Orange County - Cook & Prep-Cook

Job Title
Prep Cook (Corporate Dining & Catering Support) – Orange County

Company
The Party Staff, Inc.

Location
Assignments take place within approximately a **25-mile radius of our Costa Mesa office**, supporting clients across:
North Orange County:
Anaheim, Fullerton, Brea, Placentia, Buena Park
Central Orange County:
Irvine, Tustin, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana
South Orange County:
Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, San Clemente
Assignments include corporate dining kitchens, universities, catering partners, hotels, private clubs, resorts, and event venues throughout the region.

About Us
The Party Staff, Inc. is the West Coast’s leading hospitality staffing company with more than **36 years of experience**. We partner with corporate dining programs, universities, caterers, private clubs, hotels, resorts, and event venues to provide dependable hospitality professionals.
Due to continued growth in the Orange County market, we are expanding our back-of-house support team and seeking **dependable entry-level Prep Cooks and Kitchen Assistants** interested in gaining consistent professional kitchen experience.

Position Summary
This position supports food preparation, kitchen organization, and basic production tasks in professional culinary environments. It is ideal for individuals building kitchen experience, culinary students, or hospitality professionals who are comfortable assisting chefs and kitchen teams in fast-paced settings.
This is a flexible, on-call position with work opportunities based on client demand and employee availability.

Typical Shifts

Many assignments occur weekday mornings , often starting as early as 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM, though schedules vary depending on client needs and events.
Weekday morning availability is strongly preferred. Flexibility is important, as shift times, lengths, and locations vary by assignment.

Key Responsibilities
* Assist with basic food preparation, including washing, cutting, portioning, and staging ingredients
* Support kitchen teams with simple cooking, plating assistance, and production tasks
* Maintain clean and organized prep areas and follow sanitation procedures
* Assist with kitchen setup, stocking, breakdown, and light cleaning duties
* Follow food safety standards and temperature-control guidelines
* Communicate effectively with chefs, supervisors, and team members
* Follow attire, safety, and company policy requirements

Qualifications
* Entry-level kitchen experience or culinary interest preferred, including restaurant, catering, hospitality, or culinary school experience
* Willingness to learn and follow chef and supervisor direction
* Weekday morning availability strongly preferred
* Ability to reliably report to assignments throughout Orange County, generally within a 25-mile radius of Costa Mesa
* California Food Handler Card required or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire
* Professional kitchen attire required, including chef coat and non-slip shoes
* Strong punctuality, teamwork, reliability, and professional attitude

Physical Requirements
* Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, generally 6 to 10 hours per shift
* Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation
* Ability to bend, reach, stoop, and perform repetitive kitchen tasks
* Ability to work safely in hot commercial kitchen environments

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Work Environment
* Corporate dining kitchens, catering production environments, universities, hotels, private clubs, resorts, and event venues
* Fast-paced kitchen settings with structured production and service timelines
* Flexible, on-call scheduling through our mobile staff portal
* Work locations, schedules, and duties may vary by assignment

Compensation
Hourly pay range: $21.00 per hour, depending on experience, skill level, and client assignment.

Notices

Fair Chance Consideration
The Party Staff considers qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the **California Fair Chance Act and applicable state, federal, and local laws**. Criminal history does not automatically disqualify applicants from employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The Party Staff, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Reasonable Accommodation
Reasonable accommodations are provided in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. Applicants needing an accommodation during the hiring process should contact Human Resources or Management.

If you are dependable, eager to grow your kitchen experience, and interested in flexible hospitality work throughout Orange County, we encourage you to apply.