Culinary Specialist

There’s never been a better time to join TravelCenters of America! For more than 50 years, millions of professional truck drivers and motorists have called our travel centers home, depending on us daily for fuel, food, truck maintenance and essential services.

Now a part of the bp family, TA is focused on growing its network of travel centers, implementing cutting edge technology and embarking on innovative alternative energy and sustainability initiatives.

From our locations across the country, to our corporate headquarters in Westlake, Ohio, every team member is a stakeholder in TA’s success. This environment offers endless career opportunities for individuals interested in sharing their ideas, growing with the company and shaping TA’s future.

Job Summary

TravelCenters of America is seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Culinary Specialist to join our Restaurant Operations team. Under the leadership of the Corporate Executive Chef, this individual will assist in creating and cooking recipes for our organization and be responsible for many of the key duties like inventory, ordering, health and safety, training, etc. The Culinary Specialist is critical in helping us return every traveler to the road better than they came!

Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepares meal ingredients as directed by the Corporate Executive Chef

• Maintains compliance with applicable health, safety, food handling, and hygiene codes and standards
• Responsible for ordering, unloading, inspection, and storage of raw ingredients and supplies, samples for cuttings, and all other food and non-food related items requested by Corporate Executive Chef
• Supports Corporate Executive Chef in the development of recipes
• Prepare and serve food and meals in accordance with planned menus and established portion control procedures for special events as needed
• Ensure that the department and all food storage work areas are maintained in a clean and safe manner and that necessary equipment and supplies are properly maintained and arranged
• Supports operations and training department during new LTO’s and TA’s - Petro restaurants openings
• Responsible for setting up food shows, prep, training and cuttings
• Responsible for test kitchen weekly inventory, organization, food safety and cleanliness
• Supports Corporate Executive Chef in COGS, calories and nutritional calculations
• Supports in training and social media videos, photos and promotions
• Works with vendors to make sure all necessary products are always stocked and readily available in all divisions
• Maintains order guides, spec books, and contract pricing sheets, updating monthly on the internet
• Supports corporate chef with procurement and vendor programs
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• 5 years of kitchen experience in a commercial and/or restaurant kitchen
• Passionate about food and the culinary / restaurant industry
• Able to travel occasionally as needed
• Able to handle multiple projects at once
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite with a focus on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher

With us, you’ll enjoy:
Competitive wages and annual bonus opportunity
Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
401(k) with a company match
Paid vacation and holidays
Tuition reimbursement
A wide variety of discounts on technology, travel, food and fuel
Opportunity for growth and advancement with company paid training

Not all benefit plans are available to all team members. For a more comprehensive list of benefits, please visit https://www.ta-petro.com/careers/working-in-our-corporate-office

Our travel centers serve thousands every day; not one traveler is the same and our team must reflect that. We can "return every traveler to the road better than they came" only by understanding and celebrating individualism. TravelCenters of America is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, familial status, ancestry, sex, gender, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, handicap, military service or Veteran status, genetic information or membership in any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local law. At TravelCenters of America, we invite everyone to make themselves at home.

Disclaimer
This job description may not list all duties for this position. The incumbent in the position may be asked to perform other duties. TA Operating LLC reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment, and either the incumbent or TA Operating LLC may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.