MY FIRST TIME....

Thanks for the emails asking me how my first night back in the restaurant business was – I really appreciate those who check my blog out everyday and either comment, email or call to let me know they are reading!

Last night I drove straight from Cybersocket to Beckham Grill. Actually I had to drive home to grab my Social Security card and then back to Beckham Grill – major waste of gas! I arrived at 5:45 to the restaurant and instantly was introduced to my trainer Lorraine.

I have to admit that it was a bit peculiar being on the receiving end of being trained. At Mimi’s Café I trained new workers for six or seven years and am currently training my replacement at Cybersocket, so to be trained and know that I am not a PRO at what I am doing is pretty humbling.

Lorraine was sweet and so was another server named Rachel. Actually I was a bit taken back by Rachel’s forwardness. After barely introducing herself to me, she looked at me and said “So what is your story?” Yah, just like that!

I told her the truth – well except that I work for a gay magazine that specializes in porn ads. Instead I told her that I work for a web directory magazine, I didn’t lie, I just didn’t give her the entire focus of our magazine! =)

She told me that she was attending USC and wants to get her Masters… Honestly I wasn’t fully paying attention to her. My main priority was to memorize as much of the menu as I could, however I was polite with her and told her that my good friend Leslie works at County USC – so I was friendly.

I also met a few other people who were also extremely nice – including the managers!

Yesterday before I left to the new job I was speaking with my gym buddy Kenny about my hesitations and how I will give the restaurant a few months to grow on me. (Is that a negative comment?) Something interesting that Kenny told me was that I didn’t have to give it a few months that I would know pretty much right away and as much as I hate to admit it – he was right! I felt a good chemistry there and besides having to memorize a lot of the menu items I think I will like there.

Yah, I am not good at memorizing things. I am more of a experience person… If I look at food and menu items enough I will memorize the stuff but I am not a textbook guy who can memorize things quickly, maybe it is time to change my study habits!

Anyway, I was on the floor from 5:45 until 8:30 following Lorraine around and observing her. As far as the customer service goes I rock, but what I do need to work on is the small stuff – that will get you every time!

I finished off the night with trying two different salads – the Stilton and the Spinach Salad. Plus the fried artichoke hearts, peppercorn steak, Julian veggies, some potatoes that were stacked like cornbread… I will find out what they were tonight, and creamed spinach. Of course all this was free and the manager said that every night that I train I will need to have another new food item to get familiar with the menu – that shouldn’t be a problem as long as it’s not fish – BLAH!

Tonight I want to try their famous Raspberry Cobbler… yum, I am getting hungry already!!!

Stay tuned…