Job Title: Chef – Café Shalom, Shimla
Location: Shalom Backpackers, Shimla
Department: Café & Kitchen Operations
Reports To: Property Manager / Central F&B Head
About Café Shalom
Café Shalom is the in-house café at Shalom Backpackers Shimla, a vibrant riverside backpackers hostel that welcomes travelers from around the world. The café offers a mix of continental, Indian, and fusion dishes in a relaxed, boho-chic setting overlooking the mountains. We believe in creating not just great food, but memorable experiences that bring people together.
Position Overview
We are looking for a creative and skilled Chef to lead the kitchen operations at Café Shalom, Shimla. The ideal candidate should have hands-on experience in café-style dining, menu creation, inventory control, and maintaining high standards of hygiene and quality. This is a live-in role suitable for someone passionate about hospitality, food innovation, and backpacker culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Kitchen Operations: Oversee day-to-day kitchen activities, ensuring timely preparation and delivery of orders.
- Menu Planning: Curate and update café menus featuring popular backpacker-friendly dishes—healthy bowls, sandwiches, Indian meals, smoothies, and coffee-based beverages.
- Quality Control: Ensure taste, presentation, and portion consistency for all menu items.
- Team Management: Train, guide, and supervise kitchen staff (commis, steward, helper) to maintain smooth kitchen workflow.
- Inventory & Costing: Manage raw material inventory, control food cost, and minimize wastage through efficient stock rotation.
- Hygiene & Compliance: Maintain kitchen hygiene as per FSSAI standards and ensure all food handling practices meet safety protocols.
- Guest Interaction: Occasionally engage with guests for feedback and introduce daily specials or seasonal menu items.
- Coordination: Collaborate with café service staff and the front office for event nights, special menus, or group bookings.
- Reporting: Maintain kitchen records—daily consumption, wastage, requisitions, and supplier invoices—and report to management.
Requirements
- Experience: Minimum 2–4 years of experience as a Chef or Senior Commis in a café, restaurant, or hostel setup.
- Culinary Knowledge: Strong understanding of continental, Indian, and café-style cuisines (pasta, pizza, wraps, smoothies, breakfast bowls, etc.).
- Education: Diploma or certificate in Culinary Arts or Hotel Management preferred.
- Skills:
- Strong leadership and multitasking skills.
- Excellent communication and time management.
- Ability to work in a high-energy, guest-focused environment.
- Personality: Friendly, team-oriented, and passionate about food and travel.
- Flexibility: Willingness to work in shifts, weekends, and peak seasons.
Perks & Benefits
- Competitive salary with performance incentives.
- Complimentary accommodation and meals at the property.
- Opportunity to work with one of India’s leading backpacker hostel brands.
- A creative, community-driven environment with travelers from across the world.
- Career growth opportunities within Shalom Backpackers’ café and hostel network.
If you’re a food lover who thrives in a lively, traveler-friendly café environment, come be part of the Shalom vibe!
Pay: ₹15,000.00 - ₹20,000.00 per month
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
