Pastry Chef

Company Summary 

ELIA Group is a multi-faceted, fully integrated real estate and hospitality company that acquires, develops, and manages commercial properties in landmark locations throughout the United States. In Real Estate & Development and Hospitality, we don’t sit back and let things happen, we make things happen! Whether we’re crafting deals or cocktails, our unparalleled attention to detail leads to award-winning real estate development and hospitality projects.

Job Summary 

Our newest concept, Experience Zuzu , a cutting-edge fine dining Asian concept  will be opening its second location in Nashville in early 2025.  We are seeking a dedicated Pastry Production Cook   with incredibly high standards, to join its culinary team.  This position is an integral part of our dynamic team, focusing primarily on the production of scratch-made pastries and components for composed desserts.   Zuzu offers an experience-driven approach to modern Asian cuisine. This is an exciting opportunity for a culinary professional to be part of a growing, Detroit-based hospitality group and to play a key role in the expansion of this landmark brand.  

What You’ll Be Doing (Key Responsibilities)

• Pastry Production:

• Specialize in the production of high-quality, scratch-made pastries.

• Efficiently prepare a wide variety of goods such as cakes, cookies, pies, bread, and other pastry items.

• Focus on crafting components for composed desserts, showcasing creativity and skill.

• Menu Innovation:

• Develop new and exciting dessert offerings to refresh our menus and captivate our customers.

• Collaborate with the Chef team and Culinary Director on recipe development and menu planning.

• Presentation and Quality:

• Decorate pastries and desserts, ensuring that the presentation is both beautiful and appealing.

• Uphold the highest standards of quality in all pastry products.

• Inventory and Stock Management:

• Monitor stocks of baking ingredients, ordering within budget constraints.

• Ensure the quality of materials and proper condition of cooking equipment and devices.

• Team Collaboration and Training:

• Work alongside and motivate pastry assistants and bakers to enhance efficiency.

• Participate in identifying staffing needs and assist in recruiting and training new personnel.

• Health and Safety Compliance:

• Maintain a clean and organized cooking station.

• Adhere to health and safety standards, ensuring a safe working environment.

What We Expect of You

At ELIA, we use our unique experience and contributions to deliver more than value – we set new standards! We seek someone that is looking for more than a job – we want to work with someone who is as passionate as us about what we do and how we go about doing it.

Your success with us requires these qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience 

• Proven experience as a Pastry Chef, Baker, or in a similar role, with a focus on pastry production.

• Exceptional attention to detail and creativity in pastry making.

• Strong organizing and leadership abilities.

• A commitment to ongoing professional development in pastry arts.

• In-depth knowledge of sanitation principles, food preparation, baking techniques, and nutrition.

• Experience with baking that accommodates dietary restrictions (gluten-free, sugarless, etc.).

• A culinary arts, pastry-making, or baking certification is preferred.

Competitive Salary and Great Benefits

• Dental insurance

• Health insurance

• Vision insurance

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  This position is regularly required to stand, reach, bend and lift heavy objects. The noise level in the work environment is typically high.  

• Stamina and Endurance:   Ability to work long hours on your feet, including during busy periods and events
  
  
• Strength:   Capability to lift and move heavy kitchen equipment, pots, pans, and food items, often weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Mobility:   Agility to navigate tight or crowded kitchen spaces and quickly respond to various tasks and emergencies.
• Manual Dexterity:   Skill in handling cooking tools and equipment with precision, including chopping, stirring, and plating.
• Good Hand-Eye Coordination:   Coordination for tasks like food preparation, arranging dishes, and managing multiple kitchen activities simultaneously.
• Tolerance to Heat and Moisture:   Comfort working in hot, steamy kitchen environments with exposure to high temperatures from stoves, ovens, and dishwashers.

Other Duties 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

More detail about Experience Zuzu part of Elia Group, please visit