Saul Ortiz Cruz
Lincoln,CA
Summary
Culinary professional with solid track record in creating exceptional dining experiences and managing high-volume kitchens. Adept at developing innovative menus and ensuring seamless kitchen operations. Known for collaborative approach and adaptability to dynamic environments, consistently delivering high-quality results.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Chef
Thunder Valley Casino
Lincoln, CA
06.2022 - 12.2025
- Directed culinary team with diverse, high-quality menus for various dining outlets.
- Implemented cost-control measures to optimize food and labor expenses while maintaining quality standards.
- Enforcing menu engineering and cost efficient strategies
- P&L literate with strong financial and budget management skills
- Help create new food programs to maximize customer satisfaction and revenue
- Overseeing a 40 million dollar food sales operation with multiple outlets/concepts
- Helped and collaborate to standardize food safety inspections with the FDA and IHS
- Food procurement/purchasing strategies
Executive Chef/Concept Creator
MGM Corporation
Las Vegas, NV
11.2018 - 06.2022
- Led culinary team in developing and creating modern Mexican menu items aligned with brand standards.
- Streamlined kitchen operations to enhance efficiency and reduce food waste.
- Implemented quality control measures to ensure consistent presentation and taste of dishes.
- Developed training manuals with allergens categories and ingredients
- Collaborated on the expansion of the concept by helping open three new restaurant locations, ensuring consistency in food quality, kitchen standards, and concept execution
- Maximized revenue while maintaining an excellent food cost and helped set record sales on 2021 FY
- Profit and Loss reports with action plans and forecasts
Corporate Executive Chef
Big Box Corporation
Las Vegas, NV
06.2008 - 11.2018
- Developed, coach and implemented innovative menu concepts and techniques
- Streamlined kitchen operations to enhance efficiency, maximize menu engineering and reduce waste.
- Collaborated with vendor on purchases to select quality ingredients while managing costs effectively.
- Helped expand brand/concept in multiple states with consistent food cost and food quality
- Maintaining all health department standards, HACCP plans and food safety inspections
- P&L literate, financial strategic and problem solver
- Mentor and developed culinary management in multiple states
Executive Chef
Treasure Island Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, NV
05.2004 - 05.2008
- Streamlined kitchen operations by introducing new procedures that increased efficiency during peak service hours.
- Maintained food quality, sanitation and safety
- Work along cooks on peak business hours to ensure a well executed service
- Monitored and maintained a HACCP plan on all food items
- Maintained budget friendly recipes
- Created daily specials with all flavor objectives and profiles
Education
High School Diploma - General Education
Earl Wooster High School
Reno, NV6 1993
Skills
- Food safety management
- Menu planning
- Budget management
- Goal-focused financial professional
- Menu development
- Results-oriented business perspective
- Fluent in two languages
Accomplishments
- Recognized for working with the FDA and IHS in standardizing health surveys for all Native tribes across California and the western united states.
- Created food concept for MGM Corporation which generated 9M on sales on the first year.
- Re-designed kitchen stations and equipment placement which increased productivity and enhanced workflow processes.
- Achieved low food waste by completing cost analysis and costing recipes with accuracy and efficiency.
- Supervised team of 130staff members and culinary managers.
Certification
- Certified Manager ServeSafe
- Licensed Century 21 realtor (national License)
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Executive Chef
Thunder Valley Casino
06.2022 - 12.2025
Executive Chef/Concept Creator
MGM Corporation
11.2018 - 06.2022
Corporate Executive Chef
Big Box Corporation
06.2008 - 11.2018
Executive Chef
Treasure Island Hotel & Casino
05.2004 - 05.2008
High School Diploma - General Education
Earl Wooster High School
Work History
01-2003