Cook I - Banquets

Loews Hotels & Co; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meal per shift

Free theme park access

Job summary

Loews Hotels & Co in Orlando invites a Banquet Cook I to join our culinary team. You will prepare, cook, and present banquet items for weddings, conferences, and group events, ensuring consistency with our recipes, portions, and guest expectations.

The role works with the Banquet Chef and kitchen team, requires knife skills, ability to lift 35+ pounds, and 5–7 years of upscale, high-volume experience or a culinary degree.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years cooking experience in upscale, high-volume hotel or freestanding restaurant.
• Thorough knowledge of Food Service Sanitation Standards.
• Ability to work flexible schedules including nights, weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and present banquet menu items in accordance with hotel recipes, portion control standards, and guest expectations.
• Set up and stock workstations with all necessary supplies and ingredients for banquet service.
• Coordinate food preparation with banquet event timelines to ensure timely delivery of meals.
• Collaborate with banquet and catering teams to meet event requirements and dietary restrictions.
• Follow hotel brand standards for quality, presentation, and sanitation.
• Train and mentor junior cooks and kitchen staff as assigned.

Skills

Knife skills

Grill cooking

Sautéing

English communication

Food safety

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent training

Job description

At Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando, our team members get to make a difference and have fun every day. Our world-class team brings to life the incredible, award-winning hotels located at Universal Orlando Resort.Named one of Central Florida's Top Workplaces and one of America's Best-in-State Employers by Forbes, we are committed to our ”power of we” culture.Are you looking for a place where you can bring your authentic self to work every day and be able to connect, engage and delight?We offer excellent benefits and perks including one free meal per shift and free theme park access.We have a dynamic culture that makes every day interesting, challenging, fulfilling and fun.We embrace diversity at our core and offer the opportunity for all team members to reach their potential.We invest in training and development opportunities for all team members.We promote social responsibility by being a good neighbor in the community.We care for you, just as we care for others.Who We Are: Founded in 1960, Loews Hotels & Co operates iconic hotels and resorts across the U.S. Together, our diverse and welcoming teams craft exceptional experiences in iconic destinations.Growth and belonging start here; you'll be valued for who you are and the goals you have. Whether your next career chapter involves making memories for guests or supporting our properties in our Corporate Office, every role-from Guest Services to Finance, Culinary to IT-offers opportunities to grow and make a meaningful impact.Creating a Team Member experience where you belong no matter what race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status that makes you, you is a daily focus for us.About Loews Royal Pacific ResortJoin the ‘ohana' at our island paradise that celebrates the Golden Age of Travel, and the adventures of island-hopping through the South Pacific.What We're Looking For:The Banquet Cook I is responsible for preparing and presenting high-quality food for banquet functions and events hosted at the hotel. This position plays a key role in ensuring exceptional guest experiences through consistent food preparation, presentation, and service. The Banquet Cook I works closely with the Banquet Chef and kitchen team to execute menus for weddings, conferences, meetings, and other group events.Who You Are:A Banquet Cook I must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities and be able to explain and demonstrate that he or she can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation:Experienced in knife skills.Ability to work pantry, grill and sauté station.Knowledge on grill cooking temperature, and sauté techniques.Knowledge of basic mother sauces.Ability to work under pressure, handle multiple tasks and difficult situations.Knowledge of operating all kitchen equipment.Ability to lift and carry food service trays weighting 35+ pounds.Ability to stand, stoop, bend repetitively during entire shift.Veterans and military spouses are encouraged to apply.What You'll Do:Prepare, cook, and present banquet menu items in accordance with hotel recipes, portion control standards, and guest expectations.Set up and stock workstations with all necessary supplies and ingredients for banquet service.Coordinate food preparation with banquet event timelines to ensure timely delivery of meals.Collaborate with banquet and catering teams to meet specific event requirements, including dietary restrictions or themed meals.Follow all hotel brand standards for quality, presentation, and sanitation.Ensure cleanliness and organization of kitchen equipment, banquet prep areas, and walk-in coolers.Assist with buffet setup, plating, carving stations, or live cooking stations as needed.Maintain high standards of food safety and sanitation in accordance with local health department regulations and hotel policies.Assist in inventory management and notify supervisor of shortages in ingredients or supplies.Train and mentor junior cooks and kitchen staff when assigned.Adapt to last-minute changes and problem-solve effectively in a fast-paced event environment.Regular attendance in conformance with standards.May be required to work varying schedules to reflect business needs.Required to attend all mandatory training sessions and meetings.Perform other duties as assigned.Your Qualification Include:5 -7 years cooking experience in upscale, high-volume hotel or freestanding restaurant required.Culinary degree or equivalent formal training preferred.Thorough knowledge and understanding of Food Service Sanitation Standards.Strong organizational skills.Excellent guest service skills.Ability to regularly push, pull, lift up to 50 lbsAbility to communicate effectively in English verbally with team members, leaders and guests required.Must be able to work a flexible schedule, nights, weekends and holidays as required.Ability to work flexible schedule to include weekends and holidaysLoews Hotels & Co is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.