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Chef Consultant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

¡Salud!

Chef Consultant

Marina Del Rey, CA

$30 - $40/hr

Executive Consultant Chef ¡Salud! | Venice, California Engagement Type: Independent Contractor / Consulting Focus: Menu Development, Recipe Costing & Seasonal Menu Strategy Compensation: Based on ...

busy French bistro

Chef Consultant

San Francisco, CA · On-site

A busy French bistro in San Francisco is seeking an experienced Chef Consultant to create new dishes and elevate our menu. The chef must have a strong background in classic French cuisine and ...

AEG

Performance Sous Chef - Consultant

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$65 - $75/hr

Performance Sous Chef - Consultant Department: Basketball Operations Reports to: Executive Chef Manages: N/A Position Summary: As a member of the Los Angeles Lakers Culinary team, the Performance ...

Cobble Hill Pizza

Chef Consultant

Brooklyn, NY · On-site

$50 - $100/hr

Dough Development Consultant (Project-Based) LOCATION: Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY START: Immediately COMPENSATION: Per session + potential retainer ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT New pizza and coffee concept ...

Employees Only

Sous Chef

New York, NY · On-site

$70K - $75K/yr

... chef consultant on ordering, scheduling, and recipe building, managing cost of goods and labor, and executing seasonal menu changes. You will be supported by our experienced culinary director and ...

New

Performance Food Group

Chef

Rogers, MN · On-site

$69K - $95K/yr

Responsible for building customer loyalties through a one-on-one consultative approach. Builds ... A team of sales reps, chefs, consultants, and other experts builds close relationships with ...

DRG Employer LLC

Sous Chef

Detroit, MI

$49K - $66K/yr

Sullivans Steakhouse is hiring qualified applicants for Sous Chefs in your area. Submit your resume ... consultation with guests to meet dietary restrictions and palate preferences

EveryAge

Chef/Supervisor

Thomasville, NC · On-site

$17 - $19.12/hr

Screens and selects food service personnel in consultation with Executive Chef and Director of Food Services. Provides recommendations on the proposed budget for the operation of the areas of ...

DRG Employer LLC

Sous Chef - SSH

Leawood, KS · On-site

$48K - $65K/yr

Sullivans Steakhouse is hiring qualified applicants for Sous Chefs in your area. Submit your resume ... consultation with guests to meet dietary restrictions and palate preferences

Homma Talent

Sous Chef

Kiawah Island, SC · On-site

$62K/yr

Nationally-acclaimed chef Mike Lata serves as the consulting chef for the new restaurant and brings his years of expertise to an already talented Club team. Lata is a James Beard Award-winning chef ...

Homma Talent

Sous Chef

Kiawah Island, SC · On-site

$65K/yr

Nationally-acclaimed chef Mike Lata serves as the consulting chef for the new restaurant and brings his years of expertise to an already talented Club team. Lata is a James Beard Award-winning chef ...

Homma Talent

Sous Chef

Kiawah Island, SC · On-site

$65K/yr

Nationally-acclaimed chef Mike Lata serves as the consulting chef for the new restaurant and brings his years of expertise to an already talented Club team. Lata is a James Beard Award-winning chef ...

Homma Talent

Sous Chef

Kiawah Island, SC · On-site

$64K/yr

Nationally-acclaimed chef Mike Lata serves as the consulting chef for the new restaurant and brings his years of expertise to an already talented Club team. Lata is a James Beard Award-winning chef ...

Homma Talent

Sous Chef

Kiawah Island, SC · On-site

$64K/yr

Nationally-acclaimed chef Mike Lata serves as the consulting chef for the new restaurant and brings his years of expertise to an already talented Club team. Lata is a James Beard Award-winning chef ...

Town Hall

Pastry Chef

Columbus, OH · On-site

Consulting with the executive chef and other chefs to plan menus. * Executing pastry orders for weekly preparations and scheduled parties. * Demonstrating skill in baking pastries, desserts, cakes ...

Dividend Restaurant Group

Sous Chef

Detroit, MI · On-site

$49K - $66K/yr

Description Sullivan's Steakhouse is hiring qualified applicants for Sous Chefs in your area ... in consultation with guests to meet dietary restrictions and palate preferences Position ...

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Chef Consultant information

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How much do chef consultant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for chef consultant in the United States is $49.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.28 and $62.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Chef Consultant?

Chef Consultants are culinary professionals who provide expert advice and guidance to restaurants, hotels, catering companies, or food businesses. They help with menu development, kitchen organization, staff training, and improving food quality and operations. Chef Consultants often work on a project basis, using their industry experience to solve specific challenges or help launch new culinary concepts. Their goal is to enhance the overall performance and profitability of a food establishment.

What does a Chef Consultant do?

The job duties of a chef consultant focus on working to develop recipes and menus and offer advice to restaurants, food producers, caters, and other businesses in the culinary industry. In this career, you may work on a contract basis with different clients who are in the process of establishing a food production or foodservice business. Your duties and responsibilities vary depending on the needs of your employer or client. Some consulting chefs help plan a menu and organize a restaurant kitchen to ensure proper inventory, staffing, and quality. Others create recipes for a restaurant chain or food manufacturer.

How does a Chef Consultant typically collaborate with client teams during a project?

