Overview
Work History
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Aiden Howson

Ottawa,ON

Overview

6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Kitchen Lead • Line Cook • Pass Coordinator

El Camino
Ottawa, Ontario
05.2023 - Current
  • Ran the pass during dinner rushes — ensured flow, plating quality, and communication across BOH and FOH
  • Prepped and executed dishes across the raw station, including tuna tartare, papaya salad, and lamb birria
  • Took ownership of plating aesthetics and timing during peak hours
  • Trained new hires on standards, flow, and rhythm of the kitchen
  • Trusted with the kitchen’s most timing-sensitive and visible station

Overnight Server & Bartender

Zaks Diner
Ottawa
07.2023 - 01.2025
  • Served full sections and bar guests during high-traffic overnight shifts in a busy downtown diner
  • Handled late-night crowd dynamics with patience, consistency, and a sense of humor
  • Balanced dine-in, bar, and takeout while maintaining pace and accuracy with minimal staffing
  • Built strong regulars and held down the overnight shift reliably for over a year and a half

Produce & Prep Department Supervisor

Farm Boy
Kingston, Ontario
02.2021 - 05.2023
  • Held a hybrid role across the Produce and Production departments, balancing FOH service with high-volume prep work
  • Supervised day-to-day counter service during peak hours; led customer interactions, POS operations, and food handoff with speed and professionalism
  • Prepped meals and produce for the hot foods counter and ready-to-go sections, ensuring quality, portioning, and presentation standards
  • Trained and guided new staff across both departments to maintain pace, cleanliness, and product rotation
  • Managed inventory checks, organized stock, and helped coordinate cross-department workflow to keep service smooth and shelves full

Age Compliance & Retail Auditor

Intouch Insight
Ottawa, Ontario
09.2019 - 03.2023
  • Posed as a regular customer to test staff at LCBO, Beer Store, and national chains on real-world ID checks and service habits
  • Evaluated how employees handled high-pressure, split-second decisions involving legal sales
  • Audited floor cleanliness, customer engagement, and policy execution without being noticed
  • Reported findings that directly influenced training, operations, and licensing compliance

Skills

  • Quick, intuitive table management
  • Smooth under pressure, even when it’s slammed
  • Confident handling of POS and payments
  • Experience with solo shifts and closing duties

Certification

  • SmartServe
  • Food Handler Certification

Timeline

Overnight Server & Bartender

Zaks Diner
07.2023 - 01.2025

Kitchen Lead • Line Cook • Pass Coordinator

El Camino
05.2023 - Current

Produce & Prep Department Supervisor

Farm Boy
02.2021 - 05.2023

Age Compliance & Retail Auditor

Intouch Insight
09.2019 - 03.2023
Aiden Howson