Jonathan Reese
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
High-performing individual with solid background in culinary arts. Skilled in creating innovative and delicious dishes while managing kitchen staff and inventory. Efficient and committed to keeping high standards of food safety and sanitation. Eager to create unique and delicious dishes. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with good understanding of seamless dining experience for customers. Creative and dedicated to staying up-to-date with food trends. Hardworking and passionate with strong organizational skills eager to secure a long term position. Ready to help my team achieve company goals set forth by owners and management. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sous Chef
Foodies Catering
03.2021 - Current
- Boosted customer satisfaction ratings by consistently delivering high-quality dishes and maintaining strict adherence to food safety standards.
- Collaborated with executive chef to develop innovative menu items, leading to increased guest return rates and positive reviews.
- Maintained high food quality standards by checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
- Played a key role in achieving positive health inspection results by maintaining strict compliance with all relevant guidelines and regulations throughout daily operations.
- Worked closely with front-of-house staff to facilitate excellent customer service.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of current culinary trends and techniques.
- Utilized culinary techniques to create visually appealing dishes.
- Contributed to successful catering events by coordinating meal preparation and execution, exceeding client expectations on each occasion.
- Coordinated with team members to prepare orders on time.
- Maintained open lines of communication with front-of-house management teams to address any potential issues before they escalated into larger problems affecting overall guest satisfaction levels.
- Participated in food tastings and taste tests.
- Trained kitchen staff to perform various preparation tasks under pressure.
- Managed inventory levels effectively, resulting in reduced food waste and cost savings for the establishment.
- Ensured consistent quality control of all dishes leaving the kitchen, resulting in a reputation for excellence among patrons.
- Plated every dish with attractive flair to meet strict restaurant standards and maintain stellar business reputation.
- Developed full, tasting and special events menus to meet establishment needs and maintain strong customer levels.
- Implemented proper cleaning procedures, ensuring a safe and sanitary kitchen workspace compliant with health department regulations.
- Monitored food production to verify quality and consistency.
- Disciplined and dedicated to meeting high-quality standards.
- Provided exceptional customer service when addressing guest concerns or special dietary requests, building loyalty among returning clientele.
- Developed close relationships with suppliers to source best ingredients.
- Set up and broke down kitchen for service.
- Developed strong relationships with local vendors, securing fresh ingredients at competitive prices while supporting community businesses.
- Modernized work processes to reduce guest wait times and boost daily output.
- Modified recipes to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies.
- Trained and mentored new staff members in kitchen safety, sanitation and cooking techniques.
- Mentored kitchen staff to prepare each for demanding roles.
- Evaluated food products to verify freshness and quality.
- Prevented cross-contamination from utensils, surfaces, and pans when cooking and plating meals for food allergy sufferers.
- Initiated training for new team members on culinary techniques to improve productivity and increase kitchen workflows.
- Mentored junior kitchen staff, fostering a collaborative work environment that improved overall team performance.
- Obtained fresh, local ingredients to improve dish flavors and limit grocery costs.
- Provided professional services and support in a dynamic work environment.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness through the development of innovative solutions.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
Regional Manager
Eurosource Janitorial - Commercial - Restaurants
03.2020 - Current
- Built positive and productive relationships with store and field leadership.
- Promoted a culture of continuous improvement through ongoing process reviews, employee engagement initiatives, and open channels of communication.
- Developed vendor network of contacts to drive down costs and increase revenues.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
- Built and deepened partnerships with industry leaders to strengthen collaborative efforts and promote mutual profitability.
- Supervised staff to optimize brand expansion initiatives and productivity.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Modeled strong negotiation skills to help team members close tough deals with lucrative clients.
- Enhanced team performance by providing regular coaching, training, and performance feedback to staff members.
- Met deadlines by proactively managing individual and team tasks and streamlining processes.
- Supervised numerous locations to enforce high-quality standards of operation.
- Worked diligently to resolve unique and recurring complaints, promoting loyalty, and enhancing operations.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Established and maintained operational standards for a number of locations.
- Managed a number of restaurant cleanings FOH and BOH. (Daily, Weekly, Monthly as requested by the clients and based on needs).
- Actively acquired new clients through strategic outreach campaigns.
- Maintained consistent communication with owners, managers and chefs of restaurant needs and requests.
Education
Associate of Science - Liberal Arts And General Studies
Moorpark College
Moorpark, CAAssociate of Arts - Culinary Arts
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Los Angeles, CA06.2024
Skills
- Food Handler Certification
- Pasta Making
- Team Leadership
- BOH Operations
- Relationship Building
- Food and Beverage Service
- Staff Supervision and Coordination
- Detail Oriented
- Food Production
- Supervising Food Prep
- Problem and Complaint Resolution
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Customer Retention
- Ingredient Knowledge
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Staff Motivation
- Mentoring and Coaching
- Fine Dining
- Compliance
- Food Safety
- Workflow Optimization
- Food Preparing, Plating, and Presentation
- Culinary Trends
- Special Events
- Quality Control
Certification
Servsafe Managers Cert. 2023
Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt - Coach/Teacher/Competitor for kids and adults.
Private Training and classes in Boxing and Kickboxing - Personal Training Cert.
Timeline
Sous Chef
Foodies Catering
03.2021 - Current
Regional Manager
Eurosource Janitorial - Commercial - Restaurants
03.2020 - Current
Associate of Science - Liberal Arts And General Studies
Moorpark College
Associate of Arts - Culinary Arts
Los Angeles Trade Technical College