Innovative Executive Research Chef Specializing in Culinary Development, New Product Innovation, and Strategic Operations in the Food Industry.
Dennis Samala
US 
Bio
How I Work
Experience
Creative Culinary Concepts, LLC
Founded by Chef Dennis Samala, a Solution oriented culinary, baking, & technical consulting firm, providing Brand Development, Culinary Development, Product Innovation, Technical Product Development, Packaging Development, Culinary Sales support, Menu/Recipe R&D, and Process Optimization solutions to manufacturers and foodservice operators; driving concept ideation to commercialization and BOH implementation.
Founder-Chief Innovation Officer, Ambassador of culinary excellence and good eats
CJ Foods
CJ Foods is a leading food company specializing in the production and distribution of a wide range of Asian-inspired food products, including frozen meals, noodles, and sauces, with a strong commitment to quality and innovation.
Corporate Executive Chef
- Strategic Development, New Business Development, Culinary Innovation, Product/Applications Development, Brand Awareness, Ambassador of Culinary Excellence and Good Eats.
- Culinary Sales Support;
- Acted as Lead Culinary for CJ Foods.
- Provided technical support through process and product optimization;
- Led culinary role in engaging national and industrial account customers
Real Mex Restaurants
Real Mex Restaurants is the largest full-service Mexican restaurant operator in the United State. Headquartered in Cypress, California, and our portfolio of brands include: El Torito Restaurants, Acapulco Mexican Restaurants, Chevys Fresh Mex® Restaurants, El Torito Grill Restaurants, Las Brisas Restaurant in Laguna Beach, CA, Sinigual Restaurant in New York City and the company’s latest brand introduction, Who Song & Larry's in Orange, CA.
Director of Culinary R&D
- Spearheaded culinary development for internal restaurant business, national & industrial accounts and private label business.
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box, Inc. is an American fast-food restaurant chain with over 2,200 locations, primarily serving the West Coast of the United States.
Senior Manager, Culinary Innovation, R&D
- Responsible for the development of new menu items, while overseeing research and development in the test kitchen/culinary lab and leading a team of 14 professional chefs & scientists.
- Identified and led strategic culinary initiatives; collaborating with marketing, supply chain, operations, QA, R&D, and finance
- Identified innovative “forecasting”/insight tools that identified strategic market opportunity and support Jack in the Box menu strategy/vision
- Organized and led culinary trend tours to identify emerging food trends and provided food inspirations relevant to menu vision.
- Led the development of many new products from bakery products, savory & sweet sauces, new proteins, etc.; including Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal, a new line of natural tacos, value added shakes, higher quality chicken nuggets, on-trend burger toppings, and breakfast sandwiches.
- Developed culinary training program to build and strengthen deeper understanding of food, flavor, and taste within R&D department.
Ventura Foods
Ventura Foods is a leading foodservice company that excels in providing food solutions that exceed customers’ expectations for great-tasting flavors and high-quality ingredients. Our products are proudly served on the menus of restaurants and shelves of major retailers across North America, and in more than 60 other countries around the world.
Senior Research Chef, Culinary Services Manager
- Accountable for driving incremental sales through new products developed in collaboration with west coast sales team, national and regional accounts managers and a culinary staff of 2 direct reports. Work with top 200 foodservice restaurants.
- Successfully tested 20+ new products and introduced 8 successful products into market.
- Developed second most successful product launch for Panda Express in the company’s history.
- Captured new business with Taco Bell, as a new supplier, worth over $10MM by ideating, developing, testing, and launching new products.
- Developed new All Natural International Salad Program for major retail client contributing to incremental new business.
Ajinomoto Windsor, Inc.
The Ajinomoto Group is a global company with specialties in the business of food and amino acids, guided by our leading-edge bioscience and fine chemical technologies.
Senior Technical & Culinary Manager, R&D
- Responsible for leading new product development of internal branded products, national accounts, and private label.
- Successfully led the introduction of innovative value added solutions resulting in market launch of 30+ private label products.
- Launched new retail line of frozen Mexican entrees under the Jose Ole brand, 18 of 25 products. Responsible for launching 22 of 26 Jose Ole product line extensions
- Improved development, testing, and commercialization process. Developed and implemented the following: Sensory Analysis Program, Quality Definition Program, Project/Cost Tracking system, Technical Information Resource Center, Product Development Protocol, and New Product Ideation Session.
- Managed cost-savings initiatives through contract negotiation, alternative raw materials, and processing efficiencies; contributions upwards of $5MM across all brand levels.
Mattson & Co.
Mattson is North America’s most successful independent developer of new foods and beverages for the retail food and chain restaurant industries.
Senior Food Technologist
- Responsible for developing and commercializing of prototype products for Bush Brothers, Kikkoman, Christopher Ranch, Kraft, Basic America Foods, Jack in the Box, Carl’s Jr., Chart House, Round Table Pizza, and other national chains and CPG brands
- Involved in the development of multiple technical disciplines from artisanal breads, cookies, canned retorted low acid foods, shelf-stable and frozen meal kits, acidified and retorted sauces, nutritional beverages, snack foods, IM & MAP, pasteurization, and acidified foods technology
- Involved in menu & recipe development, costing, ingredient sourcing, BOH implementation & training
- Interface with customers to strengthen business relationship and reduce turnaround time of customer request
- Responsible for sourcing alternative/ingredient substitution
Ruiz Foods
America’s largest producers of frozen Mexican dishes.
Project Leader, R&D New Product Development
- Responsible for new product development, from concept to commercialization and identification/implementation of cost optimization projects
- Responsible for identifying and implementing cost savings upwards to $750M
- Instrumental in the development and launch of El Monterey Mexican Grill brand, worth over $4MM in sales
- Implemented R&D sanitation and housecleaning SOP
- Re-designed R&D test kitchen and proposed/designed R&D pilot plant
Conagra Brands
Conagra makes and sells products under various brand names that are available in supermarkets, restaurants, and food service establishments.
Senior Food Technician
- Responsible for supporting product development, scale-up, and pilot-test runs of retorted low acid foods and snacks for Food Technologist.
- Responsible for the development of Healthy Choice New & Improved soups, New Orville Redenbacher “ReddenButter” microwave popcorn, Rosarita Low-Fat and no-fat refried beans,
- Involved in the cost-optimization of Healthy Choice soups, 17 existing products
- Licensed to operate Still, Rotary, and Hydrostatic retorts. Responsible for data acquisition/analysis of Heat Penetration studies