Main Kitchen - Cook II

Valley View Casino & Hotel•Valley Center, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Cook II safely prepares food items according to menu specifications and standard recipes in a quick, timely, and accurate manner. The role supports Valley View Casino & Hotel’s Standards of Excellence, maintains positive guest relations, and contributes to guest satisfaction through courteous, personalized service. The Cook II provides guidance to team members, organizes and delegates assignments, and trains lower-level cooks in proper equipment use. The position works closely with Cook III, Assistant Room Chefs, and Room Chefs, and participates in cooking, preparation, plating, and assembly across different line locations. The Cook II maintains food quality and cost controls, follows first-in, first-out product rotation, labels and dates products, keeps the station stocked and clean, and complies with sanitation, health-code, hand-washing, and safety procedures. The role requires knowledge of food products, recipes, measurements, cooking techniques, base sauces, stocks, and soups, as well as attention to consistent preparation and plate presentation. The casino operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the Cook II must be flexible to work any and all shifts. Working conditions include exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, temperature changes, occasional outdoor conditions, and wet or humid conditions. Native American hiring preference applies. Employment is not a contract, and management may assign other duties or revise the job description.

Requirements

Three years of experience as a Cook in a high-volume restaurant environment.
Demonstrated proficiency in braising, sautéing, broiling, and poaching.
Demonstrated proficiency using a slicer, mixer, robo coupe, tongs, chef’s knife, bread knife, paring knife, steel, high-heat spatula, turner, and whisk.
Ability to demonstrate basic knife skills and identify pan and knife types.
Knowledge of sanitary practices and the MSDS program.
Possession of the basic tools needed to perform Cook duties.
Working knowledge of weights, measures, and cooking techniques.
Reading and math skills for recipes and measurements, including the ability to perform arithmetic with whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Effective communication and organizational skills.
Ability to follow written, oral, or diagram-based instructions using commonsense understanding.
Ability to stand on hard surfaces for extended periods and tolerate extreme hot and cold temperatures.
Ability to stand for most of the shift; regularly lift or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 100 pounds.
Ability to meet the described physical demands, including clear vision; talking and hearing; sitting and using hands; standing, walking, reaching, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and tasting or smelling.
Must apply for, receive, and maintain a Gaming License from the Tribal Gaming Agency.
Must successfully pass a drug screening test and applicable auditions or skill testing.
Must be flexible to work any and all shifts because the casino operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Formal culinary training.

Responsibilities

Prepare food items according to standard recipes and menu specifications, ensuring speed, accuracy, and consistency.
Maintain positive guest relations, resolve guest complaints, and provide courteous, personalized service.
Provide direction, instruction, and guidance to team members; organize and delegate assignments to meet deadlines.
Train lower-level cooks in proper equipment use.
Communicate regularly with Cook III, Assistant Room Chefs, and Room Chefs.
Apply appropriate cooking techniques and prepare base sauces, stocks, and soups.
Participate with staff in cooking, preparing, plating, and assembling food, and work the line in different locations.
Operate kitchen equipment, including slicers, steamers, deep fryers, ovens, broilers, grills, mixers, kettles, and flat tops.
Prepare order lists for recipe preparation and perform assigned side work, including replenishing and restocking the workstation.
Follow food-cost and quality-control procedures.
Rotate products using first-in, first-out practices and label and date products for safekeeping and sanitation.
Check the station before, during, and after shifts for proper setup and cleanliness.
Follow health codes, hand-washing guidelines, and safety procedures, and encourage team members to do the same.
Maintain picture-perfect plate presentation and a solid knowledge of food products.
Conduct responsibilities professionally and ethically and maintain consistent, regular attendance.
Perform other duties as assigned by management.
Apply for, receive, and maintain a Gaming License from the Tribal Gaming Agency.
Successfully pass applicable auditions or skill testing and a drug screening test.