Pastry Chef

About Hilltown

Hilltown (formerly Hilltown Hot Pies) is a celebration of naturally leavened, wood-fired pizza and Southern Italian cuisine, rooted deeply in the Berkshires and New England landscape. Founded by pizzaiolo and chef Rafi Bildner, Hilltown uses pizza as a canvas to showcase regional agricultural systems, foodways, and community connection. With roots in pop-ups and nomadic collaborations across the Hudson Valley and Berkshires (and earlier, the Bay Area), Hilltown opened its brick-and-mortar home in early October 2025 on a historic farmhouse property in the Southern Berkshire Hills. Since its opening, the restaurant has already received critical acclaim across the Berkshires, Hudson Valley, and beyond. Renowned food writers and critics have shared their excitement, and the restaurant has operated at near full capacity since opening day. Following over a year of thoughtful architectural planning and a monumental renovation of a 1790s farmhouse, Hilltown is now an immersive culinary destination—featuring a bustling open-kitchen pizza line, a seasonal outdoor pizza garden, on-site gardens, workshops, private events, and experiential programming. Since opening, Hilltown has been consistently busy—even through the traditionally slower winter months in the Berkshires—and continues to build momentum as a year-round destination restaurant that guests far and wide seek out and return to time and again. As we move through the spring and into our first full summer season, the restaurant will expand to nearly double capacity, with increased outdoor dining, events, and service. At its core, Hilltown is a place for nourishment, warmth, and joy. A gathering space for people who love great food, hospitality, and the relentless pursuit of craft. We value kindness, generosity, and a welcoming spirit as deeply as technical culinary excellence.

Who We’re Looking For + Position Overview

Hilltown is seeking a Pastry Chef to take over our pastry and fresh pasta program from our founding Pastry Chef, who helped build the menu at Hilltown from its opening days.

This position is not necessarily about starting from scratch—although there is plenty of room for you to bring your own style and talent. At its core, this role is about honoring, preserving, and skillfully carrying forward an existing body of work—including established recipes, systems, and philosophies—while bringing your own care, leadership, and thoughtful evolution over time.

As Pastry Chef, you will serve as the steward of Hilltown’s pastry, dessert, gelato, and fresh pasta programs. You will work closely with Chef/Owner Rafi Bildner, our Sous Chef Lonny Geller, and the leadership team to ensure continuity, consistency, and excellence, while guiding the program into its next phase as the restaurant continues to grow in scale and visibility.

Reports to: Chef/Owner, Rafi Bildner

Key Responsibilities

• Carry forward recipes and dishes established by our founding pastry chef, while creating new dishes that align with Hilltown’s philosophy, style, and ethos.
• Ensure the service team (line cooks, sous chef, kitchen staff) have the tools they need to execute the Hilltown pastry (and fresh pasta) program independently during service.
• Oversee all pastry/dessert operations, including our gelato program and fresh pasta production, developing innovative menu items, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
• In collaboration with the Chef/Owner and Sous Chef, develop and maintain an ever-changing dessert menu that reflects Hilltown’s culinary philosophy, emphasizing our love of Southern Italy with an obsession for our regional food system and local ingredients.
• In collaboration with the Chef/Owner and Sous Chef, develop and maintain our fresh pasta program, and oversee all operations relating to fresh pasta production. 
• In collaboration with the Chef/Owner, Sous Chef, and General Manager, execute the pastry component of private events, including menu planning, production and operational planning.
• Supervise and mentor pastry staff, including prep cooks and line cooks, to ensure consistency, quality, teamwork, and adherence to our culinary standards.
• Collaborate with the management team to establish and achieve culinary objectives, including revenue targets, food cost goals, and guest satisfaction metrics.
• Conduct regular pastry menu tastings, recipe testing, and quality control checks to ensure consistency, quality, and presentation of all dishes served at Hilltown.
• Foster a culture of culinary excellence, teamwork, and professionalism in the kitchen, providing leadership, guidance, and mentorship to culinary staff at all levels.
• Manage pastry/fresh pasta inventory levels, help control food costs, and optimize profitability through effective menu planning, portion control, and waste reduction strategies.
• Effectively utilize our BOH tech platform (Meez) to log recipes, food costs, inventory management, and build out and record our pastry and pasta program infrastructure.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Who You Are

• The ideal candidate will have at least 2+ years of pastry experience in top-quality kitchens, preferably in some type of leadership role. Experience with fresh pasta production and gelato production is a plus. 
• A thorough understanding of pastry methods, techniques and standards, and experience with high-volume pastry and dessert restaurant production methods.
• A team player who brings good energy and attention to detail.
• Candidates must have excellent interpersonal skills, be organized and proactive, with the ability to work well under pressure while maintaining Hilltown’s high standards.
• Someone warm, grounded, and generous—who understands that hospitality extends from the dining room into the kitchen.
• Comfortable stepping into a somewhat established pastry program and earning trust through consistency, humility, and care.
• Excited to be part of a growing, busy restaurant entering an expansive summer season.
• A collaborative leader who enjoys mentoring others and contributing to a healthy kitchen culture.
• Open to full and part-time schedules, and an ability to work weekends and holidays. Important note: this role is a daytime production role, and the pastry chef is never expected to be part of evening dinner service, or private event service. This role fits, generally, a 9am-5pm schedule, from Wednesday-Sunday (exact days and schedule to be mutually determined).

Requirements

• Valid food handler’s certification and all local health and safety requirements, including the Massachusetts Allergen Training Certificate.
• Must be able to stand and work for shifts of 8+ hours, and be able to move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 50 pounds without assistance, and move over sloping, uneven, or slippery surfaces. Must be able to reach overhead and below the knees, including bending, twisting, pulling, and stooping, and stand, sit, or walk for extended periods of time.
• Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

What We Offer

• Competitive wage, commensurate with experience, starting at $24/hr.
• A supportive, professional, passionate and joyful work environment.
• Opportunities to grow and learn alongside experienced chefs.
• Complimentary staff meals prepared daily, and dining and merch discounts for our team.
• A chance to continue on the legacy from our founding pastry chef, and continue to be part of a highly in-demand and successful restaurant opening.
• Working with a team that truly cares about our craft, each other, and our guests. 

Start Date: On or around February 8th, 2025.

Application Process: Candidates should send an email to with “Pastry Chef” in the subject line and include a resume, and a brief description of your interest in the role. 

Hilltown is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace in which everyone is welcomed, valued, and supported. Hilltown recruits, employs, compensates, and promotes without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic or family medical history, marital, parental, veteran or military status, unfavorable military discharge, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

More detail about Hilltown, please visit