Cook

Cook

Department: Kitchen / Back of House
Reports To: Kitchen Manager / Chef / Food & Beverage Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Location: Kress Food Market, Downtown El Paso

Position Summary

The Kress embodies the culture, spirit, and traditions of downtown El Paso while offering a work environment focused on the overall employee experience. This Cook position may support one of our Kress hospitality concepts, including The Kress Diner, Sports Bar, or Cocktail Bar, based on business needs and placement. Team members have the opportunity to be part of a unique hospitality destination while enjoying growth opportunities across our family of businesses.

The Cook is responsible for preparing high-quality menu items quickly, safely, and consistently according to established recipes, standards, and ticket timing expectations. This role supports a fast-paced kitchen operation with a strong focus on food quality, station readiness, food safety, cleanliness, teamwork, and consistent plate presentation throughout each shift.

Key Responsibilities

Food Preparation & Cooking

• Prepare and cook menu items according to established recipes, portion standards, and presentation expectations
• Support preparation of items such as breakfast foods, burgers, sandwiches, salads, sides, appetizers, sauces, daily specials, and other menu offerings as assigned
• Read tickets accurately, prioritize orders by timing, and coordinate with teammates so items are completed together and served at the proper temperature
• Maintain quality, urgency, accuracy, and consistency during peak business periods, events, and high-volume rushes
• Monitor product quality, freshness, portioning, temperatures, and waste, and notify management when inventory or product quality concerns arise

Station Setup, Stocking & Ticket Flow

• Set up, stock, organize, and maintain assigned stations before, during, and after service
• Work assigned stations such as grill, fryer, flat top, pantry, prep, expo, and other production areas as needed
• Maintain appropriate par levels for ingredients, supplies, tools, and backup products
• Communicate timing, shortages, special requests, and service needs clearly with kitchen teammates, front-of-house team members, and management
• Assist with prep lists, batch cooking, sauce preparation, event prep, receiving, organizing deliveries, rotating stock, and following first-in, first-out inventory practices

Food Safety, Sanitation & Equipment Use

• Follow proper food handling, storage, labeling, cooling, reheating, allergen awareness, cross-contamination prevention, and temperature-control practices
• Maintain clean work areas, equipment, utensils, cutting boards, floors, storage areas, and service support areas throughout the shift
• Complete opening, running, closing, and side-work duties according to company standards
• Operate kitchen equipment safely, including knives, grills, fryers, ovens, slicers, mixers, refrigeration units, hot-holding equipment, and other tools as assigned
• Follow all safety procedures when working around hot surfaces, steam, sharp tools, fryers, wet floors, refrigeration, and fast-moving kitchen activity

Teamwork & Operational Support

• Communicate professionally with managers, cooks, servers, bartenders, barbacks, hosts, dish staff, and other team members to support smooth service
• Support a positive team culture by being dependable, respectful, coachable, and willing to help where needed
• Assist teammates during peak service, event periods, staffing needs, and changing business demands
• Follow management direction, protect company property, and uphold food quality, sanitation, and safety standards at all times
• Maintain professional conduct and a strong sense of urgency while working in a fast-paced kitchen environment

Scheduling & Business Needs

• Work mornings, afternoons, evenings, late nights, weekends, holidays, private events, game days, high-volume periods, and flexible shifts as needed
• Adapt to schedules that may vary based on business volume, staffing levels, special events, seasonal demand, and operating needs
• Maintain reliability, punctuality, and readiness to support the kitchen team throughout assigned shifts

Qualifications

Education, Experience & Certifications

• Previous line cook, prep cook, grill cook, fryer cook, short-order cook, casual dining, or high-volume restaurant experience preferred
• Ability to follow recipes, portion standards, kitchen procedures, prep lists, and verbal instructions accurately
• Understanding of basic food safety, sanitation, cross-contamination prevention, allergen awareness, storage, labeling, rotation, and temperature control
• Food Handler certification required where applicable by law, regulation, or company policy

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to work quickly and calmly in a fast-paced kitchen while maintaining quality, accuracy, cleanliness, and safe work habits
• Strong sense of urgency, organization, cleanliness, station ownership, and ability to reset quickly after rush periods
• Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with front-of-house and back-of-house teams
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during the shift
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull items up to 50 pounds with proper technique or assistance when needed
• Ability to bend, reach, twist, squat, and perform repetitive hand and arm movements throughout the shift
• Ability to tolerate heat, noise, fast movement, changing priorities, wet or slippery floors, and other commercial kitchen conditions

Success Factors

• Prepares menu items to standard with consistent quality, portioning, presentation, and temperature
• Supports efficient ticket timing and coordinates with teammates to complete orders accurately
• Keeps workstations clean, stocked, organized, sanitized, and ready before, during, and after service
• Follows proper food safety, storage, labeling, rotation, handwashing, glove use, and temperature-control procedures
• Communicates respectfully and effectively with teammates and management
• Demonstrates dependability, urgency, teamwork, and pride in the quality of food served
• Takes ownership of station readiness and overall kitchen success

Compliance Statement

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as required to meet business needs.

Let’s bring people back to the heart of El Paso through great food, new friendships, and a strong sense of community.