Christopher Fida
Claymont,DE
Summary
Top-notch professional with expertise in menu development, kitchen management and staff training. Creates unique and delicious dishes while controlling food and labor costs. Collaborative and committed to seeking feedback from customers and staff to improve kitchen workflows.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
9
9
Certifications
Work History
Sous Chef
Merrill Gardens at Glen Mills
Glen Mills , PA
2017.11 - 2023.12
- Make daily specials
- Prep, cook, and serve food to residents in accordance to state and company standards
- Manage staff for dinner services and any events/parties
- Prevented cross-contamination from utensils, surfaces, and pans when cooking and plating meals for food allergy sufferers.
- Mentored kitchen staff to prepare each for demanding roles.
- Initiated training for new team members on culinary techniques to improve productivity and increase kitchen workflows.
- Acted as head chef when required to maintain continuity of service and quality.
- Monitored food and labor costs to verify budget targets were met.
- Developed full, tasting and special events menus to meet establishment needs and maintain strong customer levels.
- Led daily staff meetings to communicate expectations and review safety procedures.
- Trained kitchen staff to perform various preparation tasks under pressure.
- Coordinated with vendors to order supplies and maintain high quality standards.
- Monitored food production to verify quality and consistency.
- Trained and managed kitchen personnel and supervised related culinary activity.
- Set up and broke down kitchen for service.
- Developed new recipes and flavor combinations to enhance customer dining experience.
- Developed and remained accountable for safety, quality, consistency and adherence to standards.
- Modified recipes to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies.
- Coordinated with team members to prepare orders on time.
- Maintained high food quality standards by checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
- Worked closely with front-of-house staff to facilitate excellent customer service.
- Participated in food tastings and taste tests.
- Assisted with menu development and planning.
- Oversaw scheduling, inventory management, and supply ordering to maintain fully stocked kitchen.
- Implemented food cost and waste reduction initiatives to save money.
- Disciplined and dedicated to meeting high-quality standards.
- Trained and mentored new staff members in kitchen safety, sanitation and cooking techniques.
- Evaluated food products to verify freshness and quality.
Lead Cook
Ruby's Diner
Mills , PA
2017.07 - 2017.12
- Write FOH schedules
- Run Expo
- Take care of any and all customers' needs
- Work the hot line or as a server if needed
- Coordinate with other supervisors for new specials and/or any disciplinary actions
Food Service Coordinator
Arden Courts
Wilmington , DE
2016.06 - 2017.01
- Writing staff schedules, cleaning schedules, and inventory control sheets
- Purchasing, receiving, and proper storage of food
- Manage staff
- Organize & run holiday events
- Preparing residents' meals (in accordance with corporate and state guidelines)
Banquet Sous Chef
Caesar's Entertainment, Horseshoe Casino
Baltimore , MD
2014.07 - 2015.09
- Create recipes and menus for employee dining room and banquets
- Lead a team of 22 staff members
- Train new cooks
- Coordinate all banquets
- Planned and directed high-volume food preparation in fast-paced environment.
- Supervised kitchen staff both in restaurant and for catering work.
- Plated every dish with attractive flair to meet strict restaurant standards and maintain stellar business reputation.
- Implemented successful cross-marketing strategies such as food and wine pairings.
- Acted as head chef when required to maintain continuity of service and quality.
- Collaborated with staff members to create meals for large banquets.
- Initiated training for new team members on culinary techniques to improve productivity and increase kitchen workflows.
- Prevented cross-contamination from utensils, surfaces, and pans when cooking and plating meals for food allergy sufferers.
- Mentored kitchen staff to prepare each for demanding roles.
- Obtained fresh, local ingredients to improve dish flavors and limit grocery costs.
- Trained kitchen staff to perform various preparation tasks under pressure.
- Monitored food and labor costs to verify budget targets were met.
- Coordinated with vendors to order supplies and maintain high quality standards.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of current culinary trends and techniques.
- Developed full, tasting and special events menus to meet establishment needs and maintain strong customer levels.
- Planned promotional menu additions based on seasonal pricing and product availability.
- Led daily staff meetings to communicate expectations and review safety procedures.
- Modernized work processes to reduce guest wait times and boost daily output.
- Developed close relationships with suppliers to source best ingredients.
- Disciplined and dedicated to meeting high-quality standards.
- Utilized culinary techniques to create visually appealing dishes.
- Evaluated food products to verify freshness and quality.
- Maintained high food quality standards by checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
- Set up and broke down kitchen for service.
