MANUEL PENA MARTINEZ
Lancaster,USA
Summary
Experienced cook with strong cooking skills and knowledge of food safety protocols. Proficient in maintaining well-stocked, organized, and clean kitchen areas for optimal productivity. Dedicated team player with punctual and open communication style. Skilled in fast-paced kitchen environments, adept at collaborating with cashiers and kitchen staff to efficiently prepare orders. Hardworking lead cook trained in all aspects of successful kitchen operations, able to adapt quickly to changing demands. Committed to excellent communication and team success.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sous Chef
Willow Valley Communities
04.2023 - 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.
- Managed inventory levels effectively, resulting in reduced food waste and cost savings for the establishment.
- Collaborated with executive chef to develop innovative menu items, leading to increased guest return rates and positive reviews.
- Played a key role in achieving positive health inspection results by maintaining strict compliance with all relevant guidelines and regulations throughout daily operations.
- Mentored junior kitchen staff, fostering a collaborative work environment that improved overall team performance.
- Implemented proper cleaning procedures, ensuring a safe and sanitary kitchen workspace compliant with health department regulations.
- Increased kitchen productivity by optimizing workflow processes and delegating tasks appropriately within the team.
- Contributed to successful catering events by coordinating meal preparation and execution, exceeding client expectations on each occasion.
- Ensured consistent quality control of all dishes leaving the kitchen, resulting in a reputation for excellence among patrons.
- Introduced new culinary techniques to the team, elevating the overall skill level and leading to more diverse menu offerings for guests.
- Plated every dish with attractive flair to meet strict restaurant standards and maintain stellar business reputation.
- Participated in menu planning meetings, offering creative input that led to new signature dishes garnering rave reviews from guests.
- Boosted customer satisfaction ratings by consistently delivering high-quality dishes and maintaining strict adherence to food safety standards.
- Prevented cross-contamination from utensils, surfaces, and pans when cooking and plating meals for food allergy sufferers.
- 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.
- Served as an integral part of the hiring process for new kitchen staff members, contributing valuable insights into candidate selection based on experience and skill set compatibility with existing team dynamics.
- Provided exceptional customer service when addressing guest concerns or special dietary requests, building loyalty among returning clientele.
- Enhanced overall restaurant efficiency by streamlining kitchen operations and implementing effective time management strategies.
- Streamlined kitchen operations, reducing food waste through meticulous inventory management.
- Fostered positive working environment, encouraging teamwork and open communication among staff.
- Achieved consistency in dish presentation, setting high standards that were replicated across all servings.
- Developed successful kitchen waste management program, emphasizing sustainability and environmental responsibility.
- Coordinated with front-of-house staff to ensure cohesive dining experience, addressing any customer concerns with prompt and effective solutions.
- Delivered exceptional culinary experiences, consistently receiving positive feedback from patrons.
- Elevated dining experience by innovating seasonal menu items tailored to local tastes.
- Enhanced team performance with regular skill-development workshops and hands-on training.
- Improved efficiency in kitchen, organizing workflow to ensure timely preparation and delivery of dishes.
- Fostered culture of excellence within culinary team, leading by example in maintaining high standards of food safety and hygiene.
- Collaborated closely with head chef to develop recipes that significantly increased customer satisfaction.
- Led kitchen team during high-volume service times, ensuring seamless operation and guest satisfaction.
- Monitored food production to verify quality and consistency.
- Assisted with menu development and planning.
Cook
Willow Valley Manor Retirement Communities
08.2020 - 04.2023
- Assisted chef with planning easy but elegant appetizers to spark customer interest.
- Inspected appliances, commercial fryers and ovens to verify proper working order.
- Created identical dishes numerous times daily with consistent care, attention to detail and quality.
- Instructed new staff in proper food preparation, storage, use of kitchen equipment and sanitation.
- Checked for quality, kept track of old and new items and rotated stock to confirm freshness of food and ingredients.
- Tasted, smelled and pierced food with fork to verify sufficient cooking.
- Communicated closely with servers to fully understand special orders for customers.
- Ordered and received products and supplies to stock kitchen areas.
- Maintained well-stocked stations with supplies and spices for maximum productivity.
- Took food orders from cashiers and cooked items quickly to complete order items together and serve hot.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction and repeat business.
- Managed kitchen staff to supervise preparation of foods and explain steps for readying specialty items.
