So I have really been neglecting this thing. I am going to try and take a more dedicated approach to updating from here on out. So a lot has changed. I have picked up a couple of shifts in other departments. Helped banquets a few times, which is always fun cus its dynamic and always changing and I like that. I also did a food running shift for the lounges Divas, and Larkspur.
Annnnd.. last night I had my first dinner training shift! Which was awesome! It's the norm to usually have to do 3 months of breakfast before you can train for dinner and I have been here for just over a month so it was nice to move up so quick.
The restaurant is starting to get busier as well so that has been nice. We do quite a few tour groups in Primrose from all over the place. A lot of them are Japanese groups and we have even done a few traditional Japanese breakfasts for them as well as the typical buffet.
So all in all things have been going well. I'm working with great people and learning a lot in the process!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The time is NOW!
Not much new to report. Kinda been homesick lately which sucks.. but at least my napping has been curtailed. Primrose has been getting busier which is nice... more than ever it's time to buckle down and maybe start the workout routine I was so looking forward to getting into.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Nap 1, Kali 0
So I napped today after work.. again. I am really hoping I get out of this routine because it makes me feel useless and there is so much more I'd rather be doing with my time! It was slowish at the restaurant today. We were expecting more people as it is Saturday, but apparently they are hit and miss. We base how many people we set for according to how many guests are "at leisure" which means they are guests in the hotel that are not booked into banquet breakfasts or conferences. Today there were around 320 people at leisure, but only about 80 or so came in. Tomorrow is Mother's Day and banquets is doing around 600 people for brunch. I hope we get some overflow from them in Primrose!
Yesterday was a good day. I attended another staff wine tasting in the beautiful Eden restaurant. We sampled 9 different wines exported by Empson Wine Co. http://www.empson.com/index.php. They specialize in Italian wines, but we sampled quite a few from Australia as well.
After the tasting I was lucky enough to score a ticket to the Rocky Mountain Food & Wine Festival at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and Resort. Amazing food booths and amazing wine of course! It was super packed and kind of hard to navigate through the crowds.. but a fabulous evening indeed!
For more info on the Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Festival check here:
http://www.rockymountainwine.com/banff.html
Yesterday was a good day. I attended another staff wine tasting in the beautiful Eden restaurant. We sampled 9 different wines exported by Empson Wine Co. http://www.empson.com/index.php. They specialize in Italian wines, but we sampled quite a few from Australia as well.
After the tasting I was lucky enough to score a ticket to the Rocky Mountain Food & Wine Festival at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and Resort. Amazing food booths and amazing wine of course! It was super packed and kind of hard to navigate through the crowds.. but a fabulous evening indeed!
For more info on the Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Festival check here:
http://www.rockymountainwine.com/banff.html
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Leeching internetz from Starbucks.. AGAIN
So here I am in Starbucks once more. Erica and I reaaaallly need to get our Shaw hooked up in our room. -HINT HINT- Erica I'm looking at you :P
I worked at 6:15 today. It was myself and 1 other server, Bec, who is awesome! Our junior server from VIU was late today so it was a bit of a rush setting up everything up in time for 7am when the guests arrive. I had a 16 top table and about 6 other tables throughout the day.
I am starting to get things in order for my co-op requirements. As I said yesterday I have finalized my goals and am now just trying to navigate the D2L website so I can send in the required paperwork. The F&B management team is quite large so I am just trying to figure out who I should put as my direct supervisor. I am not too sure if it is the Director of F&B or my floor supervisor. I haven't had too much contact with the Director so I think I should put my direct supervisor? Either way, I hope to include an org chart with contacts so hopefully I will get that sorted tomorrow.
Anyways, for now this girl needs to get up the mountain home so she can wake up at 4:45am!
PS the transit system here is awesome and we get free bus passes.. double score.
I worked at 6:15 today. It was myself and 1 other server, Bec, who is awesome! Our junior server from VIU was late today so it was a bit of a rush setting up everything up in time for 7am when the guests arrive. I had a 16 top table and about 6 other tables throughout the day.
I am starting to get things in order for my co-op requirements. As I said yesterday I have finalized my goals and am now just trying to navigate the D2L website so I can send in the required paperwork. The F&B management team is quite large so I am just trying to figure out who I should put as my direct supervisor. I am not too sure if it is the Director of F&B or my floor supervisor. I haven't had too much contact with the Director so I think I should put my direct supervisor? Either way, I hope to include an org chart with contacts so hopefully I will get that sorted tomorrow.
Anyways, for now this girl needs to get up the mountain home so she can wake up at 4:45am!
PS the transit system here is awesome and we get free bus passes.. double score.
Training is DONEZO
1st day of serving my own tables went really well! We had quite a few tables come in right at 7am, but overall it was more than manageable for myself and the other server.
