Traveling Kitchen Assistant Fine Dining Experience Required

Sharp Spoon Network; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Sharp Spoon Network is seeking traveling kitchen assistants to support large-scale culinary operations across the United States for disaster-response and remote workforce projects. This project-based role requires nationwide travel, extended assignments, and 12-hour shifts.

Ideal candidates have at least one year of fine-dining experience, strong sanitation practices, and the ability to work under seasoned culinary leadership in high-volume settings.

Qualifications

• At least one year of professional fine-dining experience.
• Hands-on experience in professional kitchen operations.
• Knowledge of safe food handling and sanitation procedures.
• Ability to follow recipes, portions, and established procedures.
• Fast-paced, team-focused culinary environment experience.
• Willingness and ability to travel nationwide for extended assignments.
• Schedule requires ~30 days on, 14 days off, and 12-hour shifts.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Able to pass pre-employment screening.

Responsibilities

• Assist chefs with ingredient prep, portioning, plating, and service.
• Support high-volume breakfast, lunch, and dinner operations while maintaining standards.
• Wash, peel, cut, portion, and organize ingredients as directed.
• Follow recipes, prep instructions, and food-handling procedures.
• Maintain clean, sanitary prep areas and equipment.
• Perform dishwashing and kitchen sanitation duties as assigned.
• Assist with deliveries, stocking, and organization of supplies.
• Help set up and break down temporary/mobile kitchen stations.
• Adhere to food safety, temperature control, and cross-contamination prevention.
• Work with chefs to maintain efficiency during peak service periods.
• Adapt to changing locations, schedules, and project demands.

Skills

Fine-dining experience

Professional kitchen operations

Food safety knowledge

Travel readiness

Teamwork

Education

Culinary training

Formal culinary education

ServSafe certification

Job description

Traveling Kitchen Assistant — Nationwide Deployments

Position Type: Traveling / Project-Based Assignments
Location: Nationwide — Must Be Willing to Travel
Typical Schedule: Approximately 30 Days On / 14 Days Off
Shift Length: Approximately 12 Hours

The Opportunity

Sharp Spoon Network is recruiting experienced Traveling Kitchen Assistants to support large-scale culinary operations for a nationally recognized disaster-response and remote workforce support organization.

Assignments may include disaster recovery operations, data centers, military-support projects, remote workforce camps, and temporary food-service facilities throughout the United States.

This is not an entry-level kitchen position or a local restaurant job.

We are seeking candidates with documented fine-dining experience, professional kitchen preparation skills, strong sanitation practices, and the ability to work efficiently under experienced culinary leadership.

Successful candidates must be comfortable traveling nationwide, working extended assignments, and supporting high-volume meal production in demanding environments.

What You'll Do

• Assist professional chefs with ingredient preparation, portioning, plating, and meal service.
• Support high-volume breakfast, lunch, and dinner operations while maintaining food-quality standards.
• Wash, peel, cut, portion, and organize ingredients according to chef instructions.
• Follow established recipes, preparation instructions, and food-handling procedures.
• Maintain clean and sanitary food-preparation areas, equipment, utensils, and workstations.
• Perform dishwashing, cleaning, and kitchen sanitation duties as assigned.
• Assist with receiving deliveries, organizing supplies, stocking ingredients, and maintaining kitchen storage areas.
• Help set up, organize, and break down temporary or mobile kitchen workstations.
• Follow food safety, temperature-control, cross-contamination prevention, and sanitation procedures.
• Work alongside chefs and kitchen leadership to maintain efficient service during high-volume meal periods.
• Adapt to changing work locations, operational demands, and project schedules.

Minimum Qualifications — Required

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered:

• At least one year of professional fine-dining experience. This experience must be identifiable in your employment history.
• Previous hands-on experience supporting food preparation or kitchen operations in a professional kitchen.
• Demonstrated knowledge of safe food handling, kitchen sanitation, and proper cleaning procedures.
• Ability to follow chef instructions, recipes, portioning standards, and established kitchen procedures.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, team-oriented culinary environment.
• Willingness and availability to travel nationwide for extended assignments.
• Ability to work a schedule of approximately 30 days on assignment followed by 14 days off.
• Willingness to work approximately 12-hour shifts , including weekends or holidays when required by the assignment.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to perform the essential physical duties of the position, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.
• Willingness to complete applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements.

Important: General restaurant, fast-food, quick-service, catering, banquet, serving, or dishwashing experience alone does not satisfy the mandatory one-year fine-dining requirement.

Applicants should clearly identify their qualifying fine-dining employer, dates of employment, and actual kitchen responsibilities on your resume.

Preferred Experience

Additional consideration may be given to candidates with:

• Experience in upscale restaurants, luxury hotels, resorts, or fine-dining culinary operations.
• High-volume banquet, catering, or large-scale meal-production experience.
• Experience supporting scratch cooking and professional food preparation.
• Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, food storage, and ingredient preparation.
• ServSafe Food Handler or Food Protection Manager certification.
• Culinary training or formal culinary education.
• Experience in temporary kitchens, remote workforce dining, or disaster-response operations.
• Experience supporting culinary teams during extended meal services.

Travel and Work Environment

This position requires significant travel and is intended for candidates seeking nationwide deployment opportunities.

Assignments may involve temporary food-service facilities, remote locations, changing kitchen environments, extended shifts, and high-volume meal production.

Candidates must be prepared to work collaboratively, maintain professional sanitation and quality standards, and perform a variety of food-preparation and kitchen-support duties.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive, position-specific compensation discussed during recruiting.
• Opportunities to gain experience in large-scale culinary and deployment operations.
• Exposure to experienced culinary teams and diverse operating environments.
• Project-based assignments at locations throughout the United States.

Assignment terms, compensation, and applicable benefits will be discussed during the recruiting process.