Destiny Respess
Portland,OR
Summary
Energetic Chef Manager known for building dynamic culinary teams and being an effective recruiter and mentor. Offering outstanding inventory control, menu planning, and budget oversight. Creative in all cuisines to offer clientele varied options, while still utilizing product on hand.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Skilled Nursing Chef
Prestige Senior Living-Portland, Oregon
08.2023 - Current
- Successfully adapted to strict dietary needs in a skilled nursing facility of 68 max capacity
- Earned several patients' trust to focus and understand not only their restrictions, but their likes.
Head Line Cook
Moda Center Levy Restaurant Group
08.2022 - 01.2023
- Cooked for 'Courtside' at the Moda Center, during Trailblazers games
- Although the menu was very small so to get folks to there seats in time for games, there was a great amount of focus on quality
Executive Chef
Alaskan Dream Cruises LTD. - Sitka, Alaska
04.2022 - 08.2022
- Oversaw three vessels for a seasonal (April to September) company and did the ordering for all of them as well
- Willingly and quickly adapted to the fast pace industry when chefs were dismissed, and gap(s) were filled.
Memory Care Chef
Searstone Retirement and Memory Care - Raleigh, NC
04.2021 - 04.2022
- Worked diligently with Dietician to prepare, plan, order and organize meals for each resident, to ensure proper diet is met.
Chef
Spring Arbor Retirement (HHHunt) - Raleigh, NC
09.2020 - 05.2021
- Prepared three meal periods and coincided with different departments to organize menus that were appropriate for the cuisine and dietary specifications.
Executive Chef/Owner
FIYA Restaurant and Guesthouse - West Indies
01.2019 - 12.2020
- Purchased and renovated a small waterfront property with four guest rooms upstairs and a relaxed casual restaurant downstairs
- Wednesday through Saturday was fine dining cuisine and altered into a busy nightclub after hours
- Achieved almost $750,000 in the first two quarters.
Executive and Opening Chef
The Tavern at Cypress Creek Golf and Country - Smithfield, VA
01.2020 - 08.2020
- Transformed a run down, closed and nearly dilapidated country club into a high end, prestigious golf club
- Along with celebrity clientele, it boasted a four star restaurant in an affluent neighborhood
- Collected up to 500 members in the first season.
Executive Chef
The Café at Books and Books - Miami, FL
11.2018 - 12.2019
- Adamantly reconnected the brand to its old reputation in a short time to get the historical landmark up to its once famous name
- Gainfully and respectfully through marketing, hiring, event coordinating and press with high end but true to its original flavor cuisine.
Senior Sous Chef
Yardbird - Miami Beach, FL
11.2017 - 11.2018
- Sous Chef at this famous Miami Beach home store by adhering to the brand and constantly rebranding itself
- As the mother of all of its other restaurants, it boasted $14.3 million in its first year, setting the standard to all of the other locations
- Consistency was the largest and most important attribute to this mammoth operation.
Sous Chef
Fontainbleau Hotel - Miami Beach, FL
07.2016 - 11.2017
- Successfully managed a union of over 200 cooks in this monumental landmark built in 1957
- Responsible for five outlets including Vida, the only three meal a day restaurant in the hotel and did on average $23 Million a year
- Singlehandedly led a team and raised brunch from 'OpenTable.com' number 54 to number 9 in a few short weeks.
Senior Sales Representative
Cheney Brothers Inc. - Palm Beach, FL
01.2012 - 07.2015
- Achieved a sales and service education through constantly utilizing brokers and specialists to adhere to the name and build each business from every aspect.
Education
A.A.S. in Culinary Arts -
Johnson and Wales University
Norfolk, VA01.2002
Western Branch High School
Chesapeake, VA01.2000
Skills
- Leadership through teaching and experience
- Proficient in strict dietary specifications
- Proven Sales and Productivity Consistency
- Team Management/Team building
- Banquet Production
- Food production
- Banquet experience
- Knife Skills
- Kitchen Management
- Recipes and menu planning
- Workflow Optimization
- Staff Coordination
- Menu development
- Portion and cost control
- Menu Planning
- Recipe Development
- Cost Control
- Menu Supervision
- Forecasting and planning
- Complex Problem-Solving
Timeline
Skilled Nursing Chef
Prestige Senior Living-Portland, Oregon
08.2023 - Current
Head Line Cook
Moda Center Levy Restaurant Group
08.2022 - 01.2023
Executive Chef
Alaskan Dream Cruises LTD. - Sitka, Alaska
04.2022 - 08.2022
Memory Care Chef
Searstone Retirement and Memory Care - Raleigh, NC
04.2021 - 04.2022
Chef
Spring Arbor Retirement (HHHunt) - Raleigh, NC
09.2020 - 05.2021
Executive and Opening Chef
The Tavern at Cypress Creek Golf and Country - Smithfield, VA
01.2020 - 08.2020
Executive Chef/Owner
FIYA Restaurant and Guesthouse - West Indies
01.2019 - 12.2020
Executive Chef
The Café at Books and Books - Miami, FL
11.2018 - 12.2019
Senior Sous Chef
Yardbird - Miami Beach, FL
11.2017 - 11.2018
Sous Chef
Fontainbleau Hotel - Miami Beach, FL
07.2016 - 11.2017
Senior Sales Representative
Cheney Brothers Inc. - Palm Beach, FL
01.2012 - 07.2015
A.A.S. in Culinary Arts -
Johnson and Wales University
Western Branch High School
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