Description
Lead banquet kitchen operations, directing high-volume preparation, cooking, and presentation for plated and buffet events. Plan and cost event menus, coordinate BEOs, order supplies, manage staff and schedules, and maintain records, budgets, and food safety.
- • Check quality of prepped and cooked banquet items to meet standards and BEO specs.
- • Monitor sanitation, holding temperatures, and allergen controls on-site and off-site.
- • Verify quantity and quality of received products against event needs.
- • Order or requisition food, beverages, and rentals to meet event timelines.
- • Supervise banquet cooks and prep teams during production, plating, and service.
- • Inspect equipment, hot boxes, and work areas for compliance with standards.
- • Determine plating and buffet presentation; create plating guides and display diagrams.
- • Train staff on batch cooking, plating lines, and live action stations.
- • Estimate event-based food, labor, and ingredient needs; scale recipes to guest counts.
- • Collaborate with catering sales, banquet managers, and pastry on seasonal, client-driven menus and dietary needs.
- • Analyze recipes and set pricing to achieve targeted food and labor costs.
- • Prepare and cook key items; lead tastings and VIP or chef-attended stations.
- • Create production schedules, prep lists, and staffing plans to meet service times.
- • Arrange equipment repairs or rentals for banquets and off-site functions.
- • Record production data, waste, and costs; maintain BEOs and post-event reports.
- • Plan, direct, and supervise simultaneous events across multiple banquet rooms or venues.
- • Coordinate budgeting, purchasing, and inventory control for banquet operations.
- • Recruit, schedule, and coordinate full-time, part-time, and agency banquet staff.
- • Meet with clients for tastings and to finalize menus for weddings, galas, and corporate events.
- • Demonstrate new techniques or equipment for efficient high-volume service.
- • Meet with vendors to negotiate pricing and delivery windows for events.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
