Culinary professional with 20+ years of experience optimizing restaurant operations and improving guest experiences. Expertise in seasonal menu development, inventory management, and cost control. Developed and implemented procedures, guidelines, and service standards to strengthen consistency and efficiency.
Work History
Director of Culinary & Executive Chef
13 Years 1 Month
Mount Vernon Inn | Alexandria, Virginia | 09.2013 - Current
Developed diverse menus, creating each recipe to optimize product usage, dietary needs, seasonal ingredients and culinary trends for multiple revenue centers.
Streamlined kitchen operations, improving efficiency while upholding high food quality standards.
Supervised culinary staff, delivering training and mentorship for skill enhancement.
Established strong vendor relationships for sourcing fresh, high-quality ingredients, enhancing menu offerings.
Oversaw daily operations across multiple food service departments to optimize performance.
Facilitated budgeting and financial planning for food service initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Managed food preparation and cooking for large-scale events, holidays, and gatherings.
Executive Sous Chef
6 Months
The Ale House Columbia | 03.2013 - 09.2013
Coordinated and executed menu planning, recipe development, and daily restaurant operations.
Developed and implemented seasonal menus utilizing fresh, local ingredients.
Trained and mentored kitchen staff on food safety and cooking techniques.
Supervised specialty dish preparation to satisfy customer requests and cater to various dietary needs.
Suggested and prepared promotional dishes according to ingredient availability and customer preferences.
Implemented strategies to reduce waste and improve efficiency in kitchen operations.
Identified areas for improvement within the kitchen team such as training requirements or workflow adjustments.
Managed ordering, inventory levels, receiving, invoice settling, and equipment maintenance.