Nicole Hopson
Belleville,IL
Summary
Skilled lead cook with background in managing kitchen operations, crafting unique menu items, and ensuring food safety standards. Strengths include multitasking, team leadership, culinary creativity, and time management. Have made significant contributions to previous workplaces by streamlining processes for efficiency and maintaining high customer satisfaction rates through consistent delivery of quality meals.
Hardworking professional bringing detail-oriented approach to food preparation and handling. Reliable individual possessing excellent communication and problem-solving strengths.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Cook
Stingers Restaurant & Bar
Belleville, IL
05.2003 - 12.2024
- Placed orders for food and supplies used for preparing and cooking meals.
- Enforced strict health and hygiene standards in the kitchen and work areas.
- Used computer to store and retrieve data and online orders.
- Taught kitchen staff about proper nutrition, food allergies and dietary issues.
- Cleaned and sanitized kitchen equipment, utensils and work stations.
- Built and managed relationships with local vendors to obtain fresh, quality ingredients at cost-effective prices.
- Double-checked plated meals for last-minute changes before sending to dining room.
- Assisted Sous Chef with training and development of culinary staff.
- Ensured compliance with health safety regulations while preparing meals and maintaining a sanitary work environment.
- Served as lead cook, guiding and assisting training of less experienced cooks.
- Chopped and diced vegetables and fruits to stock fridge ahead of busy periods.
- Trained and supervised line cooks to develop new skills and improve team performance.
- Trained new chefs on menu items and kitchen procedures.
- Observed food safety and sanitation protocols to reduce germ spread.
- Collaborated with management team to develop new recipes and update existing ones in order to improve the overall dining experience.
- Assessed performance levels of subordinate cooks through regular reviews and feedback sessions.
- Oversaw the preparation of meals for special events and catering functions.
- Adjusted recipes as needed to accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies of customers.
- Maintained accurate records of food costs, consumption, and wastage.
- Analyzed recipes to determine menu prices based on cost of food, labor and overhead.
- Resolved customer complaints regarding food quality or service promptly and professionally.
- Assessed staff performance and provided constructive feedback and training.
- Checked quality of food products to meet high standards.
- Conducted periodic inventories of kitchen equipment, utensils, and supplies to determine restocking needs.
- Monitored quality of all cooked items throughout the day to guarantee high standards were maintained.
- Assessed inventory levels and placed orders to replenish goods before supplies depleted.
- Checked freezer and refrigerator each day to verify proper functioning.
- Addressed customer feedback regarding food quality and presentation.
- Discussed safe operations of kitchen equipment, regulating temperatures and cooking times.
Picker
Empire Comfort Systems Inc.
Belleville, IL
05.2021 - 12.2023
- Printed accurate labels and applied to boxes, crates and containers prior to shipment.
- Operated pallet jacks and forklifts to move large orders.
- Prioritized urgent orders to meet shipping deadlines.
- Maintained a clean and organized work area to ensure safety.
- Executed picking tasks according to order specifications while meeting daily productivity requirements.
- Labeled boxes and placed in outbound collection areas.
- Cleaned and organized aisles, work stations, and floors to promote operational productivity.
- Completed shipping paperwork, attached appropriate labels and scanned barcodes for tracking.
- Marked and labeled containers with accurate shipping information to prevent delays.
- Followed quality control procedures to minimize errors.
- Picked products from designated locations using various tools and transferred to appropriate areas for further processing.
- Stamped price tags on merchandise, referring to official price lists.
- Confirmed items picked for orders by keying codes into system.
- Stored and organized items in tool or supply rooms, allowing for easy retrieval.
- Received and processed customer orders for merchandise in a timely manner.
- Inspected products for damage or defects before packing.
Cook
Soda Fountain express
Brighton, Missouri
01.2018 - 12.2021
- Managed inventory levels of ingredients and supplies necessary for daily operations.
- Operated kitchen equipment in alignment with OSHA protocols and manufacturer instructions.
- Memorized new menu items and ingredients quickly to help customers select items meeting needs and preferences.
- Maintained clean and orderly appearance throughout kitchen and dining area.
- Cleaned kitchen equipment, surfaces, utensils and dishes.
- Prepared variety of foods according to exact instructions and recipe specifications.
- Set up work stations prior to opening to minimize prep time.
- Tasted all prepared dishes in order to check flavorings, texture and presentation prior to serving them to customers.
- Prepared and served meals by reviewing recipes and combining and cooking ingredients.
- Grilled and deep fried various foods from meats to potatoes.
- Received and stored food and supplies.
- Operated grills, fryers and broilers to cook items to quality guidelines.
Education
High School Diploma -
Cahokia High School
Cahokia, Il05-2003
Skills
- Spoilage prevention
- Food inventory management
- Large-scale food preparation
- Allergen safety
- Menu preparation
- Kitchen sanitation
- Task delegation
- Sanitation practices
- Collaboration
- Emergency protocols
- Ingredient preparation
- Recipe creation
- Menu planning
- Employee supervision
- Work delegation
- Training management
- Shift leadership
- Scheduling
- Kitchen organization
- Food processing
- Crew training
- Meal preparation
- Cooking techniques
- Special diets
- Food safety
- Ingredient knowledge
- Food safety monitoring
Timeline
Picker
Empire Comfort Systems Inc.
05.2021 - 12.2023
Cook
Soda Fountain express
01.2018 - 12.2021
Lead Cook
Stingers Restaurant & Bar
05.2003 - 12.2024
High School Diploma -
Cahokia High School
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