Prep Cook

Prep Cook - Retail Cafe - Orinda

The Prep Cook plays a key role in supporting the café's daily operations. This position ensures all food items are prepared with consistency, quality, and care. A successful Prep Cook values food safety, follows recipes with precision, and contributes to a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen environment.

Food Preparation & Quality:

• Prep all cold and hot food items using prep worksheets and standardized recipes.
• Assemble dishes to spec, ensuring consistent quality and presentation.
• Cut, peel, wash, and prepare produce.
• Follow proper knife safety procedures at all times.
• Operate ovens and hot prep equipment; ensure proper time/temp for all hot and cooked foods.
• Maintain strict adherence to food safety and quality standards to prevent cross contamination.
• Follow standardized recipes precisely — including those developed off-site by the culinary team — to ensure consistent flavor, portioning, and guest experience.

Kitchen Maintenance & Safety:

• Maintain clean, food-safe prep stations, dishes, and overall kitchen environment.
• Assist with dishwashing and cleaning tasks throughout the shift.
• Take full responsibility for maintaining a clean and organized back-of-house area.

Service & Operations Support:

• Receive and follow through on daily prep lists and orders.
• Support floor operations as needed, including running food to the counter or dining areas.
• In cafés without a full kitchen or stove, prepare basic recipes using pre-developed culinary guides.
• In locations where the Prep Cook is the sole back-of-house team member, take on a wider range of duties including food running, detailed cleaning tasks, and general support to keep operations flowing smoothly.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Some food preparation experience preferred.
• Ability to follow instructions, take direction, and work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Sense of urgency and a hospitable attitude toward guests and coworkers.
• Ability to maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, leadership, and customers.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Must maintain a current state-issued Food Handler Card.
• Must be 16 years of age or older.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, and hear.
• The employee frequently has to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• The employee also must use hands to handle, feel, and reach.
• Must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for periods of up to 4 hours in length.
• Required to frequently wash hands and may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a kitchen and may be working near co-workers.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Hazards may include, but are not limited to, cuts, slipping, and tripping.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience.