Benjamin Mills
Edmonton,AB
Summary
Dedicated Chef with a history of multi-unit Management, competent in menu and recipe building. Knowledgeable in team building and retention. Offering a successful career history comprising more than 17 years.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Chef
Craft Beer Market
04.2024 - 06.2025
- Developed kitchen staff through training, disciplinary action, and performance reviews.
- Maintained a safe and sanitary work environment, adhering to health department standards and regulations.
- Oversaw business operations, inventory control, and customer service for restaurant.
- Scheduled and received food and beverage deliveries, adhering to food cost and budget.
- Inventoried food, ingredient, and supply stock to prepare and plan vendor orders.
Regional Executive Chef
Bearhill Brewing
02.2023 - 10.2023
- Created three locations menus, including recipe and production
- Responsible for hiring and team development
- Assisted operators in scheduling and tracking labor
- Coordinated with other departments such as purchasing, accounting, human resources.
- Oversaw budgeting and cost analysis to ensure maximum profitability.
- Established relationships with local vendors to secure optimal pricing for ingredients.
- Organized special events such as banquets, buffets, weddings.
- Analyzed food, labor and overhead costs to assign menu pricing.
Executive Chef
Last Best Brewing & Distilling (Bearhill Brewing)
04.2022 - 02.2023
- Created menus, including recipes and production
- Responsible for hiring and team development
- Responsible for scheduling and tracking labor
- Displayed friendly, outgoing, and energetic behavior to create a warm, fun atmosphere
- Brought food cost down from 36% down to 27% in my first two months
- Created processes to streamline all programs in the kitchen.
- Managed kitchen staff, ensuring all employees followed health and safety regulations.
- Implemented strategies to reduce waste while maintaining product quality.
- Supervised daily operations including food preparation, inventory management, and staffing levels.
Executive Chef
Banff Ave Brewing Co./The Lodge (Bearhill Brewing)
03.2020 - 10.2021
- Closed and reopened with an entire menu revamp through covid
- Renovated and opened a new restaurant
- Created menus for two kitchens, including recipes and production
- Responsible for hiring and team development
- Responsible for scheduling and tracking labor
- Displayed friendly, outgoing, and energetic behavior to create a warm, fun atmosphere
- Corrected past issues to bring food and labor cost into proper margins
- Created processes to streamline all programs in the kitchen.
- Analyzed financial reports to identify areas for improvement in sales, profitability, and productivity.
Executive Chef
Bonterra Trattoria/Posto Pizzeria
08.2012 - 10.2019
- Cooked or directly supervised cooking of items requiring skillful presentation.
- Maintained high standards for quality control and sanitation practices.
- Reduced food costs by expertly estimating purchasing needs and buying through approved suppliers.
- Managed kitchen staff, ensuring all employees followed health and safety regulations.
- Implemented strategies to reduce waste while maintaining product quality.
- Checked kitchen staff’s worked hours for payroll compilation to submit to accounting.
- Evaluated current trends in cuisine styles while keeping up with industry innovations.
Education
Culinary Apprenticeship
SAIT
Calgary, AB01-2008
Skills
- Menu Item Preparation
- Proper Food Handling
- Order Delivery Practices
- Restaurant Industry Trends Awareness
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Catering and Events
- Inventory Control
- Recipe Development
- Food safety
- Menu planning
- Cost control
- Menu development
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The majority of my training was in casual fine dining establishments. I spent some time in 2021/2022 cooking through southern Europe. If you would like to see the rest of my culinary background, feel free to reach out.
Timeline
Executive Chef
Craft Beer Market
04.2024 - 06.2025
Regional Executive Chef
Bearhill Brewing
02.2023 - 10.2023
Executive Chef
Last Best Brewing & Distilling (Bearhill Brewing)
04.2022 - 02.2023
Executive Chef
Banff Ave Brewing Co./The Lodge (Bearhill Brewing)
03.2020 - 10.2021
Executive Chef
Bonterra Trattoria/Posto Pizzeria
08.2012 - 10.2019
Culinary Apprenticeship
SAIT