Casino garde manager position description
Casinos often mean bright lights and excitement. Casino restaurants often showcase some of the same pizazz through their elaborate and creative presentations of food. The person responsible for preparing cold foods in an attractive manner is called the Garde-Manger. Sometimes the person may be referred to as the Chef Garde-Manger.
This person prepares a wide variety of cold foods, including fruits, vegetables, salads, aspics, pates, and canapes. The Garde-Manger must prepare foods in a decorative manner. For example, the person may mold egg, tuna, chicken, or shrimp salad into various shapes, or create crudités that resemble huge bouquets of flowers. He or she might also carve fruits into decorate bowls or style fruit into impressive-looking animals, vehicles, and vessels. These may then be filled with cut-up fruits, spreads, or vegetables.
A creative Garde-Manger Chef takes a simple platter of cold meats, cheeses, vegetables, or fruits and makes it an artistic masterpiece. The Garde-Manger may prepare cold garnishes for plates, or large decorations out of cold foods for guest rooms. The elaborate ice carvings the Garde-Manger prepares are often the items many guests remember at buffets and in banquet rooms. The Garde-Manger must be able to carve and design different creations depending on the theme of the banquet or buffet. Other responsibilities of the Garde-Manger may include:
- Preparing cold buffets in an attractive manner
- Making sure cold foods are prepared to minimize waste
Salaries for Casino garde manager
Garde-Mangers usually earn an hourly wage ranging from USD 7.00 to USD 16.00 or more and may earn USD 15,000 to USD 33,000 annually. Factors affecting earnings include the geographic location, size, and prestige of the casino or casino hotel, as well as the experience and responsibilities of the individual.
Employment Prospects for Casino garde manager
Employment prospects are good for Garde-Mangers seeking employment in casinos or casino hotels. Individuals may work full- or part-time in casino or casino hotel restaurants or their banquet facilities. Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Biloxi, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Detroit offer the greatest number of job possibilities. Other employment settings include casino hotels in other areas of Nevada, Mississippi, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona, and California. Other regions hosting Indian gaming and land-based or riverboat gaming facilities offer additional opportunities. New casinos and casino hotels are constantly under construction. More casinos and casino hotels are also opening every year as areas legalize gambling.
Advancement Prospects
When training to work in the kitchen, the Garde-Manger is usually the position at which individuals start. From there, with experience and training, they can be promoted to other stations in the kitchen.
Education and Training
Educational requirements for Garde-Mangers vary. A high school diploma or the equivalent is usually preferred by most casinos and casino hotels. Facilities often assist those without the minimum education get a GED. The Garde-Manger Chef may either obtain training in a vocational technical school or receive on-the-job training. Many casinos and casino hotels offer training and apprentice programs in which individuals learn various aspects of food preparation.
Special Requirements
Depending on the specific state, a valid health card from the local public health department may be required. Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits Garde-Mangers interested in working in casino hotel restaurants should have prior experience in food service. Individuals should be creative and enjoy working around food. Physical stamina is necessary as Garde- Mangers often must stand for extended periods of time. Manual dexterity is also essential, as is the ability to work quickly under pressure.
Unions and Associations
Individuals interested in pursuing careers in this area can obtain additional information by contacting the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association (EFNRA), the Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (CHRIE), the American Culinary Federation (ACF), and the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).
Tips for Casino garde manager
1. Stop by the human resources departments of casino and casino hotels to inquire about job openings.
2. Look for new casinos under construction. Apply early.
3. Jobs are often advertised in the classified sections of newspapers in areas hosting gaming. Look under classifications such as “Restaurants,” “Casino/Hotel Opportunities,” “Garde-Manger,” “Casino Hotel Restaurants,” or “Food and Beverage.”
4. Training programs are excellent ways to get experience in this field.
5. Don’t forget to surf the net for job possibilities. Many casino Web sites list job openings.