At Meadowood, gracious hospitality defines the style of service and timeless, natural beauty, the sense of place. A rich company culture inspires staff to achieve the highest service standards in hospitality. Join the Meadowood team and experience the pride and teamwork of working alongside a dedicated team of professionals in a truly beautiful setting.

Napa Valley is admired the world over for a lifestyle grounded in agriculture, viticulture, cuisine, and the art of hospitality. The mild climate and natural beauty of our region make it a desirable place to be all year round. Each season brings new opportunities to plant, grow, and reap a harvest, whether grapes, produce, or flowers. No matter the season, the bounty harvested from our vineyards, orchards, and gardens is cause for celebration, preferably in the form of a meal with family, friends, and guests who will become friends.

At Meadowood, gracious hospitality defines our style of service and timeless natural beauty defines our sense of place. A rich company culture inspires staff to achieve the highest standards of hospitality while creating memorable experiences for every guest.

Position Summary

As a Cook II at Forum, you will prepare and present menu items according to Meadowood's culinary standards under the direction of the Chef de Cuisine, Sous Chef, and culinary leadership team. The Cook II is an experienced culinary professional capable of independently operating assigned stations while maintaining the highest standards of quality, consistency, cleanliness, and efficiency.

This position supports daily dinner operations, assists with special events as needed, and contributes to creating exceptional dining experiences through thoughtful preparation and execution of California Wine Country cuisine.

Major Responsibilities and Work Activities

• Prepare and cook menu items according to established recipes, specifications, and presentation standards.
• Independently operate assigned kitchen stations during service.
• Ensure food quality, freshness, portion control, and presentation standards are consistently maintained.
• Assist with daily mise en place, station setup, and breakdown procedures.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary work environment.
• Properly store, label, and rotate food products following food safety guidelines.
• Assist in training and supporting Cook I team members and newly hired culinary staff.
• Communicate effectively with culinary and front-of-house team members to ensure smooth service.
• Support special events, wine dinners, holiday programs, and promotional offerings as assigned.
• Minimize food waste through proper handling and utilization of products.
• Follow all company safety standards, sanitation procedures, and health department regulations.
• Attend departmental meetings and training sessions as scheduled.

Experience Required

• Minimum two years of culinary experience in a restaurant, resort, hotel, or similar food service environment.
• Experience working multiple stations in a fast-paced kitchen preferred.
• Fine dining or upscale dining experience preferred.
• Basic computer skills.

Personal Characteristics

• Passion for hospitality and culinary excellence.
• Detail-oriented with a strong commitment to quality and consistency.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure while maintaining composure.
• Team-oriented and willing to assist others when needed.
• Reliable, organized, and self-motivated.
• Demonstrates professionalism and accountability in all interactions.
• Ability to actively listen, communicate clearly, and follow direction.
• Strong work ethic and willingness to continually develop culinary skills.

Physical Setting

• Casual upscale dining restaurant.
• Primarily evening shifts with occasional morning shifts for special events.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
• Frequent walking, bending, reaching, lifting, and carrying up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in hot kitchen environments for the duration of the shift.

Education, Certifications, Licenses, Registrations

• Culinary degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Valid California Food Handler Card required.
• Food Safety Certification preferred.

Communication Skills (Verbal & Written) / Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with managers, chefs, coworkers, and front-of-house staff.
• Ability to receive and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate production needs, product shortages, and quality concerns in a timely manner.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred but not required.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to accurately follow recipes and portion specifications.
• Ability to perform basic measurements, recipe conversions, and quantity calculations.
• Ability to assist with inventory counts and product rotation.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment while maintaining quality and service standards.
• Ability to identify and resolve routine production and food quality issues.
• Ability to adapt to changing business levels and operational needs.

Work Environment

• Fast-paced kitchen environment with exposure to heat, cold, steam, water, cleaning chemicals, and kitchen equipment.
• Frequent interaction with culinary team members, managers, and service staff.
• Must maintain a professional appearance and adhere to Meadowood grooming standards.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
• Frequent bending, stooping, reaching, kneeling, twisting, and lifting.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to safely operate kitchen equipment, including knives, slicers, mixers, ovens, grills, and other food preparation equipment.
• Ability to work in varying temperatures, including walk-in refrigerators and freezers.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to perform food preparation and cooking tasks.

Schedule

• Primarily evening shifts.
• Weekend and holiday availability required.
• Must be flexible to work additional hours based on business demands, special events, and operational needs.

Other

• Must maintain a valid California Food Handler Card throughout employment.
• Must comply with all Meadowood policies, safety procedures, food safety standards, and health department regulations.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Must successfully complete all required company training programs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Compensation:

The starting hourly rate for this position is $23.00 - $26.00 per hour. This position may be eligible for gratuities.

• This is the rate Meadowood Napa Valley reasonably expects to pay. Final compensation will depend on factors such as experience, education, and other job-related qualifications. This position is eligible for service charge distributions and gratuities in accordance with company policy. Total compensation varies and is not guaranteed.

Benefits:

Seasonal

• Sick pay
• Daily employee meals
• Uniforms
• On site parking
• Wine classes

Meadowood is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Meadowood is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. Please let us know if you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability.