mabels. is a brand-recent neighbourhood cafe opening late October on McLachlan Street in Orange, part of the Ever Hospitality Group family alongside Larder & Home. We're putting together our opening kitchen team — and we're after a cook or chef who takes pride in straightforward food done really well.

This is a hands-on, on-the-floor kitchen role built around a simple idea: a tight, carefully chosen menu done extremely well. We'd rather do a handful of dishes brilliantly than a long list adequately. You'll own the execution of that menu day to day — and have a real hand in shaping it.

What you'll be doing
Cooking a deliberately limited menu to a high, consistent standard every single service
Developing dishes and specials with us — bringing creativity and ideas, not just following a spec
Managing food cost: smart produce use, tight portioning, controlling waste and keeping margins healthy
Prep, mise en place, ordering and keeping the kitchen spotless
Keeping the line moving cleanly through busy periods without dropping quality
Working closely with our front-of-house team so the whole room runs well





What we're looking for
Experience cooking in a cafe, restaurant or similar kitchen
Creativity and a genuine interest in menu development — someone who wants to build dishes, not just plate them
A head for cost management — food cost, portion control and waste are second nature
Cert III in Commercial Cookery is great, but a solid cook without the paper is welcome too
Someone reliable, calm under a rush, and genuinely tidy
Pride in doing a small number of things exceptionally well
Availability across a 7-day roster including early starts and weekends
Valid working rights in Australia

What we offer
A fresh kitchen and a team that actually cares about the food
A competitive rate, negotiated on experience
Being part of a growing local hospitality group with room to progress
A genuine neighbourhood cafe, not a chain

If this sounds like you, apply with a short note about yourself and your experience. We'd love to meet you.

📌 Cook / Chef Orange
🏢 Ever Hospitality Group
📍 Orange