Nick Barrera
Austin,TX
Summary
CHEF Specializing in high volume catering with multi million dollar accounts, molecular gastronomy , charcuterie , Italian, French, Southern comfort, American, and fine-Dining Cuisine, Onsite and off site Catering events and venues of all types Dynamic, Results-Oriented, and Team-Spirited Overview More than fifteen years in food service operations, including preparation of mass varieties of different cuisines, fine dining, catering services, kitchen management as well as personal chef and personalized customer service. Assisted in staff hiring, training, and supervision; organized work schedules, and stock rotation, purchasing and ordering, menu planning, food cost. Capable of giving instructions to cook food, multitask as well as capable of working under pressure in kitchen or on line. More than a year and a half of cash handling experience, including Customer service, returns and exchanges, and shipping and receiving.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Culinary Director
2 Dine 4 Fine Catering
Austin, TX
09.2019 - Current
- Developed menus and meal prep For all Restaurants and businesses 2 dine 4 owns and runs Including 2dine4 catering, Swoop house, Sawyer and co, De Nada Cantina and The Get Set
- Took inventory of supplies and maintained accurate stock records to minimize losses and support supply ordering.
- Established food preparation procedures and guidelines to promote meal consistency and quality of all items being prepared for our owned restaurants.
- Run catering events of all sizes corporate and fine dinning
- Inspected deliveries for accuracy and safety.
- Purchased food and cultivated strong vendor relationships
Executive sous chef
Catering By Rosemary
Austin , TX
06.2018 - 09.2019
- Executive sous chef for Indeed account, we Catered for 3000 employees daily for breakfast and lunch
- Handled ordering and menu development for several different departments
- Managed 50 employees directly under myself
- Molecular gastronomy action stations
- Established relationships with vendors and clients to ensure great food quality,
- Trained all employees on the HACCP plans, LABOR ARE AT COMPANY STANDARDS
- Oversaw business operations, inventory control, and customer service
- Collaborated with staff members to create meals for large banquets.
- Assisted clients in planning corporate events, social galas and gourmet dinners.
- Placed orders to restock items before supplies ran out We had to have menu ready 2 months in advance and ordered for with our purchasing manager.
Chef / OWNER
House Of Swine
Austin, TX
05.2013 - 06.2018
- Cater accounts with c3 music at different concert venues
- Fraternity chef for Alpha Tao Omega
- Mass production catering and prep Experience
- Wedding and event planning
- Assist restaurants with menu consulting and plans of execution
- Executive chef for corporate catering accounts serving Italian, French, American, Southern comfort, Indian and Continental cuisine, homemade cured meats, sausage making, cheese making
- Quick books experience and cash handling experiences
- Menu development and costing
- Managed day-to-day business operations
SOUS-CHEF, •Sous
Elevated Artisanal Gods
Austin , TX
02.2011 - 05.2013
- Chef for corporate catering accounts serving Italian, French, American, Southern comfort, Indian and Continental cuisine,
- Hire, train, and direct ten cooks
- Plan menu, assure quality control, and minimize waste
- Assist with deliveries, on site set up and special clients’ needs such as gluten allergies, shellfish allergies and special diet needs
- Create special Vegan and vegetarian menus
- Planned and directed high-volume food preparation in fast-paced environment.
- Acted as head chef when required to maintain continuity of service and quality.
Sous chef
Vince Young Steak House
10.2010 - 04.2011
- Created identical dishes numerous times daily with consistent care, attention to detail and quality.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Developed process that reduced waste and improved supply turnover.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction and repeat business.
- Grilled meats and seafood to customer specifications.
- Checked each food item for freshness and provided feedback to kitchen supervisor for removal.
Lead Line Cook
Shore Line Grill
02.2010 - 11.2011
- Supervised 5 cooks under me
- Assisted with back house operations including purchasing, ordering, inventory
- Assisted with opening the restaurant from the ground up
- Broke down primal cuts of meat, Made fresh sauces daily assist pastry chef ass needed, Assisted with weekly and daily specials
- Train and supervise new hire employees to the chefs standards
- Assist with breaking down fish, Primal cuts of meat, making fresh sauces and vinaigrettes daily
- Ensure company is following Sea food watch guidelines
Lead Line Cook
Max’s Wine Dive
Austin, TX
05.2009 - 01.2010
- Assisted with daily specials
- Assisted with opening and closing the line
- Catered mass quantities of food for service as well as parties held in underground wine cellar
- Placed orders as well as assisted with inventory
- Helped open restaurant from ground up, trained new employees to company s.o.p
- Assisted with waste management and recipe cost control.
- Instructed new staff in proper food preparation, storage, use of kitchen equipment and sanitation.
- Grilled meats and seafood to customer specifications.
Lead Line cook
Nordstrom Café Bistro
07.2007 - 05.2009
- Quality product presentation and preparation
- Trained staff in inventory control menu knowledge and menu builds
- Prep soups of the day, In house Specialty soups, Prep Items for chefs weekly special
- Assist in training newly hired employees assuring they are prepping to spec as well as building menu items to spec
- Ensure all employees are following all sanitation guidelines as well as safety rules and procedures
Sales/ Produce process lead
Best Buy
09.2005 - 07.2007
- Assist customers with sales and returns, give customers product knowledge about items they were purchasing as well as extended warranties and service plans Best Buy Offered
- Effectively hired, trained, and supervised employees in warehouse, SOP, safety guidelines
- Supervised employees as they unloaded trucks, counted all lock up items such as cameras computers gps stems, etc..
- Kept count of employee’s hours to ensure no overtime was taken as well as making sure lunches were taken if necessary.
Line cook /corporate trainer
Johnny Carinos
11.2005 - 05.2007
- Assisted with opening up new locations as well as training new employees
- Helped build new kitchens from ground up
- Prep sauces daily as well as create prep list for each station
- Assisted with daily line temp checks
- Assisted with Inventory Expediting, and teaching employees new ways to plate quality food presentations.
Cook/cashier
Wing it Wings and Things
06.2003 - 09.2005
- Assisted in setting up the kitchen in the morning, making sauces, ice bathing chicken, cleaning fryers and washing dishes
- Cook orders in a clean work environment, follow all Health codes
- Responsible taking orders and answering customer questions related to our menu
- Ensure excellent sanitation of all equipment.
Education
Del Valle High School
2005
Skills
- Supply Ordering
- Coordinating Kitchen Staff
- Back of House Management
- Menu Pricing and Writing
- Microsoft Office
- Production Scheduling
- Relationship Building
- Recipe Development
- Production Data Records
- Food Production
Certification
City Of Austin Food Managers Certification
Serve Safe Certified
Timeline
Culinary Director
2 Dine 4 Fine Catering
09.2019 - Current
Executive sous chef
Catering By Rosemary
06.2018 - 09.2019
Chef / OWNER
House Of Swine
05.2013 - 06.2018
SOUS-CHEF, •Sous
Elevated Artisanal Gods
02.2011 - 05.2013
Sous chef
Vince Young Steak House
10.2010 - 04.2011
Lead Line Cook
Shore Line Grill
02.2010 - 11.2011
Lead Line Cook
Max’s Wine Dive
05.2009 - 01.2010
Lead Line cook
Nordstrom Café Bistro
07.2007 - 05.2009
Line cook /corporate trainer
Johnny Carinos
11.2005 - 05.2007
Sales/ Produce process lead
Best Buy
09.2005 - 07.2007
Cook/cashier
Wing it Wings and Things
06.2003 - 09.2005
Del Valle High School
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