Looking for a Sushi Chef ? Find Your Next Sushi Chef With Brigad

Planning a special event or fancy a unique dining experience at home? Hiring a professional Sushi Chef can add an incredible touch of authenticity and flair to your occasion.

These culinary masters, respected in the art of sushi making, can not only prepare a variety of sushi but also provide a captivating live demonstration of their craft.

This intriguing experience requires careful planning, including understanding your preferences and needs, and considering cost and tipping etiquette. So, whether you're in London or elsewhere, let's explore how you can hire a top-rated Sushi Chef for an unforgettable Japanese culinary experience.

Understanding the job of a sushi chef

A sushi chef, also known as an Itamae or Shokunin, is a culinary expert in preparing sushi, a traditional Japanese dish. This role involves more than just crafting delicious sushi rolls. It requires a deep understanding of the ingredients, from selecting the freshest fish to preparing the perfect sushi rice.

Their responsibilities include:

• Developing sushi menus that cater to various tastes and dietary needs.
• Preparing a variety of sushi types, such as maki, nigiri, and sashimi.
• Ensuring high-quality dishes by selecting fresh fruits, vegetables, and raw fish.
• Adherence to food safety, health, and hygiene standards.
• Managing inventory of supplies.

It's not all about the food, though. A sushi chef also needs to create an engaging dining experience for the guests. This could involve live demonstrations of sushi preparation, explaining the ingredients used in each dish, and even teaching guests how to use chopsticks correctly!

Why hiring a professional sushi chef?

Hiring a professional sushi chef brings several unique advantages.

• Expertise: With years of experience, they ensure the highest quality sushi, using only the finest ingredients.
• Customization: They can tailor the menu to suit your preferences, dietary needs, and the nature of the event.
• Visual appeal: A sushi chef's skill extends beyond taste, creating visually stunning presentations.
• Cultural experience: The presence of a sushi chef can transform your event into a cultural journey, sharing the rich traditions of sushi making.
• Education: Chefs can provide live sushi-making demonstrations, giving guests a deeper understanding of this culinary art form.

Traditional Recruitment Methods

Recruiting a skilled Sushi Chef is crucial for restaurants aiming to offer authentic and high-quality sushi. Traditionally, this process has relied on methods rooted in personal connections, industry reputation, and educational institutions. However, as the culinary landscape evolves, these traditional approaches face new challenges and limitations.

Direct Advertising

Direct advertising involves posting job vacancies in industry-specific publications, websites, and social media platforms. This method allows for a wide dissemination of the job opportunity to potentially interested candidates. However, it often requires a well-crafted and appealing job advertisement to attract the right talent.

Cons: The main limitation of direct advertising is its potentially limited reach and appeal, especially to top-tier talent who may not actively search job boards. Additionally, attracting the right candidates requires not only visibility but also a compelling presentation of the opportunity, which can be challenging to achieve.

Culinary Schools and Sushi Academies

Recruiting directly from culinary schools and sushi academies is another traditional method. This approach provides access to a pool of candidates who have received formal training in sushi preparation. Partnerships with these institutions can also facilitate internships, offering students real-world experience while providing employers with a chance to evaluate potential hires.

Cons: While recruiting from culinary schools offers access to trained individuals, it often results in a pool of candidates with limited practical experience. The transition from an academic setting to the high-paced environment of a sushi kitchen can be challenging for new graduates, limiting this method's effectiveness for immediate staffing needs.

Use of Recruitment Agencies

The use of recruitment agencies, both specialized in the culinary field and generalist ones, is a common approach to finding sushi chefs. These agencies have the expertise and networks to match candidates with job openings. Specialized agencies are particularly adept at understanding the unique skills required for sushi preparation and can provide a more targeted search.

Cons: While recruitment agencies can streamline the hiring process, they come with their own set of limitations. The cost of using such services can be prohibitive for smaller establishments. Furthermore, the risk of mismatches in candidate-job fit exists, especially when agencies do not specialize in the culinary arts or lack a deep understanding of the sushi chef role.

Word of Mouth and Networking

Word of mouth and professional networking remain powerful tools in the recruitment process. Recommendations from trusted colleagues and industry contacts can lead to the discovery of talented chefs not actively seeking new positions. This method relies heavily on the personal and professional networks of those already established in the culinary field.

