Prep Cook

Prep Cook

El Encanto Restaurants is hiring a prep cook to join our team! We are a family run restaurant who treats all of its employees like family! This position starts at $16.00 - $18.00 an hour. We offer benefits for full time employees and incentives like company parties, meal discounts, growth opportunities and major holidays off!

The prep cook at El Encanto is responsible for managing the preparation of a variety of food products including meats, seafood, poultry, vegetables, sauces, stocks, tacos, enchiladas, tamales, and other food products using a variety of equipment and utensils according to the daily prep list.

Primary responsibilities and duties include:

• Promote, work, and act in a manner consistent with the El Encanto mission statement and core values.
• Always arrive at least 5 minutes before your scheduled time and in a clean uniform.
• Immediately ask the kitchen manager or manager-on-duty about menu specials and any other product, menu issues you should be aware of.
• Refer to daily prep list at the start of each shift for assigned duties.
• Understand and comply with standard portion sizes, cooking methods, quality standards, and kitchen rules, policies, and procedures.
• Clean and sanitize work station area including tables, shelves, walls grills, broilers, fryers, pasta cookers, saut burners, convection oven, flat top range and refrigeration equipment.
• Store food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage.
• Prepare a variety of foods, such as meats, vegetables, or desserts, according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following approved procedures in broilers, ovens, grills, fryers and a variety of other kitchen equipment.
• Take and record temperature of food and food storage areas, such as refrigerators and freezers.
• Wash, peel, and cut various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.
• Place food trays over food warmers for immediate service, or store them in refrigerated storage cabinets.
• Portion according to standard portion sizes and recipe specifications and wrap the food, or place it directly on plates for service to guests.
• Weigh or measure ingredients.
• Mix ingredients for green salads, molded fruit salads, vegetable salads, and pasta salads.
• Receive and store food supplies, equipment, and utensils in refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage areas.
• Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers.
• Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed, and provide cooks with needed items.
• Carry food supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas.
• Use manual or electric appliances to clean, peel, slice, and trim foods.
• Promptly inform supervisors when equipment is not working properly and when food and supplies are getting low, and order needed items.
• Make special dressings and sauces as condiments for sandwiches.
• Stir and strain soups and sauces.
• Uses the standard recipe card for preparing all products; does not rely on the memory of oneself or others.
• Complete opening and closing checklists and assists others in opening and closing the kitchen.
• Attend all scheduled employee meetings and offers suggestions for improvement.
• Coordinate with and assist fellow employees to meet guests' needs and support the operation of the restaurant.
• Fill-in for fellow employees where needed to ensure guest service standards and efficient operations

Qualifications for the job include:

Efficiency and speed: A good prep cook must work quickly and efficiently so that our speed of service objectives are met while preparing food that meets our high standards of quality and plate presentation.

Organization: Since speed of execution is so important so is maintaining an organized work area. A good prep cook has the right tools and equipment ready when needed.

Focus on quality, pride in work: A prep cook's work is placed directly in front of our guests. The type of job performed by our prep cooks influences our guests' entire experience. Good prep cooks take great pride in serving great food and follow our high standards of quality and consistency on every product that leaves their station.

Always a team player: A good prep cook is always aware of what's happening on the prep and in the kitchen and is ready and willing to help others get the job done. You may be asked to work some shifts at another location.

Required/necessary skills include:

Ability to lift 20 lbs or more.

Willing to stand or walk for extended periods.

Availability to work evenings and on weekends, including holidays.

Physical strength required to include significant bending, carrying, reaching, lifting

Tools & technology:

Commercial use:

Blenders, choppers, cubers, dicers, grinders, processors, and/or slicers

Broilers, deep fryers, griddles, grills, microwave ovens, ovens, pizza ovens, ranges, rotisseries, steamers, and/or toasters

Cutlery

Dishwasher

Food warmers

Measuring cups

Mixers

Scales

Woks

Ice dispensers

Personal computers

Point of sale terminal

Roasting machinery