Prep Cook - Full time - Part time

Hope The Mission•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce, and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions. Our mission is to meet our participants' needs through an individualized and non-judgmental approach. The Prep Cook is responsible for preparing ingredients, chopping vegetables, and assisting in meal preparation. They ensure a clean and organized workstation and kitchen, manage inventory, and may handle basic cooking tasks. Attention to detail and adherence to hygiene and safety standards are crucial in this role. Most of the work will be high volume production. This position is a part of our kitchen staff working with Line Cooks, Lead Cooks and reports to the Chef de Cuisine.

Requirements

Experience: 2+ years of culinary experience; high volume production preferred
Commitment to serving the needs of homeless families and individuals
Food handler certification
High school diploma or GED preferred
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Drug and TB testing required. Background check required

Responsibilities

Ingredient Preparation: Wash, peel, and chop vegetables, fruits, and other food items. Measure and portion ingredients according to recipes
Knife Skills: Possess proficient knife skills to ensure accurate and efficient food preparation
Organization: Maintain a well-organized and clean workspace, including proper storage of ingredients and labeling
Assisting Chefs: Support chefs and kitchen staff in various cooking tasks, ensuring timely and smooth meal preparation
Inventory Management: Monitor and manage inventory levels, alerting the chef-in-charge when supplies are running low
Food Safety: Adhere to strict hygiene and safety standards, including proper food handling, storage, and sanitation practices
Equipment Handling: Operate kitchen equipment such as slicers, food processors and blenders safely and efficiently
Recipe Adherence: Follow recipes and guidelines to maintain consistency in food quality, taste, and presentation
Communication: Coordinate with other kitchen staff to ensure seamless workflow and timely completion of tasks
Clean-Up Duties: Assist in post-meal service clean-up, including dishwashing when necessary
Flexibility: Adapt to changes in menu or kitchen priorities and assist in various kitchen duties as needed
Team Collaboration: Work collaboratively with the kitchen team to achieve overall kitchen goals and maintain a positive working environment
Time Management: Efficiently manage time to meet food preparation deadlines and maintain a smooth kitchen operation
Quality Control: Monitor the quality of ingredients and finished dishes, reporting any issues to the chef-in-charge
Create sauces, marinades and mixes in accordance with company recipes, techniques and standards
Decorating assistance: preparing icing, glazes, toppings and decorate on cakes, muffins and baked goods
Able to operate, maintain and clean kitchen equipment including scales, ovens & stove tops
Maintain kitchen equipment, tools and utensils ensuring they are clean and in good working condition
Ability to read and follow recipes
Be a team player and have a great positive attitude
Able to effectively collaborate with team members, supervisors and other staff.
Have excellent organizational skills and time management skills; be able to function under time constraints and deadlines with attention to detail
Must be able to multitask and prioritize daily tasks list
Maintain a clean and sanitary workstation
Organize and clean all kitchen areas including dry storage, refrigeration and freezer storage
Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons
To ensure a functional and hygienic environment, inspect and clean all equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas
Must be able to work in a standing position for extended periods of time
Must be able to carry, lift, push, and pull up to 50lbs
Must be able to regularly bend and stoop
Must be able to work weekends and holidays
Must follow strict requirements about food safety
Assist with other teams as needed
Assist with inventory management: restock ingredient bins and notify supervisors of any low stock items
Assist with staff meal and special events as needed
Assist with cooking food according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served
Work with volunteers and workers who help in meal preparation and service.
Follow strict food safety regulations to maintain a safe environment for all.
Perform any other tasks assigned with a positive attitude and a willingness to help.