Garde Manger / Cold Food Associate 1

Abby's Catering•Houston, TX

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Cold Food Associate prepares, assembles, and portions cold food items according to Abby’s Catering recipes, airline specifications, and presentation standards. This role supports daily production by following HACCP guidelines, maintaining accurate documentation, and ensuring each item meets strict quality and safety expectations. The associate works in a refrigerated environment and collaborates closely with the Production Supervisors and fellow kitchen staff to support efficient, on-time order fulfillment within a 24/7 operation. This position reports to the Production Supervisor – Cold Food in the Culinary Production Department.

Requirements

Ability to work in a cold environment (36°F) for extended periods.
Ability to work rotating shifts, holidays, weekends, and overtime as needed.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy in portioning and recording.
Ability to read/interpret menu cards, portion charts, and loading diagrams.
Reliable, punctual, and able to work independently.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. (no sponsorship).
Food Handler Certificate required.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
Previous kitchen, culinary, or food-handling experience a plus.
Airline catering experience preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Follow all food safety, HACCP, and traceability requirements daily.
Maintain accurate production logs and immediately report any deviations.
Adhere to all required PPE, personal hygiene, and sanitation standards.
Ensure all work performed meets airline regulatory standards.
Maintain a safe, hazard-free workspace at all times.
Properly handle, clean, and sanitize food prep tools, utensils, and equipment.
Set up and maintain organized workstations throughout the shift.
Report equipment issues to leadership promptly.
Support continuous improvement in workflow efficiency and cleanliness.
Prepare, portion, and assemble cold food items according to recipes, specs, and diagrams.
Follow detailed loading instructions, menu cards, and portion guides.
Label, date, and rotate inventory using FIFO methods.
Maintain high accuracy to minimize waste and ensure 100% order completion.
Work collaboratively with Supervisors to meet kitchen departure times for all flights.
Maintain a clean, safe, and organized cold-food production area.
Support other production tasks as assigned.
Promote teamwork and a respectful, positive work environment.