Santa Clara
Job Description Lead Cook Company: Handheld Catering & Events Location: Santa Clara, CA (In-Person) Job Type: Full-Time Pay Range: $26.00 – $35.00 per hour Benefits: 401(k) retirement plan, complimentary shift meals, and opportunities for professional growth. Shift: Primarily Day shifts (with flexibility required for nights, weekends, and holidays based on event schedules). About Handheld Catering Based in Santa Clara, Handheld Catering & Events is a premier, full-service catering company dedicated to creating remarkable culinary experiences. From farm-to-table corporate lunches to high-end weddings and special events, we pride ourselves on fresh ingredients, scratch cooking, outstanding presentation, and unparalleled hospitality. We are looking for an experienced, passionate, and driven Lead Cook to guide our kitchen team and help elevate our culinary execution. Position Overview As the Lead Cook, you will work under minimal supervision to accurately, efficiently, and independently prepare high-quality hot and cold food items across all meal periods (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Special/Catered Events). Combining advanced classical and contemporary cooking techniques, you will produce exceptional small- to large-batch goods. Key Responsibilities Culinary Execution & Prep • Advanced Cooking & Plating: Follow complex recipes and product directions to season, cook, taste, carve, and serve soups, meats, vegetables, bakery items, and desserts. Utilize advanced plating and garnishing techniques., • Kitchen Operations: Operate a variety of kitchen equipment with expert proficiency. Measure, mix, wash, peel, cut, shred, and trim fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, and seafood., • Specialized Dining: Select recipes per menu cycle and accommodate custom requests, including preparing meals for clients with specific dietary restrictions or allergies., • Quality Control: Taste products, read menus, estimate food requirements, check production quality, and maintain precise records to accurately plan production and requisition supplies. Kitchen Leadership & Supervision • Team Guidance: Serve as a mentor to the line and prep cooks, assisting in training, guiding, and assigning tasks to production staff., • Inventory Management: Receive food and beverage inventory, safely move and lift supplies, assist with inventory counts, and log data into the production system., • Station Ownership: Maintain immaculate, sanitized work stations. Ensure compliance with all Handheld Catering rules, safety procedures, and HACCP policies. Safety & Professionalism • Compliance: Attend all mandatory training, including allergy and foodborne illness prevention., • Risk Management: Promptly report all accidents or injuries, adhering to company safety standards., • Representation: Act as a professional ambassador for Handheld Catering, maintaining respectful relationships with coworkers, vendors, management, and clients. Qualifications & Requirements • Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional culinary experience (Required), with at least 4 years in a high-volume catering, hotel, or upscale restaurant environment., • Education: High School diploma, GED, or equivalent experience., • Technical Skills: Advanced knife skills and complete, operational knowledge of commercial kitchen equipment. Must be able to read, adapt, and execute complex recipes completely unsupervised., • Attributes: Maturity of judgment, a positive attitude, a high standard for personal appearance/grooming, and an active willingness to learn and grow., • Availability: Dependable attendance is crucial. Must have a flexible schedule with the ability to work day shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays as business necessities and event calendars dictate. Physical Requirements • Ability to stand and remain mobile for long periods of time (up to 8 hours per shift)., • Ability to reach, bend, stoop, push, pull, and frequently lift up to 35 pounds, and occasionally lift/move up to 40 pounds., • Close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus (with or without corrective lenses). Why Join Us? At Handheld Catering, we believe our food is only as good as the team making it. We provide a supportive, high-energy environment where your culinary creativity can shine, your leadership skills can develop, and your hard work is rewarded with competitive pay and solid benefits. To Apply: Please submit your resume and a brief summary of your culinary background. Handheld Catering is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Company DescriptionLocal catering company that makes everything from scratch using seasonal productsLocal catering company that makes everything from scratch using seasonal products