Chef Cover Letter Examples & Writing Tips

Chefs are a key part of any restaurant’s success. They plan menus, purchase ingredients, and direct the kitchen staff to prepare meals. Chefs also ensure food is prepared and served safely.

Use these examples and tips to write a cover letter that highlights your experience and skills for a job as a chef.

Chef Cover Letter Example 1

I was told by Chef Michael Whitmore of the Ridgeway Resort that you’re looking for a new chef in your restaurant L’amour. With nine years of experience in the kitchen, I believe I would be an excellent addition to your team.

I started my career as a busboy in a small family establishment. I eventually worked my way up to line cook, sous chef and finally head chef, so I’m no stranger to long hours and hard labor. I really found my calling in my work, discovering a passion for food and a love of preparing dishes just right. This passion would lead me to culinary school, and I graduated with honors in 2003.

For the past nine years, I’ve been the head chef at my current place of employment, a large French fusion restaurant in Manhattan. While I’ve enjoyed it immensely, I’m now moving to Connecticut, so I’m looking for somewhere new to bring my talents, energy and enthusiasm.

I heard from Chef Whitmore that you have a few specific requirements for the job, and I’m happy to say I fulfill them all:

• I’ve been working with French menus for almost a decade, and I’ll well-versed in everything from baba au rhumto to pansette de gerzat.
• I have extensive leadership experience. I currently supervise 14 employees, and I’ve managed as many as 20 in the past. I maintain order in the kitchen by establishing a hierarchy and holding everyone accountable for their own actions.
• I adhere to all health department guidelines regarding cleanliness and sanitation. In fact, I raised the score of my current kitchen by five points between 2008-2010.

I like to think I’d be a valuable and worthwhile addition to the staff of L’amour. I’ve done my research on your restaurant, and I have the same commitment to the culinary world as professed in your mission statement. I also have the right background to help you achieve your vision of “a dining establishment where all patrons can be transported to the French countryside.” French cuisine is my life, and I look forward to a day when I can bring it to the people of Connecticut.

I’d love the opportunity to discuss my resume with you in person. I can be reached by phone or email any weekday after 2 pm. I’m also available at any hour during the weekend. Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Chef Cover Letter Example 2

I’d like to express my interest in the Chef position you posted at your restaurant. As a fully-qualified chef with six years of experience in the kitchen, I believe I more than meet your requirements for the job.

I began my culinary career in 2005 when I entered the Nagasaki School of Japanese Cuisine. Though I spent two years making tempura and itamemono, I eventually found my calling and my passion in Thai food, so I switched my focus to khao phat kaeng khiao wan instead.

This varied background has more than prepared me for work in your Asian fusion restaurant. As you can see, I’m already quite familiar with the signature dishes of both Japan and Thailand, and I’m a quick study who can also learn the Chinese required of your chefs.

You said in your listing that you’re looking for motivated self-starters who can manage a kitchen without outside influence. Not only am I extremely capable, but I’ve also worked my way through the culinary hierarchy, starting as a dessert cook and eventually being promoted through the ranks of line cook, sous chef and assistant head chef. I know what it’s like to work every position in the kitchen, and I bring that skill and expertise to my management style.

You also expressed interest in finding someone budget-minded. In my first year at the Maison Restaurant, I reduced overhead by 10 percent. In my second year, I reduced it an additional five. I’m extremely conscious of things like food cost controls and unnecessary waste, and I understand the importance of keeping finances in mind even as you reach for the stars in terms of new dishes and exciting tastes.

Last but certainly not least, I believe in providing an outstanding experience to all patrons of my restaurant. Customer satisfaction is my number one priority. Not everyone has the time or the inclination to travel to Asia themselves, but I can certainly give them a taste of the east through my cooking. That’s my goal, and it’s the vision I try to turn into reality every night I’m behind the stove.

If any of these qualities sound like a suitable match for your restaurant, I’d love the opportunity to discuss my resume with you in person. Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Chef Cover Letter Example 3

My goal is to work with a company that I can continue to grow with, as both a person as well as a professional. I offer true dedication to the team that I work for. I consider myself a creative thinker and a definite roll-up my sleeves employee, never considering myself too good to tackle any task. My dedication to any dining experience is consistency and customer service. I bring the ability to follow established practices by proper training and development of team members.

I have experience in WF/GF cooking and baking, Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw, International Cuisine and most Allergens. I continually strive to better myself daily through research, always wanting to know what can be done better to make my food more comforting or exciting.

Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of experiencing many genres of food service, such as business dining, high-end hotels, wellness retreat spas, independent living and the education market. All of this has taught me the importance of food safety, working in a diverse environment and being a leader. The desire to help accomplish sustainability and wellness to an organization is paramount. I pride myself in the ability to teach, multi-task, follow policies and continually exceed goals. Client satisfaction is a true passion.

I thank you in advance for your consideration for this position and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Chef Cover Letter Writing Tips

Show Your Culinary Skills

Cover letters for chefs should always highlight the applicant’s culinary skills. If you’re not a chef, focus on your experience with cooking and demonstrating that you understand how to apply flavors in new ways.

When it comes to highlighting your culinary skills, there are many ways to do this! You can mention:

• An example of something you’ve cooked recently that was well received by friends or family
• A favorite dish of yours
• Your preference for cooking ingredients such as herbs, spices, or vegetables

Show Your Experience

To get your foot in the door as a chef, it’s important to include any experience you have. For example, even if you are just fresh out of culinary school and have little-to-no work experience, include what you do know about cooking or restaurant work.

Explain how this experience has prepared you for the job and say why it makes you qualified for this position specifically. You can also mention any awards or accolades that demonstrate your abilities as a chef and show employers that they won’t be taking on someone who is unproven or still learning the ropes.

Show Your Creativity

As a chef, you need to be creative in the kitchen and make delicious dishes for your customers. So it should come as no surprise that hiring managers are looking for creativity on your cover letter too.

To showcase your innovative thinking when applying for jobs, use examples from past projects or internships to demonstrate how you’ve demonstrated creativity in the past. For example, talk about how you developed new recipes and menus at a restaurant where you worked before; explain what made them unique and why they were successful.

Proofread your cover letter

If you are applying for a job as a chef, proofreading your cover letter is critical. Your cover letter is your first impression to the employer, and hiring managers will use it to make assumptions about how attentive you are to detail.