NORR Kitchen | Private Dining & Event Chef

Job Description

Job Description

NORR Kitchen | Private Dining & Event Chef

Luxury Private Dining | High-End Events | Project-Based Independent Contractor

About NORR

At NORR Kitchen, we don't cater, we curate.

We create cinematic dining experiences in private residences, luxury estates, corporate environments, and destination settings across the country.

Every experience is intentionally designed to feel effortless, elevated, and deeply considered. Behind that experience is a culinary team committed to precision, presentation, hospitality, and exceptional execution.

NORR Kitchen was built from more than a decade of experience through NORR Agency, our creative and experiential foundation. Over the years, our work has extended to some of the world's most recognized premium, culinary, hospitality, and lifestyle brands, including The Macallan, Williams Sonoma, Four Seasons, Krug, Bon Appétit, and others.

Our broader history spans luxury brand experiences, culinary production, creative direction, hospitality, and storytelling, with work and features reaching audiences internationally. Our press and print history includes appearances in publications such as Vogue, ELLE, ELLE Decor, Glamour, and other leading lifestyle, culinary, and design titles.

That foundation ultimately evolved into NORR Kitchen, bringing together our background in world-class brand experience with a culinary history shaped by working alongside two Michelin-starred chefs.

Today, those worlds come together under one standard: exceptional food, impeccable presentation, thoughtful hospitality, and experiences designed with the level of intention expected from the world's leading luxury brands.

Our headquarters are located in Orange County, California, just south of Los Angeles. As NORR expands into select markets nationwide, we are building a network of exceptional chefs capable of representing that standard in their own cities and beyond.

We're seeking experienced Private Dining & Event Chefs to join that network.

The Role

The NORR Private Dining & Event Chef is a project-based culinary position responsible for executing exceptional private dining experiences and events on behalf of NORR.

Chefs may be assigned to intimate multi-course dinners, luxury celebrations, corporate experiences, cocktail events, destination gatherings, and larger-scale productions.

This is not a traditional restaurant position or guaranteed-hours role. Opportunities are extended based on event scheduling, location, experience, availability, performance, and the needs of each project.

Depending on the event, chefs may be responsible for culinary preparation, finishing, on-site execution, plating, kitchen leadership, service coordination, and maintaining the integrity of a NORR-developed menu from preparation through final presentation.

The ideal chef is highly skilled, self-directed, polished, adaptable, and comfortable operating in private homes and nontraditional culinary environments where expectations are high and every detail matters.

Core Responsibilities

Culinary Execution & Presentation

• Execute NORR menus with precision, consistency, and exceptional attention to detail.
• Prepare, finish, plate, and present dishes according to established recipes, specifications, and culinary direction.
• Maintain elevated plating and presentation standards throughout service.
• Protect the integrity, temperature, timing, flavor, and visual presentation of every course.
• Adapt professionally to private kitchens, luxury residences, event venues, and destination environments.
• Maintain a clean, organized, intentional workspace from arrival through departure.

Private Dining & Event Service

• Execute intimate private dinners, multi-course experiences, cocktail events, celebrations, corporate gatherings, and larger event formats.
• Coordinate culinary timing with Event Managers, service teams, and other culinary professionals.
• Maintain awareness of the overall guest experience, not simply the kitchen.
• Adjust calmly and professionally to changes in timing, environment, guest needs, or event flow.
• Support seamless service from culinary setup through final course execution and kitchen breakdown.

Culinary Standards & Quality Control

• Follow NORR recipes, menus, plating direction, portion standards, and event specifications.
• Maintain strict quality control across ingredients, preparation, cooking, holding, finishing, and presentation.
• Uphold proper food handling, sanitation, storage, and kitchen safety practices at all times.
• Review event documentation and culinary direction in advance and arrive fully prepared for execution.
• Communicate immediately when a culinary, logistical, or quality concern could impact the event.
• Ensure the final experience consistently reflects NORR standards regardless of venue, market, or event size.

Leadership & Team Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with NORR Event Managers, culinary teams, service professionals, and headquarters.
• Lead culinary assistants or supporting chefs when assigned.
• Communicate clearly, respectfully, and confidently throughout event execution and planning before the event.
• Take direction while also demonstrating the judgment and leadership expected of an experienced culinary professional.
• Contribute to an environment of accountability, professionalism, organization, and teamwork.
• Represent NORR standards whether working independently or as part of a larger event team.

Client & Guest Experience

• Represent NORR with professionalism, discretion, confidence, and poise in client-facing environments.
• Engage appropriately with clients and guests when the experience calls for chef interaction.
• Present or describe courses with confidence when requested.
• Maintain professional boundaries and discretion within private residences and exclusive environments.
• Understand that hospitality, presentation, communication, and personal presence are part of the culinary experience.

