David Woodrum
Cook
Columbus,OH
Summary
Energetic culinary professional with a blend of creativity, passion for food and exceptional cooking skills. Works well as a passionate, creative and flexible leader who has a desire to embrace life and strive for excellence in everyday living.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Gourmet Chef
Market District
01.2024 - Current
- Fostered a positive working atmosphere within the kitchen team, promoting open communication and teamwork to ensure smooth operations during service periods.
- Achieved consistent compliance with food safety regulations by maintaining a clean and organized kitchen environment.
- Participated in industry events such as food festivals and charity dinners to showcase culinary expertise while supporting community initiatives.
- Upheld high standards for food presentation, creating visually appealing plates that enhanced the overall dining experience for guests.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by consistently providing high-quality gourmet dishes using fresh and locally-sourced ingredients.
- Reduced food waste by implementing creative daily specials utilizing excess ingredients from previous services or surplus inventory items.
Chef
Dublin Retirement Village
01.2024 - 04.2025
- Oversaw grill, stove, and oven, and cleaned equipment after every shift.
- Checked freezer and refrigerator prior to each shift to verify correct temperatures.
- Maintained well-organized mise en place to keep work consistent.
- Placed orders to restock items before supplies ran out.
Assistant Team Leader Prepared Foods
Market District
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Managed day-to-day operations of the department, ensuring smooth functioning of all administrative tasks related to staff scheduling, resource allocation, and workload distribution.
- Provided ongoing coaching and mentoring to junior staff members, fostering their professional growth and career advancement opportunities.
- Created staff schedules, approved requested time off and updated reports.
Lead Cook
Dublin Retirement Village at Senior Star
09.2020 - 01.2023
- Efficiently handled high-volume orders while maintaining superior food quality through precise execution of cooking methods.
- Maintained a high standard of food quality by consistently reviewing dishes for taste, presentation, and adherence to established guidelines.
- Took over line positions in event of emergency.
- Enhanced kitchen efficiency by streamlining cooking processes and implementing time-saving techniques.
Cook
Dublin Assisted Living & Memory Support by Senior Star
6 2016 - 09.2020
- Practice safe food handling procedures at all times.
- Positively engage with residents, offering menu information, providing suggestions and showing genuine appreciation.
- Cook and serve food and meals in accordance with planned menus, diet plans, recipes, portions, temperature control procedures and facility policies.
- Change and sanitize all cutting boards, benches and surfaces when beginning a new task to avoid cross-contamination.
- Properly label and store all raw food ingredients including produce, meat, fish, poultry, dairy and dry goods in the appropriate storage room, walk-in refrigerator, freezer or cooler.
- Maintain smooth and timely operations in preparation and delivery of meals and kitchen sanitation.
- Active in cost control, sanitation, menu development, training, recruitment, dining and catering.
- Oversaw and directed kitchen staff of 19 and individual position assignments.
- Managed kitchen staff by recruiting, selecting, hiring, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, supervising, evaluating and enforcing discipline when necessary.
- Successfully reduced the restaurant’s annual food and labor costs by [Number] % through proper budgeting, scheduling and management of inventory.
- Instructed new staff in proper food preparation, food storage, use of kitchen equipment and utensils, sanitation and safety issues.
- Led shifts while personally preparing food items and executing requests based on required specifications.
- Practiced safe food handling procedures at all times.
- Inspected kitchens to observe food preparation quality and service, food appearance and cleanliness of production and service areas.
Prepared Foods Team Member
DUBLIN MARKET DISTRICT
06.2013 - 07.2017
- Maintain high standards of customer service during high-volume, fast-paced operations.
- Cross-train and coordinate scheduling with team members to ensure seamless service.
- Prepare specialty foods such as pizzas, sandwiches and asian cuisine following specific methods that require quick prep time.
- Handle currency and credit transactions quickly and accurately.
- Follow food safety procedures according to company policies and health and sanitation regulations.
- Cook and package large batches of food that were prepared to order or kept hot until needed.
- Build loyal clientele through friendly interactions and consistent appreciation.
Cook Helper
Brookside Golf & Country Club
12.2014 - 05.2015
- Meet production requirements for all aspects of banquet and catering events.
- Achieve and exceed performance, budget and team goals.
- Maintain smooth and timely operations in preparation and delivery of meals and kitchen sanitation.
- Plan special menus for in-house special events and catering.
- Prepare food items consistently and in compliance with recipes, portioning, cooking and waste control guidelines.
- Reduce food costs by using seasonal ingredients, setting standards for portion size and minimizing waste.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY
Columbus Culinary Institute
Columbus, OHAssociate of Science - Agronomy, Golf Course Management
The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
Wooster, OhioSkills
- Strong attention to safe food handling procedures
- High volume cooking techniques
- Institutional - batch cooking
- Food presentation talent
- Multitasking
- Quality control
- Passionate, creative, flexible leader
- Innovative - adaptive
- Positive thinking
- Time management - organization
- Team player
- Problem - resolution
- Empathetic listening
- Effective communications
Timeline
Gourmet Chef
Market District
01.2024 - Current
Chef
Dublin Retirement Village
01.2024 - 04.2025
Assistant Team Leader Prepared Foods
Market District
01.2023 - 01.2024
Lead Cook
Dublin Retirement Village at Senior Star
09.2020 - 01.2023
Cook Helper
Brookside Golf & Country Club
12.2014 - 05.2015
Prepared Foods Team Member
DUBLIN MARKET DISTRICT
06.2013 - 07.2017
Associate of Science - Agronomy, Golf Course Management
The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
Associate of Applied Science - CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY
Columbus Culinary Institute
Cook
Dublin Assisted Living & Memory Support by Senior Star
6 2016 - 09.2020
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