Jermaine Smith

Senior Kitchen Manager

Coopershawk Winery & Restaurants

10.2015 - Current

Consistently met or exceeded budget targets by closely monitoring expenses and making strategic adjustments as needed.
Maintained a professional and organized kitchen, ensuring that all staff members adhered to established safety and sanitation protocols.
Collaborated with front-of-house staff to ensure seamless coordination between the kitchen and dining areas.
Streamlined ordering processes to reduce delivery errors from vendors while staying within established budgets.
Implemented rigorous safety and sanitation protocols, ensuring compliance with local health department regulations.
Managed employee scheduling to maintain optimal staffing levels during peak business hours while minimizing labor costs.
Mentored junior chefs in advanced culinary techniques, fostering a collaborative learning environment within the kitchen team.
Facilitated effective communication within the kitchen team, addressing concerns promptly and fostering a positive work atmosphere.
Fostered a culture of continuous improvement by regularly soliciting feedback from staff members about potential improvements to operations.
Reduced food waste through careful inventory management and creative menu planning.
Developed a strong team of culinary professionals through ongoing coaching, training, and mentoring.
Elevated guest satisfaction by maintaining high standards of food quality and presentation.
Regularly reviewed performance metrics to identify opportunities for continuous improvement in the areas of cost control, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
Optimized kitchen workflows, resulting in reduced ticket times and increased table turnover rates.
Assisted in the recruitment process for new hires by interviewing candidates, assessing their skills, and making recommendations to upper management based on fit within the existing team dynamic.
Led the successful execution of special events and catering orders, coordinating with other departments to ensure seamless delivery of high-quality dishes on time and under budget.
Checked and tested foods to verify quality and temperature.
Conducted daily checks of refrigerators and freezers to verify proper food storage, container labeling, and surface cleaning.
Scheduled and received food and beverage deliveries, adhering to food cost and budget.
Developed kitchen staff through training, disciplinary action, and performance reviews.
Implemented and maintained food safety and sanitation standards to establish safe handling and preparation of food.
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.