Laurie Gershgorn
Chef
Wappingers Falls,NY
Summary
Responsible, hardworking professional with hands-on experience in all areas of restaurant operations and food production seeks to be an integral member of a team with the goal to bring customers a heightened awareness of mindful eating, while successfully maximizing productivity, customer satisfaction, and a positive work environment.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
Work History
Sous Chef
Tibet US - Menla Retreat Center & Spa
Phoenicia, NY
2022.09 - Current
- Executed daily high volume food preparation of lunch/dinner buffet and plated dishes
- Assisted with menu development and planning, documenting and developing recipes, prep sheets, ingredient inventory
- Trained and mentored new staff members in kitchen safety, sanitation and cooking techniques
- Acted as head chef when required to maintain continuity of service and quality
- Disciplined and dedicated to meeting high-quality standards
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of current culinary trends and techniques
- Set up and broke down kitchen for service
- Utilized culinary techniques to create visually appealing dishes
- Modified recipes to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies
Chef/Restaurant Owner/Operator
Good Choice Kitchen Vegan Cafe & Culinary Center
Ossining, NY
12.2015 - 06.2022
- Established and operated busy café & juice bar effectively providing nutritious, delicious food and drink for individuals, families, schools, private and non profit organizations, holistic healthcare providers
- Created and managed daily production of all recipes and menus for eat-in, take-out, weekly meal plans, private chef services, catering events based on local seasonal ingredient availability
- Hired, trained, and managed all employees including FOH & BOH team members
- Efficiently worked prep, hot line, cold line, garde manger, juice bar, front of house
- Sourced vendors, managed ordering, delivery, stocking of high-quality ingredients, procuring from local farmers and producers while keeping food costs at 23-28% COGS
- Managed all business administrative details and café operations: financials, sales, marketing, human resources, production, inventory, purchasing, logistics, POS, equipment, maintenance
- Wrote proposals, budgets, operation policies, procedures, grants
- Successfully submitted applications, surpassed and met health code for health, sanitation, license regulations and requirements
- Continually evaluated business operations to improve daily productive output; reduce waste and spending; increase profit goals
- Planned music events, alternative medicine and wellness programs, special promotions; set up locations for off-site catering, markets, fairs, festivals; developed and taught hands-on cooking classes, workshops
- Consistently interacted with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels while keeping loyal customers and attracting newcomers
- Consulted pertaining to illness prevention and wellness protocols
Personal Chef/Owner/Operator
Healthy Culinary Creations LLC
Cortlandt Manor, NY
04.2007 - 02.2017
- Prepared weekly meal for up to 10 clients per week incorporating healthy, fresh food sourced from local farmers and distributors based on individual goals, specific health challenges
- Nutritional consultant and caterer for individuals, private, non-profit organizations, holistic healthcare providers
- Increased proficiency in preparing authentic dishes, new recipes and repertoire
- Participated in networking, business development & promotion events
- Created, taught cooking classes to school food workers, educators, students; at farms, corporate events, nonprofits, private clients resulting in continued programs within those entities
Sustainable Food & Environmental Advocate
Previous Career Highlights
Cortlandt Manor, NY
- Coordinator of 5 food cooperatives & CSAs
- Assembled parents to create local school district's healthy school lunch initiative; parent representative on public school wellness committee
- Planned community events to convey information about importance of seed to fork sustainability and healthy lifestyle choices
Director, Technical Operations
MTV Networks, A Viacom Company
New York, NY
- Responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of audio-video multi-camera productions including directing staff & crews of up to 150 people resulting in efficient and successful productions
- Established department procedures and written communication report templates to enhance interdepartmental communications
- Assisted company executives during budget & policy decision-making processes
Education
Chef Training Certification - Culinary Arts
Natural Gourmet Institute For Health & Culinary Arts
New York, NY03.2007
Skills
- Proficient in culinary food preparation techniques and running professional restaurant/catering kitchens specializing in whole food plant-based vegan food and drink in high volume sales environments
- Managing BOH and FOH operations - team training and managing of counter and kitchen crew, creating work schedules, POS software, opening and closing, counter and online sales expediting, staff performance assessment, portion control, resourceful product utilization, food spoilage prevention, and cost effective execution of menu items, cleaning, sanitizing, sanitation guidelines and methods
- Excellent customer service and guest satisfaction track record including extensive knowledge of dietary restrictions, food allergies, intolerances, substitutions, preventing kitchen cross contamination
- Proficiency in purchasing and supply chain: vendor sourcing, ordering, delivery & receiving, analyzing, reporting, inventory assessment; local sustainable agriculture procurement; natural and organic food distributors
- Multitasking, Prioritizing, Detail-Oriented, Problem Solving
- Effective, positive verbal and written communication
- Cooking Technique Demonstrations
- Knowledge of alternative philosophies for wellness/disease prevention/treatment including: macrobiotic, ayurvedic, five phase theory, raw, gluten free, various diet protocols
Certification
- ServSafe Food Service Manager Certification
Timeline
Sous Chef
Tibet US - Menla Retreat Center & Spa
2022.09 - Current
Chef/Restaurant Owner/Operator
Good Choice Kitchen Vegan Cafe & Culinary Center
12.2015 - 06.2022
Personal Chef/Owner/Operator
Healthy Culinary Creations LLC
04.2007 - 02.2017
Chef Training Certification - Culinary Arts
Natural Gourmet Institute For Health & Culinary Arts
Sustainable Food & Environmental Advocate
Previous Career Highlights
Director, Technical Operations
MTV Networks, A Viacom Company
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