Cook

Cottage Grove Place is a senior living community dedicated to providing compassionate and high-quality care to its residents. Known for its commitment to hospitality and respectful service, the facility offers a supportive environment where safety, responsibility, and respect are valued among staff and residents alike. The organization emphasizes a warm and professional atmosphere, reaffirmed by its Hospitality Promises which include greeting people warmly by name, treating everyone with respect, anticipating needs, and maintaining a high level of professionalism. Catering specifically to assisted living and health center residents, Cottage Grove Place focuses on nourishing meals prepared with care, adhering to dietary restrictions and high standards of food safety and sanitation. This commitment extends to maintaining rigorous operational standards in the kitchen and personal conduct within the workplace, fostering a positive, healthy, and safe environment for both employees and residents.

The role of the Commons East Cook at Cottage Grove Place is central to sustaining these values by ensuring that all meals prepared meet the highest standards of taste, presentation, and nutritional value. This part-time position requires working shifts alternating between early mornings and afternoons, covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner services throughout weekdays and weekends. The role involves preparing a wide variety of foods, including meats, vegetables, soups, sauces, salads, and bakery items, using standardized recipes to ensure consistency and quality. Beyond basic food preparation, the cook is responsible for plating and transporting meals, especially for those residents requiring pureed diets, ensuring safety and adherence to health care dietary guidelines. Recognizing the importance of sanitation and safety, the cook will also engage in equipment cleaning and maintenance while following strict HACCP guidelines and safety regulations outlined by OSHA and facility policies. Furthermore, the position requires collaboration with dietary staff to maintain hot food lines, meet meal schedules, and carefully manage portion sizes to reduce waste and make effective use of leftovers.

Attention to detail, teamwork, and excellent communication skills are critical in this role to foster a cooperative working environment and deliver respectful service to residents, co-workers, and leadership staff. Adhering to the company’s code of conduct and participating in ongoing training sessions are essential to ensure compliance with safety standards and to maintain certification requirements. The ideal candidate has formal culinary training or equivalent experience, preferably with a background in upscale food service settings, and a keen understanding of kitchen sanitation procedures. The successful hire will be someone who thrives under time pressures, embraces change positively, and exemplifies the cottage Grove Place’s values of respect, responsibility, and safety in every aspect of their work. This position offers a salary range of $16.00 to $17.50 per hour and is part-time, making it suitable for someone seeking flexible hours in a hospitality-focused, senior care environment.