Culinary Agents is working with the team at Ilia San Clemente to connect them with talented hospitality professionals.
Ilia San Clemente - Now Hiring: CDC
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About Us Ilya Restaurant is an exciting new Mediterranean fine dining concept coming soon to the heart of San Clemente. As one of the city’s most anticipated openings, Ilya is poised to become a destination for elevated cuisine, exceptional service, and a beautifully designed dining experience. At the helm is renowned Chef Charbel, whose dedication to innovation, tradition, and culinary excellence shapes every detail of the menu. This is an opportunity to be part of something special from the ground up — to work closely with Chef Charbel, refine your skills, and grow within a team that values passion, precision, and creativity. Job Description We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Chef de Cuisine (CDC) to lead the kitchen operations at Ilya Restaurant. As CDC, you will play a key role in executing our culinary vision, ensuring the highest standards of food quality, consistency, and kitchen leadership. This position requires a strong leader with a refined palate, deep knowledge of Mediterranean cuisine, and the ability to inspire and manage a team in a high-level fine dining environment. Key Responsibilities Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and coordinate with the Executive Chef to maintain culinary excellence Lead, train, and inspire kitchen staff to uphold the restaurant’s standards for quality and consistency Ensure proper execution of all dishes, from mise en place through plating and presentation Monitor inventory, ordering, and cost controls to align with restaurant goals and budget Uphold all health, safety, and sanitation regulations Collaborate on menu development and seasonal changes Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous learning Work closely with front-of-house teams to ensure a seamless guest experience Requirements Minimum 2 years of experience in a high-end or fine dining kitchen Strong background in Mediterranean cuisine or a passion to master it Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills Proven ability to manage kitchen operations, scheduling, ordering, and cost control A deep commitment to excellence, consistency, and guest satisfaction Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed Perks & Benefits Competitive salary based on experience Medical insurance Employee dining discounts Opportunity to work alongside Chef Charbel and be part of one of Southern California’s most exciting new openings Room for growth within a dynamic, professional culinary environment
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