Cook

Primary Purpose:

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Cook to join our team at Personal Care Senior Living in Columbia Heights. As a valued member of our small assisted living and memory care community, this role plays a key part in creating a warm, home-like environment for our residents. The Cook is responsible for preparing nutritious, well-balanced meals, accommodating special dietary needs, and contributing to a positive dining experience that brings comfort and joy to those we serve. The ideal candidate takes pride in their work, enjoys connecting with residents, and understands the important role that quality meals play in overall health and well-being.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare and serve daily meals in accordance with planned menus and dietary needs
• Ensure meals are nutritious, appealing, and served in a timely manner
• Accommodate special diets and physician-ordered restrictions
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe kitchen environment
• Follow all food safety and sanitation guidelines
• Assist with menu planning and inventory as needed
• Engage positively with residents and staff to enhance the dining experience

Qualifications:

• Previous cooking experience preferred (healthcare or senior living a plus)
• Knowledge of basic nutrition and special diets
• Strong attention to cleanliness and food safety
• Dependable, team-oriented, and compassionate

Other Specialized Knowledge and Abilities:

This position requires incumbent to have:

• A service-oriented mindset.
• Good verbal communication skills.
• Ability to understand and relate well to senior adults.
• Ability to read and complete necessary paperwork.

Essential Job Functions & Tasks:

Receiving and Storage of Food Service Products.

• Receive and examine foodstuffs and supplies for quality and quantity.
• Place foodstuffs and supplies in dry storage, refrigerator, cooler and/or freezer to ensure food safety.
• Utilize proper storage containers.
• Properly label and date storage containers.
• Record food and supply shortages.

Food Production.

• Be familiar with weekly menu.
• Pull food, as needed, according to weekly menu.
• Prepare meals according to daily meal census.
• Read and adjust recipes as needed.
• Utilize food preparation tools, equipment and appliances.
• Weigh, measure, mix, bake and cook ingredients.
• Apply personal knowledge and experience in food preparation.
• Minimize waste.

 Safe Food Handling Skills and Practices.

• Practice strict personal hygiene
• Monitor and document time and temperature of food and appliances daily.
• Thaw food properly, including pulling food from freezer prior to needing it.
• Keep raw products and ready to eat foods separate.
• Avoid cross-contamination.
• Cook to required minimal internal temperatures.
• Hold hot foods at 1400 F or above and cold food at 410 F or below.
• Cool cooked foods properly.
• Reheat to internal temperature of 1650 F for 15 seconds.

Customer Service and Meal Presentation.

• Meet daily mealtime schedule.
• Practice proper portion control.
• Plate meal attractively.
• Attractively garnish plates.
• Maintain high quality food standards.

Sanitation of Food Service Area.

• Clean and sanitize work areas.
• Maintain an organized clean work area.
• Assist with general cleaning to maintain a safe, clean kitchen.
• Dispose of trash in proper areas.
• Recycle cans, plastic, and cardboard in proper areas.

Operation and Maintenance of Facility, Equipment and Appliances.

• Properly operates all equipment in the kitchen.
• Notify Chef Supervisor of equipment failure and malfunction.
• Demonstrate a strong respect for facility and supplies.

Other Support Functions and Tasks.

• Coordinate with Chef Supervisor to complete work schedule for Wait Staff.
• Oversee Wait Staff, including training, giving direction, and documenting.
• Demonstrate to the regulating authority knowledge of food-borne disease, prevention, application of the hazard analysis critical control point principles and the requirement of the Minnesota Food Code.
• Order, as needed, supplies including food, bread, paper products, and chemicals.
• Document and communicate with Chef Supervisor or Manager any incident reports for emergencies or accidents for self, other employees, or residents.

Other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to minimal.
• Inside work while assisting residents.
• Minimal exposure to Blood borne Pathogens, Infectious Diseases.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes or airborne particles.
• Exposure to extreme cold and extreme heat.
• Exposure to unpredictable people, behaviors, situations and pets.
• Exposure to illnesses and frailties of residents.