- Participated in food tastings and taste tests.
- Trained and mentored new staff members in kitchen safety, sanitation and cooking techniques.
- Assisted with menu development and planning.
- Monitored food production to verify quality and consistency.
- Developed and remained accountable for safety, quality, consistency and adherence to standards.
- Developed new recipes and flavor combinations to enhance customer dining experience.
- Coordinated with team members to prepare orders on time.
- Modified recipes to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies.
- Implemented food cost and waste reduction initiatives to save money.
- Oversaw scheduling, inventory management, and supply ordering to maintain fully stocked kitchen.
- Trained and managed kitchen personnel and supervised related culinary activity.
- Worked closely with front-of-house staff to facilitate excellent customer service.
Sous Chef
Caesars Entertainment
Chester , PA
2008.03 - 2014.07
- Worked in a variety of restaurant outlets
- Trained new cooks
- Handled employee - union issues
- Redesigned steakhouse menu
- Prevented cross-contamination from utensils, surfaces, and pans when cooking and plating meals for food allergy sufferers.
- Mentored kitchen staff to prepare each for demanding roles.
- Initiated training for new team members on culinary techniques to improve productivity and increase kitchen workflows.
- Acted as head chef when required to maintain continuity of service and quality.
- Planned and directed high-volume food preparation in fast-paced environment.
- Plated every dish with attractive flair to meet strict restaurant standards and maintain stellar business reputation.
- Collaborated with staff members to create meals for large banquets.
- Monitored food and labor costs to verify budget targets were met.
- Developed full, tasting and special events menus to meet establishment needs and maintain strong customer levels.
- Led daily staff meetings to communicate expectations and review safety procedures.
- Obtained fresh, local ingredients to improve dish flavors and limit grocery costs.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of current culinary trends and techniques.
- Trained kitchen staff to perform various preparation tasks under pressure.
- Coordinated with vendors to order supplies and maintain high quality standards.
- Modernized work processes to reduce guest wait times and boost daily output.
- Planned promotional menu additions based on seasonal pricing and product availability.
- Monitored food production to verify quality and consistency.
- Trained and managed kitchen personnel and supervised related culinary activity.
- Set up and broke down kitchen for service.
- Developed new recipes and flavor combinations to enhance customer dining experience.
- Developed and remained accountable for safety, quality, consistency and adherence to standards.
- Modified recipes to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies.
- Coordinated with team members to prepare orders on time.
- Maintained high food quality standards by checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
- Worked closely with front-of-house staff to facilitate excellent customer service.
- Participated in food tastings and taste tests.
- Assisted with menu development and planning.
- Oversaw scheduling, inventory management, and supply ordering to maintain fully stocked kitchen.
- Utilized culinary techniques to create visually appealing dishes.
- Implemented food cost and waste reduction initiatives to save money.
- Disciplined and dedicated to meeting high-quality standards.
- Implemented successful cross-marketing strategies such as food and wine pairings.
- Trained and mentored new staff members in kitchen safety, sanitation and cooking techniques.
- Evaluated food products to verify freshness and quality.
- Developed close relationships with suppliers to source best ingredients.
Education
Associate - Culinary Arts
Johnson & Wales University
Charlotte, NC 2005.04 - 5 2008
Skills
Banquet Experienceundefined
Certification
Culinary (10+ years)
Timeline
Sous Chef
Merrill Gardens at Glen Mills
2017.11 - 2023.12
Lead Cook
Ruby's Diner
2017.07 - 2017.12
Food Service Coordinator
Arden Courts
2016.06 - 2017.01
Banquet Sous Chef
Caesar's Entertainment, Horseshoe Casino
2014.07 - 2015.09
Sous Chef
Caesars Entertainment
2008.03 - 2014.07
Associate - Culinary Arts
Johnson & Wales University
2005.04 - 5 2008
Culinary (10+ years)
Food Service (10+ years)
Grill (10+ years)
Fast Food (4 years)
POS (10+ years)
Kitchen (10+ years)
Line cook (10+ years)
Baking (6 years)
Cooking (10+ years)
Similar Profiles
Aamir AndrewsAamir Andrews
Server Lead at Merrill GardensServer Lead at Merrill Gardens
Beatriz InterianoBeatriz Interiano
Caregiver at Merrill GardensCaregiver at Merrill Gardens
Thomas James WanyoikeThomas James Wanyoike
Patient Care Nurse Assistant at Merrill GardensPatient Care Nurse Assistant at Merrill Gardens