Kyle Darling
MAPLE GROVE,MN
Summary
High-performing Chef offering 20 years of restaurant experience. Excellent communication, leadership and problem-solving skills. Talent for building streamlined, cohesive teams. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Not scared of getting my hands dirty.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Corporate Chef
Craft And Crew
07.2021 - Current
- Oversaw 6 locations under the Craft and Crew umbrella.
- Developed strong relationships with suppliers, Bringing the company's standard food cost from 27% to 26%.
- Ensured consistent quality across multiple locations by standardizing recipes and training staff.
- Collaborated with event planners to design customized menus, dinning experiences, pig roasts, weddings, igloo dinning.
- Developed menus, controlled food costs and oversaw quality, sanitation, and safety processes.
- Created a back of house training program for new cooks and chefs.
- Contributed in every locations spring and fall menu changes, monthly features, chef dinners.
Butcher
Mackenthun's Meats
06.2020 - 07.2021
- Complied with food safety, hygiene and sanitation regulations for safe food preparation.
- Cut, trimmed and ground meats such as beef, pork, and poultry to prepare for packaging and sale.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure efficient workflow, resulting in smooth daily operations.
- Trimmed fat and removed bones for high-quality, well-presented cuts of meat.
- Maintained and stocked display cases by transporting wrapped products from work area or cooler to display cases.
- Showcased exceptional knife skills, consistently producing precise cuts of meat according to customer preferences.
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Copper Cow Kitchen and Bar
09.2018 - 03.2020
- Established BOH procedures across all concepts
- Have had menu items featured on numerous social media influencer accounts and local publications
- Most recently our Swiss Forager burger was the runner up in the MSP Magazine Burger Bracket
- Executed the Fall 2018 menu flip for Copper Hen while simultaneously writing and preparing the opening menu for Copper Cow
- Responsible for utilizing seasonal ingredients and food trends in bi-weekly features and menu changes
- Responsible for all BOH ordering, inventory and food cost management.
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Ally Hospitality
01.2017 - 09.2018
- Lowered food cost from 33.1% to 28.1%
- Represented the company at numerous events such as the Harriet Island Burger Battle, The Randy Shaver Golf Classic and the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Charity Gala and mentored middle school aged kids during Suzanne Graft's Wooden Spoon program
- Oversaw the opening of additional concepts including Holman's Table in St Paul and developed the opening menu
- Established ongoing menu training for FOH staff and led structured quarterly menu rollouts.
EXECUTIVE CHEF
The Union Rooftop
02.2014 - 12.2016
- In charge of all orders, inventory and hiring for BOH
- Oversaw two full-service concepts within one multi-level building
- Expedited food on busy nights, often exceeding 700 covers
- Succeeded in lowering food cost from 32.1% to 26.2%.
EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF
Vivo Kitchen
10.2012 - 02.2014
- Was responsible for all opening as well as ongoing hiring and training of BOH staff
- Collaborated on the opening menu with the executive chef
- Created the necessary documents for ordering and inventory maintenance
- Completed inventory and entered it into Foodtrac.
EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF
BLVD Kitchen
10.2009 - 10.2012
- Responsible for butchering proteins.
- Helped to manage and maintain the kitchen and food quality in a high-volume atmosphere.
- Helped manage a kitchen of 40+ employees.
- Assisted Executive Chef in cost analysis and budget management, optimizing profitability .
Education
CULINARY ARTS DIPLOMA -
Arizona Culinary Institute
01.2005
CULINARY ARTS GENERALS -
Hennepin Technical College
01.2004
Skills
- Compeat
- Aloha
- Toast
- Avero
- Hotschedules
- Restaurant 365
- Focus
- Foodtrac
- Isolved
Certification
- STATE OF MINNESOTA FOOD MANAGERS CERTIFIED
- SERVSAFE FOOD SAFTETY MANAGER
Timeline
Corporate Chef
Craft And Crew
07.2021 - Current
Butcher
Mackenthun's Meats
06.2020 - 07.2021
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Copper Cow Kitchen and Bar
09.2018 - 03.2020
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Ally Hospitality
01.2017 - 09.2018
EXECUTIVE CHEF
The Union Rooftop
02.2014 - 12.2016
EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF
Vivo Kitchen
10.2012 - 02.2014
EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF
BLVD Kitchen
10.2009 - 10.2012
CULINARY ARTS DIPLOMA -
Arizona Culinary Institute
CULINARY ARTS GENERALS -
Hennepin Technical College
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