David Walton
Santa Cruz,CA
Summary
Dedicated restaurant cook with extensive experience in high-pressure kitchen settings. Proven expertise in mastering new recipes and culinary techniques while upholding exceptional standards of food quality and hygiene. Recognized for contributions to menu development and optimizing kitchen workflows, significantly improving customer dining experiences. Strong collaborator skilled in ensuring timely order delivery amidst fast-paced environments.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Line Cook
East End Gastropub
Capitola, CA
08.2023 - 01.2025
- Operated various kitchen appliance such as a blender, oven, grill, or stand mixer.
- Washed and peeled ingredients to prepare for different meals and recipes.
- Managed multiple tasks simultaneously while remaining organized in a fast-paced environment.
- Chopped vegetables and seasoned meats and fish in preparation for grilling, sautéing and braising.
- Helped other staff members complete job tasks during peak times to keep kitchen running efficiently.
- Organized the storage area to ensure that all necessary items were readily accessible.
- Ensured that all dishes were prepared according to recipe specifications.
- Restocked food items throughout shift to prepare necessary ingredients for cooking and timely service.
Lead Cook
Humble Sea Brewery
Felton, CA
05.2022 - 06.2023
- Trained new chefs on menu items and kitchen procedures.
- Prepared garnishes for later use in meal production.
- Trained and supervised line cooks to develop new skills and improve team performance.
- Retained consistent quality and high accuracy when preparing identical dishes every day.
- Collaborated with management team to develop new recipes and update existing ones in order to improve the overall dining experience.
- Fostered a collaborative and respectful kitchen environment, promoting team cohesion.
- Served as lead cook, guiding and assisting training of less experienced cooks.
- Followed "first in, first out" rule with every food and beverage item, tossing outdated and expired food products.
- Cleaned and sanitized work stations and equipment, complying with regulatory procedures.
- Provided guidance during meal rushes in order to maintain an organized workflow within the kitchen area.
- Washed, sliced, peeled and cut various foods to prepare for cooking or serving.
Assistant Kitchen Manager
PourTaproom
Santa Cruz, CA
05.2018 - 08.2020
- Supervised activities of dining room staff to maintain service levels and support guest needs.
- Assisted staff by serving food and beverages or bussing tables.
- Trained new employees to perform duties.
- Participated in annual vendor negotiations which resulted in significant cost savings for the organization.
- Maximized team performance by training new employees on proper food handling and restaurant protocols.
- Oversaw meal preparation and monitored food handling to encourage safety.
- Consistently maintained high levels of cleanliness, organization, storage and sanitation of food and beverage products to ensure quality.
- Kept kitchen equipment properly functioning by following manufacturer's operating instructions and educating staff on proper use.
- Organized inventory and placed orders for food, equipment, and supplies to maintain appropriate stock levels.
- Assisted with the hiring, training and supervision of kitchen staff.
- Trained employees on cooking techniques, safety standards and performance strategies.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
- Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
- Conducted daily pre-shift meetings to review menu changes, special requests, and upsell opportunities with waitstaff.
- Facilitated communication between front-of-house staff and back-of-house staff on a daily basis.
Education
Music
Cabrillo College
Aptos, CASkills
- Food rotation
- Food presentation
- Ingredient inspection
- Recipe preparation
- Prep work
- Portioning
- Professional attitude
- Line station oversight
- Cleaning and organization
- Following cooking methods
- Recipe adaptation
- Line management
- Sautéing techniques
- Salad preparation
- Deep fryer operation
- Kitchen sanitization
- Team coordination
- Active listener
- Food safety
- Recipe creation
Timeline
Line Cook
East End Gastropub
08.2023 - 01.2025
Lead Cook
Humble Sea Brewery
05.2022 - 06.2023
Assistant Kitchen Manager
PourTaproom
05.2018 - 08.2020
Music
Cabrillo College
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