Prep Cook

Prep Cook

Location : Citarella – Bronx Distribution Center, Bronx, NY

Citarella – Bronx Distribution Center

600 Food Center Drive Bronx, NY 10474

About Citarella

Led by dynamic owner Joe Gurrera and his commitment to superior quality, Citarella has grown from a respected NYC fish market into a full-scale Ultimate Gourmet Market with locations across New York City, the Hamptons, and Greenwich, Connecticut.

A family-run business, we're driven by a passion for great food. We delight customers with the finest selection of fresh seafood, prime, dry-aged beef, chef-prepared specialties, handcrafted pastries, international cheeses, imported groceries, and more. Join our team of seasoned professionals and become part of the fabric of the New York food scene.

Role Overview

Citarella is seeking dependable, motivated Prep Cooks to join our culinary production team. In this role, you will assist with preparing high-quality, chef-prepared foods for distribution to our retail locations while maintaining Citarella's standards for freshness, consistency, and food safety.

The ideal candidate has previous experience in a professional kitchen, a solid understanding of basic food preparation techniques, and the ability to follow established recipes and instructions. Whether you're continuing to develop your culinary skills or bringing experience from a high-volume kitchen, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to a fast-paced, team-oriented production environment.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Prepare meats, seafood, vegetables, and other ingredients according to established recipes, production schedules, and chef instructions.

• Wash, peel, chop, slice, dice, portion, and organize ingredients for daily food production.

• Accurately weigh and measure ingredients to maintain consistency in recipes and portion sizes.

• Assist with cooking and preparing a variety of dishes according to established recipes and production standards.

• Support large-batch food preparation to meet daily production requirements for Citarella's retail locations.

• Properly label, date, store, and rotate ingredients and prepared food products.

• Maintain clean, organized, and sanitized workstations, utensils, and kitchen equipment.

• Follow all applicable food safety, sanitation, temperature-control, and workplace safety procedures.

• Safely operate kitchen equipment and report equipment issues or safety concerns to management.

• Communicate effectively with chefs, supervisors, and team members to meet daily production deadlines.

• Minimize food waste through proper ingredient handling, portioning, and storage.

• Perform additional kitchen preparation and production duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Previous experience in a professional kitchen, restaurant, catering operation, or food production environment.

• Basic to intermediate knife skills and knowledge of food preparation techniques.

• Ability to follow recipes, measure ingredients accurately, and maintain consistent food quality.

• Familiarity with proper food handling, sanitation, and kitchen safety practices.

• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

• Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management.

• Ability to follow instructions, take direction, and work effectively as part of a team.

• Dependable, punctual, and committed to maintaining high standards of food quality and safety.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in high-volume kitchens, catering, commissary operations, or large-scale food production.

• Experience preparing food in large batches while maintaining consistency and portion control.

• Proficiency with commercial kitchen equipment and various cooking techniques.

• Ability to independently execute recipes and complete assigned production tasks.

• Bilingual communication skills in English and Spanish are a plus.

Physical & Additional Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift.

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull items weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Ability to perform repetitive tasks involving bending, reaching, chopping, slicing, and food preparation.

• Ability to work in environments with varying temperatures, including refrigerated and heated kitchen areas.

• Ability to safely operate kitchen equipment, utensils, and food preparation tools.

• Maintain proper personal hygiene and follow all established food safety and sanitation procedures.

• Report to work on time, neatly groomed, and wearing the appropriate uniform and required protective equipment.

• Ability to work flexible schedules, including overnight shifts, weekends, and holidays, based on operational needs.

Additional Job Description Notice

The responsibilities outlined above represent the primary functions of this position but are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties. Associates may be assigned additional responsibilities based on operational needs. Citarella reserves the right to revise this job description as business needs and working conditions change.