Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Value


Lakeside Bistro Golfers Menu Posted!


Value in the restaurants
Breton Bunch 1964
No matter what language you speak, the word value carries the same meaning around the globe.  Our satisfaction is achieved when we receive equal or superior worth of a monetary exchange.  Nothing incites disappointment more than the feeling you were ripped off or cheated out of your hard earned money.  This translates in the food industry every time we visit a restaurant or food venue.

My father had some interesting anecdotes he would share with my six brothers and sisters when I was growing up.  One of his favorite dinner time phrases was, "I rather feed nine hungry police dogs than you kids".  Everyone would laugh and keep eating.  I totally get it.  Our food bill was a major expense of the household. 

My dad had nine people to feed.   My poor mother made three meals a day plus snacks on a very tight budget, while my father would escape off to work.  I can count on two fingers how many times we went out to eat.  Cooking creatively as well as economically, my parents fed all of us on $275.00 a month.  That is impossible in today’s economy. 

My Irish mother ran her kitchen brigade like it was a boot-camp.  No one dare talk back to her while fulfilling their chores.   I had kitchen duty frequently with varying degrees of responsibility.   I hadn't realized at the time that I was being trained as a young child to be a chef.  I use some of her recipes often here at Stonebridge.  Their basic principles of nutritious affordable food have guided me through my career.

Stonebridge members shop the many fine super markets and specialty stores.   The price of red meats, produce, seafood and edible commodities has reached the stratosphere. How far does $275.00 go now?  Our options are endless only if we can afford the price.

Our success thus far at Stonebridge has been achieved by beating the expectations for perceived value in the food preparation side of it.  Our new focus will be the service as well as the food production.  Let’s do the basics, but do them really well.   Teach our staff how to be engaging yet unobtrusive, friendly yet accommodating.  The new dining outlets will offer imaginative food choices at reasonable pricing.  The dining rooms will feature choice steaks and fresh seafood that is below what all our local restaurants demand.   The intention is that frequent member support will drive these outlets to sufficiently sustain the hours of operation. 

Embracing the clubhouse project, Stonebridge members are visionary by investing in the club’s present and future. Staffing the modernized property is as important as the renovation.  Selecting the best candidates from the available pool of applicants is tricky business.  The team assembled in each outlet will make every effort to give an exceptional experience at these price points.  Instilling high standards of service for our members will be our core value.   I will feature the new Food & Beverage Director and Executive Sous Chef  in the next article.  I selected them for their passion, dedication to service and desire to mentor the future team members of Stonebridge Country Club.   

A recent reunion with my siblings inspired this trip down memory lane.  Fast forward 50 years and our parents have long since met the lord and we are nurturing our children to follow our footsteps.   
   
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Breton Bunch 2014, I am the handsome one X