Liaison
A Liaison is a key cooking technique and role in professional kitchens, particularly in French cuisine. In cooking terms, it refers to a method of thickening soups and sauces, usually using egg yolks and cream. When used in job titles, a Liaison Chef or Kitchen Liaison acts as a connection point between different parts of the kitchen, dining room, or food service operation. They help coordinate between prep cooks, line cooks, servers, and management to ensure smooth kitchen operations. Think of them as kitchen coordinators or communication specialists who help keep everything running smoothly in busy food service environments.
Examples in Resumes
Served as Liaison between front-of-house and kitchen staff in high-volume restaurant
Performed Liaison duties coordinating between multiple food preparation stations
Applied classic Liaison techniques to create signature French-style sauces
Typical job title: "Kitchen Liaisons"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Kitchen Liaisons
Professional Associations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle a conflict between the kitchen and front-of-house staff during peak service hours?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate strong conflict resolution skills, ability to maintain calm under pressure, and experience in implementing communication systems that prevent future conflicts.
Q: Describe your experience in improving kitchen operations efficiency.
Expected Answer: Should show examples of successful process improvements, staff training programs, and ability to coordinate between different departments to optimize workflow.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you prioritize multiple urgent requests from different kitchen stations?
Expected Answer: Should explain their system for task prioritization, communication methods, and ability to handle multiple demands while maintaining quality and timing.
Q: What systems have you used to track and coordinate food orders between prep and service teams?
Expected Answer: Should describe experience with kitchen management systems, order tracking methods, and communication protocols between different teams.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What do you think are the most important skills for a kitchen liaison?
Expected Answer: Should mention communication skills, organizational ability, basic kitchen knowledge, and understanding of both front and back of house operations.
Q: How would you handle a situation where a dish is running behind schedule?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and understanding of kitchen timing and coordination.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic kitchen terminology and operations
- Communication between kitchen stations
- Order coordination
- Basic food safety knowledge
Mid (2-5 years)
- Kitchen workflow management
- Staff scheduling coordination
- Inventory tracking systems
- Crisis management during service
Senior (5+ years)
- Kitchen operations optimization
- Staff training and development
- Process improvement implementation
- Budget management
Red Flags to Watch For
- Poor communication skills
- No kitchen or restaurant experience
- Unable to handle high-pressure situations
- Lack of organizational skills
- No knowledge of food safety regulations
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