F&B Consultancy · Singapore

Real kitchens.
Real results.
No theory.

20 years in the F&B industry. From dishwasher in New York City to Executive Chef to owner of five restaurants in Singapore. When you hire JMEL, you hire someone who has lived every role.

20+
Years Experience
5
Restaurants Owned
NYC
+ Singapore
MBA
Business Strategy

Built from the ground up.

"Every role, every station, every failure, every win — lived, not studied."

When you hire JMEL as your consultant, you are not hiring someone who read about kitchens in a textbook. You are hiring someone who has bled on the line, rebuilt broken teams, opened restaurants from zero, and turned struggling concepts into thriving businesses.

This is 20 years of real-world F&B intelligence, available to your business.

1
Dishwasher → Line Cook
New York City · Where it all began
2
Sous Chef → Head Chef
NYC Fine Dining · Casual to Michelin-adjacent
3
Executive Chef
Full operational leadership · BOH & FOH
4
Restaurant Owner · Singapore
5 restaurants · Papi's Tacos · Mami's Tamales
5
MBA Graduate
Business strategy meets kitchen reality
How We Work

Choose your level of engagement.

Every engagement starts with a conversation. Choose the tier that fits your current needs and budget.

Tier 1
The Diagnosis
I come in, observe, assess, and deliver a clear written action plan. The truth about what is broken and exactly how to fix it.
SGD $2,000 – $3,500
One-time · 2–5 days on-site
  • Full kitchen walkthrough & audit
  • Front of house assessment
  • Menu review & pricing analysis
  • Written report + action plan
  • 1-hour debrief call
Tier 3
The Build
Ongoing strategic partnership. Your behind-the-scenes operator — available for guidance, problem-solving, and growth every month.
SGD $3,000 – $6,000/month
Monthly retainer · Min. 3 months
  • Monthly on-site visits
  • Menu development & updates
  • Leadership coaching
  • P&L review & cost control
  • Priority response for urgent issues
  • Quarterly performance review
By Area

Individual service breakdown.

ServiceScopePrice (SGD)Duration
Kitchen Operations AuditFull review of flow, stations, prep, storage$800–$1,2001 day on-site
Recipe StandardizationPer recipe costing, yield testing, SOP write-up$500–$1,5002–3 hrs/recipe
Menu EngineeringFull menu redesign, pricing strategy, food cost targets$1,500–$3,0002–3 days
Kitchen Workflow DesignStation layout, mise en place systems, ticket flow$1,000–$2,0001–2 days
BOH Team TrainingLine cook to senior chef techniques, speed, standards$800–$2,500Half/full day
Inventory & Waste ControlFIFO systems, ordering par levels, waste tracking$600–$1,2001 day
New Menu DevelopmentConcept-aligned menu built from scratch$2,000–$5,0001–2 weeks
New Kitchen OpeningFull pre-opening setup, hiring support, launch$5,000–$10,000+2–4 weeks
ServiceScopePrice (SGD)Duration
FOH Operations AuditService flow, table management, guest experience review$600–$1,0001 day on-site
Service Standards & SOPWritten service manual for your concept and brand$800–$1,5002–3 days
FOH Team TrainingRunners, waitstaff, host technique & hospitality mindset$800–$2,000Half/full day
Upselling & Menu KnowledgeTeam product training, pairing, communication skills$500–$1,200Half day
Shift Structure & SchedulingLabour optimization, shift planning, accountability$600–$1,0001 day
Guest Recovery SystemsComplaint handling, service recovery protocols$400–$800Half day
FOH & BOH CommunicationTicket flow, expo systems, pre-shift meeting structure$600–$1,2001 day
New Restaurant FOH OpeningFull FOH pre-opening, hiring, training, soft launch$4,000–$8,000+2–4 weeks
ServiceScopePrice (SGD)Duration
Bar AuditMenu, speed, waste, margins, team skill assessment$600–$1,0001 day on-site
Cocktail Menu DevelopmentSignature cocktail build, costing, recipe cards$1,200–$3,0001–2 weeks
Non-Alcoholic & Mocktail MenuFull NAB program build aligned to concept$800–$1,8003–5 days
Bar Team TrainingSpeed, standards, upselling, product knowledge$600–$1,500Half/full day
Bar Workflow & Station DesignSpeed of service, mise en place, ticket flow$600–$1,2001 day
Beverage Cost ControlPour cost, waste reduction, inventory systems$500–$1,0001 day
Wine & Beverage List CurationList build, supplier negotiation, pairing guide$1,000–$2,5003–5 days
New Bar Opening SupportFull bar pre-opening, staffing, training, launch$3,500–$7,000+2–4 weeks
Special Packages

Complete solutions.

Bundled engagements for specific restaurant situations, priced as complete solutions.

The Rescue Package
For struggling restaurants that need fast results
Audit + 4-week fix covering BOH & FOH
SGD $6,500
The Full House Package
Complete restaurant transformation
8-week full engagement — BOH, FOH & Bar
SGD $14,000
The New Opening Package
For first-time owners or new concepts launching
Concept review, kitchen, FOH, bar setup + pre-opening training · 6–8 weeks on-site
SGD $12,000 – $18,000
The Leadership Package
For head chefs & managers who need to level up
1:1 coaching · 8 sessions over 8 weeks · 90 min each
SGD $3,500
Let's Talk

Start with a free 30-minute call.

No pitch, no pressure. Just an honest conversation about where your restaurant is and where it could be. If I can help, I'll tell you. If I can't, I'll tell you that too.

Email
jose.espinoza.lara@gmail.com
Location
Singapore · Available regionally
Response Time
Within 48 hours
50% deposit to confirm · Balance on completion · Travel outside Singapore charged at cost · All prices SGD unless stated