Resident Chef
About the job
- Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of employment.
- One to two years of experience as a culinary instructor.
- Three to four years of progressively responsible kitchen management experience.
- Valid Food Manager Certification.
- A proven track record of achieving sales, motivating high-performing sales teams, and meeting operational goals.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, and retain a high-performing team.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Passion for community engagement and providing exceptional customer experiences.
- Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers.
- Ability to remain standing for up to five hours at a time.
- Ability to move about the store while coaching and directing associates or class participants and selling to customers.
- Ability to perceive and differentiate variations in the intensity or quality of flavors or odors and identify specific tastes or scents using the tongue or nose.
- Ability to perform physical movements including grabbing, reaching, pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, kneeling, and crouching to retrieve and replenish merchandise.
- Ability to use hands to chop, whisk, slice, stir, juice, and demonstrate other culinary techniques.
- Ability to lift or move merchandise weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to ascend and descend ladders to retrieve or move merchandise.
- Ability to operate a computer, point-of-sale system, keyboards, merchandise scanners, and a mouse.
- Ability to work 46 to 48 hours per week on a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Regular and predictable attendance, with flexibility to adjust class assignments based on demand and teach six to eight classes per week.
- Ability to work in a variable kitchen environment with open flames, hot surfaces, temperature variations, and physical or airborne food allergens.
- Recruit, mentor, and retain a high-performing culinary and retail team to meet business needs.
- Lead, coach, and inspire associates to exceed performance expectations and uphold a positive team culture.
- Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide feedback, and create development plans to support individual and team growth.
- Represent the brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty.
- Ensure an outstanding cooking class experience in every session by following provided recipes and game plans and holding employees accountable for quality and execution.
- Work with store leadership to increase foot traffic and store engagement through cooking classes and private events.
- Maintain product expertise by staying current on products, participating in available training, and independently seeking additional resources.
- Ensure an exceptional customer experience by leading a customer-focused culture in the kitchen and retail sales floor.
- Oversee, address, and take responsibility for customer feedback related to the culinary program.
- Drive sales growth by developing and implementing strategies to enhance the culinary and retail business.
- Analyze key performance metrics daily and use insights to optimize store performance.
- Meet or exceed culinary and retail goals through exceptional classes and customer experiences that drive engagement and sales.
- Manage daily store operations while ensuring compliance with food safety standards, local health codes, and sanitation regulations.
- Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and control supply and culinary expenses.
- Handle liquor, wine, and beer when required, in compliance with state and location alcohol regulations, company policies, and age restrictions.
- Ensure store safety and cleanliness and address maintenance needs promptly.
- Maintain the accuracy and integrity of employee records, including time and attendance data, food safety certifications, and personal information.
- Adhere to applicable wage and hour laws and accurately record time worked according to company policy.
- Communicate company policies and standard operating procedures to associates and ensure they are maintained and followed.
- Teach six to eight cooking classes per week and adjust class assignments based on demand.
- A culinary degree is strongly preferred; equivalent experience will be considered only in exceptional cases.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and retail systems.
About the company
Sur La Table sells premium cookware, dinnerware, cutlery, kitchen electrics, and bakeware through brick-and-mortar stores and an online platform, and it also runs one of the largest cooking-class programs in the United States. Customers browse and purchase products online or in stores, while hands-on cooking classes teach techniques from basic to specialized cuisines; SLT Perks rewards purchases with points, and affiliate partners earn commissions. The business combines a wide range of premium kitchen goods with a large, active education program and a loyalty scheme accessible in-store and online, setting it apart from retailers that sell gear or offer classes alone. Its goal is to be the go-to destination for premium kitchen products and culinary learning, building a community of home cooks and professionals through products, classes, loyalty, and partnerships.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Hopkins, Minnesota
Founded
1972
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- South Coast Plaza reopened March 6, 2026, reinforcing premium mall presence.
- Walnut Creek returns in late 2026, expanding brand visibility in affluent markets.
- Second Servings launched August 25, 2026, unlocking fees, credit loops, and younger shoppers.
What critics are saying
- 2023 data breach settlement signals weak security and litigation exposure persists.
- Stores still close, including Dallas and SouthPark, showing footprint pruning after bankruptcy.
- Resale could cannibalize full-price sales if Second Servings trains customers to wait.
What makes Sur La Table unique
- Premium cookware authority with immersive classes and expert-led in-store consultations.
- Second Servings turns Sur La Table into a branded resale marketplace first-mover.
