Cook -- Restaurant, Banquets & Golf Events

About the Position

Harvest Hospitality Group at Hopewell Valley Golf Course is looking for a dependable and motivated Cook to join our food and beverage team.

Our kitchen serves a wide variety of guests throughout the golf season, including daily golfers, families, local customers, golf leagues, tournaments, corporate outings, weddings, parties, and other special events.

This position offers the opportunity to work in both our restaurant and banquet operations, providing variety and the chance to develop a broad range of culinary skills.

We're looking for someone who takes pride in preparing good food, works well with others, and can maintain quality and efficiency whether we're serving a small restaurant crowd or producing food for a large golf outing or banquet.

What You'll Do

Restaurant Cooking

• Prepare and cook menu items according to established recipes and standards
• Work various kitchen stations as needed, including grill, sauté, fry, pantry, and prep
• Complete daily food preparation and ensure stations are properly stocked
• Prepare orders accurately and efficiently during busy service
• Maintain consistent portion sizes, quality, and presentation
• Communicate effectively with the kitchen and front-of-house teams
• Help maintain an organized and efficient kitchen throughout service

Banquets & Golf Events

Our golf course hosts a variety of events throughout the year. You'll help prepare and execute food for:

• Golf tournaments and outings
• Golf leagues
• Corporate events
• Weddings
• Private parties
• Fundraisers
• Holiday events
• Buffets
• Plated meals
• Receptions and other special events

Responsibilities may include:

• Preparing large quantities of food for events
• Following banquet menus and production instructions
• Preparing appetizers, entrées, sides, sauces, and other menu items
• Assisting with buffet and banquet plating
• Working efficiently during high-volume production
• Helping prepare food according to event timelines
• Maintaining consistent quality throughout large-volume service
• Assisting the culinary team before, during, and after events

Prep & Kitchen Operations

• Complete daily prep based on restaurant and event needs
• Follow recipes, preparation procedures, and portion guidelines
• Properly store, label, date, and rotate food
• Monitor inventory at your station and communicate needs to the Chef or Kitchen Manager
• Help receive and put away food and supplies when needed
• Minimize waste through proper preparation and portion control
• Maintain clean, organized, and fully stocked workstations
• Properly operate and care for kitchen equipment
• Assist with opening and closing duties

Food Safety & Cleanliness

We take food safety and cleanliness seriously.

You will be expected to:

• Follow all food safety and sanitation procedures
• Maintain proper food temperatures
• Prevent cross-contamination
• Properly label, date, store, and rotate food
• Maintain clean and sanitary work areas
• Follow applicable health department requirements
• Clean equipment and kitchen areas throughout the shift
• Maintain a professional and organized kitchen

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is:

• Reliable and punctual
• Hardworking and motivated
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Able to follow recipes and instructions
• Able to work efficiently while maintaining quality
• Organized and detail-oriented
• A positive team player
• Comfortable taking direction and learning new skills
• Able to communicate effectively with coworkers
• Willing to step in and help wherever needed
• Proud of the food they prepare and the work they do

Experience

Previous professional cooking experience is preferred, particularly in:

• Restaurants
• Catering
• Banquets
• Hotels
• Golf courses
• High-volume kitchens
• Food service operations

However, golf-course experience is not required.

If you have restaurant or catering experience and are looking for an opportunity to expand your skills into banquet and event cooking, we'd like to hear from you.

We are also willing to consider less-experienced candidates who demonstrate a strong work ethic, positive attitude, reliability, and willingness to learn.

The Right Attitude Matters

We're looking for someone who understands that a successful kitchen is a team effort.

You should be someone who:

Shows up and can be counted on. Our events and restaurant service depend on having a reliable team.

Works clean. You understand that cleanliness and organization are part of being a professional cook.

Moves with purpose. Busy golf outings and banquet events can require producing a large volume of food in a short period of time.

Pays attention to details. Consistency matters whether we're serving one guest or 200.

Works well with others. Everyone has a role to play when we're preparing for a large event.

Takes pride in the food. You care about putting out a quality product for our guests.

A Great Place to Build Your Skills

Working in a public golf-course kitchen provides a unique combination of restaurant, catering, banquet, and high-volume food service experience.

You may spend part of your day preparing food for restaurant customers and another part preparing for a golf tournament, wedding, corporate outing, or large banquet.

That variety makes this a great opportunity for someone who wants to build their culinary experience and learn how different types of food service operations work.

Schedule

Because our business is driven by golf, restaurant traffic, and events, flexibility is important.

The position may require:

• Weekend availability
• Evening availability
• Holiday availability
• Early starts for golf tournaments or events
• Additional hours during peak season
• Flexibility based on the golf and event calendar

We will make every effort to provide schedules in advance and communicate event needs clearly.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief introduction telling us about your cooking experience and why you're interested in joining our team.

If you enjoy cooking, like working with people, and want to be part of a team that serves everything from everyday golfers to large-scale events, we'd love to hear from you.

Harvest Hospitality Group was formed in 2011 and consists of the following "brands" including: Harvest Specialty Catering (established 1991), Chez Alice Catering Company (established 1991), Beary Smart Lunches (established 2023), and Midnight Moon Cakery (established 2014). In addition, there's two food trailers, Harvest BBQ (established 2014) and O'Lobster (established 2019). Originally established as retail locations, we have transitioned over the years to primarily off-premise catering work along with contract services in a wide range of industries from schools to event locations, including the re-imagined Hopewell Valley Golf Club.