Tasting and Development Chef

About Lettice Events: Lettice Events is a privately owned, female-led hospitality business built on a love of great food, thoughtful service and beautifully curated experiences. We deliver bespoke catering and full event management services across a wide range of events, from intimate private dinners and weddings to large-scale conferences, brand activations, gallery openings and fundraising events. We work with both private and corporate clients, as well as directly with venue partners, offering either end-to-end event delivery or catering-only services. Reports to: Head pastry chef/ Head Chef / Culinary Director The Role: We are looking for a high energy Tasting & Development Chef to assist in the development of new dishes, menus and culinary concepts. You will combine creativity, technical ability and commercial awareness, developing exceptional food that works equally well for a client tasting and at scale across major events. Key Responsibilities:

• Develop new dishes, menus, canapés and sharing concepts.
• Lead client tastings, presenting food confidently, responding to feedback.
• Translate client briefs into creative, relevant and commercially viable menus.
• Develop and refine dishes for flavour, presentation, consistency, scalability and cost.
• Write and maintain accurate recipes, specifications, yields and plating guides.
• Cost dishes and work within agreed food-cost targets.
• Ensure new dishes are practical to produce and execute at scale.
• Research new ingredients, techniques, suppliers and culinary trends.
• Work closely with Operations & Sales teams.
• Support the ongoing development and maintenance of the company's culinary standards. The Applicant:
• Proven experience in a high-end restaurant, luxury catering, events or development kitchen.
• Strong technical cooking skills.
• Experience developing dishes and menus from concept through to production.
• Confident presenting food to discerning clients.
• Strong understanding/ interest in food costing, yield, labour and production at scale.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Creative, curious and commercially minded.
• High attention to detail and standards.
• Able to take feedback, collaborate effectively and work at pace.
• Passionate about contemporary food, seasonal produce and the London culinary scene. Success in the Role: Success will be measured by the quality and originality of the food, client feedback, successful conversion of tastings, consistency in production and commercial performance of the menus developed. To Apply: Please send you CV and cover letter to mark@letticeevents.com