Kelly Self
Dallas,TX
Summary
A dedicated professional with history of meeting company goals utilizing consistent and organized practices. Skilled in working under pressure, and adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the organizational brand. Motivated professional dedicated to sourcing high-quality ingredients from local sources to drive farm-to-table menus. Proactive and adaptable team leader, passionate about sustainable cuisine. Talented at creating exciting and innovative menus based on in-season ingredients. Skilled in crafting personalized, healthy, and diverse culinary experiences for private households. Background includes planning, preparing, and presenting meals that cater to specific dietary needs and preferences. Strengths include strong organizational skills, creativity in menu development, and adept at managing kitchen operations efficiently. Contributed to enhancing mealtime quality and satisfaction through attentive service and a flexible cooking style tailored to individual tastes and health requirements.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Chef Instructor
Kitchen Social
Dallas, TX
03.2025 - Current
- Provided instruction on basic knife skills, food safety and sanitation practices.
- Organized cooking classes for groups of people with special diet requirements.
- Facilitated cooking classes that taught basic kitchen skills while emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet.
Chef Instructor
My French Recipe
Plano, TX
03.2025 - Current
- Monitored food preparation methods, portion sizes and garnishing of dishes to ensure that food was prepared in accordance with the restaurant's recipes and presentation standards.
- Kept up to date with current culinary trends, as well as health and safety regulations.
- Demonstrate professional culinary techniques to adult learners, focusing on skill-building, flavor development, and plating presentation.
- Coordinate class set-up and breakdown, including ingredient prep, station organization, and sanitization
- Design and teach themed summer camp cooking programs for kids, incorporating fun culinary challenges, games, and hands-on recipes each week.
Personal Chef
The Polished Chef
Dallas, TX
02.2025 - Current
- Developed creative menus for clients based on their dietary needs and preferences.
- Ensured all food items were stored safely at correct temperatures according to health regulations.
- Established relationships with local suppliers to ensure a steady supply of quality ingredients.
- Created detailed invoices for clients detailing cost of services rendered as well as any additional charges incurred.
- Prepared and cooked meals for large family events such as holiday dinners, birthdays, anniversaries.
- Planned weekly menus that incorporated a variety of flavors and textures while keeping within budget limits.
- Maintained records of all meals prepared including menu items, quantities served, and any special instructions given by the client.
- Organized grocery shopping trips to purchase ingredients needed to prepare meals.
- Crafted meals in clients' home kitchens in accordance with food health and safety regulations.
- Created personalized meal plans based on client preferences, specifications, food allergies, and dietary restrictions.
- Communicated with clients to assess satisfaction with meals and make needed adjustments.
Kid's Chef Instructor
CookLearnGrow
Dallas, TX
02.2025 - 07.2025
- Organized hands-on cooking classes for students to gain practical experience in food preparation.
- Instructed students on how to properly use kitchen equipment such as ovens, mixers and blenders.
- Demonstrated proper techniques for preparing a variety of dishes from appetizers to desserts.
- Gave constructive feedback to students to improve learning and progress against course objectives.
Culinary Kids Assistant Instructor
The Hudson Table
Hoboken, NJ
05.2024 - 01.2025
- Assisted Instructors in planning, organizing and delivering lessons to students.
- Provided guidance and support to students to help them understand course materials.
- Monitored student progress and provided feedback on their performance.
- Assisted with course planning, development of educational tools and classroom organization.
- Organized student performance and enrichment activities to facilitate learning.
Personal Event Chef
DineDK
New York, NY
10.2023 - 12.2024
- Enhanced guest satisfaction by creating custom menus tailored to specific event themes and client preferences.
- Met face-to-face with clients of diverse backgrounds to discuss specific needs and considerations, designing unique garnishes, table settings and plate displays to suit each group's theme.
- Conceptualized menus to account for dietary restrictions, food allergies and personal requests.
- Cooked for large groups of people and managing various types of food for large events.
- Developed catering menus to exceed client expectations yet meet tight budgets.
Junior Sous Chef
US Open Red Hook Losbter Pound
New York, NY
08.2024 - 09.2024
- Organized and maintained the daily mise en place for all stations.
- Trained and supervised junior cooks in proper culinary techniques.
- Maintained a clean work area to ensure compliance with health regulations.
- Ensured accurate completion of prep lists and production sheets on a daily basis.
- Monitored food temperatures during storage, preparation and service to meet safety standards.
- Checked quality of raw materials prior to use in order to maintain high standards of product presentation.
- Prepared sauces, dressings, soups, stocks, marinades and other items as needed throughout the day.
- Performed as head chef to maintain team productivity and restaurant quality.
- Maximized customer satisfaction and team operations by executing command-based structure and staff performance oversight.
- Liaised closely with kitchen and front-of-house personnel.
Event Chef
Brooklyn Braised
Brooklyn, NY
05.2024 - 09.2024
- Developed and implemented innovative menus for special events, ensuring that all dishes were prepared according to health and safety regulations.
- Supervised a team of cooks in the preparation of food items for large-scale events.
- Coordinated with vendors to ensure adequate supplies of ingredients and equipment.
- Established efficient kitchen systems and procedures to streamline operations during events.
- Assisted with setup and breakdown of buffet lines before and after each event.
- Adapted recipes to accommodate guests with allergies or dietary restrictions while still providing a delicious meal experience.
- Cleaned work areas throughout shift including counters, floors, utensils and other surfaces.
- Boosted customer satisfaction by quickly addressing and resolving complaints with food or service.
