Pastry Prep Cook

Join Our Pastry Team

At Catering by Michaels, we believe an event is more than food on a plate. Every dessert, pastry, and finishing detail contributes to an experience that guests remember long after the event is over.

Founded in 1980, Catering by Michaels is a full-service catering and events company based in Morton Grove, Illinois. We produce events throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, ranging from weddings and galas to corporate events, festivals, private parties, and everything in between.

We are looking for a Pastry Cook to join our commissary pastry team. This is a hands-on production position for someone who enjoys working with quality ingredients, following recipes, and producing consistent, high-quality pastries in a fast-paced kitchen.

About Catering by Michaels

For more than four decades, we have built our reputation as one of Chicago's leading catering and events companies through quality, creativity, and exceptional service.

• Scratch kitchen with a commitment to culinary excellence
• Sustainability leader, certified by both Green Restaurant and Green Seal
• Experience executing major events including Lollapalooza, the NFL Draft, the Black Creativity Gala, and the University of Chicago Alumni Weekend
• Preferred caterer at many of Chicago's most iconic venues
• Full-service catering and event production throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs

Our commissary kitchen is where much of the work begins. The pastries produced here become part of events throughout Chicago.

Why This Role Matters

Great desserts require more than a good recipe. They require consistency, organization, timing, and attention to detail.

As a Commissary Pastry Cook, you will help produce the desserts and pastry items that are served at Catering by Michaels events throughout Chicago. You will work alongside our Executive Pastry Chef, Pastry Sous Chef, and pastry team to prepare products according to established recipes and production schedules.

This is a high-volume production environment where teamwork and reliability matter. The work you do in the kitchen directly impacts what our guests experience at the event.

Your Role

• Prepare and produce pastries, desserts, baked goods, and other pastry items according to established recipes and production standards
• Accurately scale and measure ingredients for production
• Prepare ingredients and components for pastry recipes
• Operate mixers, ovens, scales, and other commercial pastry and baking equipment
• Follow recipes, production schedules, and instructions from pastry leadership
• Maintain consistency in flavor, texture, portion, and presentation
• Assist with basic pastry finishing, decorating, and plating as needed
• Prepare and organize pastry orders for transportation to off-site events
• Maintain clean, organized, and sanitary workstations throughout the shift
• Properly store, label, and rotate ingredients and finished products
• Assist with inventory organization and proper handling of pastry ingredients and supplies
• Work collaboratively with the pastry and culinary teams to meet daily production deadlines
• Support holiday production, large events, and other high-volume business periods
• Follow all Catering by Michaels food safety, sanitation, safety, and organization standards

Qualifications

• Previous professional baking, pastry, bakery, restaurant, or culinary experience preferred
• Ability to accurately follow recipes and production instructions
• Basic knowledge of baking techniques and pastry production
• Comfortable working with commercial mixers, ovens, scales, and other kitchen equipment
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to consistency
• Ability to work efficiently in a high-volume production environment
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Reliable, punctual, and dependable
• Positive attitude and willingness to work as part of a team
• Ability to adapt to changing production needs and priorities
• Flexible availability, including weekends and holidays as needed
• Spanish language skills are a plus. If you speak Spanish, you will be working alongside team members who do as well

Physical Requirements

This is a physically demanding kitchen position. Candidates must be comfortable with the following:

• Standing and remaining active for extended periods throughout the workday
• Lifting and carrying food, ingredients, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds
• Working around hot ovens, mixers, cooking equipment, and other high-temperature areas
• Working in refrigerated and cold storage areas
• Bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, and moving throughout the kitchen regularly
• Performing repetitive production tasks while maintaining quality and accuracy
• Working at a consistent pace for extended periods

Work Environment

Our pastry production team works from our Morton Grove, Illinois facility and supports Catering by Michaels events throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

The kitchen is a high-volume production environment with particularly demanding periods during wedding season, holidays, and major events. Team members are expected to communicate clearly, work efficiently, and maintain our standards even when production volume is high.

Why Work With Catering by Michaels

We have been doing this since 1980 because we care about doing things the right way. Our pastry team takes pride in creating desserts from scratch and producing the quality our clients expect.

This is an opportunity to build your pastry skills, work alongside experienced culinary professionals, and contribute to weddings, corporate events, galas, festivals, and some of Chicago's most exciting celebrations.

If you are dependable, take pride in your work, and enjoy the craft of pastry production, we want to meet you.

Join Catering by Michaels and be part of the team behind the desserts that help make an event memorable.