Andy Alexander Novoa Alvarado

I started in the kitchen from the ground up as a prep assistant and dishwasher. From day one, I learned quickly and, about every four months, I moved up through different stations and roles, including prep, private events assistant, garde manger (brunch and dinner), sauté (brunch and dinner at different levels), grill, expo, middle, and higher-responsibility positions on the line.

Throughout that journey, I focused not only on improving my culinary skills but also on supporting the team. I trained new cooks on techniques, recipes, and safety standards, helped maintain organized inventory and properly stocked stations, and ensured everything was set up for efficient service.

I worked in a fast-paced environment where communication with both the kitchen team and front-of-house staff was essential for smooth service. I was responsible for checking food quality, presentation, and cooking temperatures before dishes were served, consistently maintaining high standards.

Additionally, I contributed to keeping the kitchen clean and organized by following all health and safety regulations. I assisted in resolving issues, including customer concerns, and helped improve team performance through a positive and professional attitude.

Overall, I continuously grew within the kitchen, developing both technical skills and leadership, always focused on quality, efficiency, and teamwork

I worked there for a couple of months because during that time the kitchen at Waterman Grille caught fire. We had two options: either not work or move to another location while the kitchen was being renovated. I chose to work at a different place so I could learn new things and work with different people, which helped me improve my organization, adaptability, strategy, and communication skills.

• Prepared high-quality meats using traditional Brazilian grilling techniques.
• Maintained cleanliness and organization of work areas throughout shifts.
• Collaborated with team members to coordinate dining service flow.
• Cooked multiple orders simultaneously during busy periods.
• Prepared dishes in fast-paced environment working with teammates to maintain high customer satisfaction rate.
• Set up workstations with needed ingredients, utensils and cooking equipment.