Cons: Reliance on word of mouth and networking can lead to a lack of diversity in the candidate pool, as personal networks tend to be homogenous. There's also a potential for bias, consciously or unconsciously, in recommendations, which can limit the opportunity for new talent to be discovered.

Looking for a Sushi Chef for your restaurant ?

Hiring an experienced Sushi Chef with a proven track record and the ability to manage an entire sushi kitchen for your hotel, restaurant, event, or private party is not easy.

If you have not had much luck with job boards or the use of temp agencies, and candidates in the hospitality and catering sector are not rushing in, lack motivation, or have not got the experience or skills you are looking for, Brigad is here to provide a solution.

Publish short-term work offers on the Brigad app or website to interested independent freelance Sushi Chefs and other hospitality professionals, who are ready to work and able to pick up short or long-term shifts and fill gaps in your staffing rota.

With Brigad, you can be easily connected with the Sushi Chef your business needs.

Hiring a private sushi chef for your event

Hiring a private sushi chef can be a unique addition to your event. To ensure a seamless experience, here are a few things to consider:

• Event details: Share specifics about the event such as the venue, date, expected number of guests and timings. This allows the chef to plan accordingly.
• Menu preference: Discuss your desired menu with the chef. Some chefs might offer a bespoke menu, tailored specifically to your event and guests' dietary preferences.
• Experience: While hiring, prioritize chefs with proven experience in preparing sushi for events. Their expertise can significantly enhance the overall dining experience.
• Cost: Understand the pricing structure, which could be based on the number of guests or the complexity of the menu. Also, discuss any additional expenses such as travel and accommodation.
• Booking process: The booking process varies. It can be as simple as filling out a booking form online or it might require a more detailed discussion over phone or email.

Remember, hiring a private sushi chef is not just about the food, it's about creating a unique and engaging dining experience for your guests.

How much does it cost to hire a sushi chef?

When it comes to hiring a sushi chef, costs can vary significantly depending on several factors. The experience level of the chef and the location where the service will be provided are two main determinants. For example, the median annual salary for sushi chefs in the US is $42,969, while in the UK, the hourly rate ranges from £18 to £25 for a full-time chef.

On a per-project or event basis, the cost typically falls between $12 and $32 an hour. Some chefs may also charge based on the number of guests or the complexity of the desired menu. For instance, prices can start from £24.99 per head for a 2-Course Express menu and go up to £119.99 per head for a 10-Course Beyond menu.

Please note, these costs may not include additional expenses such as travel or accommodation for the chef.

What is Brigad ?

Brigad is an app/website that allows hospitality establishments to easily connect with highly-qualified, self-employed hospitality professionals in London and surroundings areas.

To start with, simply download the Brigad Business app via the App Store or Google Play. Create an account and you can get started. 

Sign-up for free and post a mission corresponding to your needs for a Sushi Chef in under 3 minutes. Chances are that your mission will be accepted within a matter of hours by a qualified Sushi Chef. 

How to use Brigad when looking for a Sushi Chef ?

Restaurant, pub, bar, café, and hotel food & beverage (F&B) managers, owners, or operators looking to hire independent Sushi Chefs or other hospitality professionals can easily create a mission using the Brigad app. Simply select the dates and times, hours, days needed, the role needed, and add a description that details the requirements and expectations.

Your job offer, also known as a “mission” (the short or long-term shift for which you need filled), will be sent to only the most relevant, qualified, and fully vetted talents who meet your criteria. Once one of them accepts the mission, you will be notified and put in contact.

The Sushi Chef will arrive on the day of the mission ready to work, as they will have received all the necessary information from your mission description to successfully complete the mission.

This means you can be confident in finding the right Sushi Chef to fulfill your business's operational needs or for your catering event (corporate catering event, contract catering..)

No more wasting time selecting a profile from dozens, or even hundreds of options. Post a new mission on Brigad in less than 3 minutes, then just sit back and let the  algorithm handle the rest. Only the most relevant talents will receive your mission proposition, and the most motivated Sushi Chef will be the one to accept it.

Invoices are generated and payments are made automatically, simplifying the process for your business or organisation's finance team. This allows you to focus on running your busy restaurant, pub, bar, café, or hotel food & beverage (F&B) operation.

