Kareena Dhalla

Accomplished culinary professional with expertise in meal planning and food safety, honed at Foxview Retirement Community. Proven leader in training kitchen staff and coordinating vendor relations. Adept at recipe development and maintaining kitchen organization, ensuring high-quality service. Successfully reduced food costs by 15% while enhancing operational efficiency and resident satisfaction.

• Kitchen Assistant, KFC Restaurant, Jalandhar, 06/2021 - 12/2021, Prepared food, enforced safe and guidelines, Provided superior customer service fluently during high-volume times., Maintained kitchen organization and cleanliness to enhance operational efficiency.
• Kitchen Staff, Tim Hortons, Ottawa, ON, 03/2022 - 09/2022, Prepared and served food items to high-volume, fast-paced restaurants., Maintained low unit costs on food and provided high quality control to all work while maintaining the sanitation requirements of safe food., Helped with taking customer orders and requests, giving them great service.
• Line Cook, German Bistro, Ottawa, ON, 10/2023 - 12/2024, Providing a selection of precision German and european recipes, Collaborating with the head chef on a seasonally driven menu.
• Line Cook, EL Camino, Ottawa, ON, 01/2025 - 04/2025, Cooked Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and burritos., Kept the workstation clean and followed food safety rules., Worked with a team to prepare and serve food quickly., Checked food quality and restocked ingredients as needed.
• Team Lead, Tahini's, Ottawa, ON, 01/2025 - 05/2025, Prepared traditional dishes such as shawarma, biryani, kebabs, and hummus., Maintained cleanliness and food safety in all kitchen areas., Supported team during busy hours to ensure fast, quality service., Monitored food prep and restocked fresh ingredients daily.
• Head Cook, Foxview Retirement Community, Ottawa, ON, 03/2025 - Present, Planned and prepared nutritious meals tailored to residents' dietary needs., Trained and guided kitchen staff to maintain high food quality., Coordinated meal service times to ensure timely delivery to residents., Handled food orders and worked with vendors to maintain kitchen stock.
• Security Operator, Giant Tiger Head Office, Ottawa, ON, 02/2025 - Present, Monitored security cameras and alarm systems to ensure site safety., Responded to security incidents and reported suspicious activity., Controlled access to the building and verified employee credentials., Logged daily activity and maintained detailed security reports.
• Warehouse Associate, Amazon, Ottawa, ON, 07/2022 - 02/2023, Managed inventory and operation of automated fulfillment for large warehouse operations., Maintained proper packaging and timely shipping of orders., Adhered to warehouse organization while following safety protocols.

• WHMIS, 2023
• OHSA, 2023
• BASIC.fst, 2023
• Allergen Training, 2023
• First Aid & CPR, 2023
• Fire Safety Certification, 2023
• Smart serve, 2024

• Participated in culinary workshops focusing on international cuisines and plating techniques, 2023
• Regularly attend seminars on food safety, customer service, and workplace efficiency.

• Top Performer Award, KFC, Jalandhar, India, 2021, Praised for providing outstanding service and upholding strict food safety regulations in a hectic setting.
• Award for Creative Indian Street Food Fusion Dishes, Chandigarh Street Food Festival, 2019
• Acknowledgment for Service to Langar Seva, 2020, During India's divine breaks.

• Culinary experience, Advanced knowledge and ability to perform all culinary techniques recognized by MBWA, food safety regulations as well as general rules of working in a kitchen area. Experienced in fast food and full service restaurant environments.
• International Work Experience, Worked at Tim Hortons, a German restaurant in quick-service kitchen settings, and amazon warehouse logistics for 8 months where I learnt managing time effectively and being organised.
• Leadership, Prior experience managing kitchen teams on busy nights; ability to ensure food is prepared in a timely manner, keep the kitchen area organized and clean.
• Certification in Workplace Safety, Certified in WHMIS, OHSA and Fire Safety to adhere to workplace standards.

• Volunteer Chef at Langar Seva (Community Kitchen), India prepared and served food to thousands of attendees during festivals and religious gatherings.
• Develop a strong following in India and abroad by posting Indian fusion recipes and cooking advice on a personal blog.
• Arranged for and delivered food parcels to low-income households during the pandemic.
• Culinary Enthusiast attending food festivals and cooking classes to learn about other cuisines around the world, with an emphasis on combining Indian flavors with other cuisines.