Culinary Prep Specialist (Prep Cook)
The Cedric Frazier Experience Catering Kitchen + Cafe is a scratch kitchen and high-end catering company located in Red Oak, Texas. We specialize in elevated food, professional presentation, high-quality ingredients, and memorable guest experiences. Our kitchen supports daily cafe service, catering orders, private events, and special culinary productions.
We are looking for a dependable and detail-oriented Culinary Prep Specialist (Prep Cook) to support our kitchen team with food preparation, scratch-made recipes, catering production, organization, and daily kitchen operations.
Position Summary
The Culinary Prep Specialist is responsible for preparing ingredients, recipes, sauces, sides, proteins, vegetables, and other menu items needed for cafe service and high-end catering production. This role is essential to keeping the kitchen organized, prepared, and operating efficiently.
Because we are a scratch kitchen with elevated catering standards, this position requires someone who can follow recipes accurately, work cleanly, move with urgency, and understand the importance of consistency, portioning, labeling, and presentation.
Catering, banquet, event, or high-volume prep experience is strongly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Prepare ingredients and menu items according to recipes, prep lists, and production standards.
Wash, peel, cut, chop, slice, marinate, season, portion, and organize ingredients for daily service and catering production.
Assist with scratch-made sauces, sides, dressings, marinades, soups, salads, proteins, vegetables, desserts, and other menu components.
Support high-end catering production by preparing food in advance for events, private orders, and special menus.
Follow detailed prep lists, production sheets, catering timelines, and instructions from kitchen leadership.
Measure, portion, label, date, and store food properly according to kitchen standards.
Maintain consistency in taste, texture, appearance, portion size, and recipe execution.
Assist with packing, organizing, staging, and labeling food for catering orders and off-site events.
Maintain a clean, sanitized, and organized prep station throughout the shift.
Follow all food safety, sanitation, cooling, storage, labeling, and temperature-control procedures.
Monitor ingredient levels and communicate low-stock items or prep needs to kitchen leadership.
Assist with receiving, stocking, rotating, and organizing inventory using proper FIFO practices.
Keep refrigerators, dry storage, prep areas, shelves, and kitchen equipment clean and organized.
Support line cooks, culinary production team members, and leadership during service or event preparation as needed.
Assist with dishwashing, cleaning, trash removal, sweeping, mopping, and general kitchen duties as assigned.
Represent the brand with professionalism, teamwork, cleanliness, and a commitment to excellence.
Required Qualifications
Previous prep cook, kitchen prep, catering prep, banquet prep, or food production experience preferred.
Experience in a scratch kitchen preferred.
Ability to follow recipes, prep sheets, production lists, and instructions accurately.
Basic knife skills and knowledge of safe food handling.
Strong attention to detail, cleanliness, organization, and consistency.
Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
Ability to multitask and prioritize prep needs based on daily production demands.
Must be dependable, punctual, and professional.
Must be able to work well with a team and take direction from kitchen leadership.
Must be available Thursday through Sunday, with flexibility for catering and event schedules.
Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Catering, banquet, private event, wedding, or corporate event prep experience.
Experience with high-volume food preparation.
Experience preparing food for scratch kitchen or chef-driven menus.
Experience with portioning, labeling, packaging, and staging food for catering orders.
Knowledge of FIFO, food rotation, temperature logs, and sanitation standards.
Food Handler or ServSafe certification preferred.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal Culinary Prep Specialist is reliable, organized, clean, and detail-oriented. They understand that strong prep is the foundation of a successful kitchen. They take pride in accurate recipe execution, clean workstations, proper labeling, and consistent food quality.
This person should be comfortable working in a scratch kitchen environment and supporting high-end catering production where timing, organization, presentation, and professionalism matter.
Work Environment
This position works in a commercial kitchen environment and may support both cafe operations and catering production. The role may include standing for long periods, lifting, bending, carrying, working around hot or cold equipment, handling sharp tools, and completing repetitive prep tasks.
Schedule
Availability is required during business operating days and hours:
Thursday–Saturday: 12:00 PM–7:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Additional prep, catering, and event hours may be required based on bookings, production needs, and special events.
Why Join Us
Work with a growing culinary and catering brand.
Be part of a scratch kitchen with elevated standards.
Gain experience in cafe service, catering prep, event production, and high-end food preparation.
Join a team focused on quality, presentation, professionalism, and guest experience.
Pay: $15.00 - $20.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
