Chef preparing dishes in a kitchen, wearing a white shirt and black apron, arranging food on plates, with candles and decor in the background.

WE WANT YOU!

Are you a cook that has always wanted to share your vision with the world? Do you have a friend that you know is ready to take the next step in their career? Are you a head chef with a star employee you want to give a shot in the spotlight? Ok, then read on ‘cause this is the page for you!

Seem exciting?
Nominate a chef or apply yourself now!

What you get working with the lineup

  • 🤝

    Access to a world class team who will work with you every step of the way to open your own (guaranteed sold out) pop-up restaurant for one night only.

  • 🍽️

    Menu and recipe development support, in person tasting sessions with your season partners, and a stipend for at home trials.

  • 🎨

    Access to your own creative director, with consultations, mood boarding, and custom tablescapes, to help bring your restaurant concept to life beyond the kitchen.

  • 🌆

    A stunning venue, and full access for testing and prep - with a street level view of the action for curious passers by.

  • 💵

    Payment for your, and your team’s time, as well as a custom chef coat and apron provided by Tilit to commemorate the experience.

  • 📹

    Documentation of the entire process, from headshots, to sit down interviews - even your own custom illustration.

what are we looking for?

A pizza chef using a peel to place or remove food from a wood-fired oven in a restaurant kitchen.

Experience

We are looking for people who have worked in the industry for a minimum of two years, and have worked at their current restaurant for at least 6 months.

Two people in a restaurant kitchen, smiling at the camera, surrounded by dishes and kitchen equipment.

CHEF SUPPORT

We require that the restaurant where you currently work is on board with your participation in the project. See our FAQ below if you have questions regarding this point!

Decorated dining table with wooden chairs, centerpiece of tropical leaves, wooden bowls, candles, and a burlap table runner.

VISION

We want our participating cooks to have a vision they want to express. While our team can help you to hone your dishes and bring ideas to life, the underlying theme and thought behind them must come from the applicant.

Person wearing glasses and an apron standing outside a storefront with potted plants, located in an urban area with brick buildings.

NOTABLE EMPLOY

The restaurant currently employing any applicant must be notable in the restaurant scene in New York. This can be positive press, a sizable social media following, hard won reservations, or features on best-of lists.

Frequently asked questions

  • There are several reasons for this.

    1. As a participant, there might be some times where we will request an alteration to your schedule, which we want your chef to be ok with.

    2. We will be interviewing your chef for your web series episode, and we want to make sure they are on board to do that.

    3. We will be using the name of the restaurant to promote the series, and we want to be sure chefs / owners who have worked hard to establish it feel ok with it being used in this way.

    4. At the end of the day, we want to make sure our participants are supported by their restaurants.

  • The Lineup is open to any position in a kitchen beneath the head chef.

  • We consider this a vetting tool. Notable restaurants are generally high volume, and demand a certain standard when it comes to skill. If someone is employed in a restaurant we consider notable, this is a way for us to have a good sense of whether they would be able to participate in our program.

  • Let’s get this out of the way - this program is a tax on what little free time you have as a chef. We ask not only that you are spending time concepting and testing, but that you are able to attend meetings, on camera interviews, photo shoots, testing and prep days, and the dinner itself.

    However, as a participant, we provide you with a welcome packet which has all the important dates and expectations laid out for your particular season and dinner so nothing is unclear!

  • We are planning to expand our programming into other cities, but for the time being you must be a New York resident to apply to The Lineup.

  • We do not! If you have made your way to working in a notable restaurant, and you have the support of your chef to participate, we do not require that you have gone to culinary school to participate.