Garde Manger & Restaurant Consultant
Michael’s Ristorante (Shared kitchen with Pennini’s)
Moraga, CA
September 2013 – August 2015

Worked in a dual role as garde manger and restaurant consultant at Michael’s Ristorante, a local establishment sharing kitchen space with Pennini’s. Prepared all cold dishes and select appetizers using homemade sauces and locally sourced ingredients, maintaining high-quality standards in a compact kitchen environment. Later served as a consultant to the owner, supporting menu development, marketing strategy, and operational improvements.

• Menu Development: Introduced new items that became popular with regular customers and remain on the menu today.
• Market Expansion: Helped extend brand visibility beyond the local area through strategic networking and community outreach.
• Marketing Strategy: Designed promotional campaigns to attract new clientele and boost customer engagement.
• Staff Training: Developed onboarding protocols to streamline employee integration and maintain service consistency.
• Workflow Optimization: Recommended kitchen workflow improvements that reduced prep time and improved efficiency across shifts.
• Culinary Execution: Maintained high standards in cold dish preparation, emphasizing freshness, presentation, and ingredient quality.