FINNS OF CHELSEA - Sous Chef

Finns is a long-established gourmet food shop and catering business, based on the lively and foodie Chelsea Green.

They are seeking a passionate and creative Sous Chef to join the small but busy delicatessen kitchen; working alongside Head Chef and one Commis, the role combines daily cooking for the shop with occasional event canapés, picnics and parties.

The ideal candidate must have a professional cooking qualification, and ideally a minimum of 3 years’ experience within a commercial kitchen and/or fast paced catering environment.

Alongside producing delicious food, you must be a quick-learner, hard-worker, reliable and flexible to complement our existing small and supportive team.

The main ingredient is a keen cook interested in seasonal food, who is naturally organised and has a personable, confident and professional disposition.

There is plenty of scope to make the role your own, and the freedom to bring fresh ideas, recipes and energy to the table.

Whilst predominantly in the kitchen, you will also be expected to spend time serving in the shop forming relationships with customers; learning the tills as well as how to make a famous Finns coffee; answering the telephone; taking orders and occasionally catering at local galleries and in private homes.

Job Description • Working as part of the kitchen team, prepping and cooking daily dishes to fill the shop fridges and fulfil the customer orders.

• Producing a variety of dishes across all sections of the busy kitchen – canapés, sandwiches, salads, meat and fish, pies and puddings – always ensuring high quality and presentation.

• Following traditional Finns recipes as well as introducing your own seasonal ideas with clear written costings, ingredients, methods and allergens.

• Carrying out recipe testing and development on existing dishes and contributing and collaborating on new catering menus.

• Planning and coordinating weekly shop menus for customers to view online and pre-order from.

• Reducing waste by creating dishes with surplus ingredients.

• Assisting with the kitchen ordering and communicating with suppliers direct.

• Supporting the Head Chef with costings and quality control.

• Unpacking and checking daily deliveries in the kitchen, reporting any issues to the Head Chef.

• Maintaining neat fridges, freezers and dry store areas at all times as well as clean and tidy workstations.

• Adhering to health and safety guidelines when working with and preparing food.

• Recording daily fridge and cooked food temperatures.

• Assisting with daily washing up and clearing away, keeping the kitchen tidy and running efficiently.

• Opening and setting up the shop ahead of customers at 8.30 am, and efficiently closing and cleaning the shop/kitchen down at 4.00 pm.

• Labelling and packaging food for the shop, creating accurate and appealing labels and heating instructions for new dishes.

• Answering the phone and serving customers face to face in the shop, using the tills, making teas and coffees, and occasionally waiting the outside tables when required.

• Providing excellent customer service to regular and new customers and assisting with private catering enquiries needing bespoke menus.

• Photographing behind the scenes ingredients and cooking to produce suitable and engaging content for social media.

• Catering for occasional private events and working at them when required.

• Taking an active interest in our competitors for comparing menus, presentation, prices etc.

• Engaging in the wider food/catering industry for news and ideas etc.

Start date: ASAP / Monday 15th September 2025.

• Salary: from £34,000 gross per annum (doe). • Full-time, permanent position, Monday to Friday (7.30 am – 4.30 pm) with one Saturday per month (8.00 am – 4.00 pm) and a day off in lieu.

• All Saturdays, external evening and weekend events are paid in addition.

• Daily free lunch and (the best) unlimited coffee.