Norman E. Hargrove
****N. Kenmore Ave # ***, Chicago, IL, 60660 202-***-****
*********@*****.***
Objective To obtain a position as a Chef in a fun, friendly, yet
professional environment with room to express my
creativeness while continuing professional growth.
Experience Executive Chef
09/13- Present Nouveau Tavern, Chicago, IL
. Critical involvement in the restaurant opening process
. Kitchen layout and design with the limited space of an
existing kitchen
. Identify equipment needs; large, cookware, china,
flatware, glassware, and smallware
. Procuring vendors for the purchase of food, cleaning
chemicals and ice machines
. Menu development based on ownership's guidelines
. Create specials to display limited or different
ingredients and versatility in cooking style
. Costing recipes and pricing menu items
. Responsible for the day to day operations of the
kitchen.
. Hire and train Sous Chefs, cooks, and dishwashers
. Overseeing kitchen staff during production, and service
. Ensure guest satisfaction, and meeting or exceeding
guest expectations
. Scheduling and controlling labor maintained less than
15% cost
. Ordering and control food cost maintained near 27% cost
. Created an invoice log to track monthly food cost and
food sales
. Expedite during service to ensure quality and proper
plating
. Conduct staff yearly reviews and discipline employees
. Conduct internal sanitation audit, check the overall
cleanliness and sanitation of the kitchen, and make a
report to help prevent future violations
. Regularly make table visits, deliver food, interact with
guests to obtain guest feedback firsthand
Chef De Cuisine Pierrot Gourmet
06/12- 09/13 Peninsula Hotel Chicago, Chicago, IL
. Responsible for the day to day operations of the
kitchen.
. Overseeing kitchen staff during production, and service
. Ensure guest satisfaction, and meeting or exceeding
guest expectations
. Scheduling and controlling labor
. Ordering and helping control overall food cost
. Expedite during service
. Work stations during busy service.
. Conduct staff yearly reviews and discipline employees
. Train employees
. Menu development/ create specials
. Interview potential staff members,
. Terminate staff members
. Butchering
. Assist in internal sanitation audit, check the overall
cleanliness and sanitation of the kitchen, and make a
report along with an external sanitation auditor to make
to help prevent future violations.
Chef Consultant
09/11- 10/12 Caf Prague, Chicago, IL
. Identified and corrected issues with menu, and helping
to create unique dishes
. Identified health code violations and assisted in
corrections
. Trained cooks and owner on proper handling of food, and
trained owners on what to look for to help avoid
improper handling of food
. Suggested and physically assisted in demolition,
rebuilding, and restructuring of kitchen layout to
improve overall kitchen flow and performance
. Implemented systems to help ensure food safety
. Identified potential for theft, and loss of products,
both in the kitchen and bar areas
. Strongly suggested owners to be present or have a
manager present during service
. Overall improved ticket times, quality and safety of
food, guest satisfaction, and profitability
Sous Chef
01/08- 06/12 Peninsula Hotel Chicago, Chicago, IL
* Responsible for the "Hungry Dragon" (Employee Dining),
ensuring hotel staff's happiness, by creating meals that
are enjoyable to many cultural backgrounds.
* Oversee and train staff, food preparation and quality
* Menu creation, food ordering,
* Scheduling, cost both food and labor,
* Evaluate staff and give yearly reviews.
* Assist Banquet Chef in daily tasks, including execution of
prep, set-up for plate-ups and buffets
* Assigning duties to cooks and plating seated dinners a la
minut to insure total guests' satisfaction.
* Assist in internal sanitation audit, check the overall
cleanliness and sanitation of all the kitchens, make a
report along with an external sanitation auditor, and make
suggestions to help improve possible future violations.
Sous/Banquet Chef
02/06 - 03/07 Fort Myer's Officers' Club, Arlington, VA
* Main responsibility was to oversee banquet kitchen,
including, all food production from ordering to service,
and maintain the sanitation standards of kitchen.
* Assist Executive Chef in menu development for the
restaurant, requisition of food for day-to-day operations
for both main and banquet kitchens, checking quality of
food, ordering, training employees, and controlling food
and labor cost.
* Creating and developed a dessert program for VIP functions
and daily dinner service.
Sous Chef
05/04 - 01/06 Capital Restaurant Concepts' (CRC)
Washington, DC
Paolo's/Georgia Brown's
* Assisted in daily restaurant operations, ordering, weekly
and monthly inventory, kept food and labor costs in line,
and coding invoices
* Also responsible for training kitchen staff and overseeing
the preparation of food, expedited food orders, ensuring
quick smooth service, food quality, and consistency.
* Created daily specials and helped in menu development,
including creation of standardized recipe and costing
Education The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY
06/00 - 11/03
* Bachelor of Professional Studies, Baking and Pastry Arts
Management
* Received Perfect Attendance awards for Associate
program/overall GPA 3.07
Training ServSafe Certified, Interviewing, Progressive Disciplining,
Performance Management, Anti-Harassment
Interests Baking, cooking, and candy/chocolate making
References References are available on request.