The Kentridge Senior Living Shows Appreciation to Its Waitstaff

May 21^st is National Waitstaff Appreciation Day. The difference between an okay dining experience and one that is truly remarkable lies in the hands of your waiter or waitress. They are the unsung heroes in our restaurants, and without them, we wouldn’t be able to operate at the level you’ve come to expect.  
National Waitstaff Appreciation Day was created by Fred Sirieix. He wanted to celebrate all waitstaff, from those in the finest restaurants to the ones in the least exotic locations. Sirieix’s goal was to change the perception of waitstaff as being unskilled and show them as hardworking people they are, doing skilled work that can lead to a rewarding career. It was proposed by Sirieix in 2012 and was first celebrated in 2013. 

As the Culinary Director at The Kentridge Senior Living, I consider positivity, energy, the desire to provide best possible quality, and what I like to call “stick-to-it-tiveness,” for when things may get a little hairy, but they refuse to give in, as the attributes of a great server. It’s important to have these dedicated and loyal team members because they are crucial to our day-to-day operation. They have an opportunity to get to know and proudly serve our very special residents each day. This consistency, when added with dedication and loyalty, ultimately becomes invaluable in terms of service provided when details are remembered. These include favorite drinks, favorite meals, birthdays, anniversaries, family member names, along with other particulars. This allows the servers to maximize their potential to ensure a positive experience for our residents.

I’m proud to work with Jena, Sarah, Caitlin, Kylie, Riley, Lily, Mady, Lani, Emily, Edward, Johnny, Tristan, and Claire. We will be celebrating with fresh baked cookies and a special thanks for all the hard work and dedication they provide, not only to our department, but most importantly for our residents.

I hope my waitstaff realize this job is much more than a paycheck. You are being trusted to ensure the loved ones of many families are receiving proper nourishment at all meal periods, while at the same time having an enjoyable experience. These little things all add up to become much bigger than you imagine. I certainly appreciate the work being performed, not only by my staff, but all service staff at Kentridge, the ones who ultimately come to appreciate you and the things you do are the residents. Sometimes the work can be frustrating, even thankless to some people, but whenever you seem to be in a rut, try to remember who you are and what you do are incredibly important!

This year, as we all settle in for a fantastic meal, let’s take a moment to recognize the hardworking men and women that make up Arrow’s waitstaff. Their smiles and personalities help make our days a little brighter and the meals taste a little better. Thank you to them all.