Pastry Cook

Pastry Cook - Luxury Fine Dining

If you're passionate about artisan baking, plated desserts, and creating exceptional pastries using the freshest seasonal ingredients, we'd love to meet you.

Located at the award-winning Salamander Middleburg Resort & Spa , Harrimans Virginia Piedmont Grill is a Forbes Five-Star fine dining restaurant recognized for its innovative cuisine and exceptional guest experience. Our culinary team celebrates the rich agricultural heritage of Virginia by creating seasonal menus featuring locally sourced ingredients, handcrafted breads, artisan pastries, fresh seafood, premium butcher's cuts, and imaginative desserts.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Pastry Cook , Baker , or Pastry Chef looking to grow their career in luxury hospitality while working alongside an exceptional culinary team.

Position Summary

The Pastry Cook is responsible for preparing and presenting high-quality pastries, desserts, artisan breads, breakfast pastries, ice creams, garnishes, and baked goods for our fine dining restaurant, banquet events, weddings, private dining, and off-site catering. This position requires creativity, precision, organization, and a commitment to culinary excellence.

Essential Responsibilities

• Prepare pastries, cakes, desserts, cookies, tarts, breads, breakfast pastries, ice creams, and specialty baked goods following established recipes and presentation standards.
• Produce desserts and baked items for fine dining service, banquets, weddings, special events, buffets, and catering.
• Prepare and execute banquet dessert plating and buffet presentations according to BEO specifications while meeting service deadlines.
• Bake daily artisan breads and breakfast pastries for restaurant service.
• Assist with lunch and dinner plating stations when business demands require.
• Maintain exceptional food presentation, quality, consistency, and portion control.
• Ensure proper food storage, labeling, dating, and rotation following FIFO procedures.
• Minimize food waste while maintaining product freshness and controlling food costs.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary pastry kitchen in accordance with ServSafe, health department, and food safety standards.
• Properly clean and maintain mixers, ovens, slicers, food processors, and other kitchen equipment.
• Assist with specialty desserts, seasonal menu changes, holiday offerings, and cross-training throughout the culinary department.
• Follow all resort safety, sanitation, and HACCP guidelines.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Culinary school training or a minimum of two years of pastry, baking, or professional pastry kitchen experience preferred.
• Experience in a luxury hotel, resort, bakery, restaurant, or fine dining environment is highly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of pastry production, artisan breads, dessert preparation, and baking techniques.
• Understanding of food safety, sanitation, and HACCP standards.
• Experience operating commercial kitchen equipment including mixers, ovens, slicers, grinders, and food processors.
• Ability to accurately follow recipes, measurements, and production schedules.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced culinary environment while maintaining exceptional quality.

Schedule Requirements

• AM/PM shifts
• Weekends and holidays required

Benefits

Salamander Middleburg offers an outstanding benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Eight Paid Holidays
• Paid Maternity & Paternity Leave
• Complimentary Employee Meals
• Free Uniforms
• Friends & Family Hotel Discounts
• Employee Discounts on Dining, Spa, Golf, Retail, and Resort Amenities
• Career Growth & Development Opportunities
• Work at one of the nation's premier Forbes Five-Star luxury resorts

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Salamander Hotels & Resorts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions, including hiring, promotion, discipline, and termination, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

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