Restaurant Cook - Dana Point

Mothers Market•Dana Point, CA

15h•$22 - $26

About The Position

The Restaurant Cook at Mother’s Market has a passion for creating flavorful, scratch-made sauces and composed dishes for a high-quality hot bar program. This role is responsible for producing consistent, visually appealing, and delicious prepared foods that meet our standards for freshness, quality, and presentation. The ideal candidate understands batch cooking, speed, and consistency while maintaining chef-driven flavor and creativity. The Restaurant Cook helps deliver nutritious, flavorful meals that reflect Mother’s Market’s commitment to healthy living. Wage Range: $22-$26/hour

Requirements

2+ year’s experience as a line cook or chef in high-volume kitchen, hot bar, or catering/buffet environment
Strong knowledge of sauce-making fundamentals (stocks, reductions, emulsions, gravies, plant-based sauces, etc.)
Ability to execute batch cooking while maintaining high culinary standards
Understanding of seasoning, flavor balance, and presentation
Experience with scratch cooking and fresh ingredients preferred
Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards
Ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed

Nice To Haves

Speed with precision and consistency
Strong palate and attention to flavor
Organized and production-minded
Team-oriented with positive attitude
Passion for quality prepared foods and hospitality
Creative but disciplined with recipes and systems
Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced kitchen environment
Dependable and self-motivated
Ability to maintain full, fresh visually appealing hot bar at all service times
Ability to create signature sauces and dishes that drive repeat customers
Ability to execute consistently and have minimal waste
Ability to maintain clean organized kitchen and have strong food safety standards

Responsibilities

Prepare a variety of hot bar ready dishes including proteins, vegetables, grains, and composed entrées
Create and execute scratch-made sauces, gravies, broths, and dressings to elevate hot bar offerings
Follow recipes and production plans while maintaining consistent flavor, quality, and portioning
Set up, maintain, and refresh hot bar items to ensure peak presentation and food safety
Monitor food quality, temperature, and freshness throughout service
Collaborate with kitchen leadership on menu development, seasonal specials, and daily features
Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient workstation
Follow all food safety, sanitation, and health department standards
Manage prep lists, production schedules, and minimize food waste
Assist with ordering, inventory, and proper product rotation as needed
Promote Mother’s Market values, including wellness, sustainability, and community
Work collaboratively with kitchen and store teams