Café Exchange is a gathering place designed around connection, conversation, and the simple pleasure of spending time somewhere that feels special. With a warm, library-inspired atmosphere, thoughtfully prepared food, artisan beverages, and programming that brings people together, Café Exchange is being built as a place to meet, work, read, unwind, and stay awhile. As a Cook I, you'll help bring the culinary side of that experience to life. We're looking for a cook with a solid professional foundation and a versatile skill set, with particular strength in breakfast preparation and execution. You'll work across daily prep and service, preparing everything from made-to-order breakfast items to other café offerings while maintaining the quality, consistency, and attention to detail that define the Café Exchange experience. How You'll Make an Impact Prepare and execute breakfast items with consistency and proper technique, including eggs, breakfast proteins, griddle items, and other made-to-order café offerings. Prepare and cook menu items according to standardized recipes, measurements, portion specifications, and quality standards. Use a range of professional cooking methods, including sautéing, grilling, roasting, baking, boiling, steaming, and frying based on menu and service needs. Complete ingredient preparation, portioning, and mise en place to keep the kitchen prepared for efficient service. Maintain established standards for temperature, portioning, and presentation throughout preparation and service. Safely and effectively use knives, griddles, ranges, ovens, fryers, and other professional kitchen equipment. Follow proper food handling, storage, labeling, dating, rotation, temperature control, sanitation, and safety procedures. Maintain a clean, organized, and well-stocked workstation, with awareness of ingredient and supply levels throughout preparation and service. Support opening, closing, cleaning, stocking, and other daily kitchen responsibilities. Work collaboratively with the culinary team, taking direction and adapting to changing prep and service needs. What You'll Bring 2+ years of professional cooking experience in a restaurant, café, hotel, or other quality-driven culinary environment. Hands-on professional breakfast experience, including preparing eggs, breakfast proteins, griddle items, and other made-to-order breakfast dishes. Solid knife skills and a strong foundation in professional food preparation, portioning, and mise en place. Working proficiency across a variety of cooking methods, including sautéing, grilling, roasting, baking, boiling, steaming, and frying. Experience following standardized recipes, measurements, portion specifications, and preparation procedures with consistency. Demonstrated ability to maintain quality, accuracy, organization, and pace throughout preparation and service. Working knowledge of food safety, sanitation, proper storage, labeling, temperature control, and safe equipment use. Basic inventory awareness, including recognizing and communicating ingredient or supply needs. A collaborative approach, reliability, and the ability to take direction effectively from culinary leadership. Flexibility to work early mornings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs. Supporting Your Success Choice of Company-subsidized medical plan options Generous employer pension contribution Robust paid time off program and paid holidays Meal discounts and additional lifestyle and entertainment perks Career growth opportunities within a dynamic and evolving organization At Café Exchange, great food is part of what makes people want to settle in, stay awhile, and come back. Whether you're preparing breakfast for someone starting their day or helping bring another part of the menu to life, the care you put into your work becomes part of the experience we're creating. If you take pride in your craft, enjoy being part of a strong kitchen team, and want to help bring a new hospitality concept to life, we'd love to hear from you. While we leverage technology to support our recruiting process, every application is personally reviewed by a member of our Human Resources team because we recognize that behind every resume is a person, a career journey, and a genuine interest in joining our organization. Table & Banter Hospitality is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and respected. We make all employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, pregnancy or breastfeeding, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for military service, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We believe exceptional hospitality begins with exceptional people and are committed to creating a workplace where every team member can thrive. We participate in the federal E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility for newly hired employees.

Pay:

$18.00 - $21.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Health insurance Paid time off Paid training Application Question(s): Do you have hands-on professional experience preparing made-to-order breakfast items, including eggs, breakfast proteins, and griddle items? Which cooking methods and kitchen stations do you have the most hands-on professional experience with? Are you available to work early mornings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs? Please note that we conduct comprehensive pre-employment background checks as part of the hiring process. Are you comfortable proceeding with this requirement? Ability to

Commute:

Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 (Required)

Work Location:

In person