Justin Yeager
Waterford
Summary
Culinary professional with comprehensive experience in high-pressure kitchen environments, driving quality and efficiency. Known for exceptional culinary skills and ability to innovate while maintaining consistency. Reliable team collaborator with focus on achieving culinary excellence and adapting to evolving needs.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Sous Chef
Ernie's On The Creek
07.2024 - Current
- Managed food preparation tasks during high-volume service periods, ensuring all orders were executed in a timely manner without sacrificing quality or presentation standards.
- Trained kitchen staff to perform various preparation tasks under pressure.
- Planned and directed high-volume food preparation in fast-paced environment.
- Created weekly menu specials inspired by different regions
- Collaborated with executive chef to develop innovative menu items, leading to increased guest return rates and positive reviews.
- Implemented proper cleaning procedures, ensuring a safe and sanitary kitchen workspace compliant with health department regulations.
- Ensured consistent quality control of all dishes leaving the kitchen, resulting in a reputation for excellence among patrons.
Head chef
Meach’s Pitstop
10.2022 - 07.2024
- Cooked, prepped, and managed the kitchen at 3 locations (The Tap, Opa, and Meach’s)
- Created the menu, and prepared the restaurant for opening day in August 2023
- Maintained high food quality standards by checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
- Created recipes and prepared advanced dishes.
- Maintained well-organized mise en place to keep work consistent.
- Elevated restaurant''s reputation by consistently creating high-quality, innovative dishes and maintaining top-notch presentation standards.
- Collaborated with front-of-house team to ensure seamless service during high-volume periods, resulting in increased customer satisfaction rates.
Lead Line Cook
The Fed Community
05.2019 - 10.2022
- Prepping food and preparing the line for service, working sauté and grill
- Worked private events such as weddings, birthdays, and catering off site
- Trained junior cooks on proper cooking techniques, safety protocols, and kitchen etiquette, promoting a positive work environment.
- Maintained high-quality food standards by ensuring consistent execution of recipes and presentation techniques.
- Grilled meats and seafood to customer specifications.
- Ensured timely delivery of meals by managing line cook schedules and delegating tasks effectively during peak service hours.
Lead Line Cook
Uptown Grille
06.2008 - 05.2018
- Opened the restaurant - 10 years of employment
- Cultivated a positive working atmosphere among kitchen staff, fostering camaraderie and a strong sense of teamwork.
- Produced high volume covers per day and maintained near-perfect customer satisfaction scores.
- Prepared ingredients ahead of time to promote efficiency in dish garnishing.
- Developed strong teamwork skills by collaborating with other line cooks to maintain a smooth workflow during busy shifts.
- Prepared food items such as meats, poultry, and fish for frying purposes.
- Streamlined communication between front-of-house staff and kitchen team members to minimize errors during order processing.
Education
Culinary Arts Certificate - Culinary Arts
Oakland Community College
Farmington Hills, MI01.2014
Skills
- Knife skills and precision cutting
- Advanced cooking techniques (sautéing, braising, grilling)
- Recipe development and food presentation
- Menu planning and specials creation
- Food preparation and execution during service
- Delegating tasks during prep and service
Timeline
Sous Chef
Ernie's On The Creek
07.2024 - Current
Head chef
Meach’s Pitstop
10.2022 - 07.2024
Lead Line Cook
The Fed Community
05.2019 - 10.2022
Lead Line Cook
Uptown Grille
06.2008 - 05.2018
Culinary Arts Certificate - Culinary Arts
Oakland Community College
Similar Profiles
William LarsonWilliam Larson
Sales Associate at Ernie's HardwareSales Associate at Ernie's Hardware
Radha RogersRadha Rogers
Supervisor/Bartender at Uncle Ernie's Restaurant And BarSupervisor/Bartender at Uncle Ernie's Restaurant And Bar
Carson JacksonCarson Jackson
Barback at Ernie's BoondocksBarback at Ernie's Boondocks
Rachel HeltonRachel Helton
Pharmacy Technician at Pine Knob PharmacyPharmacy Technician at Pine Knob Pharmacy
Kristen PattersonKristen Patterson
Security Officer at Allied Universal Security ServicesSecurity Officer at Allied Universal Security Services