Galley
A galley is the professional kitchen area on a cruise ship or boat where meals are prepared. It's similar to a commercial restaurant kitchen but designed specifically for marine environments with special safety features and space-saving layouts. The term "galley" is the maritime equivalent of what restaurants on land call a "kitchen." When this term appears in resumes or job descriptions, it typically refers to work experience in cruise ship food preparation areas.
Examples in Resumes
Managed a team of 15 staff members in the Galley preparing meals for 2,000+ passengers daily
Led food safety initiatives in the Ship's Galley resulting in perfect health inspection scores
Supervised Marine Galley operations during peak cruise seasons
Typical job title: "Galley Staff"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Galley Staff
Professional Associations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you manage food costs and inventory in a cruise ship galley?
Expected Answer: A senior galley professional should discuss systems for tracking food inventory, managing portions, minimizing waste, ordering supplies for long voyages, and coordinating with multiple food outlets on the ship.
Q: How do you ensure food safety standards are maintained in a high-volume galley operation?
Expected Answer: Should explain implementing HACCP standards, training staff on proper food handling, maintaining temperature logs, managing health inspections, and handling emergency situations at sea.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you handle special dietary requirements and allergies in a cruise ship setting?
Expected Answer: Should discuss systems for tracking passenger dietary needs, preventing cross-contamination, alternative menu planning, and communication between galley and dining room staff.
Q: What experience do you have with international cuisine and varying passenger preferences?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of different cultural dietary preferences, ability to prepare various international dishes, and experience adapting menus for diverse passenger groups.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic safety procedures in a ship's galley?
Expected Answer: Should know basic maritime safety rules, kitchen safety protocols, proper knife handling, emergency procedures, and basic food safety guidelines.
Q: How do you stay organized in a fast-paced galley environment?
Expected Answer: Should discuss basic time management, prep work organization, cleaning procedures, and working within a team structure.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic food preparation
- Kitchen safety and sanitation
- Following recipes and portions
- Basic maritime safety knowledge
Mid (2-5 years)
- Menu planning and execution
- Inventory management
- Staff supervision
- International cuisine knowledge
Senior (5+ years)
- Galley management and budgeting
- Team leadership and training
- Health and safety compliance
- Large-scale catering operations
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with maritime safety regulations
- Lack of food safety certifications
- No experience with high-volume cooking
- Poor understanding of international cuisine
- No knowledge of shipboard operations
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