Kitchen 1 Chef/Sous Chef in New Orleans, Louisiana | Careers at Westin New Orleans - Westin New Orleans

Compensation Type

Highgate Hotels

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing Caribbean and Latin America footprint. The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Chicago, Dallas, London, Miami, and Seattle. www.highgate.com.

Location

Situated at the end of famed Canal Street, The Westin New Orleans offers stunning views of the mighty Mississippi River and the French Quarter. Guests are just steps from the Shops at Canal Place and Harrah’s Casino and a short walk to the excitement of Bourbon Street and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The hotel features 462 rooms and suites, including a Presidential Suite, with Westin's signature Heavenly® bedding, 34,000-sq-ft of event space, a fully equipped WestinWORKOUT fitness center, a lobby bar Observatory 11 with the best view of the French Quarter anywhere, and a new restaurant Bistro at the Bend.

Overview

The Sous Chef is responsible for ensuring that all meals coming from the kitchen are well prepared with regard to quality, consistency, eye appeal, taste and food cost.  He/she is expected to provide training for all staff; meet corporate quality standards; and assist in establishing and enforcing food specifications, portion control, recipes and sanitation.  The Sous Chef is also responsible for controlling food and labor costs while maximizing guest satisfaction.

Responsibilities

Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.

Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.

Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.

Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.

Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.

Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.

Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.

Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.

Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing nametags.

Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.

Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.

Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.

Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.

Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.

Perform other duties as requested by management.

Work with other F&B managers and keep them informed of F&B issues as they arise.

Keep immediate supervisor fully informed of all problems or matters requiring his/her attention.

Coordinate and monitor all phases of Loss Prevention in kitchen areas.

Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.

Monitor quality of all food product and presentation.

Ensure preparation of required reports, including (but not limited to) Wage Progress, payroll, revenue, employee Schedules, quarterly actions plans.

Oversee all aspects of the daily operation of the kitchen and food production areas; hot food from the main kitchen and bakery, and cold food from the pantry.

Make cooks aware of daily forecasts and customer counts so that they can be adequately prepared to serve both hot and cold food on time.

Respond to guest complaints in a timely manner.

Ensure compliance with SOP’s in all outlets.

Ensure compliance with requisition procedures.

Conduct staff performance reviews in accordance with Highgate Hotel standards.

Understand, implement and monitor corporate promotions in outlets, including buffet and three-meal concept standards.

Know and enforce all local health department sanitation laws.

Know how to compute daily food cost.

Work with the Director of F&B to create and implement menus.

Assess food portion size, visual appeal, taste and temperature of items served.

Check all stations at the end of every shift for proper food storage and sanitation.

Check food purchases for proper ordering, quality and price structure.

Oversee daily activities such as preparation for all food items, sanitation of the outlets, receiving daily inventories, log-on report and food cost report.

Prepare daily food production sheets.

Cut meat, poultry, seafood according to daily business.

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of related progressive experience; or a culinary graduate with at least 2 years of progressive experience in a hotel or a related field.
• Must have knowledge of F&B preparation techniques, health department rules and regulations, liquor laws and regulations.

• Long hours sometimes required.
• Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.