Chef

Overview Head Chef — Pour Destino | Elmhurst, IL Position Type: Full-Time, Salaried Location: 545 Spring Road, Elmhurst, IL About the Role Pour Destino is looking for a talented and driven culinary professional ready to take the next step in their career. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled sous chef to step into a Head Chef role at one of Elmhurst's most distinctive dining destinations — a Spanish tapas and craft cocktail restaurant with a passionate team, a loyal local following, and real room to make the kitchen your own. You'll lead our culinary operation end-to-end, from menu vision to daily execution, working closely with ownership to grow the food program alongside the restaurant. What You\'ll Do Lead and manage all back-of-house operations across lunch, dinner, and weekend service Develop and evolve our Spanish-inspired tapas menu with creativity, seasonality, and guest experience in mind Maintain rigorous standards for food quality, consistency, and presentation on every plate Own food cost management — including ordering, inventory, vendor relationships, and waste reduction Hire, train, and develop kitchen staff, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and pride in craft Collaborate with ownership on specials programming, seasonal menu updates, and new offerings Ensure full compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health code standards Partner with front-of-house leadership to deliver seamless, guest-first service What We\'re Looking For 3–5+ years of progressive kitchen experience, including time as a sous chef or senior line lead Deep knowledge of Spanish cuisine, tapas-style cooking, or Mediterranean flavors strongly preferred Proven ability to manage food cost and kitchen financials Strong leadership presence with experience training and motivating a kitchen team Organized, composed under pressure, and committed to consistent execution A genuine passion for hospitality and a desire to grow with a local, independent restaurant What We Offer Competitive salaried compensation commensurate with experience Creative ownership over the menu and kitchen direction A supportive, community-rooted ownership team invested in your success The opportunity to build something — not just maintain it To Apply Send your resume and a brief note about yourself to View email address on click.appcast.io. We\'d love to hear about your background and what draws you to Pour Destino. #J-18808-Ljbffr Workstream