Samara Thomas
Monteagle,TN
Summary
Detail-oriented kitchen professional with strong food safety and organization skills. Committed to maintaining cleanliness and enhancing kitchen efficiency, ensuring high-quality meal preparation and customer satisfaction.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Kitchen Help
Hanks Corner
Tracy City, TN
11.2025 - Current
- Assisted in food preparation and cooking processes, ensuring adherence to health and safety standards.
- Maintained cleanliness of kitchen equipment and workspaces, promoting a safe working environment.
- Collaborated with chefs to streamline meal assembly, enhancing kitchen efficiency.
- Trained new staff on kitchen protocols and safety procedures, fostering team development.
- Washed, peeled, and cut fruits and vegetables in advance to save time on food preparation.
- Enhanced kitchen efficiency by maintaining clean and organized workstations.
- Utilized knife skills to expertly chop, slice, and dice ingredients as needed for recipes.
- Provided backup support to other staff members during busy periods or staff shortages.
- Accepted opportunities to learn new skills, improve performance and cross-train for other positions.
- Made food according to standard recipes with requested changes for customer satisfaction.
- Ensured proper storage of ingredients to maintain freshness and reduce waste.
- Maintained strict compliance with food safety regulations, ensuring high-quality meals for patrons.
- Restocked supplies and prepared additional ingredients during downtime for expected busy periods.
- Managed inventory for kitchen supplies, contributing to cost-effective operations.
- Assisted in reducing kitchen waste through careful portion control measures.
- Operated standard kitchen equipment with focus on safety and sanitation.
- Reduced cross-contamination risks by strictly adhering to sanitation protocols when handling allergens.
- Promoted accident prevention through proper and acceptable levels of sanitation and cleanliness of kitchen.
- Tasked with removal of garbage and refuse, mopping and sweeping floors and washing walls.
- Streamlined dishwashing processes, enabling a faster turnaround time for serving customers.
- Maintained swift pace of work to meet business demands for cleaning and supplies storage.
- Followed proper handling and sanitation procedures to comply with food safety standards and protocols.
- Plated and presented food following chef requirements.
- Labeled and stored all food items correctly and checked expiration dates routinely.
- Learned other teammates' work tasks to train as backup.
- Cleaned and maintained work areas, equipment and utensils.
- Washed, peeled and cut various foods such as fruits and vegetables to prepare for cooking or serving.
- Stocked and rotated food items according to expiration dates.
- Loaded dishes, glasses and tableware into dishwashing machines.
- Maintained high personal grooming standards and uniform presentation.
- Reduced kitchen accidents by maintaining high standards of cleanliness and organization.
- Followed food safety practices and sanitation guidelines.
- Sanitized pots, pans, utensils, kitchen appliances and equipment using company-approved cleaning supplies.
- Assisted in setting up and breaking down kitchen stations.
- Cleaned and organized kitchen stations to promote team efficiency.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Maintained clean, trash-free workspaces to maximize productivity and safety.
- Transported food items from storage areas to kitchen for prepping.
- Prepared sandwiches, salads and other specialty items according to customer specifications.
Cook/Cashier Helper
McDonald's Restaurant
Monteagle, TN
06.2020 - 04.2023
- Prepared and cooked meals according to standardized recipes and portion control guidelines.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of kitchen workstations, ensuring compliance with health regulations.
- Assisted in inventory management by tracking ingredient usage and requesting supplies as needed.
- Collaborated with team members to deliver timely service during peak hours, enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Operated kitchen equipment safely, adhering to operational protocols and safety standards.
- Participated in daily prep tasks, contributing to overall efficiency of kitchen operations.
- Maintained clean and organized work areas at all times to bring safety and quality to food preparation process.
- Maintained a clean and sanitary workspace, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Prepared meals efficiently under time constraints for timely service during peak hours.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Managed time by organizing and prioritizing kitchen duties to prepare and serve food quickly.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction, and repeat business.
- Checked for quality, kept track of old and new items and rotated stock to confirm freshness of food and ingredients.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches, and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
- Took food orders from cashiers and cooked items quickly to complete order items together and serve hot.
- Reduced food waste significantly by implementing proper portion control and storage techniques.
- Created identical dishes numerous times daily with consistent care, attention to detail, and quality.
- Maintained well-stocked stations with supplies and spices for maximum productivity.
- Managed time effectively to ensure timely meal preparation, even during peak hours.
- Developed and maintained clean and organized kitchen workspace, setting standard for team.
- Maintained food safety and sanitation standards.
- Kept kitchen clean and organized by performing daily maintenance tasks.
- Restocked inventory and ingredient items to maintain optimal kitchen efficiency.
- Managed opening and closing shift kitchen tasks.
- Prepared and served various food items in fast-paced environment.
- Responded promptly to requests for assistance, spills and customer inquiries.
Waitress/Kitchen Helper
Close to Home
Altamont, TN
10.2019 - 05.2020
- Provided attentive service to customers, ensuring a positive dining experience.
- Assisted in menu navigation, offering recommendations and answering questions about food and beverages.
- Maintained cleanliness of tables and dining area, adhering to health and safety standards.
- Processed orders accurately using point-of-sale system, ensuring timely delivery to customers.
- Collaborated with kitchen staff to ensure efficient communication regarding order status and special requests.
- Answered customers' questions, recommended items, and recorded order information.
- Processed orders and sent to kitchen employees for preparation.
- Shared knowledge of menu items and flavors, enabling customers to make personal decisions based on taste and interest.
- Inspected dishes and utensils for cleanliness.
- Helped customers with dietary restrictions, allergies and intolerances obtain safe, delicious food by working closely with kitchen staff on alternatives.
- Followed supervisor instructions to complete tasks on time.
- Cleaned and organized kitchen stations to promote team efficiency.
- Scraped, washed and efficiently restacked dishware, utensils, and glassware to keep kitchen ready for customer demands.
- Chopped vegetables, cut up fruit, and prepared sauces when kitchen staff was busy.
- Followed recipes and chef instructions to prepare food correctly.
- Cleaned and sanitized dishes and utensils, consistently keeping adequate supplies on hand for expected customer loads.
- Maintained clean, trash-free workspaces to maximize productivity and safety.
- Transported food items from storage areas to kitchen for prepping.
- Prepared sandwiches, salads and other specialty items according to customer specifications.
Education
High School Diploma -
Faith Missionary
Gruetli-Laager, TN07-2022
Skills
- Chef support
- Dishwashing
- Safe food handling
- Kitchen equipment operation
- Food storage protocol
- Meal presentation
- Food safety
- Food preparation
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- Food preparation mastery
- Ingredient preparation
- Food storage
- Portion control
- Trash removal
- Surface cleaning
- Cleaning and sanitation
- Food quality standards
- Supply restocking
- Chopping vegetables
- Kitchen organization
- Sanitation and sterilization procedures
- Verbal and written communication
- Stock rotation
- Trash removal and recycling
- Equipment cleaning
- Food safety measures
- Sanitation procedures
- Food portioning
- Hygiene standards
- Waste management and recycling
Timeline
Kitchen Help
Hanks Corner
11.2025 - Current
Cook/Cashier Helper
McDonald's Restaurant
06.2020 - 04.2023
Waitress/Kitchen Helper
Close to Home
10.2019 - 05.2020
High School Diploma -
Faith Missionary