Recruiting chefs? Look for this to get top culinary quality

Recruiting the right chef isn't always easy. As a hospitality business owner, you don't just want someone whose skills in the kitchen are on point, but also someone who fits your company culture and way of working. Whether you run a luxury fine-dining restaurant or a cosy eatery, the chef is often the heart of your kitchen. He or she decides not only what goes on the plate, but also the atmosphere in the kitchen and the overall culinary direction of your business. But how do you know you've found the right person? What should you look out for when recruiting in hospitality?

1. Experience and training: what's on the chef's CV?

Just like with other profiles and industries, when recruiting in hospitality it's important to look at experience and training. Experience is often the key to success, but don't lose sight of the quality of the places where the chef has worked before. Has he or she worked in renowned kitchens? Then you can assume the chef has the technical skills needed and knows what it means to cook at a high level. So it doesn't hurt to do some research into the restaurants in question.

It's also important to look at the training the chef has completed. For example, has he or she graduated from a well-known culinary school, such as the Hotelschool, or another vocational programme? That's often a good indicator that the chef has mastered the basic principles of cooking and is able to grow to the top level. Then again, someone may have picked up all their skills in the kitchen itself. These cooks can also add a lot of value to your restaurant.

2. Creativity and vision

A good chef isn't just a cooking professional, but also a creative mind. The culinary world is constantly on the move, and a top chef has to be able to come up with new ideas and techniques that set your restaurant apart from the rest. So when recruiting chefs, it's important to look at his or her culinary vision. Does the chef have a clear style? And does that style fit the concept of your restaurant?

Also ask how the chef works with seasonal produce. The best chefs know how to get the most out of local, fresh ingredients, so the menu keeps surprising. Does the chef also dare to embrace new trends, or does he or she prefer traditional preparations? Find out during the interview.

3. Leadership and communication

A chef isn't only responsible for preparing dishes, but also for leading the team in the kitchen. So it's important that this person has strong leadership qualities. Can he or she run the kitchen efficiently and keep the team motivated and the atmosphere good?

Communication is essential here. A chef has to be clear about his or her expectations and at the same time be open to feedback from colleagues. You can ask about this during a job interview, for example by asking how the chef would fire up a team on a busy evening. It's also important to know how the chef handles stressful situations and whether he or she can stay calm when things get hectic.

4. Technical skills

Technical skills should also clearly come through in culinary talent. A real top chef has to master both classic and modern cooking methods. Whether it's filleting fish, making the perfect sauce or creating innovative dishes, the chef has to be technically skilled.

Also look at the types of cuisine and dishes the chef has cooked in the past. Does he have experience with the kind of cuisine you have in mind, or has he already worked with the techniques you want to use in your restaurant? Maybe you want a chef with experience in vegetarian or vegan dishes, for example, or in haute cuisine.

5. Passion and motivation

Good chefs are passionate about their craft. For them, cooking is more than a job: it's a way of life. That's why it's important that you sense the chef is enthusiastic about the work and the challenge your restaurant has to offer. You can often tell a chef's motivation from the way he or she talks about cooking. A chef who talks about dishes, techniques and flavours with fire and enthusiasm will probably pass that same enthusiasm on to the team and the guests.

Also ask why the chef is interested in your restaurant. Does he or she want to develop further in the culinary world? Or is it purely a ‘stopover’ on the career ladder? This can help you decide whether the chef really wants to commit to your restaurant for the long term.

Got a good feeling about it? Test the chef!

Think you've found the perfect chef? He or she may tick all your boxes on paper, but you only know for sure it's a match once you've seen them at work in the kitchen, reviewed the menus and tasted the dishes. Take your time, ask the right questions (that's also part of a strong recruitment strategy) and don't just go by CVs, but above all by the atmosphere and the feeling the chef gives you. Then you know for sure you're bringing in a real star.