Steven Emery Jr.
Mankato
Summary
Seasoned culinary professional with extensive experience in food preparation, safety and service. Dedicated to demonstrating strong work ethic, through preparation of high quality foods in fast paced environments for 20+ years in the food industry.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
2001
2001
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Lead Cook
Sodexo Dining MSU
Mankato
09.2022 - 09.2025
- Ensured cleanliness and organization of workstations to meet health standards.
- Monitored food quality during production to uphold high standards across all dishes.
- Prepared and cooked full-course meals following restaurant recipes and specifications.
- Trained new hires on food handling and safety protocols to enhance operational efficiency.
- Supervised food presentation and plating to elevate visual appeal for guests.
- Reduced food waste through effective portion control.
- Trained new cooks on food safety standards and cooking techniques.
- Coordinated with front-of-house staff to streamline service during peak hours.
- Implemented sanitation practices to uphold health department regulations in the kitchen.
- Completed workstation set up and break down, properly disposing of leftover food.
- Monitored quality of all cooked items throughout the day to guarantee high standards were maintained.
- Kept stations stocked and ready for use to maximize productivity.
- Retained consistent quality and high accuracy when preparing identical dishes every day.
- Supervised staff in daily kitchen duties, including prepping ingredients, cooking meals, and cleaning up after service.
- Ensured compliance with health safety regulations while preparing meals and maintaining a sanitary work environment.
- Prepared dishes in fast-paced environment working with teammates to maintain high customer satisfaction rate.
- Provided guidance during meal rushes in order to maintain an organized workflow within the kitchen area.
- Discussed safe operations of kitchen equipment, regulating temperatures and cooking times.
- Stood in for other members of kitchen staff.
- Oversaw food preparation processes to ensure that orders were completed accurately and efficiently.
- Grilled and deep fried various foods from meats to potatoes.
- Inventoried kitchen sections and refilled supplies.
- Adjusted recipes as needed to accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies of customers.
- Collaborated with management team to develop new recipes and update existing ones in order to improve the overall dining experience.
- Washed, sliced, peeled and cut various foods to prepare for cooking or serving.
- Inspected kitchen areas regularly for cleanliness; instructed staff members on sanitation protocols when necessary.
- Trained new cooks on proper techniques for preparing dishes according to recipes.
- Filled specialized menu orders.
- Double-checked plated meals for last-minute changes before sending to dining room.
- Evaluated customer feedback regarding taste, presentation, temperature accuracy, speed of service.
- Prepared garnishes for later use in meal production.
- Adhered strictly to company guidelines concerning safety procedures when handling hot surfaces or sharp objects.
- Organized frequent tasting sessions with chefs in order to assess the quality of dishes being served.
- Kept kitchen, cooking utensils and storeroom clean and neat.
- Followed recipes and procedures to prepare, season and cook food products.
- Sanitized counters and utensils used for preparation of raw meat, poultry, fish and eggs.
- Served as lead cook, guiding and assisting training of less experienced cooks.
- Communicated with kitchen employees, answered questions and offered insight into food preparations.
- Operated variety of kitchen equipment to measure and mix ingredients.
- Trained kitchen workers on culinary techniques.
- Followed "first in, first out" rule with every food and beverage item, tossing outdated and expired food products.
- Enforced strict health and hygiene standards in the kitchen and work areas.
- Trained new kitchen staff on cooking techniques and kitchen procedures.
- Developed and executed menu items, maintaining consistency with restaurant's culinary standards.
- Conducted regular quality control checks to ensure all dishes met hygiene and taste standards.
- Ensured compliance with all relevant laws and regulations regarding food safety.
- Cleaned and sanitized kitchen equipment, utensils and work stations.
- Monitored temperatures of prepared food and cold-storage areas.
- Prepared workstations with ingredients and tools to increase efficiency.
Line Cook
Perkins Family Restaurant
Mankato
09.2015 - 06.2020
- Prepared and cooked menu items following established recipes and presentation standards.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of kitchen equipment and work areas.
- Assisted in training new kitchen staff on food preparation techniques and safety procedures.
Education
General Equivalency Diploma
Mankato, MNSkills
- Food preparation and cooking techniques
- Sanitation and food safety
- Knife skills and cutting techniques
- Workstation setup and organization
- Time management and efficiency improvement
- Team collaboration and communication
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Quality control and food presentation
- Ingredient preparation and inspection
- Kitchen equipment management
- Food safety
- Meal preparation
- Time management
- Sanitation practices
- Allergen safety
- Food presentation
- Large-scale food preparation
- Kitchen sanitation
- Ingredient preparation
- Knife safety
- Food safety monitoring
- Ingredient knowledge
- Kitchen organization
- Food processing
- Spoilage prevention
- Special events
- Food preparation
- Plating techniques
- Culinary techniques
- Garnishing techniques
- Food allergy safety
- Baking and pastry
- Kitchen equipment operation and maintenance
- Inventory replenishment
- Grilling techniques
- Knife skills
- Food plating and presentation
- Cleaning and sanitation
- Food storage
- Cooking
- Dish preparation
Timeline
Lead Cook
Sodexo Dining MSU
09.2022 - 09.2025
Line Cook
Perkins Family Restaurant
09.2015 - 06.2020
General Equivalency Diploma