Need to find a Sushi Chef in a hurry ? 

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Post a mission on the Brigad business app or website in less than 3 minutes. Two thirds of missions are accepted in under 2 hours.‍

Fill your staffing rotas efficiently, even in urgent, time-sensitive situations. Problem solved.

Benefits of working with Brigad when looking for a Sushi Chef

Brigad provides a range of benefits for establishments like restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, and hotels, as well as catering venues and events in London and surroundings areas by facilitating connections with skilled Sushi Chefs and other hospitality professionals.

A strict vetting process

The hospitality industry is too busy and fast-paced for people who aren’t serious and committed to the work. After a rigorous vetting process by our team of experts, only the most qualified Sushi Chefs are offered access to the Brigad platform. 

As an owner, operator, or manager, you might worry about verifying the paperwork of the Sushi Chef who is coming to work for you. However, you don’t need to worry about any of that, as we handle all checks for you.

All profiles on the Brigad platform undergo a strict two-step vetting process, executed by both the app and the Brigad team. This thorough verification ensures you work with only the best independent, self-employed (inside HMRC IR35), or freelance Sushi Chefs and other hospitality professionals. 

The backgrounds, IDs, employment history, and training of all Sushi Chefs are verified to ensure they are reliable and experts in their field before they’re able to accept any missions on the Brigad app. This way, you can be 100% confident that the person is who they say they are and have a legal right to live and work in the UK.

Essential Soft Skills of Sushi Chefs in the Brigad Community

• Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to quickly adapt to different working environments
• Attention to Detail: Precision in cutting, rolling, and presenting sushi, ensuring consistency and quality in every piece.
• Creativity and Innovation: Ability to develop new sushi dishes and presentations, experimenting with flavors and textures.
• Patience and Dedication: Commitment to the time-consuming process of sushi making, from preparing ingredients to crafting each piece.
• Communication: Effective communication with kitchen staff and customers, including explaining dishes and taking special requests.
• Customer Service: Providing a memorable dining experience through polite interaction, understanding customer preferences, and accommodating dietary restrictions.
• Teamwork: Collaborating with the kitchen team, sharing tasks, and supporting each other to ensure efficient service.

Tips and etiquette when hiring a sushi chef

When hiring a sushi chef, respect for their craft and the culture it stems from is crucial. Etiquette plays a significant role in the sushi dining experience, so familiarize yourself and your guests with the basic rules.

• Communication: Engage with the chef, ask for their recommendations or about the ingredients they use. It can enrich the overall experience and show appreciation for their work.
• Appreciate the rice: The preparation of sushi rice is an art form that can take years to master. Showing appreciation for the rice is a high compliment for the chef.
• Eating etiquette: While eating sushi, avoid mixing wasabi directly into your soy sauce as it can compromise the balance of flavors intentionally crafted by the chef. If you're serving sushi at your event, ensure your guests are aware of this rule.
• Tipping: Depending on the venue and cultural norms, consider tipping both the chef and the waiting staff.

Only work with driven freelance professionals on Brigad

Freelance Sushi Chefs and other hospitality professionals represent their own interests and build their own network of customers, which is why they are particularly reliable and motivated. So, you don’t have to worry about last-minute surprises, like a no-show an hour before a busy restaurant opens or a wedding feast needs to be cooked.

A dedicated assistance team

A member of the account management and customer experience will be assigned to you to provide support during your first month on Brigad to make sure that you understand the features and are making the most of the platform. Should any problems arise, our  responsive Assistance Team is available seven days a week to ensure that solutions are readily available for any situation that might be encountered.

Mission prices for Sushi Chefs in the UK

All prices are dynamically calculated to consider tension rates, ensuring competitive pricing tailored to your specific requirements. 

The cost is determined by multiplying an hourly rate by the number of hours you need a Sushi Chef for. When you create a mission, you'll receive an instant quote. 

This is the fixed price you pay once a self-employed Sushi Chef accepts your mission, so there are no surprise costs or hidden charges.

A dynamic pricing means that costs are competitively calculated for each new mission. 

You have control over the pricing, allowing you to adjust it upwards if needed. This flexibility can enhance the likelihood of your mission being quickly accepted by talented independent hospitality and catering professionals in London.