Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Heather Merriken

Heather Merriken

Asbury Park,New Jersey

Summary

Private Chef with a passion for helping others live their best lives through the power of food. Client focused with extensive experience in world cuisine and dietary restrictions. Currently obtaining a Master of Science degree as a Professional Counselor. Looking forward to helping enrich the lives of others through counseling skills and therapeutic relationships.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

Private Chef

Heather Grace Catering
05.2022 - Current
  • Work closely with clients regarding their nutritional goals and implement menus and meals accordingly.
  • Prepare high-quality meals for clients with diverse palates, emphasizing the use of fresh, local ingredients.
  • Enhance client satisfaction by creating customized menus tailored to individual dietary needs and preferences.
  • Manage all aspects of meal planning, grocery shopping, and budgeting to ensure timely service delivery.
  • Increase repeat business through consistently providing exceptional services that exceeded client expectations.

Head Chef

Talula's
10.2021 - 05.2022
  • Led a team of 14 chefs, bakers, and support staff in the execution of a menu for a high-volume restaurant.
  • Schedule staffing, manage ordering and vendor relations, test and cost recipes.
  • Plan and execute specials, note and adjust strategy for key sales metrics.
  • Work in tandem with FOH team, problem solve, and manage morale daily.

Culinary Manager

Pure Grey For Marriott Global
03.2020 - 10.2020
  • Bespoke concept design for high-performing luxury brands such as St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott.
  • Supported development, preparation and deployment of culinary programs.
  • Balanced innovation and creativity with business goals to help achieve guest satisfaction and associate engagement metrics.

Caterer

Heather Grace Catering
03.2010 - 02.2020
  • Leveraged strong interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with diverse clientele regarding their unique needs and expectations.
  • Handled all business aspects including end to end proposal and delivery of event, hiring and training of staff, menu design and sourcing, timeline execution, client retention and new business acquisition, budget delivery, and overseeing and executing events seamlessly.
  • Built esteemed client roster including Apple, Sony, Estee Lauder and Annie Leibovitz with talent such as Rachel Weisz, Justin Timberlake, Martin Scorsese, and Beyoncé.
  • Established in-house chef contract with the world-renowned Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
  • Produced year over year growth by balancing consecutive film shoots at a time.

Catering Chef

Union Square Events
04.2010 - 03.2012
  • Selected as 1 of the team of 5 to cook and lead teams at SXSW film festival in Austin, TX.
  • Assigned as chef assistant to Floyd Cardoz and Sean Brock at The Big Apple BBQ.
  • Led canape chef team for attendees at The James Beard Awards at Lincoln Center.

Education

Master of Science - Professional Counseling

Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ
05.2024

Grande Diplome - Culinary Arts

The French Culinary Institute
New York, NY
03.2008

Bachelor of Arts - Film

Emerson College
Boston, MA
05.2005

Skills

  • Project and event management
  • Recipe costing and development
  • Budgeting and forecasting
  • Organization of processes
  • Business administration
  • Team collaboration
  • Communication management
  • Social media management
  • Vendor relationships
  • Client satisfaction and retention

Accomplishments

  • Education Volunteer: IVHQ, Nepal
  • Culinary Internship: America’s Test Kitchen, Boston, MA
  • 200 Hr. Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training: Abhyasa Yoga, Brooklyn, NY
  • Chef Volunteer: Wellness in the Schools, New York, NY
  • Global Village Volunteer: Habitat for Humanity, Nepal
  • Writer: Published in Country Comfort Series Holidays Cookbook and Harvest Cookbook
  • Producer of several films played at festivals including Tribeca Film Festival [see IMDB]

Timeline

Private Chef

Heather Grace Catering
05.2022 - Current

Head Chef

Talula's
10.2021 - 05.2022

Culinary Manager

Pure Grey For Marriott Global
03.2020 - 10.2020

Catering Chef

Union Square Events
04.2010 - 03.2012

Caterer

Heather Grace Catering
03.2010 - 02.2020

Master of Science - Professional Counseling

Monmouth University

Grande Diplome - Culinary Arts

The French Culinary Institute

Bachelor of Arts - Film

Emerson College

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Heather Merriken