- Transitioned between breakfast and lunch service.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
- Seasoned and cooked food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
- Prepared food items in compliance with recipes and portioning control guidelines.
- Produced high volume covers per day and maintained near-perfect customer satisfaction scores.
- Interacted with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Mentored staff in expectations and parameters of kitchen goals and daily work.
Police Officer
Puerto Rico Police Department
03.1995 - 08.2001
- Apprehended suspects, read Miranda Rights and transported offenders to jail.
- Enforced traffic laws and ordinances through visual observation and radar speed detection.
- Patrolled assigned areas to prevent and detect roadway crimes.
- Conducted preliminary investigations at scenes of major crimes.
- Secured crime scenes, gathered evidence and questioned witnesses.
- Engaged with local individuals and community leaders to discuss crime reduction strategies.
- Issued traffic citations and electronic tickets for violations of traffic laws.
- Conducted thorough investigations of serious injury and fatality traffic accidents.
- Processed, verified and utilized tips to initiate speedy resolutions for investigations.
- Checked accuracy and integrity of collected information to identify optimal course of investigation.
- Responded immediately to reports of automobile accidents and criminal activity, calling for additional support as necessary.
- Gathered necessary information for court appearances and testified as witness under oath in court.
- Talked regularly with citizens to establish rapport and become familiar presence in area.
- Investigated and reported crimes, accidents, offenses and damage to property.
- Maintained tight controls during static and mobile surveillance operations to protect validity and usefulness of evidence collected.
- Notified emergency personnel of incidents requiring medical assistance and aid.
- Debriefed arrested individuals to collect important information for ongoing investigations.
- Validated evidence for admissibility and preserved evidence to be utilized court hearings.
- Answered emergency calls for help from citizens and business owners.
- Apprehended offenders and conducted interviews and interrogations.
- Conducted witness interviews and gathered details regarding incidents to determine best course of action.
- Patrolled assigned areas to check homes, businesses and public roads for signs of disturbance.
- Supervised crowds at busy events to prevent injuries and property destruction.
- Coordinated swift and tactical responses to wide range of criminal issues.
Education
Certificate - Leadership Development Program
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, PA11.2024
Associate - Culinary Arts
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Boulder, CO09.2022
Diploma - Culinary Arts
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Boulder, CO01.2022
Diploma - Professional Cooking
National Restaurants Association Educational Found
Orlando, FL10.2007
Associate Of Criminal Science - Criminal Science
John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
New York, NY08.1997
Skills
- Dish Preparation
- Ingredient Selection
- Institutional and Batch Cooking
- Store Room and Walk-In Inspections
- Sauce Preparation
- Product Rotations
- Proper Food Storage
- Purchasing and Receiving
- Bulk Food Preparation
- Kitchen Sanitization
- Food Spoilage Prevention
- Timely Food Delivery
- Mixing Dishes
- Critical Thinking
- Safety and Sanitation Standards
- Facility Policies and Procedures
- Proper Food Temperatures
- Guest Experiences
- Pizza Making
- Formula Mixing
- Operation and Control
- Chopping Vegetables
- Food Safety and Quality
- Guest Satisfaction
- Sandwich Preparation
- Station Preparation
- Hospitality Management
- Portion and Cost Control
- New Recipe Creation
- Menu Planning
- Food Plating and Presentation
- Ingredient Restocking
- Food Rotation
- Attentive to Detail
- Chef Assistance
- Machinery Upkeep
- Kitchen Staff Management
- Injury Avoidance
- Food Production Scheduling
- Flat Top Grills
- Preventative Maintenance Scheduling
- Emergency Situations
- Counter Sanitization
Certification
Safety and service Manager, servsafe - 4 years
LANGUAGES
Spanish: Full Professional
English: Full Professional
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 10+ staff members.
Timeline
Sous Chef
Willow Valley Communities
04.2023 - Current
Cook
Willow Valley Manor Retirement Communities
08.2020 - 04.2023
Police Officer
Puerto Rico Police Department
03.1995 - 08.2001
Associate - Culinary Arts
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Diploma - Culinary Arts
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Diploma - Professional Cooking
National Restaurants Association Educational Found
Associate Of Criminal Science - Criminal Science
John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
Certificate - Leadership Development Program
Millersville University of Pennsylvania