Mark LaTorraca
Reno,NV
Summary
- Sous Chef with 30 years of experience cooking and supervising in fast-paced, high volume environments. Prior work as prep cook, line chef, and sous chef.
- Energetic culinary professional with a blend of creativity, passion for food and exceptional cooking skills. Works well as a dynamic leader in high-pressure settings.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sous Chef
Circus Circus Hotel and Casino
500 N. Sierra Street, Reno, Nevada 89503
09.2006 - Current
- Oversee and monitor back of the house (BOH) operations of all restaurants at Circus Circus including: Americana Café, Steakhouse,Main Street Deli, Courtyard Buffet, Geckos BBQ, Dos Geckos Cantina, Employee Dining Room and Catering.
- Supervise line cooks, prep cooks and other kitchen staff, ensuring all food delivered to our guests is, beautifully presented, hot, fresh, full of flavor, and servedin a timely manner.
- Works with Executive Steward to ensure all kitchen workers are keeping kitchens, floors, pots, pans, dishes, utensils,kitchen equipment cleaned and sanitized in accordance to Washoe County Health standards.
- Monitors daily payroll for all BOH employees by use of Kronos Timekeeping system.
- Works with warehouse/receiving departments to ensure all food products received are fresh, high quality and rotated in a proper manner.
- Evaluates and controls food costs for all outlets on a daily basis.
- Daily ordering for multiple restaurants re-enforcing par levels thru Stratton Warren software.
Kitchen Manager
Whole Foods Market
6139 S. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502
11.2016 - 01.2026
- Prepare and cook foods for prepared foods department
- With direction from Team Leaders, follows recipe and production guidelines for items consumed at cold case counter, cold bar, hot bar, Bistro, fresh pack, and Tap Room.
- Supervises kitchen staff ensuring all food produced for hot and cold bars, deli cases, taproom, bistro and pizza stations are served hot, fresh, full of flavor and presentation beyond whole foods regional standards.
- Write weekly schematics changing menus for our hot and cold bars and deli cases changing with the produce, proteins of the season. IE, incorporating turkey and hard squashes for fall, lamb for Easter, etc.
Area Chef
Four Queens Hotel and Casino
202 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
04.2005 - 08.2006
- Actively involved in menu development, cost control, training of staff in private dining and catering for high-end steakhouse.
- Managed kitchen staff including: hiring, training, scheduling, and evaluating employees.
- Instructed new staff in proper food preparation, food storage, use of kitchen equipment and utensils, sanitation and safety issues.
- Led shifts while personally preparing food items and executing requests based on special dietary needs.
Line Cook
Four Queens Hotel and Casino
202 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
06.1994 - 04.2005
- Worked as a line cook in all of their restaurants preforming multiples tasks including: saucier, broiler, egg station, grill, main kitchenproduction and banquets, eventually became lead line cook in the steakhouse, Hugo's Cellar.
Education
High School Diploma -
Essex County Vocational High School
Newark, New JerseySkills
- Institutional, fast-paced, high volume line cooking and batch cooking
- Strong attention to safe food handling procedures
- Dedicated leader and supervisor
- Useable knowledge of Stratton Warren software and Kronos Timekeeping System
- Effective in writing schedules, controlling foodand labor costs
- Menu costing and development
Accomplishments
- Awarded Supervisor in the Spotlight, 3rd quarter 2010, Circus Circus, Reno
- Winner of company-wide BBQ sauce contest, which was featured on menu for Geckos BBQ Restaurant
Certification
Certified Food Protection Manager by Washoe County Health Department
Timeline
Kitchen Manager
Whole Foods Market
11.2016 - 01.2026
Sous Chef
Circus Circus Hotel and Casino
09.2006 - Current
Area Chef
Four Queens Hotel and Casino
04.2005 - 08.2006
Line Cook
Four Queens Hotel and Casino
06.1994 - 04.2005
High School Diploma -
Essex County Vocational High School