistent quality and guest satisfaction. Previous experience in a supervisory or lead role in a restaurant or café kitchen is beneficial. Ability to organize tasks, manage time effectively, and remain calm under pressure. Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. Knowledge of comfort food or street food concepts, and willingness to learn new recipes and techniques. Benefits 4 day work week genuine creative freedom A chance to grow into a leadership role An independent restaurant where your ideas matter. But we are far more interested in your attitude, cooking ability and leadership potential than a fancy CV. Papi's is a small team, everyone works for each other and a strong sense of loyalty and team work is the most important thing. Interested? Send us a message and we will talk over a coffee.

Core Responsibilities

Oversee daily kitchen operations, including menu preparation, food production, inventory, prep work, hygiene, and consistent food quality and presentation. Guide and train kitchen staff, coordinate with front-of-house colleagues, and contribute ideas for specials, menu improvements, and efficient workflows.

Requirements

Candidates should have strong cooking and food preparation skills, knowledge of hygiene and food safety, and the ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with kitchen and front-of-house teams. Supervisory experience is beneficial; candidates should also be organized, calm under pressure, flexible to work evenings and weekends, and willing to learn new recipes and techniques.

Benefits

• Four-Day Work Week
• Creative Freedom
• Opportunity to Grow into a Leadership Role
• Independent Restaurant Where Ideas Matter