Prep Cook

HOMETOWN COFFEE & JUICE • Glencoe, IL

12d • Onsite

About The Position

As a Prep Cook, you’ll be a key part of our kitchen team by making sure ingredients, recipes, and food items are prepared accurately, safely, and efficiently. This role is essential to keeping the kitchen running smoothly throughout the day. You’ll follow recipes, portion ingredients, maintain organization, and uphold food safety standards so the team can execute service with consistency and quality.

Requirements

• Ability to stand and move around the kitchen for long periods.
• Comfortable lifting up to 50 pounds and working in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Strong knife skills, organization, and attention to detail.
• 1–2 years of prep or kitchen experience preferred, but we are happy to train the right person.
• Knowledge of food safety practices required.
• Ability to work efficiently, independently, and as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

• ServSafe certification preferred or required upon hiring.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of assigned prep tasks and ensure all items are prepared to recipe standards.
• Complete daily prep lists accurately, efficiently, and within expected timelines.
• Maintain consistency in portioning, labeling, storage, and presentation.
• Keep your prep area clean, organized, and stocked throughout the shift.
• Be flexible and willing to support other areas of the kitchen as needed.
• Work closely with kitchen leadership and teammates to ensure prep needs are completed on time.
• Follow direction, communicate clearly, and ask questions when clarification is needed.
• Support a positive, respectful, and collaborative kitchen environment.
• Follow recipes, batch guidelines, and production standards carefully.
• Use proper FIFO, labeling, dating, storage, and rotation practices.
• Follow all sanitation and food safety procedures.
• Maintain strong knife skills, attention to detail, and safe equipment handling.
• Prepare high-quality ingredients and menu components that support a consistent guest experience.
• Understand that strong prep work directly impacts speed, accuracy, and quality during service.
• Follow portion control standards to minimize waste and protect food cost.
• Use ingredients efficiently and communicate low stock, quality issues, or prep concerns to leadership.
• Assist with inventory organization and storage as needed.
• Learn: Has received training and calibration on our culture and values.
• Teach: Can explain and model those values for others.
• Live: Brings those values and culture to life every day.

Benefits

• Be part of a supportive and collaborative kitchen team.
• Build strong culinary, prep, and food safety skills.
• Play an essential role in keeping the kitchen organized, efficient, and successful.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed