Maher Hallak

dedicated and highly motivated Chef’s Assistant / Commis Chef with extensive hands-on experience in high-volume, premium culinary environments, including luxury international hotels and busy cafés. Adept at managing cold and hot stations, preparing complex breakfast buffets, and crafting high-quality main courses (steaks, salmon, burgers). Proven ability to excel under intense kitchen pressure, maintaining high precision, speed, and meticulous plate decoration. Highly resourceful, self-taught professional who mastered the culinary arts through practical, real-world kitchen experience. WORK EXPERIENCE Chef's Assistant / Commis Chef – Bayrock Café June 2024 – June 2026 Prepared a wide variety of high-quality hot and cold dishes, ensuring strict adherence to recipes and presentation standards. Expertly cooked and grilled premium main courses including steaks, salmon, fish, and artisanal burgers. Handled professional plate decoration and styling to elevate the guest dining experience. Maintained exceptional speed and accuracy during peak service hours to minimize ticket times. Commis Chef (Seasonal) – Mövenpick Hotel & Resort Apr 2024 – Present Worked within a fast-paced, luxury hotel kitchen setup to deliver high-standard buffet and à la carte menu items. Specialized in the preparation and presentation of diverse hot and spicy dishes, international salads, and comprehensive breakfast stations. Followed strict food safety, sanitation, and hygiene standards required by international hotel chains. Junior Prep Chef – Ni Café (ABC Verdun) May 2023 – July 2023 Assisted the kitchen team with daily prep work, ingredient portioning, and station setup (Mise en place). Gained foundational experience in a busy mall-café kitchen layout, focusing on efficiency and team coordination. Line Cook / Sandwich & Burger Maker – Road 7 Sept 2022 – Nov 2022 Operated the hot line, specializing in fast-casual gourmet burgers and specialized sandwiches. Managed food prep, grill temperatures, and assembly lines to ensure consistency and speed. Kitchen Assistant – Bayrock Café & Mövenpick Hotel Prior Tenures Managed the cold kitchen section, focusing on premium salad preparation and ingredient freshness. Supported senior chefs across both hot and cold stations during heavy catering and breakfast shifts