Junior Commis Chef – Kitchen Assistant

French Cuisine & Pâtisserie

MARIAGE FRÈRES | Covent Garden, London | Part-Time – Weekend (16 Hours)

An exciting opportunity to develop your culinary skills within a prestigious French Maison, gaining hands-on experience in French cuisine, pâtisserie and tea gastronomy, with regular weekend shifts and predominantly daytime working hours.

Founded in Paris in 1854, MARIAGE FRÈRES is an internationally renowned luxury tea house, celebrated for its French heritage, exceptional collection of over 1,000 teas and pioneering approach to tea gastronomy.

Our landmark Covent Garden flagship brings together our Tea Boutique, Tea Room & Restaurant, Terrace and Private Dining, offering a distinctive experience combining fine teas and tea-inspired French cuisine.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and hands-on Junior Commis Chef – Kitchen Assistant to join our small culinary team and support the daily operations of our London kitchen during weekend service.

The Opportunity

This is not a conventional kitchen position within a large restaurant brigade. It is a fully hands-on role within a small culinary team, offering the opportunity to gain practical experience across food preparation, cooking, pâtisserie and daily kitchen operations.

Working alongside our Sous Chef and Chef de Partie, you will assist with preparation, production, service and kitchen organisation, while developing your culinary skills and professional confidence.

Our restaurant offers a distinctive approach to French cuisine, where tea is an integral part of the culinary experience, inspiring savoury dishes, fine pâtisserie, Afternoon Tea and creative food-and-tea pairings.

You will have the opportunity to discover the Maison's exceptional tea collection and develop your knowledge of tea gastronomy, including cooking with tea and food-and-tea pairing.

We welcome applications from aspiring chefs, culinary students, early-career kitchen professionals and experienced Kitchen Assistants seeking to develop their skills within a prestigious French Maison.

Whether you already have kitchen experience or are looking to begin your culinary career, this position offers valuable practical training and development alongside experienced chefs.

What You'll Do

Kitchen Operations & Culinary Support

• Assist the Sous Chef and Chef de Partie with daily food preparation, production and service.
• Support the preparation of French-inspired savoury dishes, lunch service and Afternoon Tea.
• Carry out essential food preparation, including washing, peeling, cutting, portioning and preparing ingredients.
• Assist with the finishing, assembly and presentation of fine pâtisserie and desserts under supervision.
• Support the production of cakes, petits gâteaux and other products prepared in-house.
• Follow MARIAGE FRÈRES' established recipes, preparation methods, portioning and presentation standards.
• Develop your understanding of tea-inspired cuisine, culinary applications of tea and food-and-tea pairing.
• Maintain clean, organised and well-stocked kitchen workstations throughout service.
• Assist with deliveries, food storage, stock rotation and daily kitchen organisation.
• Support washing-up, cleaning, equipment care and general kitchen duties as required.
• Follow all food safety, HACCP, allergen management, hygiene and Health & Safety procedures.
• Work positively with the kitchen team to ensure smooth, efficient and coordinated service.

About You

We welcome applications from culinary students, aspiring chefs, Junior Commis Chefs, Kitchen Assistants and motivated individuals looking to gain or develop professional kitchen experience.

You will bring:

• A genuine interest in cooking, food preparation and developing your culinary skills.
• A positive, enthusiastic, reliable and hardworking attitude.
• A willingness to participate in all aspects of kitchen operations, including preparation, cleaning and washing-up.
• Good organisational skills, attention to detail and a commitment to cleanliness and hygiene.
• The ability to follow instructions, established recipes and professional kitchen standards.
• The confidence to work as part of a small team in a busy service environment.
• An interest in discovering French cuisine, pâtisserie and tea gastronomy.
• Availability to work regularly every Saturday and Sunday.
• Good communication skills in English.
• The right to work in the UK.

Previous professional kitchen experience or culinary training would be advantageous, but is not essential.

Experience in French cuisine, pâtisserie, Afternoon Tea or premium hospitality would also be an advantage.

French language skills are an advantage, given the Maison's French heritage and collaboration with our Paris Headquarters. However, French is not essential for this position.

Previous specialist tea knowledge is not required. Training and guidance will be provided to help you develop your understanding of our teas, their culinary applications and food-and-tea pairing.

Working Hours & Lifestyle

Our London kitchen operates predominantly during the daytime, offering an attractive alternative to the regular late-night finishes often associated with traditional restaurant kitchens.

Part-Time – 16 Hours per Week (Saturday & Sunday)

• 16 paid working hours per week, excluding unpaid breaks.
• Regular shifts on Saturday and Sunday.
• Predominantly daytime working hours.
• A consistent weekend working pattern, particularly suitable for students and candidates seeking employment alongside other commitments.

Additional shifts may occasionally be available during busy periods, holidays, seasonal events and staff holiday cover, although these cannot be guaranteed.

While shifts are predominantly scheduled during the daytime, flexibility is required to work within our operational scheduling window of 6:30 am to 11:00 pm, including Bank Holidays and Private Events, according to business requirements.

What We Offer

• Predominantly daytime weekend working hours.
• A regular part-time position of 16 paid hours per week.
• An opportunity to gain valuable kitchen experience within an internationally recognised French luxury Maison.
• Hands-on training and development alongside experienced chefs.
• Exposure to French savoury cuisine, Afternoon Tea, fine pâtisserie and desserts.
• The opportunity to develop specialist knowledge of tea gastronomy, cooking with tea and food-and-tea pairing.
• Competitive remuneration plus tronc.
• Private medical insurance following successful completion of the probationary period, subject to eligibility.
• Travel allowance.
• Meal allowance.
• Company pension scheme.
• Employee discount and benefits programme.
• Company uniform provided, with complimentary professional dry cleaning.
• Holiday entitlement calculated pro rata in accordance with contracted hours.
• Professional development and potential career progression opportunities.

Join MARIAGE FRÈRES

Whether you are studying culinary arts, beginning your professional kitchen career or are an experienced Kitchen Assistant looking for a rewarding weekend position within a distinctive French hospitality environment, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Join us in delivering exceptional French cuisine, discovering the world of tea gastronomy and developing your culinary skills at MARIAGE FRÈRES in Covent Garden.

Job Types: Part-time, Contract, Permanent

Language:

• French (preferred)
• English (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)
• Work Location: In person