What are the responsibilities and job description for the Prep Cook position at Maricel's Kitchen?
Job Overview
Maricel’s Kitchen is seeking an energetic, dependable, and detail-focused prep cook to join our culinary team in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
You will prepare ingredients, follow recipes, support meal assembly, and keep the kitchen clean and organized. Your work will support our restaurant service, catering events, cooking classes, and bakery program.
This role is a good fit for an experienced prep cook, culinary graduate, or newer kitchen professional with hands-on food preparation experience. We can teach you our recipes and Filipino and Asian cooking methods. You must bring solid basic skills, discipline, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn.
About Maricel’s Kitchen
Maricel’s Kitchen is a Filipino and Asian heritage restaurant, cooking school, bakery, and catering kitchen.
Chef Maricel learned to cook in her Lola’s kitchen in Manila before working in New York fine dining. Today, our kitchen brings together Filipino tradition, Asian flavors, careful preparation, and warm hospitality.
Our team prepares food for weekend brunch, private events, cooking classes, catering, and special dining experiences. We value clean work, consistent results, respect, and people who support the whole team.
Responsibilities
- Chop, slice, dice, marinate, portion, and prepare ingredients
- Use proper knife skills and safe preparation methods
- Follow recipes, production lists, and portion standards
- Assist with meal assembly, plating, and service
- Prepare food for restaurant service, catering, and cooking classes
- Operate mixers, ovens, slicers, and other kitchen equipment safely
- Label, date, store, and rotate food correctly
- Keep workstations, utensils, equipment, and kitchen surfaces clean
- Help receive, organize, and store deliveries
- Report low inventory or missing ingredients
- Work with cooks and chefs to complete orders on time
- Follow all food safety, sanitation, and hygiene rules
- Help with dishes, cleaning, and other kitchen duties when needed
Qualifications
- Some restaurant, catering, culinary school, internship, or professional food preparation experience is required
- Culinary graduates and current culinary students are welcome to apply
- Basic knife and food preparation skills
- Ability to follow recipes and written prep lists
- Knowledge of safe food handling and kitchen sanitation
- Ability to use common kitchen tools and equipment safely
- Ability to complete several tasks while staying focused and organized
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- Reliable attendance and on-time arrival
- Ability to stand, bend, lift, and work in a busy kitchen
- Legal authorization to work in the United States
Filipino or Asian cooking experience is helpful, but it is not required. We will teach you our recipes. We need someone who works clean, follows instructions, and takes pride in preparing food correctly.
Schedule
- Part-time position
- Weekday prep and event shifts
- Weekend daytime availability may be required
- Additional hours may be available during events and busy seasons
- Opportunity for the position to grow based on performance and business needs
Join Our Team
This is a paid position with the chance to build your kitchen skills and learn new recipes and techniques.
If you care about food, culture, teamwork, and doing the job correctly, we want to meet you.
Learn more at maricelskitchen.com and follow us on Instagram at @maricelskitchenusa.
Pay: $18.00 - $21.00 per hour
Ability to Commute:
- East Brunswick, NJ 08816 (Required)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $18 - $21