I was also able to sit down with Andrea, my HR manager, today to go over some of my goals and they are as follows:
1) To learn and excel in all my duties as Primrose Breakfast Server.
2) To move into evening shifts at Primrose.
3) To cross train and gain any experience I can in Eden, the 5 diamond restaurant.
Andrea seemed to be supportive of these goals. She seems to think I will be able to move into evenings at Primrose very quickly. She also encouraged me to contact Chad Greaves, the Maitre d'Hotel, to see about picking up hosting shifts in Eden. We also discussed the possibility of sitting in on a F&B management meeting. So overall I think things are going swimmingly.
Another feat today is that I didn't nap! I think I am finally starting to adjust to this altitude.. yay! Can't wait to have my full energy back it will be so nice! Well I'm just leeching Internet from Starbucks at the mo and I think my time is almost up.. will update with more soon including pics. Peace.
I was also able to sit down with Andrea, my HR manager, today to go over some of my goals and they are as follows:
1) To learn and excel in all my duties as Primrose Breakfast Server.
2) To move into evening shifts at Primrose.
3) To cross train and gain any experience I can in Eden, the 5 diamond restaurant.
Andrea seemed to be supportive of these goals. She seems to think I will be able to move into evenings at Primrose very quickly. She also encouraged me to contact Chad Greaves, the Maitre d'Hotel, to see about picking up hosting shifts in Eden. We also discussed the possibility of sitting in on a F&B management meeting. So overall I think things are going swimmingly.
Another feat today is that I didn't nap! I think I am finally starting to adjust to this altitude.. yay! Can't wait to have my full energy back it will be so nice! Well I'm just leeching Internet from Starbucks at the mo and I think my time is almost up.. will update with more soon including pics. Peace.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Week 1!
Helloooo Banff! So I arrived here on the evening of the 26th with my Daddy who so graciously drove me the 8 hour drive!! The drive was beauuutiful. I was good to go to check into staff accom the next day at 10 am. Met my roomie Erica at the hotel and we checked into our lovely abode, L15. The next day we had a brief orientation and tour of the hotel with 4 other students from VIU in Nanaimo.
My first training shift at the Primrose restaurant was the 29th and started at 6:30 am.. ouchie. Since I have been here I have been dead tired adjusting to the altitude, but talking with other people who have moved here it takes about 2 weeks to feel back to normal. My first few training shifts went really well and I started taking my own tables on the second day. I only did this because it was a little busy because I am not supposed to serve my own tables til my 4 days of training are over.
On the 30th I was lucky enough to do a staff wine tasting in the Eden restaurant. It was hosted by Wine Runners in a private room with ah-mazing views. Apparently they have these about every month. We sampled 8 different wines all from different smaller, family run wineries. Some from Spain, Portugal, and quite a few from the Napa Valley. I heart wine tastings.
After I finished at Primrose on Saturday we were all asked to help out in the banquets department which was getting slaughtered by a function for the Alberta Auto Association. That morning before my alarm went off at 4:45am Erica walked in to our room. I assumed she stayed in town at her girlfriends, but no she was just getting off a 17 hour shift. Yikes! She loves it though because she is a machine.
I just got back from Calgary from my 2 days off.. I hung out with some friends I know from Vic there so it was really nice to get away from staff accom for a couple days. Tomorrow I start my 5th day at the Primrose so no more training! Definitely stoked for this! That is all for now.
My first training shift at the Primrose restaurant was the 29th and started at 6:30 am.. ouchie. Since I have been here I have been dead tired adjusting to the altitude, but talking with other people who have moved here it takes about 2 weeks to feel back to normal. My first few training shifts went really well and I started taking my own tables on the second day. I only did this because it was a little busy because I am not supposed to serve my own tables til my 4 days of training are over.
On the 30th I was lucky enough to do a staff wine tasting in the Eden restaurant. It was hosted by Wine Runners in a private room with ah-mazing views. Apparently they have these about every month. We sampled 8 different wines all from different smaller, family run wineries. Some from Spain, Portugal, and quite a few from the Napa Valley. I heart wine tastings.
After I finished at Primrose on Saturday we were all asked to help out in the banquets department which was getting slaughtered by a function for the Alberta Auto Association. That morning before my alarm went off at 4:45am Erica walked in to our room. I assumed she stayed in town at her girlfriends, but no she was just getting off a 17 hour shift. Yikes! She loves it though because she is a machine.
I just got back from Calgary from my 2 days off.. I hung out with some friends I know from Vic there so it was really nice to get away from staff accom for a couple days. Tomorrow I start my 5th day at the Primrose so no more training! Definitely stoked for this! That is all for now.
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