Kimberley Katandika
Abbotsford,British Columbia
Summary
Driven by a passion for culinary excellence, I leveraged my ingredient preparation and creative thinking skills at Benguela Cove, enhancing menu quality and kitchen efficiency. My adeptness in sanitation practices and relationship building significantly contributed to a safer, more productive environment, achieving a notable increase in customer satisfaction.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Cook's Assistant
Jane Njongu MCC Coordinator
Abbotsford, BC
06.2024 - Current
- Followed recipes closely for consistent taste, quality and presentation.
- Washed, peeled, and cut fruits and vegetables in advance to save time on food preparation.
- Worked on salads, desserts and meat preparation to increase kitchen speed.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Monitored food quality and temperature for safe consumption.
Arranging in Linen
Lili Thiessen Volunteer Coordinator
Abbotsford, BC
06.2024 - Current
- Established strong relationships with clients, providing exceptional support throughout the entire project lifecycle.
- Contributed to revenue growth by identifying opportunities for upselling and cross-selling of liner products and services.
- Reduced liner repair time with diligent maintenance and proactive problemsolving.
Prep Cook or Vegetable Cutters
Joel Pasma General Manager
Abbotsford, BC
06.2024 - Current
- Maintained clean, hygienic kitchen workspace by sweeping, mopping, and taking out trash.
- Set up and prepared cooking supplies and workstations during opening and closing to maximize productivity.
- Washed, peeled, and cut fruits and vegetables in advance to save time on food preparation.
- Contributed to a positive work atmosphere through effective communication and teamwork among staff members.
- Maintained optimal food quality by adhering to strict guidelines for food safety and sanitation.
- Preserved freshness of food by storing food in designated containers and storage areas within freezer or refrigerator.
- Operated dishwasher and manually washed dishes to clean all chinaware, silverware, and cooking utensils.
Chef Assistant
Benguela Cove Manager
South Africa
01.2017 - 02.2023
- Prepared and cooked quality meals in high-volume, fast-paced service environments.
- Followed recipes and instructions to achieve quality and presentation standards.
- Maintained a clean and organized workspace, adhering to strict sanitation guidelines for a safe kitchen environment.
- Assisted head chef in menu planning for optimal ingredient utilization and minimized food waste.
- Used variety of kitchen tools and appliances to prepare ingredients and meals.
- Prepped ingredients ahead of time to increase cooking and service speed.
- Supported senior chefs with creative meal planning and recipe development.
- Wrapped, dated, and stored food in refrigerators under standardized temperature for future uses.
- Verified food temperatures and quality ahead of service to maintain standards.
- Provided support during special events and catering functions, ensuring consistent quality across all offerings.
- Cleaned and maintained work areas, equipment and utensils.
- Stocked and rotated food items according to expiration dates.
- Followed food safety practices and sanitation guidelines.
- Washed, peeled and cut various foods such as fruits and vegetables to prepare for cooking or serving.
- Prepared sandwiches, salads and other specialty items according to customer specifications.
- Reduced kitchen accidents by maintaining high standards of cleanliness and organization.
- Monitored food temperature, discarding items not stored correctly.
- Loaded dishes, glasses and tableware into dishwashing machines.
- Lifted and carried heavy materials.
- Maintained high personal grooming standards and uniform presentation.
- Assisted in setting up and breaking down kitchen stations.
Education
Certificate - Hospitality And Tourism Management
Warwick Chef Shool
South Africa 08.2018
Certificate - Hospitality And Tourism Management
Herentals College Educational Institution
Zimbabwe 12.2007
Skills
- Cleaning and sanitation
- Food Preparation
- Ingredient Preparation
- Safe Food Handling
- Food handling guidelines
- Knife Skills
- Sanitation Practices
- Supply Ordering
- Food presentation
- Cooking techniques
- Plating and presentation
- Menu item preparation
- Ingredient Identification
- Stock Rotation
- Nutrition understanding
- Quality Control
- Portion Control
- Special Diets Knowledge
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- Sweeping and Mopping
- Food Storage
- Workplace Safety
- Problem-Solving
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Creative Thinking
- Kitchen Equipment Operation
- Vegetable and Fruit Preparation
- Supply Restocking
- Kitchen Station Restocking
- Chopping vegetables
- Food preservation and storage methods
- Grilling
- Sauce and Soup Cooking
- Salad Creation
- Temperature Monitoring
- Relationship Building
- Food Portioning and Packaging
- Safe handling
- Meat Preparation
- Dishwasher Operation
- Decision-Making
- Food Handler Certification
- Sauce and Dressing Creation
- Salad Bar and Buffet Maintenance
- Seafood Preparation
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Cook's Assistant
Jane Njongu MCC Coordinator
06.2024 - Current
Arranging in Linen
Lili Thiessen Volunteer Coordinator
06.2024 - Current
Prep Cook or Vegetable Cutters
Joel Pasma General Manager
06.2024 - Current
Chef Assistant
Benguela Cove Manager
01.2017 - 02.2023
Certificate - Hospitality And Tourism Management
Warwick Chef Shool
Certificate - Hospitality And Tourism Management
Herentals College Educational Institution