Lead Cooking Instructor

Lead Cooking Instructor

Whisk & Flame | Frankfort, IL

$35 to $50+ per hour | Evenings and weekends | Part-time or Full-time

If you've ever thought, "I love cooking and teaching, but I don't want to open a restaurant or work another Saturday double on the line," keep reading.

Whisk & Flame is a hands-on cooking studio and lounge in Frankfort. Our guests come in to cook together, learn something new, drink something good, and leave saying that was the most fun they've had in months. We are not a restaurant. There is no ticket rail, no 14-hour Saturday, no expo screaming in your ear. Just a full studio of guests who actually want to be there, learning from you.

We are now hiring a Lead Cooking Instructor to anchor our teaching team.

About the role

This is a senior, guest-facing role for someone who can own the room. You will lead our most-booked classes, set the tone and pace of the studio when you're on the floor, and help shape what we teach next. You'll work alongside our Head of Culinary Operations on menu development, instructor mentorship, and class flow. If you have ideas you've always wanted to put on a menu, this is a place where they actually get built and run.

What you'll do

Lead hands-on classes using our established curriculum, with room to develop your own.

Set the energy, pacing, and tone for every class you run.

Mentor newer instructors and class assistants.

Collaborate on new class concepts, seasonal themes, and special events.

Manage prep, station setup, class flow, and reset.

Keep food safety, cleanliness, and organization tight.

What we're looking for

Real kitchen fundamentals. Chef, sous, line lead, catering chef, culinary instructor, or equivalent.

Confidence leading a room of 12 to 24 adults and keeping them engaged for two and a half to three hours.

A genuine teaching instinct. You actually like explaining the why behind a technique.

Reliable, organized, and calm under pressure.

Evening and weekend availability (Thursday through Sunday is our core schedule).

ServSafe and BASSET preferred, or willingness to obtain.

Strong teachers and hospitality pros without traditional culinary backgrounds will be considered if the cooking chops are clearly there.

Compensation

$100 base per class plus tips, paid directly to you.

Most instructors earn $35 to $50+ per hour all in, depending on class size and tips.

Prep and cleanup are included in the class rate.

Most instructors teach 1 to 3 classes per week. Lead instructors typically teach more if they want the volume.

Flexible scheduling. We build the schedule around real lives.

Why this role is different

No restaurant grind. Evenings and weekends, but human ones. You're home before midnight.

You're building something. We opened recently and we're still shaping our menus, formats, and programs. Your fingerprints will be on the curriculum.

Guests are happy to be there. Every single class. That changes everything about how it feels to come to work.

Growth path. We are actively building a teaching team and a brand. There is real room to grow with us.

How to apply

Email your resume and a short note about your background and why this role caught your eye to [email protected]. If you have video of yourself teaching, demoing, or running a kitchen, send that too. It is not required, but it helps.

Whisk & Flame

10 Elwood Street, Frankfort, IL 60423

whiskflame.com

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Benefits: Flexible schedule, paid training

Work Location: In person

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $35.00 - $50.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid training

Work Location: In person