Consulting Chef

Max’s Social House is a high-energy neighborhood social bar and live-music venue in downtown Hudson. We’re building a welcoming, lively, “come-as-you-are” space with great vibes, strong cocktails, and food people crave — approachable, sharable, and built for good times.

We are seeking a Consulting Chef / Menu Developer to help us create a signature menu that fits our space, brand identity, and kitchen workflow.

Scope of Work

The Consulting Chef will lead menu development from concept through rollout, including :

Menu Strategy & Identity

Define menu direction consistent with brand story and social-house environment

Identify ~10–14 core menu items + sharables + potential weekend features

Ensure menu is craveable, consistent, and operationally efficient

Recipe & Development

Develop and document all recipes with portions, step flows, and plating

Conduct tastings and iterate based on guest experience / feedback

Cross-utilize ingredients to optimize cost and reduce waste

Cost Control & Operations

Determine target plate cost and COGS (goal range ~26–32% depending on item)

Prepare ingredient lists and ordering guides aligned with our current vendors

Train kitchen staff on execution, consistency, and plating standards

Kitchen Workflow

Advise on line setup, equipment utilization, and speed of service

Ensure dishes can be executed fast and consistently on busy live-music nights

Qualifications

Proven experience as Executive Chef, Sous Chef, or Consulting Chef

Track record developing menus for bar-forward, high-energy, or hospitality-driven concepts

Strong understanding of food costing and inventory management

Ability to create dishes that are simple to execute but high-impact

Excellent communication and ability to lead tasting and training sessions

Flexible, collaborative, and excited to help build something distinctive

Engagement Structure

Timeline : 4–6 weeks (flexible)

Compensation : Project-based or hourly; commensurate with experience

Location : On-site work in Hudson + remote development as needed