Chela Mcilwain
Detroit,MI
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Cook
Little Ceasars Arena
Detroit, MI
12.2023 - Current
- Maintained clean and organized work areas at all times to bring safety and quality to food preparation process.
- Maintained a clean and sanitary workspace, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Prepared meals efficiently under time constraints for timely service during peak hours.
- Demonstrated strong multitasking skills, managing multiple orders simultaneously without sacrificing quality or presentation.
- Prepared food items in compliance with recipes and portioning control guidelines.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches, and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
- Contributed to positive guest experiences by accommodating special dietary needs and requests.
- Showcased excellent knife skills for precise cutting and preparation of various ingredients.
- Developed and maintained clean and organized kitchen workspace, setting standard for team.
- Improved meal presentation with innovative plating techniques, enhancing overall customer satisfaction.
- Adapted quickly to menu changes and customer requests, demonstrating flexibility and problem-solving skills.
- Fostered culture of teamwork and communication within kitchen, leading to improved efficiency.
Cook
Pines of Bluffton
Beaufort, SC
07.2020 - 01.2023
- Prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner for the residential community
- Provide a dessert after lunch and dinner
- Prepare special order meals for some residents
- Clean my area
- Take food temp
- Help with truck orders
- Prepare cheese and cracker tray for happy hour
- Carried pans and trays of food to and from work stations, stove and refrigerator.
- Operated ovens, fryers and mixers safely to prevent kitchen accidents and machinery malfunction.
- Set up and performed initial prep work for soups, sauces and salads.
- Retained consistent quality and high accuracy when preparing identical dishes every day.
- Chopped, diced and sliced vegetables and fruit ahead of rush periods.
- Enforced proper sanitation practices to prevent spoiling or contamination of foods.
- Replenished food items from inventory and rotated ingredients.
- Grilled and deep fried various foods from meats to potatoes.
- Maintained safe operations of food prep equipment to reduce complications and retain safety procedures.
- Interacted with waitstaff regarding special orders for customers with food allergies and gluten intolerance.
- Regulated oven, broiler and roaster operations for cooking at correct temperatures.
- Wrapped, dated and labeled food items in storage for safety and freshness.
- Followed established procedures and requirements for safe food handling, storage and service.
- Managed portion control using correct utensils during preparation and plating.
- Used standardized recipes and other instructions to prepare food.
- Prepared and served meals by reviewing recipes and combining and cooking ingredients.
- Prepared dishes in fast-paced environment working with teammates to maintain high customer satisfaction rate.
Cook
Bloom At Belfair
Beaufort, SC
02.2018 - 07.2020
- Carried pans and trays of food to and from work stations, stove and refrigerator.
- Operated ovens, fryers and mixers safely to prevent kitchen accidents and machinery malfunction.
- Set up and performed initial prep work for soups, sauces and salads.
- Retained consistent quality and high accuracy when preparing identical dishes every day.
- Chopped, diced and sliced vegetables and fruit ahead of rush periods.
- Grilled and deep fried various foods from meats to potatoes.
- Enforced proper sanitation practices to prevent spoiling or contamination of foods.
- Replenished food items from inventory and rotated ingredients.
- Maintained safe operations of food prep equipment to reduce complications and retain safety procedures.
- Interacted with waitstaff regarding special orders for customers with food allergies and gluten intolerance.
- Regulated oven, broiler and roaster operations for cooking at correct temperatures.
- Trained, managed and guided kitchen staff to improve overall performance, service quality and productivity.
- Wrapped, dated and labeled food items in storage for safety and freshness.
- Followed established procedures and requirements for safe food handling, storage and service.
- Took inventory counts before and after shifts to complete food inventory or storage sheets.
- Operated grills, fryers and broilers to cook items to quality guidelines.
- Managed portion control using correct utensils during preparation and plating.
- Prepared and served meals by reviewing recipes and combining and cooking ingredients.
- Used standardized recipes and other instructions to prepare food.
- Prepared dishes in fast-paced environment working with teammates to maintain high customer satisfaction rate.
- Coordinated orders to expedite food from kitchen according to cook time and delivery time.
Education
No Degree - Computer Engineering
Benedict College
Columbia, SCSkills
- Cutting and slicing techniques
- Dish preparation
- Contemporary sauce work
- Fine Dining
- Food presentation
- Focused and discipline
- Equipment cleaning and maintenance
- Recipe preparation
- Foodservice sanitation
- Effective prioritization
- Team-oriented
- High volume production capability
- Hospitality and service industry background
- Customer service
- Kitchen organization
- Ingredient knowledge
- Positive and professional
- ServSafe certified
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Food handler certification
Certification
*Serve safe ( food protection manager)
*Serve safe acohol( course and primary manager)
*Certified Hospitality Supervisor certification
*American hotel and lodging association
(Certified guest services perfessional
Timeline
Cook
Little Ceasars Arena
12.2023 - Current
Cook
Pines of Bluffton
07.2020 - 01.2023
Cook
Bloom At Belfair
02.2018 - 07.2020
No Degree - Computer Engineering
Benedict College