You Are

• A highly skilled culinary professional with a strong foundation in fine dining, luxury hospitality, private dining, or elevated event execution.
• Exceptionally detail-oriented with a refined eye for plating and presentation.
• Comfortable working independently and making sound decisions in live event environments.
• Calm, organized, and solution-oriented under pressure.
• Adaptable enough to execute at a high level outside the controlled environment of a traditional restaurant kitchen.
• Professional and polished in front of clients, guests, and hospitality teams.
• Able to follow established culinary direction without sacrificing craftsmanship.
• Passionate about creating memorable experiences through food, presentation, and hospitality.
• Someone who understands that at this level, technical skill is expected. Consistency, judgment, professionalism, and execution distinguish exceptional chefs.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional culinary experience preferred, with a strong background in fine dining, luxury hospitality, private dining, executive culinary environments, or comparable high-level kitchens.
• Executive Chef, Chef de Cuisine, Sous Chef, Private Chef, or equivalent leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Advanced culinary technique with demonstrated strength in preparation, finishing, plating, presentation, and service execution.
• Experience executing multi-course dining or elevated event service.
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, organization, and professional kitchen standards.
• Excellent communication, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with event and culinary teams.
• Reliable transportation and the ability to transport required personal culinary tools and equipment.
• Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and event-driven schedules.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the chef's assigned service region.

Travel & Market Coverage

NORR chefs are hired within specific regional markets.

Local project opportunities will generally fall within an approximately 50+ mile service radius of the chef's primary city or market , with travel expectations varying by event and geography.

As chefs establish a strong record with NORR, expanded regional and destination travel opportunities may become available based on performance, reliability, experience, availability, and company needs.

For exceptional chefs, the opportunity is not limited to one city. NORR's growing national footprint creates the potential to support experiences in additional markets and destination locations as our relationship develops.

Compensation & Project Structure

Starting Rate: $30+ per hour

Starting compensation begins at $30 per hour , with rate placement based on resume, professional experience, culinary background, demonstrated skill level, and the scope of the assignment.

Opportunities for increased rates, lead culinary assignments, expanded project opportunities, and regional or destination travel are available based on demonstrated performance, reliability, professionalism, and continued alignment with NORR standards.

This is an independent contractor / 1099, project-based position .

There are no guaranteed weekly hours or fixed restaurant schedules. Chefs are engaged for individual events and culinary projects based on availability, location, qualifications, event requirements, and demonstrated performance.

Additional and higher-level opportunities may become available as NORR expands and as chefs demonstrate exceptional execution, professionalism, reliability, and alignment with our standards.

Why NORR

NORR offers experienced chefs an opportunity to practice their craft outside the traditional restaurant model while remaining connected to a high standard of culinary execution and hospitality.

Our chefs have the opportunity to:

• Work within private residences, luxury properties, corporate environments, and destination settings.
• Execute highly curated experiences ranging from intimate dinners to larger productions.
• Collaborate with experienced culinary, hospitality, creative, and event professionals.
• Build an ongoing relationship with a growing luxury hospitality brand rather than sourcing every private client independently.
• Access expanded project and travel opportunities based on performance and market growth.
• Bring fine-dining discipline into environments where creativity, adaptability, and guest connection matter.

For the right chef, NORR provides the opportunity to do exceptional culinary work without being confined to the traditional restaurant structure.

The NORR Standard

Excellence is our baseline.

Our clients invite NORR into private homes, milestone celebrations, luxury properties, corporate environments, and some of the most meaningful moments of their lives. The chef representing NORR is entrusted with far more than preparing a menu.

You are entrusted with the experience.

We expect culinary precision, refined presentation, impeccable organization, confident communication, discretion, adaptability, and genuine hospitality.

Our culinary foundation has been shaped by Michelin-level talent and luxury hospitality, and we continue to hold our chefs to an exceptionally high standard.

Every plate matters. Every detail matters. Every guest interaction matters.

The goal is not simply to execute dinner.

It is to create an experience worthy of the NORR name.

Position Details

Job Type: Independent Contractor / 1099 / Project-Based Culinary Position

Starting Rate: $30+ per hour, based on experience, qualifications, demonstrated skill, and assignment scope

Schedule: Event-based. Opportunities vary according to market demand, availability, performance, and company growth.

Location: Regional market-based with approximately 150+ mile local travel coverage and potential for expanded regional and destination travel opportunities.

Headquarters: Orange County, California