Elizabeth Zavala
930 S BIRCH SANTA ANA,CA
Summary
Accomplished culinary professional with over 9 years of progressive experience at PF Chang’s, including leadership of 22+ kitchen employees in high-volume environments serving 300+ guests daily. Trusted leader selected to assist in opening a new restaurant location and deployed to support underperforming locations to improve operations. Strong expertise in staff hiring, training, cost control, waste reduction, and maintaining exceptional culinary standards.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Line Leader/Sous Chef
PF Changs Restaurant
06.2017 - Current
- Selected to assist in the successful opening of a new PF Chang’s location, supporting kitchen setup, staff training, and operational execution.
- Deployed to multiple locations to support operations, improve workflow efficiency, and maintain brand standards.
- Successfully managed $30K sales days independently while maintaining low ticket times and operational efficiency.
- Conduct interviews and participate in hiring decisions to build strong, high-performing kitchen teams.
- Train, mentor, and evaluate staff to ensure performance consistency and productivity.
- Partner with Executive Chef to manage scheduling, inventory ordering, and labor cost control.
- Implement waste reduction strategies that lowered food waste and improved overall cost efficiency.
- Enforce strict food safety and sanitation standards to ensure full compliance with health regulations.
- Trained and mentored team members on best practices in food preparation and customer service.
- Supervised daily operations to ensure efficient workflow and adherence to quality standards.
- Directed line operations during peak service, ensuring smooth workflow and timely ticket execution.
- Trained and onboarded new cooks on recipes, station setup, and plating standards.
- Maintained quality control across multiple stations in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
- Assisted in prep planning and coordinated daily production to support high-volume service.
- Implemented inventory management procedures, ensuring availability of essential ingredients and supplies.
Dishwasher
Downtown Disney
06.2023 - 07.2024
- Operated industrial dishwashing equipment to ensure efficient cleaning processes.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of kitchen and dishwashing areas to uphold health standards.
- Collaborated with kitchen staff to streamline workflow and enhance service efficiency.
- Trained new team members on proper dishwashing techniques and safety protocols.
- Inspected dishes, utensils, and cookware for quality assurance before distribution to dining areas.
- Assisted in maintaining a positive work environment through effective teamwork and communication skills.
- Kept kitchen areas neat and clean by removing trash and organizing supplies.
- Followed supervisor instructions to complete tasks on time.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work
California State University
CA09-2023
Skills
- Team Leadership & Staff Supervision
- Interviewing & Hiring
- Staff Training & Performance Development
- High-Volume Kitchen Operations
- Food & Labor Cost Control
- Waste Reduction Strategies
- Inventory Management & Ordering
- Strong operational knowledge
- Operational control
- Speed efficiency
- Revenue responsibility
- Strong leadership under pressure
Certification
ServSafe Certified
Food Handler Certification
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Dishwasher
Downtown Disney
06.2023 - 07.2024
Line Leader/Sous Chef
PF Changs Restaurant
06.2017 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work
California State University