Monique Cruz
San Diego
Summary
Creative, detail-driven Private Chef with a foundation in both fine dining and wellness-focused home cooking. With experience spanning private households, fast-paced kitchens, and culinary branding through social media, I specialize in globally inspired, clean, and customized cuisine. Known for my professionalism, discretion, and the ability to create restaurant-quality dishes in any settingwhether for meal prep, intimate gatherings, or special occasions.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Private Chef (Freelance)
01.2020 - Current
- Serve private clients with personalized menus, weekly meal prep, and event catering services.
- Focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and dietary preferences, maintaining high flavor and presentation standards.
- Manage all culinary logistics including sourcing, menu planning, grocery shopping, kitchen sanitation, and cleanup.
- Built loyal clientele through word-of-mouth and Instagram presence.
Sous Chef
Miss B's Coconut Club
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Worked in a high-volume, fast-paced tropical-inspired restaurant focused on Caribbean fusion cuisine.
- Responsible for hot line execution, prep, plating, and quality control under pressure.
- Honed speed, knife skills, and teamwork in a dynamic open-kitchen environment.
- Trained kitchen staff to perform various preparation tasks under pressure.
- Managed food preparation tasks during high-volume service periods, ensuring all orders were executed in a timely manner without sacrificing quality or presentation standards.
Line Cook
Taco Brat
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Assisted with prep and line execution in a scratch kitchen focused on Latin-German fusion.
- Supported new menu rollouts and worked closely with the kitchen team to maintain consistency and quality.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction, and repeat business.
- Collaborated with team members to maintain a clean and safe working environment, adhering to health and safety guidelines.
Education
Bachelors In Arts - Culinary Arts
The Art Institute of Orange County
Orange County 01.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
California State University
San Bernardino01.2007
Skills
- Customized meal plans (vegan, Whole30, gluten-free, dairy-free)
- International cuisine: Latin-inspired, coastal California, Caribbean fusion
- Wellness-forward cooking: anti-inflammatory, detox, and performance menus
- Small event catering, in-home service, & private dining
- Cooked for musicians, influencers, and high profile individuals
- Full kitchen operation: sourcing, prep, cleanup, menu development
- Food presentation
- Culinary expertise
- Menu planning
Websites
Certification
ServSafe Certified - Valid through 2025
Timeline
Private Chef (Freelance)
01.2020 - Current
Sous Chef
Miss B's Coconut Club
01.2018 - 01.2020
Line Cook
Taco Brat
01.2017 - 01.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
California State University
Bachelors In Arts - Culinary Arts
The Art Institute of Orange County
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