Stephen Smith
Marietta,GA
Summary
Dynamic culinary professional with extensive experience at Miltons Cocktail Cuisine, excelling in high-volume food preparation and innovative menu development. Proven expertise in food safety and sanitation, complemented by strong problem-solving skills. Successfully reduced food waste while enhancing customer satisfaction through tailored dining experiences and exceptional service.
I'm a very well rounded in many different environments from fine dining, cooking to movie catering and storm catering will explain more during an interview
Done everything in the kitchen from dishwashing to menu planning
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Add'l Chef Asst
Frankie's Catering
04.2024 - Current
- Oversaw grill, stove, and oven, and cleaned equipment after every shift.
- Checked freezer and refrigerator prior to each shift to verify correct temperatures.
- Maintained well-organized mise en place to keep work consistent.
- Placed orders to restock items before supplies ran out.
- Prepared meals from scratch using authentic, popular recipes to generate repeat business.
- Successfully met dietary requirements for diverse clientele by providing customized meal options upon request.
- Cleaned and organized kitchen stations to promote team efficiency.
- Helped chefs prepare and present food to event guests with strong attention to detail and presentation expertise.
- Set up and broke down event spaces efficiently, ensuring timely completion of tasks while minimizing disruption to guests.
- Contributed to positive work environment by offering support and assistance to colleagues during peak times.
- Supported chef in recipe testing, helping to innovate and improve catering menu offerings.
- Followed food safety practices and sanitation guidelines.
- Maintained composure and work quality while under stress.
Sous Chef
Miltons Cocktail Cuisine
01.2022 - 03.2024
- Managed food preparation tasks during high-volume service periods, ensuring all orders were executed in a timely manner without sacrificing quality or presentation standards.
- Trained kitchen staff to perform various preparation tasks under pressure.
- Planned and directed high-volume food preparation in fast-paced environment.
- Managed inventory levels effectively, resulting in reduced food waste and cost savings for the establishment.
- Collaborated with executive chef to develop innovative menu items, leading to increased guest return rates and positive reviews.
- Implemented proper cleaning procedures, ensuring a safe and sanitary kitchen workspace compliant with health department regulations.
- Assisted in budget planning and cost management efforts, helping the establishment maintain profitability without sacrificing quality or service standards.
- Coordinated with front-of-house staff to ensure cohesive dining experience, addressing any customer concerns with prompt and effective solutions.
- Implemented food cost and waste reduction initiatives to save money.
Storm Catering
Catering Cajun
01.2019 - 10.2020
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Thrived in high-pressure situations.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Streamlined catering operations by efficiently managing inventory and food ordering processes.
- Orchestrated catering operations for large-scale events, ensuring timely and high-quality service.
- Showcased culinary skills across diverse cuisine styles, catering to varied tastes and preferences of patrons.
- Monitored crew of 10+ people to feed 2000+ people during hurricane relief
Kitchen Manager
Southern Proper Hospitality
03.2017 - 05.2019
- Maintained a clean and safe work environment, adhering to all health department regulations and guidelines.
- Scheduled and received food and beverage deliveries, adhering to food cost and budget.
- Checked and tested foods to verify quality and temperature.
- Mentored and trained new team members, fostering a positive culture of teamwork and collaboration within the kitchen staff.
- Conducted daily checks of refrigerators and freezers to verify proper food storage, container labeling, and surface cleaning.
- Reviewed and analyzed kitchen performance to verify gaps and observe continuous improvement.
- Created and deployed successful strategies to boost restaurant performance, streamline food prep processes and reduce waste.
- Conducted regular training sessions on food safety and allergen awareness, enhancing staff knowledge and customer trust.
- Coordinated with front-of-house staff to ensure seamless service delivery during peak hours.
- Kept facility compliant with health codes, sanitation requirements and license regulations, alleviating potentially heavy fines.
- Managed staff schedules and maintained adequate coverage for all shifts.
Education
Na - Culinary
La Cordon Bleu
Decatur, GA08.2017
Skills
- Food safety and sanitation
- Customer service
- Knife skills
- Cooking techniques
- Ingredient knowledge
- Banquets and catering
- Made-to-order meals
- Butchery skills
- Company quality standards
- Vegan cooking
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Kitchen crew training
- Catering events
- Fine-dining expertise
- Complex Problem-solving
- Recipes and menu planning
- Grilling techniques
Certification
Serve safe
Timeline
Add'l Chef Asst
Frankie's Catering
04.2024 - Current
Sous Chef
Miltons Cocktail Cuisine
01.2022 - 03.2024
Storm Catering
Catering Cajun
01.2019 - 10.2020
Kitchen Manager
Southern Proper Hospitality
03.2017 - 05.2019
Na - Culinary
La Cordon Bleu