Dereck Mungoriwo

Chef de Partie & Data Analyst

Iris Garden – Sandton | Full-time

Culinary Operations

• Led grill and sauté stations, producing 500+ dishes during peak service with consistent quality and speed.
• Prepared and decorated pastries and desserts, supporting full pastry production.
• Delivered catering for 200+ guests for premium private and corporate functions.
• Partnered with the Head Chef on seasonal menu development, recipe costing, and kitchen workflow planning.
• Trained junior cooks on station setup, hygiene standards, and safe equipment operation.
• Reduced food waste by 10% by implementing accurate portioning, FIFO rotation, and tighter inventory oversight.
• Ensured 100% HACCP compliance through daily sanitation, temperature logs, and health checks.

Technical & Data-Driven Impact

• Built Excel- and Power BI–based dashboards to track food costs, stock variances, and daily sales performance.
• Analyzed menu sales data to identify high-margin dishes vs underperforming items, supporting menu engineering decisions.
• Implemented ingredient-level demand forecasting using Excel/Python models, improving prep planning and reducing spoilage.
• Optimized supplier purchasing cycles using data insights, improving delivery consistency and cost accuracy.
• Developed a digital system for kitchen logs, prep sheets, and wastage tracking, improving operational visibility.
• Identified workflow bottlenecks through time-motion observations, helping restructure station layout for faster service.

Commis Chef

Casa Toscana Lodge – Pretoria | Contract

Culinary Operations

• Coordinated preparation and plating for breakfast, lunch, and six-course à la carte dinner services.
• Supported banquets and themed events, serving 400+ guests per function with consistent quality
• Streamlined mise en place by managing portioning, chopping, batch prep, and station setup for high-volume service.
• Operated and maintained professional kitchen equipment, including grills, ovens, mixers, and food processors
• Ensured strict food safety compliance through continuous cleaning, sanitizing, and temperature monitoring.

Procurement & Inventory Management

• Assisted with daily ordering of fresh produce, meats, and dry goods, ensuring accurate par levels based on forecasted demand
• Conducted stock audits, shelf checks, and expiry monitoring, reducing last-minute shortages and minimizing wastage.
• Managed delivery inspections—verifying quality, weight, temperature, and supplier documentation.
• Monitored portion control and ingredient usage to support accurate recipe costing and waste reduction
• Maintained inventory records and collaborated with senior chefs to plan procurement for events and seasonal menus
• Implemented FIFO rotation across storage areas, improving product freshness and cutting spoilage.

Chef Trainee / Internship

Protea Hotel by Marriott® Fire & Ice – Menlyn | Internship

Culinary Operations

• Supported food preparation across breakfast, fine dining, buffet service, banqueting, and conference events.
• Developed strong culinary techniques including sautéing, grilling, braising, sous vide, baking, and plating.
• Assisted in producing high-volume meals while maintaining consistency, timing, and quality under supervision

Operational & Kitchen Support

• Followed standardized recipes and portion guidelines to maintain cost control and reduce waste.
• Assisted with mise en place, ingredient prep, and station setup for various meal periods.
• Maintained strict hygiene standards through dish sanitation, surface cleaning, and equipment maintenance
• Supported stock checks and basic inventory tasks to understand hotel-level procurement processes.
• Documented temperatures, storage conditions, and cleaning schedules in accordance with HACCP requirements.

Diploma in Professional Cookery & Kitchen Management

International Hotel School

Supply Chain Management

Rutgers University

Data Science

The Johns Hopkins University

• IBM Data Analyst Certification
• Microsoft Power BI Certification
• Microsoft Excel Certification
• Microsoft IT Support Specialist
• ServSafe Food Handler Certification

Culinary & Operational Skills

Technical Skills & Tools