Cook

Set on Anzac Avenue in North Lakes, The Raama Indian Restaurant is built on a simple belief: food cooked with real care is the most sincere way to look after people. Our kitchen draws on a long tradition of Indian cooking, with a special fondness for the bold, tangy spice of the North, and every dish begins with fresh ingredients chosen for their flavour and quality. The menu is planned so that nobody at the table misses out, with vegan, vegetarian, meat and gluten-free dishes sitting comfortably side by side, and our front of house team matches the food with warm, friendly service that keeps North Lakes locals and families coming back. We are now looking for an experienced Cook to join our kitchen, someone who takes pride in consistent, flavourful food and enjoys the energy of a busy restaurant. Cook | The Raama Indian Restaurant | North Lakes, QLD Key Responsibilities • Set up your section before each service, preparing the mise en place the menu depends on: peeling and chopping onions, ginger and garlic, grinding and blending masalas, marinating meats for the tandoor and soaking rice and lentils. • Cook the kitchen's base gravies, sauces, chutneys and dough in batches ahead of service so the line keeps moving smoothly through the busiest periods. • Fire up and manage the tandoor, stoves, grills, fryers and ovens, keeping each one at the right temperature through service so kebabs, naan and fried items cook evenly and on time. • Keep in close contact with front of house during service on timing, special requests and dietary notes, and call orders with the other sections so each table's food arrives together. • Prepare vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes using separate utensils, pans and preparation areas, reading every docket carefully so guests with dietary needs or allergies are served safely. • Cook curries, dals, biryanis, tandoori dishes, breads and sides to order, following the restaurant's standard recipes so each dish tastes the same every time it leaves the kitchen. • Show kitchen hands and apprentices how the work is done, working beside them on prep and passing on knife skills, spice blending, tandoor technique and plating. • Check deliveries of meat, seafood, dairy, fresh produce and spices on arrival for freshness, condition and use-by dates, and set aside anything that is not up to standard. • Portion each dish to the set size and plate it neatly for the dining room, finishing it with the correct gravy, raita, chutney, fresh coriander or other garnish before it goes to the pass. • Taste and adjust seasoning as dishes cook, tempering whole spices at the right moment and balancing salt, heat and acidity so the flavours come through clearly. • Pack takeaway and online orders with care, checking that each order is complete, sauces are sealed and the food will travel well. • Put stock away promptly into the cool room, freezers and dry store, labelling and dating prepared items and rotating product so older stock is used first. • Assist the owners when new dishes or specials are being considered, cooking trial batches and giving feedback on how each dish runs in the kitchen. • Record fridge, freezer and hot-holding temperatures, probe cooked items, and cool, reheat and thaw food correctly under the kitchen's food safety program. • Work out daily prep quantities from bookings and expected trade, and let the owners know when ingredients or dry goods are running low. • Keep to the set portion sizes and use ingredients carefully so that waste stays low. • Follow the kitchen's food safety and hygiene procedures at every stage, handling allergens separately and completing the cleaning schedule for your section. • Clean down your station and equipment at the end of each service, and report any equipment faults or maintenance needs to the owners. Qualifications and Experience • At least 1 year of experience working as a Cook in a commercial kitchen. • AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or an AQF Certificate IV. Hours: 38 hours per week - Full-time Salary: $75,000 to $85,000 plus superannuation per annum Personal Attributes • A love of Indian food and pride in getting the flavour right every time • Calm, organised and focused when the kitchen is under pressure • A team player who communicates clearly with the kitchen and front of house • Keen to keep learning and happy to share skills with others How to Apply If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you. Please send your resume together with a cover letter addressing the key criteria set out above.