About the role
Lavender Bakery & Cafe on Solano Ave is hiring a Bakery & Pastry Chef for our morning production team. You'll bake the daily store items that fill our cases by opening — standard cakes, cupcakes, cookies, tarts, pastries, daily desserts. Custom + fondant cakes are a separate role.
What you'll do
- Run morning production: croissants, scones, muffins, cookies, cupcakes
- Make daily store layer cakes (the standard ones in the display case — not custom)
- Make small-batch desserts (tarts, tiramisu, brownies, seasonal items)
- Prep components for the Cake Decorator (cake bases, fillings, frostings)
- Maintain consistency and quality every single day
- Keep the kitchen organized, sanitary, food-safe (CA health code)
- Manage inventory of ingredients with the head baker
What we need from you (required)
- Minimum 3 years professional bakery experience (production volume, not home baking)
- Early shift availability — you'll be in by 4am
- Food Handler card on file
- Strong attention to detail
- Weekend availability if required
- Available for ALL major holidays — this is our busy season and majority of our sales (the nature of the bakery business)
- Take vacation in slow season (mid-Jan to mid-Feb, mid-summer typically)
- Recommended commute: within ~20 miles or 35 minutes — reliable transportation for 4am start
Strong pluses
- Experience at a famous bakery
- Pastry program training (Le Cordon Bleu, SF Cooking School, etc.)
- Tart, mousse, custard, laminated dough specialization
- Spanish or French language
Why Lavender
You'll lead the daily sweet program at a beloved East Bay bakery. Creative freedom — propose your specials. Grow into Head Baker. Free coffee every 4 hours, 30% off, tips pooling.
Schedule: Full-time, early shift (4am-12pm typically)
Pay: $21-25/hr (experience-based — $25 for 3+ years)
Reports to: Solano Head Baker
Requirements
- 3+ years professional bakery experience (production volume)
- Early 4am shift availability
- Food Handler card
- All major holidays required
- Spanish/French language (plus)
- Pastry program training (plus)
- Famous bakery experience (plus)
Benefits
- Free coffee every 4 hours during shift
- 30% off all store purchases
- Tips pooling (shared across team)
- Creative freedom — propose your specials
- Growth path to Head Baker