Complete AI Training
Sign inGet my AI kit

Your job's AI kit

Get your AI kit

Tell us who you are and what you do. We show you your kit right away and email you the link: skills, prompts, AI agents, MCP servers and courses for your job.

500+ jobs ready, and we make a kit for any other job. No payment needed to look.

Share

AI agent for chefs

Surplus Inventory Specials Agent

Turn near-expiry ingredients into profitable specials that the kitchen can actually make.

DecisionsOperationsHospitality and events
See how it worksGet access
Surplus Inventory Specials Agent: what goes in, what the agent does and what you get

What it does

On Thursday afternoon the walk-in has 12 pounds of salmon expiring Saturday and a case of tomatoes at their peak, and by Sunday some of it is in the bin. The agent reads inventory and the use-by dates, and finds items that need to be used in the next 2 to 3 days. It proposes specials that use them and fit the menu style, then costs each dish against the target food cost. It checks allergens against the menu allergen chart and checks station load, to see whether the line can make the dish during service without slowing other orders. If a dish fails on cost or load, it proposes another. It drafts menu descriptions and a prep note. The chef approves the special. Edge case: ingredients that expire on different days.

How it works

Follow the arrows from top to bottom. The orange dashed arrow is the loop: when a check fails, the agent goes back and tries again.

Start and resultWhat it doesA check on its own workWaits for your OKGoes back and retries
Yes, continueApprovedNo 1 STARTS WHEN Daily inventory check 2 USES A TOOL Read inventory and find items expiring within 3 days 3 DOES Rank items by value and urgency 4 DOES Propose special dishes using the top items 5 USES A TOOL Cost each dish and compare with the food cost target 6 USES A TOOL Check allergens and the station load for service 7 CHECKS THE RESULT Does the dish meet the cost target, allergens andstation capacity? If not: propose another dish or change the ingredients.Back to step 3. 8 DOES Draft the description, price and prep note 9 YOU APPROVE Chef approves the special 10 USES A TOOL Update the specials board and inventory plan 11 RESULT Special launched and surplus tracked
Read the steps as a list
  1. Daily inventory check
  2. Read inventory and find items expiring within 3 days
  3. Rank items by value and urgency
  4. Propose special dishes using the top items
  5. Cost each dish and compare with the food cost target
  6. Check allergens and the station load for service
  7. Does the dish meet the cost target, allergens and station capacity?If not: propose another dish or change the ingredients. Back to step 3.
  8. Draft the description, price and prep note
  9. Chef approves the specialThe agent waits here for your OK.
  10. Update the specials board and inventory plan
  11. Special launched and surplus tracked

How it decides

A special must use at least 70 percent of the surplus item, meet the food cost target and fit the station's capacity during service.

  • Use items first that expire within 48 hours
  • Target a food cost of 30 percent or lower
  • Avoid specials that add more than 4 minutes at a single station
  • Use at least 70 percent of the surplus quantity

Make it yours

Every agent is a starting point. You choose these settings for your own situation.

  • Expiry window (default 3 days)
  • Food cost target (default 30 percent)
  • Menu style
  • Station limits
  • Where specials are posted

What keeps you in control

It always asks you first

  • Chef approves the special and price
  • Chef approves any allergen change

Hard limits

  • Never use ingredients past their use-by date
  • Always show allergens

It stops when

  • Done: special approved and posted
  • Stop: no feasible dish uses the surplus, suggest staff meal or donation

Set it up

We guide you through the set-up, step by step

Members get the full set-up guide for this agent. No technical skills needed: you copy, paste and upload.

10 minto set it up in your AI
5 AIsChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, Grok
  • One set of instructions to paste into your AI, with the clicks for ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Gemini and Grok
  • The agent then walks you through connecting your own data, one source at a time
  • A downloadable copy with the flow chart, the rules and the full guide
Get access to this agent

An example run

What happensThe walk-in has 12 lb of salmon expiring Saturday and 20 lb of ripe tomatoes. The agent proposes a roasted salmon with tomato confit at $26. Cost is $9.10, 35 percent, above the 30 percent target, so it swaps the side for the cheaper grain. Cost falls to $7.60. The grill is too busy at 7 p.m., so it moves the dish to the oven. The chef approves.

More agents for chefs

Risk management · Healthcare

Food Label and Allergen Verification Agent

Every menu item and product is checked for allergens and substitutes are verified.

10 steps1 check3 jobs
Decisions · Automation

Final Headcount Lock and Order Adjustment Agent

Have orders, staffing and rentals match the final headcount without waste or shortages.

11 steps2 checks3 jobs
Creating · Decisions

Tasting Feedback to Menu Revision Agent

Turn tasting comments into a revised menu that is costed, safe and doable at event size.

11 steps1 check2 jobs
Compliance · Monitoring

Food Handler Certification Expiry Agent

Keep every employee's required certificates valid and filed before any inspection.

11 steps2 checks5 jobs