About The Gourmet Warehouse
The Gourmet Warehouse is a Vancouver specialty food and housewares destination serving home cooks and culinary professionals. Our cooking school traces its roots to 1978 and offers hands-on classes, demonstration classes, corporate events, private celebrations, tastings, and customized culinary experiences. We are hiring an experienced service professional who can combine polished hospitality with the energy and flexibility of a live cooking-class environment.
The Opportunity
This is not a conventional restaurant-server role. As a Cooking School Server, you will help prepare the classroom and dining area, welcome and orient guests, serve food and beverages, support class flow, communicate dietary and allergy information, maintain clean and safe guest areas, and complete closing and reset duties. You will work closely with Chefs/Instructors, Class/Event Assistants, and Managers to create an organized, engaging, and premium guest experience.
What You Will Do
· Attend pre-shift briefings and review the menu, class format, guest count, timing, seating plan, beverages, declared allergies, and special event details.
· Set dining tables and cooking stations; polish and place glassware, china, cutlery, napkins, water, recipe cards, and event materials.
· Prepare service, beverage, clearing, and coffee/tea stations with all required backup supplies.
· Greet guests, support registration, assist with seating and belongings, offer water or approved welcome beverages, and explain the class flow.
· Provide knowledgeable food and beverage service during hands-on classes, demonstrations, wine-pairing events, and private functions.
· Coordinate course timing with the chef; clear and reset quietly without interrupting instruction.
· Maintain water, wine, glassware, napkins, tabletop cleanliness, guest workstations, and safe service aisles throughout the event.
· Communicate any allergy, dietary, special request, and guest service concerns promptly to the chef and manager.
· Follow Serving It Right, FOODSAFE, sanitation, responsible service, incident reporting, and health and safety procedures.
· Support private and corporate events, tastings, receptions, gift bags, product displays, and class-related retail questions.
· Complete end-of-class clearing, cleaning, polishing, restocking, breakage reporting, beverage counts, and full room reset.
What You Bring
· At least two years of recent serving experience in an upscale restaurant, fine-dining, banquet, hotel, private-event, culinary-school, winery, or comparable hospitality environment.
· Valid Serving It Right certification.
· Valid FOODSAFE Level 1 certificate, or ability to obtain it before the first independent shift.
· At least 19 years of age where alcohol service is part of the role.
· Confident knowledge of food service and an interest in wine, cocktails, coffee, specialty ingredients, cookware, and culinary techniques.
· Excellent communication, organization, teamwork, and guest-recovery skills.
· A polished, dependable, and calm approach in a fast-paced live-event environment.
· Ability to work 30-40 hours per week with flexible evening, weekend, and holiday availability.
· Ability to stand and walk for most of a shift and safely lift/carry approximately 30 lb, with reasonable accommodation where required.
· Legal authorization to work in Canada.
Assets
· Cooking school, Chef’s table, wine/dinner, private club, luxury hotel, tasting room, or high-end catering experience.
· Wine education such as WSET Level 1 or higher.
· POS, cash handling, event registration, or retail experience.
· Knowledge of cookware, kitchen tools, specialty food products, and international cuisine.
· Additional language skills or current first-aid certification.
What Success Looks Like
· The room is fully guest-ready before doors open.
· Guests feel welcomed, informed, and looked after without service interrupting the class.
· Courses and beverages are delivered safely, accurately, and in step with the chef’s timing.
· Allergy, alcohol-service, and safety concerns are communicated and handled correctly.
· Closing side work is complete and the room is clean, stocked, and ready for the next event.
How to Apply
Please submit a resume that clearly shows your serving and event experience. In your application, tell us about your experience with upscale service, wine or beverage service, private events, cooking classes, and guest recovery. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide proof of required certifications and work eligibility.
Equal Opportunity and Accommodation
The Gourmet Warehouse is committed to a respectful and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, and operational requirements. Reasonable accommodation is available during the recruitment process and employment in accordance with applicable law. Applicants may request accommodation confidentially.
Pay: $20.00-$24.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Store discount
- Vision care
Flexible language requirement:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Vancouver, BC: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Food & beverage industry: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
