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How To Create A Successful Food Preparation Station: Insights from Chipotle
Outlining some best practices when it comes to prep stations and effective time management, featuring Chipotle Mexican Grill.
July 17, 2023
When you think of foodservice and sports, what comes to mind?
Finger foods?
Rowdy customers?
Loud vendors vying for your attention?
The worlds of sports and foodservice have more crossover than you might think. Sure, you're not exactly competing with other food chains in the same way the Cowboys compete against the Eagles, but what you are doing is playing to win. After all, you don't open a restaurant expecting to lose.
But, to paraphrase Vince Lombardi, the will to succeed is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to succeed.
Everybody wants to win — from Lebron James to Tilman Fertitta, champions thrive on that drive. But what turned them into champions was the will to prepare to win. Day in and day out, preparation is the secret ingredient to any successful franchise on the court or in the kitchen.
That's why we wanted to dive even deeper into the world of food preparation. To learn more, we sat down with Chipotle Mexican Grill and outlined the best practices when it comes to prep stations and effective time management.
The first step to managing success in food prep stations? Mise en place.
"As defined by Steve Ells, it simply means everything in its place," said Jacob Baxter, Equipment Innovator at Chipotle. "We gather all necessary smallware, ingredients, or tools that are necessary to complete the task prior to beginning it to ensure excellence." This all forms from the outlines your staff follows for different back-of-house tasks. Having an outline for each aspect of work ensures your staff knows what tools and ingredients they need to start their prep work.
These outlines, or standard operating procedures (SOPs), are game plans for your employees. "We have standard operating procedures that are housed digitally," said Baxter. "All crew members and managers complete training around our standard operating procedures. They are tracked for completion prior to being scheduled for that position, whether it be on the serving line, cash, expo, or grill." In addition to SOPs, Baxter noted that sharing best practices adds more depth to the process, bridging gaps in understanding and fostering a culture of excellence.
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Food prep is about speed and consistency, but there's a third aspect that is equally important — cleanliness. Preparation stations quickly fall apart when not cleaned and cleared at the end of each shift. Food safety is particularly important to Chipotle after the challenges the organization faced in the 2010s. "Once your manager understands that food safety is the foundation of a successful restaurant, a culture of cleanliness will naturally foster, and keeping an area clean will be second nature to any crew member," said Baxter. "If you cannot ensure your guests & crew members do not feel safe eating at your restaurant, then there is no way to ensure success in any other aspect of your business."
The final step we discussed was an ideal equipment layout. Is there such a thing? There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, but Baxter suggests closely collaborating with staff to find optimal products and equipment. "Listening to the workers in your operation every day and completing these repetitive food prep tasks is the key to finding optimal solutions that streamline operations and ensure consistent success," said Baxter. "Also, ensure your vendor/partner relationships are strong — you are only as good as your network."
Ready to update your game plan? By adopting the principles of mise en place, implementing standard procedures, emphasizing cleanliness, and leveraging appropriate products and equipment, foodservice operators, chefs, and restaurant managers can optimize their food preparation stations for success.
The will to prepare to win begins with the will to learn. Listen to your employees, establish and teach your processes, and begin to prepare your food with an enhanced efficiency that will keep you ahead in the dynamic world of the culinary industry.
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TundraFMP
TundraFMP helps foodservice operators do what they do best – by providing fast, flexible and complete kitchen solutions. We offer the most complete selection of restaurant equipment, apparel, smallwares, parts, and accessories in the industry.
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