Sir Paz Estate is a boutique, family-owned winery and woodfire restaurant in the heart of the Yarra Valley. We serve seasonal, produce-driven food cooked over fire, matched to our estate-grown wines in a warm and unpretentious setting.
Our restaurant runs on a rhythm most chefs only dream about: prep Thursday, lunch service Friday, Saturday and Sunday.No regular dinner service. No split shifts.
Beyond the restaurant, the estatehosts weddings, corporate events and special functions throughout the year - some of these run into the evening and they're a chance to cook at scale for milestone occasions in a stunning vineyard setting.
The role
This is a hands-on cooking role,not a clipboard job. Ours is a tight two-person kitchen - you'll lead it, working alongside a talented young chef who'll support you on prep and service. You'll have genuine creative input of the menu within our woodfire, seasonal style, working closely with the owners on menu direction, events and the overall guest experience.
We also cook in a full open kitchen. Our guests watch the fire, chat with the chefs - so warmth and presence at the pass matter as much as what's on the plate.
You'll be responsible for:
Designing and delivering a seasonal menu built around woodfire cooking and local Yarra Valley produce




Cooking on the line every service - this is your food, from your hands
Mentoring and developing your second chef
Menu design and delivery for weddings, corporate events and special functions
Managing food costs, ordering, supplier relationships and stock control
Maintaining food safety and hygiene standards
About you
Proven experience as a Head Chef or a solid Sous Chef ready to step up
Confidence cooking over fire, or a genuine passion to master it
Comfortable and personable in an open kitchen - you enjoy guests, not just plates
A produce-first philosophy and pride in consistency and presentation
Organised and self-sufficient - in a two-person kitchen, your systems are everything
Experience with functions and event catering, or the skill to run them well
Sound understanding of kitchen financials - costings, margins, waste
Current food safety qualifications; full Australian working rights
What we offer
A 4-day core week: Thursday prep, Friday-Sunday lunch service
Evening work limited to functions and events - not a nightly grind
Creative freedom - this is your menu, your kitchen, your food
A capable second chef and a supportive family ownership team
Competitive salary commensurate with experience
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📌 Head Chef - Sir Paz Estate Winery & Woodfire Restaurant (Melbourne)
🏢 Sir Paz Estate
📍 Melbourne