Isabella Rodriguez
Milwaukee,WI
Summary
Professional kitchen management expert with comprehensive experience in leading culinary teams, ensuring high-quality food preparation, and maintaining kitchen efficiency. Strong focus on team collaboration, adaptable to changing needs, and dedicated to achieving operational excellence. Skilled in inventory management, scheduling, staff training, and maintaining health and safety standards. Reliable, results-driven, and prepared to make significant impact in any culinary environment.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Kitchen Manager
Beans and Barley
06.2021 - Current
- Delivered in-depth training to workers in food preparation and customer-facing roles to promote strong team performance.
- Delegated food preparation duties down to cooks and followed up with cooks to verify proper preparation and production of meals.
- Reviewed and analyzed kitchen performance to verify gaps and observe continuous improvement.
- Maintained a clean and safe work environment, adhering to all health department regulations and guidelines.
- Reduced food waste by closely monitoring inventory levels and implementing proper food storage techniques.
- Fostered a collaborative working environment among diverse teams of chefs, line cooks, prep cooks, dishwashers, and other support staff.
- Developed unique events and special promotions to drive sales.
- Maintained kitchen cleanliness and sanitation through correct procedures and scheduled cleaning of surfaces and equipment.
- Enhanced financial controls to minimize theft and loss risks, continuously maintaining accurate accounts and cash drawers.
- Maximized quality assurance by completing frequent line checks.
- Developed kitchen staff through training, disciplinary action, and performance reviews.
- Scheduled and received food and beverage deliveries, adhering to food cost and budget.
- Conducted daily checks of refrigerators and freezers to verify proper food storage, container labeling, and surface cleaning.
- Created and deployed successful strategies to boost restaurant performance, streamline food prep processes and reduce waste.
- Checked and tested foods to verify quality and temperature.
- Implemented innovative menu items that reflected current culinary trends, increasing both customer interest and repeat business.
- Increased overall profitability with effective budget management, including cost control strategies for purchasing and labor expenses.
- Collaborated with front-of-house staff to ensure seamless communication between the kitchen team and service areas for optimal guest experiences.
- Implemented and maintained food safety and sanitation standards to establish safe handling and preparation of food.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations for direct reports to help identify areas for improvement as well as recognizing successes and contributions.
- Utilized advanced culinary techniques to create visually appealing dishes that delighted guests while maintaining the highest of quality standards.
- Improved kitchen efficiency by implementing streamlined processes and optimizing staff scheduling.
- Mentored and trained new team members, fostering a positive culture of teamwork and collaboration within the kitchen staff.
- Contributed to a positive workplace culture by actively engaging with staff members, promoting open communication channels, and demonstrating support for ongoing professional development opportunities.
- Developed and implemented kitchen policies and procedures to establish clear guidelines for kitchen operations and comply with regulations.
- Designed and maintained menus to offer variety of high quality and consistency of dishes.
- Achieved rapid ticket times during peak service hours by effectively managing workflow distribution across various stations.
- Consistently met or exceeded local health department inspection requirements through diligent adherence to safety protocols and maintaining thorough documentation records.
- Calculated prices of ingredients to monitor food costs and control expenses.
- Developed creative daily specials using seasonal ingredients, incorporating fresh flavors into the menu rotation while minimizing costs associated with excess inventory stockpiling.
Front of House Employee
Riley’s Good Dogs
06.2021 - 12.2021
- Accurately operated cash register to process customer payments.
- Replenished condiments, beverages, and supplies while maintaining cleanliness of service areas.
- Readied customers' take-out orders in secure bags with appropriate amounts of condiments, silverware and napkins.
- Established welcoming atmosphere by greeting each guest warmly.
- Promoted an inclusive, respectful work environment by collaborating effectively with diverse colleagues and addressing any conflicts professionally.
- Increased guest return rate through personable interactions and genuine interest in their dining preferences.
- Managed phone lines, taking reservations, processing takeout orders, and addressing any customer concerns with professionalism.
- Contributed to team efficiency by promptly completing side work tasks during downtime periods.
- Maintained a clean and welcoming environment for guests, contributing to positive dining experiences.
- Monitored inventory levels for front of house supplies and communicated reordering needs to management proactively.
- Performed opening and closing duties diligently, ensuring the restaurant was ready for optimal operations each day.
- Performed serving, cleaning and stocking to high standards and provided excellent customer satisfaction.
Front of House Employee
Ian’s Pizza
05.2019 - 06.2021
- Accurately operated cash register to process customer payments.
- Checked on dining areas frequently to clean up spills, wipe down tables and restock stations.
- Replenished condiments, beverages, and supplies while maintaining cleanliness of service areas.
- Readied customers' take-out orders in secure bags with appropriate amounts of condiments, silverware and napkins.
- Properly labeled and stored food and fresh ingredients in cooler or freezer to optimize freshness.
- Established welcoming atmosphere by greeting each guest warmly.
- Reset tables between guests by restocking low items and wiping down surfaces.
- Promoted an inclusive, respectful work environment by collaborating effectively with diverse colleagues and addressing any conflicts professionally.
- Supported back of house staff by relaying guest feedback and coordinating special requests or dietary restrictions.
- Utilized point-of-sale systems effectively to process transactions accurately and maintain financial records.
- Balanced daily cash drawers accurately while adhering to proper cash handling procedures set forth by management.
- Participated in staff training sessions to stay updated on industry trends and improve overall service quality.
- Managed phone lines, taking reservations, processing takeout orders, and addressing any customer concerns with professionalism.
- Trained new front of house employees on company policies, menu knowledge, and customer service techniques for seamless integration into the team.
Sales Associate
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc
02.2015 - 10.2015
- Managed returns, exchanges and refunds in accordance with store policy.
- Minimized wait times for customers during peak hours, maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.
- Maintained accurate inventory records to ensure adequate stock levels, minimizing out-of-stock situations that could impact customer satisfaction.
- Rotated stock and restocked shelves to maintain product availability and store appearance.
- Built relationships with customers to encourage repeat business.
- Provided exceptional services and pleasant shopping experiences to retail customers.
- Monitored customers for signs of security concerns and escalated issues to management.
Education
Bachelor Of Applied Arts And Science - Environmental Biology
University of Milwaukee Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WISkills
- Multitasking and organization
- Customer service
- Food safety
- Inventory management
- Staff training and development
- Employee scheduling
- ServSafe certification
- Cost control
- New employee recruitment
- Policy and procedure enforcement
- Conflict resolution
- Food cost analysis
- Menu costing
Certification
- ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification - National Restaurant Association.
Timeline
Kitchen Manager
Beans and Barley
06.2021 - Current
Front of House Employee
Riley’s Good Dogs
06.2021 - 12.2021
Front of House Employee
Ian’s Pizza
05.2019 - 06.2021
Sales Associate
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc
02.2015 - 10.2015
Bachelor Of Applied Arts And Science - Environmental Biology
University of Milwaukee Wisconsin
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