About the employer
The Lighthouse Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant featuring house-made specials and seafood, part of the Mackinaw Hotel Management group in Mackinaw City, Michigan. The town is small but a busy tourist destination in summer, sitting right on the Straits of Mackinac where two of Michigan's Great Lakes meet, close to historic Fort Michilimackinac and the ferries to Mackinac Island.
This is an experienced host employer that has welcomed over 1000 exchange visitors in the last 10 years, with staff from many countries and backgrounds. Employees get discounts at the company's restaurants, including Starbucks, plus mini golf, zipline, water park and ferry tickets.
The job as Kitchen Helper
What you'll do
- Sort and rinse dirty dishes, glass, tableware and other cooking utensils and place them in racks to send through dish machine.
- Sort and stack clean dishes.
- Carry clean dishes to cook's line and other proper storage areas.
- Rewash soiled dishes before delivering.
- Wash pots, pans and trays by hand.
- Remove trash and garbage to dumpster.
- Set up or break down dishwashing area.
- Clean and roll/unroll mats.
- Fill/empty soak tubs with cleaning/sanitizing solutions.
- Sweep/mop floors.
- Sweep up trash around exterior of restaurant and garbage dumpster.
- General restaurant and restroom cleaning as directed.
- Cooking or preparing food items according to procedures or recipes.
- Placing food items on serving plates or dishes along with required condiments and utensils to present to customers.
- Preparing items quickly and accurately ensuring no waste and in accordance with production and portion requirements and quality standards while maintaining a safe, sanitary work environment.
What is required
Pay and hours
Housing
The employer provides dorm-style housing with 2 employees per room, at either the Capri or Trails End, where bathrooms are shared with roommates or suite mates. Both units have a shared kitchen, on-site laundry and WiFi, plus bedding, a large dresser, hanging rack, small refrigerator, lamps and end tables. Both are within walking distance of all work sites; you bring your own cooking utensils and cleaning supplies.
Location: Mackinaw City, Michigan
Why Mackinaw City?
Mackinaw City sits at the very tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, right where Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron beneath the spectacular five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge. It’s a small, safe and welcoming town that comes alive every summer with visitors from all over America.
In your free time you can:
- Take the ferry to car-free Mackinac Island and explore it by bike or horse-drawn carriage
- Visit historic Fort Michilimackinac and the iconic Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
- Swim, kayak and watch legendary Great Lakes sunsets from sandy beaches
- Hike and cycle scenic trails through Michigan’s forests and state parks
- Try world-famous Mackinac Island fudge and local Michigan cherries
- Meet Work & Travel participants from dozens of countries working in the area
About Michigan
Michigan's Great Lakes shores, Mackinac Island and resort towns make for a classic lakeside summer. Students work in island hotels, resorts and restaurants surrounded by beaches and forests.
Ready to Apply?
Positions in Mackinaw City are extremely popular and fill up fast. If you want a summer of hard work, new skills, lakeside adventures and lifelong friendships, apply now for the Kitchen Helper position at The Lighthouse Restaurant and start your American story!
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