Mountain (SKI) Town / Sushi Chef / Sous Chef

Most chef jobs ask you to sacrifice your life for the kitchen.

This one asks you to build a life around the mountains.

Located at 8,900 feet in the heart of Crested Butte, Izakaya Cabin is an independently owned Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi, sashimi, ramen, and modern izakaya cuisine. We're looking for an experienced Executive Chef or Sous Chef who wants to lead a talented team, cook exceptional food, and enjoy a lifestyle that's nearly impossible to find in the restaurant industry.

Our busiest seasons are winter and summer.

When the mountain is full, we work hard. Very hard.

When the seasons change, we close.

Every spring and every fall, the restaurant pauses operations, giving our leadership team the opportunity to actually unplug.

Year One

• Approximately two months of scheduled unpaid seasonal time off.
  

Year Two and Beyond

• Approximately eight weeks of paid vacation each year.
  

That means time to travel, ski, fish, climb, mountain bike, or simply recover before the next season begins.

Crested Butte isn't for everyone.

There are no traffic lights.

Fresh snow changes dinner conversations.

The lifts open at 9:00 AM.

Your shift generally starts around 3:00 PM.

If you love skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, fly fishing, or simply living in a spectacular place, you'll understand why so many people come for one winter and never leave.

Izakaya Cabin has become one of Crested Butte's favorite dinner destinations.

Our restaurant includes:

• 8-seat sushi bar
  
• 12-seat cocktail bar
  
• 30-seat dining room
  
• 48-seat upstairs loft
  
• 40-seat summer patio
  

Peak nights regularly exceed 300 sushi rolls while maintaining the quality and consistency our guests expect.

Lead by example.

Mentor cooks.

Maintain standards.

Help develop menus.

Manage food quality and execution.

Work closely with chef and owners to continually improve the restaurant.

Create an environment where preparation, teamwork, and hospitality are valued above ego.

We respect Japanese technique while embracing the creativity of an independent mountain restaurant.

You'll work with premium seafood, seasonal ingredients, and a menu that balances consistency with room for innovation.

Our menu emphasizes:

• Sushi
  
• Sashimi
  
• Nigiri
  
• Izakaya small plates
  
• Omakase
  
• Ramen (seasonally)
  

Sushi Chef / Sous Chef candidates should be ready to grow into a leadership role.

Experience with the following is highly desirable:

• Sushi, sashimi and nigiri preparation
  
• Salmon fabrication
  
• Bluefin tuna breakdown
  
• Fish handling and HACCP practices
  
• Super freezer management
  
• AUTEC sushi machines
  
• High-volume service
  
• Inventory and kitchen organization
  
• Staff development
  

Applicants for sushi-focused positions should already possess professional knife skills and hands-on experience preparing sushi and sashimi.

We're serious about food.

We're relaxed about everything else.

You'll find:

• Professional kitchen standards
  
• Respectful coworkers
  
• Loyal year-round guests
  
• Creative collaboration
  
• Low drama
  
• Strong teamwork
  

We believe the best kitchens are disciplined without being rigid.

• Competitive hourly wage
  
• Overtime paid at 1.5
  
• Kitchen tip participation. ( tip pool eligibility )
  
• Two months of scheduled unpaid seasonal leave
  

• Salaried leadership position
  
• Eight weeks paid vacation annually
  
• Continued performance-based growth
  
• Potential long-term partnership opportunities for the right individual
  

Employee housing is not provided.

However:

• We pay your first month's rent as a signing bonus.
  
• We'll help connect you with available housing resources.
  
• Rental availability has improved significantly compared with recent years.
  
• On mountain rental currently available @ $1250/ month (studio) ( 2 minute walk to lifts, 1 minute walk to free CB-town shuttle )

This position requires:

• Standing for extended periods
  
• Repetitive knife work
  
• Lifting up to 50 pounds
  
• Working efficiently in a fast-paced, high-altitude kitchen
  

1. Submit your resume.
   
2. Include Instagram or photos of your work if available.
   
3. Zoom interview and virtual restaurant tour.
   
4. In-person working interview.
   
5. Secure housing.
   
6. Welcome to Crested Butte.
   

If you're looking for another restaurant job, this probably isn't it.

If you're looking for a place where you can cook exceptional food, ski before work, become part of a close community, and enjoy real time away from the kitchen every year, we'd love to hear from you.

www.izakayacabin.com