- Coordinated food service stations and venue accommodations, including setup, and tear-down of furniture and equipment per customer guidelines.
- Observed food safety and sanitation protocols to reduce germ spread.
- Oversaw inventory and ordered ingredients to restock freezers, fridges and pantry.
- Checked quality of food products to meet high standards.
- Chopped and diced vegetables and fruits to stock fridge ahead of busy periods.
Personal Chef
Compozure
New York, NY
03.2024 - 09.2024
- Developed creative menus for clients based on their dietary needs and preferences.
- Prepared and cooked meals for large family events such as holiday dinners, birthdays, anniversaries.
- Organized grocery shopping trips to purchase ingredients needed to prepare meals.
- Cleaned kitchen area after every meal preparation session.
- Inspected all equipment prior to use to ensure it was functioning properly.
- Planned weekly menus that incorporated a variety of flavors and textures while keeping within budget limits.
- Ensured all food items were stored safely at correct temperatures according to health regulations.
Chef
Foodtemps
New York
06.2023 - 07.2024
- Oversaw grill, stove, and oven, and cleaned equipment after every shift.
- Placed orders to restock items before supplies ran out.
- Handled and stored food to eliminate illness and prevent cross-contamination.
- Set up and broke down kitchen for service.
- Collaborated with staff members to create meals for large banquets.
- Interacted with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.
- Ensured compliance with all health, safety and hygiene regulations within the kitchen area.
- Monitored food preparation methods, portion sizes and garnishing of dishes to ensure that food was prepared in accordance with the restaurant's recipes and presentation standards.
Line Chef
Jojo Restaurant
160 E 64th St New York,NY
12.2022 - 02.2024
- Followed recipes and food presentation standards at [JoJo].
- Operated fryer and cooked meats on grill.
- Restocked food items throughout shift to provide head chef with proper ingredients for dishes.
- Complied with sanitation and nutrition regulations and safety standards.
- Maintained well-organized mise en place to keep work consistent.
- Rotated through all prep stations to learn different techniques.
Event Chef
Alexandra Dettori Catering
New York, NY
09.2023 - 10.2023
- Participated in food tastings and taste tests.
- Set up and broke down kitchen for service.
- Evaluated food products to verify freshness and quality.
- Implemented sustainable practices in the kitchen, minimizing environmental impact through recycling initiatives and local sourcing of ingredients whenever possible.
- Cooked for large groups of people and managing various types of food for large events.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
Personal Chef
Catering Services
New York, NY
08.2023 - 08.2023
- Developed menus, controlled food costs and oversaw quality, sanitation, and safety processes.
- Inventoried food, ingredient, and supply stock to prepare and plan vendor orders.
- Cooked 3 meals per day and served at residences or delivered to requested locations.
- Sourced healthy cooking techniques to capture flavor and nutrients of food with fresh ingredients.
- Shopped at specialty grocery stores to obtain ingredients needed for food preparation.
- Met with client and discussed preferred meals, dietary restrictions and food allergies.
Line Cook
Mercer Hotel
New York, NY
09.2021 - 12.2022
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction and repeat business.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Created identical dishes numerous times daily with consistent care, attention to detail and quality.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
Suite Greeter
Bulldog Suites
Starkville, MS
08.2018 - 03.2020
- Displayed friendly, outgoing and energetic behavior to create warm, fun atmosphere for guests.
- Answered customer questions and pointed individuals in right directions.
- Acted as first point of contact for visiting clients and customers.
- Fielded customer complaints and notified managers.
- Verified receipts of exiting customers to confirm purchases and avoid shrinkage.
- Took information about guests' party size, led to seating, offered menus and give set instructions to place guest in their correct seating area.
- Greeted customers with smile and provided friendly, knowledgeable service.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Culinary Arts
Institute of Culinary Education
New York, NY05.2021
Associate of Arts - Business Administration And Management
East Mississippi Community College
Mayhew,MS05.2020
Skills
- Efficient and Detail-Oriented
- Organization and Prioritization
- Special Events and Catering
- Critical Thinking
- Partnership Building
- Quality Assurance Controls
- Team Leadership
- Quick Learner and Adaptive to Change
- Excellent Communicator
- Optimistic Attitude
- Punctual
- Develop Recipes and Menu Planning
- Recipe creation
- Partnership Building
- Quality Assurance Controls
- Team Leadership
- Menu development
- Classroom management
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Chef Instructor
Kitchen Social
03.2025 - Current
Chef Instructor
My French Recipe
03.2025 - Current
Personal Chef
The Polished Chef
02.2025 - Current
Kid's Chef Instructor
CookLearnGrow
02.2025 - 07.2025
Junior Sous Chef
US Open Red Hook Losbter Pound
08.2024 - 09.2024
Culinary Kids Assistant Instructor
The Hudson Table
05.2024 - 01.2025
Event Chef
Brooklyn Braised
05.2024 - 09.2024
Personal Chef
Compozure
03.2024 - 09.2024
Personal Event Chef
DineDK
10.2023 - 12.2024
Event Chef
Alexandra Dettori Catering
09.2023 - 10.2023
Personal Chef
Catering Services
08.2023 - 08.2023
Chef
Foodtemps
06.2023 - 07.2024
Line Chef
Jojo Restaurant
12.2022 - 02.2024
Line Cook
Mercer Hotel
09.2021 - 12.2022
Suite Greeter
Bulldog Suites
08.2018 - 03.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Culinary Arts
Institute of Culinary Education
Associate of Arts - Business Administration And Management
East Mississippi Community College
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