Banquet Lead Cook

8 S. Nevada Avenue
Colorado Springs , CO 80903

About The Opportunity

Practice Hospitality is seeking an experienced and hands-on Banquet Lead Cook to join the team at the Mining Exchange Hotel.

About The Hotel

Mining Exchange Hotel was built in 1902 as a stock exchange for local mining companies, The Mining Exchange Hotel offers a one-of-a-kind experience in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs. Our elegant, yet casual public spaces, and guestrooms are all newly renovated.

Job Role

The Mining Exchange Hotel is seeking a talented and experienced Banquet Cook Lead to join our culinary team. This role is critical to the success of our banquet operations, ensuring high-quality food preparation, presentation, and execution for a variety of events, including weddings, corporate meetings, galas, and holiday celebrations. The Banquet Cook Lead will oversee a team of cooks, contribute to menu development, and ensure consistent food quality in a high-volume, fast-paced kitchen.

Responsibilities

• Refer to Daily Prep List at the start of each shift. Assign, coordinate, and supervise the set-up and food production areas within the service kitchen to maximize productivity and minimize waste.
• Pull all food needed for daily production from walk-in box and utilize all leftovers as per guidelines and with the help of the Executive Chef to minimize waste.
• Check daily use records with the Executive Chef or Sous Chef to make sure that estimates are filled in correctly and make sure that production is following these estimates as closely as possible.
• Knows and complies consistently with our standard portion sizes, cooking methods, quality standards and kitchen rules, recipes, policies, and procedures.
• Stock and maintain enough levels of food products at line stations to assure a smooth service period.
• Handle store, label, and rotate all products properly and in accordance to applicable state laws.
• Participate in food, health and safety inspections and audits.
• Attend all associate meetings, come up with sound suggestions on team members problems and promote and maintain effective communication between all the food production areas within the kitchen.
• Attend all associate meetings, come up with sound suggestions on associate problems and promote and maintain effective communication between all the food production areas within the kitchen.

• Lead and support the banquet culinary team in preparing, cooking, and plating dishes for events.

• Ensure all food is prepared and presented according to hotel standards and banquet event orders (BEOs).

• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and Sous Chef on menu planning, recipe development, and inventory management.

• Maintain exceptional food safety and sanitation standards in accordance with health regulations.

• Train, mentor, and supervise banquet line cooks and prep staff.

• Monitor food quality, portion sizes, and presentation for consistency and excellence.

• Communicate effectively with event staff to ensure seamless execution and guest satisfaction.

• Maintain a clean and organized kitchen environment.

• Assist with receiving and storing food supplies and help manage waste to minimize cost.

• Assist culinary management in administrative and personnel related matters, including; scheduling, time clock reviews, overtime, performance, discipline, investigations, training and development, etc.
• Prepares food as outlined on Banquet Event Order
• Provides food preparation assistance by washing, peeling, cutting, and seeding vegetables and fruits; cleaning, cutting, and grinding meats, poultry, and seafood
• Provides foodstuffs and utensils for chef by carrying pans, kettles, and trays of food to and from workstations, stove, and refrigerator
• Maintains safe, secure, and healthy work environment by cleaning work areas, equipment and utensils; segregating and removing garbage; steam-cleaning or hosing garbage containers; following sanitation standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations
• Keeps supplies and foodstuffs ready by inventorying stock; requisitioning supplies and foodstuffs; verifying receipt; storing
• Keeps equipment operating by following operating instructions; troubleshooting breakdowns; maintaining supplies; performing preventive maintenance; calling for repairs
• Complete opening and closing checklists.

• Work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on event schedules.

• Any other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications & Skills

• High School diploma or equivalent experience; may have current enrollment
• Previous food preparation experience in a restaurant setting
• Prior training and/or experience in hands-on equipment maintenance
• Comprehensive knowledge of food preparation and demonstrated ability to understand sanitation related issues and precautions necessary to ensure a clean food preparation environment
• Strong knowledge of operating industrial sized ovens and cooking ranges. Possess knowledge of preparing different types of cuisines, relishes, soups, and salads. Have a basic understanding of professional cooking and knife handling skills. Understand and knowledge of safety, sanitation, and food handling procedures. Must have manual coordination to punch buttons, grasp items in hand, and carry containers loaded with food and liquids
• Must be flexible regarding scheduling based on business demands
• Successful completion of criminal background check

Desired Qualifications & Traits

• Previous leadership experience
• Proven teamwork
• Projects professional image that inspires trust and confidence
• Enthusiastic and positive energy
• Multi-tasking ability

Physical Requirements

• Able to lift up to 15 lbs.
• Able to bend, stretch, and twist
• Able to stand for long periods of time

Job Type: Full Time- Non-Exempt

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount on hotel stays
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Hospital indemnity insurance
• Eligible to participate in the Employee Referral Bonus Program.

About The Company

Practice Hospitality manages hotels differently. A growing company with opportunities for advancement, we infuse hotels with style, spirit, and soul. We inspire, innovate and advocate. We deliver results and do well by our owners because we respect the individuality that we all bring to the table, the connectedness of our world and the impact we have on our community.

We are looking for someone who thinks big because, at Practice Hospitality, we value creativity, emotional intelligence, problem solving and innovation. This is an opportunity to be an integral part of a team that supports one another, is empowered, and holds themselves accountable. If you bring your A game every day and pursue excellence with tenacity, we want to invest in your professional and personal growth. But, more than anything, we are looking for good humans who care; about our guests, each other and making every moment together enriching, fulfilling and fun.