New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is looking to hire a new chef for Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor. The job posting seeks an individual with a flair for South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine to prepare meals for the mayor, his family, and guests.
The salary for the position is set at $64,500 per year. The role, listed as "Cook," is part of the kitchen staff reporting to the Senior Executive Chef and is responsible for preparing and serving meals for daily service, events, and official functions.
Key requirements for the position include maintaining strict confidentiality regarding the mayor, his family, household operations, and guests. The ideal candidate must possess experience with multiple cuisines, with a specific emphasis on South Asian and Middle Eastern dishes. While specific menu items were not detailed, Mamdani has previously expressed a liking for dishes such as biryani, paan, and lamb adana laffa.
This hiring comes as the administration looks to replace a previous cook who departed for a restaurant opportunity. The existing five-member kitchen crew, led by Executive Chef Feliberto Estevez, served under previous mayors Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams. Mamdani confirmed in June that he was retaining Estevez, noting changes in the kitchen included the reintroduction of meat and a ban on pork and his predecessor's signature green smoothies.
Beyond culinary skills, the candidate should have at least three years of professional experience, strong knife skills, and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds. Adaptability to shifting kitchen demands and a fully flexible schedule, including days, nights, weekends, holidays, and potential short-notice shifts, are also expected.
The salary offered for this position is reported to be above the average rate for similar roles in the city, according to Salary Expert. For comparison, a senior cook position with the city Department of Correction has a maximum salary of $52,242. Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, celebrated his election victory in November with an aloo dum lunch alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.