As a Chef Consultant, you’ll frequently work alongside client kitchen staff, management, and sometimes marketing teams to assess needs, provide tailored culinary solutions, and implement operational improvements. Collaboration often involves conducting training sessions, guiding menu development, and overseeing workflow adjustments. Clear communication and adaptability are essential, as each client’s team and kitchen culture can be quite different. Building trust and offering hands-on support ensures your recommendations are successfully adopted and sustainable.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Chef Consultant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chef Consultant, you need extensive culinary expertise, menu development skills, and experience in food safety, typically backed by a culinary degree or equivalent professional background. Familiarity with kitchen management software, inventory systems, and certifications such as ServSafe are commonly expected. Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities help build client trust and effectively guide kitchen teams. These skills ensure that Chef Consultants can deliver innovative solutions, improve operational efficiency, and elevate food quality for their clients.

What is the difference between Chef Consultant vs Sous Chef?

AspectChef Consultant
Primary RoleProvides expert culinary advice, develops menus, and offers training to clients or organizations.
Work EnvironmentConsulting firms, culinary agencies, or freelance settings.
CredentialsProfessional culinary certifications, extensive culinary experience, and often consulting or business skills.
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by restaurants, hotels, food companies, and culinary consulting agencies.

While a Chef Consultant focuses on providing expert advice, menu development, and training across various clients, a Sous Chef is a hands-on kitchen leader responsible for daily kitchen operations within a single establishment. Both roles require culinary expertise, but the Chef Consultant operates more in a strategic, advisory capacity, whereas the Sous Chef is involved in the execution and management of kitchen staff.

How much do chef consultants make?

Chef consultants typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the scope of projects. Senior or specialized consultants with extensive industry knowledge can earn higher salaries or hourly rates, often exceeding $150 per hour. Compensation may also include benefits, bonuses, or profit sharing based on client contracts and reputation.
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Chef Consultant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chef Consultant job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 14% Contract, and 7% Nights. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,425 per year, or $49.7 per hour.

Chef Consultant

Marina Del Rey, CA

¡Salud!
See more jobs at ¡Salud!external

$30 - $40/hr

Part-time

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Executive Consultant Chef

¡Salud! | Venice, California
Engagement Type: Independent Contractor / Consulting
Focus: Menu Development, Recipe Costing & Seasonal Menu Strategy
Compensation: Based on deliverables


Position Overview

¡Salud! is seeking an experienced Executive Consultant Chef to provide strategic culinary direction and support the continued development of our Latin-inspired tapas program. This is a consulting engagement designed for an accomplished chef with strong experience in menu development, restaurant economics, recipe standardization and kitchen execution.

The Executive Consultant Chef will work closely with ownership and the culinary team to develop seasonal offerings, improve recipe consistency and ensure that each dish is designed with both guest experience and profitability in mind.

This is not a day-to-day Executive Chef position. The consultant will primarily focus on menu strategy, recipe development, costing, systems and periodic implementation support.
Key Responsibilities
Menu Development & Strategy

  • Evaluate the existing tapas menu for quality, consistency, profitability, operational complexity, and overall menu balance.
  • Develop and introduce new dishes that complement ¡Salud!’s Latin-inspired culinary identity and day-to-night hospitality concept.
  • Lead seasonal menu updates throughout the year, incorporating seasonal ingredients, market trends, and guest preferences.
  • Recommend modifications, replacements, or removal of existing dishes based on sales performance, food cost, preparation requirements, and overall menu strategy.
  • Maintain a cohesive menu with appropriate variety across proteins, vegetables, shareable plates, and complementary offerings.
  • Help ensure the food program complements ¡Salud!’s cocktail, tequila, mezcal, and wine programs.

Recipe Development & Standardization

  • Create and document standardized recipes for all new or revised menu items.
  • Establish precise ingredient quantities, preparation procedures, plating specifications, yields, and portion sizes.
  • Develop recipes that can be consistently replicated by the existing kitchen team regardless of which cook is executing the dish.
  • Identify opportunities to simplify preparation and improve kitchen efficiency without compromising quality.
  • Evaluate opportunities for ingredient cross-utilization across dishes to reduce waste and unnecessary inventory.

Recipe Costing & Profitability

  • Prepare detailed recipe costing for new and existing menu items.
  • Calculate food cost by ingredient and recommended portion.
  • Establish target food-cost percentages and recommend appropriate menu pricing.
  • Identify dishes with unfavorable food costs and recommend recipe, portion, sourcing, or pricing adjustments.
  • Consider labor intensity, waste, spoilage, and ingredient utilization when evaluating the true economics of each dish.
  • Work with ownership to balance culinary creativity with the restaurant's target contribution margins.

Seasonal Menu Updates

  • Develop a structured process for periodic seasonal menu refreshes.
  • Recommend seasonal ingredients and dishes appropriate for the Southern California market.
  • Introduce new menu items while maintaining successful core dishes and recognizable ¡Salud! favorites.
  • Conduct tastings with ownership before implementation.
  • Provide final recipes, costing, plating instructions, and preparation standards prior to launch.

Kitchen Implementation & Training

  • Work directly with the kitchen team during menu rollouts to ensure proper execution.
  • Conduct training on new recipes, cooking techniques, preparation methods, portioning, and plating.
  • Establish clear mise en place and prep procedures for new dishes.
  • Identify operational challenges during implementation and modify recipes or procedures where appropriate.
  • Provide ownership with recommendations regarding kitchen workflow, equipment, prep systems, or culinary staffing when appropriate.


More detail about ¡Salud!, please visit https://culinaryagents.com/entities/1031293-%25C2%25A1Salud%2521