Banquet Cook

Company Overview:

Castaway, recognized as one of Travel + Leisure's "Best Date Spots in America," offers a distinctive dining experience where both guests and team members are treated like stars. Our seasonally inspired menu showcases premium cuts of meat sourced from top-tier butchers, an exquisite raw bar, vegetable-forward sides, and customizable charcuterie boards. Castaway has garnered numerous prestigious accolades, including being named one of the "Most Romantic Restaurants in LA" by Thrillist, LA Weekly, Gayot, Yelp, OpenTable, and NBC.

At Castaway, our mission is to continuously innovate and deliver a five-star experience to our team members, guests, and the community. SRC is committed to fostering internal growth, collaboration, and teamwork, while creating a positive and supportive work environment. We are excited to welcome our next valued team member to join us in this pursuit.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a talented and dedicated Banquet Cook to join our culinary team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for cooking, a strong work ethic, and the ability to excel in a dynamic, high-pressure kitchen environment. As a Banquet Cook, you will play a vital role in preparing dishes based on established recipes, contributing to the seamless operation of our daily culinary services. You will be responsible for preparing a diverse range of dishes for banquets, weddings, corporate events, and other special occasions. This role requires exceptional attention to detail, advanced culinary skills, and the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced setting.

Top-notch benefits:

• Paid Sick Time renewed yearly
• Accrued Paid Vacation Time
• Management Referral Program with up to a $4,000 payout for qualifying management positions
• Employee Meals
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to assist with work life balance
• Moral (PRIDE) Program- rewarding employees with a variety of prizes for those who exemplify the company's values.
• Numerous opportunities for growth and advancement
• Full time employees qualify for comprehensive health plans, employer-paid life insurance, supplemental benefit plans, 401k with annual employer match after 12-month employment
• Opportunities to grow your career with a clear path for advancement
• Plus, more!

Compensation: $19 - $21 / hour

Responsibilities:

• Prepare and cook a wide variety of dishes for banquets and special events, including appetizers, main courses, desserts, and side dishes.
• Follow standardized recipes and portion sizes to ensure consistency and maintain high-quality standards.
• Collaborate with the Banquet Chef and kitchen team to ensure the timely preparation and delivery of food for events.
• Monitor food quality and presentation to ensure all dishes meet the establishment's standards of excellence.
• Maintain a clean, organized workspace that exceeds Health Department standards.
• Work with the kitchen team to optimize operations and enhance efficiency in banquet food production.
• Communicate effectively with servers, event planners, and other team members to ensure seamless execution of banquets and events.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a banquet cook.
• Strong proficiency in a variety of cooking techniques, ingredients, and kitchen equipment.
• Ability to thrive under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to collaborate effectively within a team.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as dictated by event schedules.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a passion for creating high-quality dishes that exceed guest expectations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards, with a commitment to maintaining a clean and hygienic kitchen.
• Ability to lift and carry heavy kitchenware, pots, pans, and equipment.
• Positive attitude, creativity, and a willingness to learn and adapt to new challenges.

Physical Demands:

• Frequent lifting, moving, and carrying of kitchenware, cleaning equipment, food boxes, garbage, etc., weighing up to 45 pounds in the back of house (BOH).
• Regular and prolonged standing and walking to prepare food, clean workstations, and handle other responsibilities.
• Repetitive motions involving wrists, hands, and fingers.
• Constant bending, stooping, and turning to place dishes in machines or other tasks.
• Continuous exposure to hot and fluctuating temperature environments.

Disclaimer:

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected for this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and recognize that people are our greatest asset. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender, ancestry, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Specialty Restaurants Corporation maintains a drug-free workplace and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with local, state, and federal law.

All job offers are contingent upon successfully passing pre-employment background check