- Seattle Coffee Gear acquisition deepens coffee category breadth and specialty expertise.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Pet Insurance
Employee Discounts
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
6%1 year growth
6%2 year growth
6%Sur La Table to reopen in Walnut Creek. The kitchen retailer is returning to Broadway Plaza later this year. Published Date: September 26, 2026, 2:01 AM EDT The new store will carry kitchen equipment including pots and pans, cast-iron skillets, and Dutch ovens (Image credit: Facebook: Sur La Table) Sur La Table is preparing to reopen at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek at 1205 Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, according to the company's official store directory. The location is currently listed as opening in late fall. Sur La Table official website describes the retailer as a kitchen store offering cookware, bakeware, cutlery, and other products for home cooks. The company previously operated at Broadway Plaza before closing its Walnut Creek location in 2022. The new store will carry kitchen equipment including pots and pans, cast-iron skillets, Dutch ovens, bakeware and stockpots. The company's Walnut Creek listing names brands including Scanpan, All-Clad, Le Creuset and Staub. The location will also offer cutlery, flatware and knives, along with services including gift registry assistance, knife sharpening and product consultations. The company currently lists no cooking classes at the new Walnut Creek location. According to Beyond the Creek, the new store will return to Broadway Plaza after several years away and will occupy space next to the former P.F. Chang's restaurant. Love its content? Add WhatNow as a preferred source on Google to see more of its trusted coverage when you search. Be the first to know. From new restaurant openings to exciting retail launches and real estate insights, be the first to know what's happening in San Francisco Maressa Omena is a diversity-thirsty journalist who believes every dish comes with a history worth telling. With more than a decade of experience in journalism,m podcasting, and digital communications, she focuses on uncovering the people and stories behind the headlines and the menus. A thrift shopper of vintage cookbooks and a former catering professional, her connection to food goes beyond writing: it's shaped by a deep appreciation for the craft and community of the industry. She is inspired by the stories that turn meals into moments of connection. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and exploring cultural diversity in search of new flavors and perspectives.
Sur La Table launches peer-to-peer marketplace. The kitchenware retailer is partnering with resale technology platform Archive to power its Second Servings venture. Published Aug. 27, 2026 By Lara Ewen Dive brief: * Cookware retailer Sur La Table launched a peer-to-peer resale marketplace Tuesday called Second Servings, according to details emailed to Retail Dive. * The U.S.-only online platform allows users to sell eligible kitchenware, home goods and dining products using prepaid shipping labels in exchange for either 70% of the sale price in cash or 100% in Sur La Table store credit. A Smart Pricing feature suggests adjustments to price over time, up to 30% off the original suggested retail price. * Resale technology firm Archive is powering the backend of Second Servings and providing customer support, payment processing and logistics. In August 2025, Archive announced it would begin expanding its core client base beyond clothing and apparel. Dive insight: Peer-to-peer resale has largely been the purview of the fashion sector, with companies including Trove and Archive hosting branded platforms for retailers. Some of Archive's clients include The North Face and Lululemon, although the company also works with brands like cooler company Yeti, children's bicycle brand Woom and exercise equipment brand Peloton. Archive's category expansion was partially fueled by a $30 million Series B fundraise in February 2025. In addition, Mattel launched peer-to-peer selling in 2023 via the Mattel Creations Virtual Collectibles Platform in partnership with digital collectibles company Rarible, digital wallet provider Magic and blockchain company Flow. Ikea's online As-is service for Ikea Family members also debuted in 2023. However, Sur La Table's venture is an early peer-to-peer adopter in the home goods space and may mark a shift in how other retailers view their own resale efforts amid increased consumer focus on sustainability and savings. "Today's home cooks are thinking differently about how they shop for, invest in, and dispose of the products they love," Dan Goldman, president of Sur La Table, said in a statement. "Second Servings lets us serve home cooks on both sides of that equation: helping sellers give a favorite piece its next chapter versus tossing it into a landfill, and helping younger and price-sensitive buyers discover premium kitchenware they might not otherwise consider purchasing." Sur La Table filed for bankruptcy in July 2020 and was purchased a month later by a joint venture between Marquee Brands and CSC Generation for $88.9 million. Marquee's portfolio also includes celebrity culinary brands Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse, as well as recently acquired fashion brands Roberto Cavalli and Roots.
Sur La Table enters resale market with Second Servings. 2026-08-25 Sur La Table has launched a resale platform called Second Servings, allowing customers to buy and sell secondhand cookware from both Sur La Table's brand and any of the other brands it sells, at up to 70% off. President Dan Goldman says the initiative is designed to attract younger, budget-conscious consumers and make premium products more accessible without cannibalizing new sales. The move differentiates Sur La Table from competitors and also enables the company to participate in the growing resale market. Full story: NRF SmartBrief News and trends about the U.S. Retail industry Designed specifically for retail professionals, NRF SmartBrief is a free, daily email newsletter. It provides the latest need-to-know news and industry information that maximizes your time, giving you an edge over your competition.
Sur La Table shut down its Smith Haven store in 2020 when its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Sur La Table has acquired Seattle Coffee Gear, a Washington-based coffee equipment retailer founded in 2005. This acquisition will enable Sur La Table to expand its offerings and engage with the coffee community more effectively, enhancing the shopping experience and providing Seattle Coffee Gear's customers with a broader national retail presence.