Culinary R&D Chef

We are seeking an exceptional Culinary R&D Chef for a highly regarded, chef-driven restaurant group in Dallas. The ideal candidate is deeply passionate and curious about food, ingredients, techniques, and what leading chefs and restaurants are doing across the country, while bringing the humility to work within an established Chef/Owner’s culinary vision. This role requires significant culinary confidence without ego, with trust, creative freedom, and influence earned over time.

• Research restaurants, chefs, ingredients, techniques and culinary trends.
• Develop, test and refine new dishes and menu items.
• Create food consistent with the Chef/Owner's palate, standards and culinary vision.
• Bring thoughtful new ideas while respecting the identity of established restaurant concepts.
• Manage an organized and consistent R&D and menu-rollout calendar.
• Take dishes from inspiration through testing, refinement and restaurant execution.
• Develop recipes and specifications that can be executed consistently.
• Coordinate with Operations, Procurement and Training throughout development and implementation.
• Consider sourcing, costing, product availability, training and operational execution when developing menu items.
• Support restaurant teams during menu rollouts and ensure standards are understood and consistently executed.
• Conduct development and testing within active restaurant environments.
• Remain actively engaged with noteworthy restaurants and culinary developments nationally.

• Significant culinary leadership experience within recognized, chef-driven restaurants or restaurant groups
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• Exceptional knowledge of food, ingredients, flavor development and culinary technique.
• Demonstrated menu and dish-development experience.
• Proven ability to move culinary ideas from concept through restaurant execution.
• Genuine curiosity about chefs, restaurants, food and emerging culinary ideas.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Ability to work against deadlines and maintain a consistent development schedule.
• Understanding of procurement, costing, training and restaurant operations.
• Hands-on restaurant mentality.
• High integrity and strong communication skills.
• Ability to receive feedback and collaborate closely with an established Chef/Owner.
• Confidence without ego.

Darryl Downs