Today is the start of the famous Bellevue Arts Fair! So Alicia and I hit the streets and passed out our lunch menu to the visitors and happy hour menus for the vendors who are finished around 10. We definately got some customers that we saw in our restaurant later! I also filled out Banquet Information Sheet for all of our upcoming events. Now Jeff is going to train me in the bar!

I haven't blogged in a couple days because we have been very busy! But last Tuesday was a crazy day where we had 4 events going on at lunch and Gracie and I had to make a presentation at Expedia to promote our private dining and catering to major neighborhood businesses. We offered them signature appetizers, like sweet potato in a pecan crust and slow-cooked chicken salad canapes, to sample. The day ended up going alright even though it was one of those when we couldn't think of anything else that could go wrong. All the events were pulled off flawlessly for the client! I helped Matt completely reset our ST. Charles room for our evening big event. Then Gracie, Adam, and I with the AV set-up for our dinner party as well. Yesterday I arrived early to help with another large lunch event. I simply was available to help the guests with any requests they might have. Then Gracie and I checked out J. Bookwalter venue for catering. We loved it!! the women who just took over are extremely nice and excited about a partnership of some sort and the wine and space are wonderful!! Finally today I helped Marco with meat consolidation again. Then Gracie and I went to the Parlor to meet Kayce and Crystal and see their venue. It was really cool! And it offers us with a good after-dinner outing to offer our guests and out-of-town business parties. Then it was back to help Marco with desserts, hamburgers, and employee meals. It's always good to work with Marco because he's sooo good at his job and really helpful at teaching me the ropes of the kitchen. Plus he's an excellent singer!

Another busy day! I came in a bit early since we were hosting a corporate lunch for 55 people in our main dining room. And things got hectic quickly when the host decided he wanted to make a slight change to the menu. He simply wanted the dessert served with the entree so that there would be no service during the presentations. Seems like a small differences, but it just goes to show how detail-oriented this business is. We caught up in time, but the back of the house really had to push it! Then since everyone was busy with the event I helped Marcus on the lunch bar again when we got a 10-top walk-in. Things chilled out and we were able to please all of the customers, but it was bit stressful. ~Lisa

Steak & Frites

A short day today since the sun is shining and yesterday was so busy! I helped Erich at the bar again and I think I'm really getting it down. Lunch got a little crazy early on so I finished up his prep for him smoothly. I also got to help him with the bar customers a little! Then Gracie and Arie, the sales manager for the Seattle store, and I hosted Jen Taylor from Taylor'd Events for lunch. She also runs the Wedding Network USA so she gave us a bunch of great tips about kicking off our catering business as well as hosting events for her company.
The food was delicious and great company so it seems like time just flew by!

Caramelized Banana Cream Pie

-Lisa

Sizzling Hot ~ Award Winning Day

7:45 am ~ The Bellevue Collection Manager Meeting

We won ~

A little networking at Nordstrom ~ MAC

The Visit

Shadow the Bartender

Scouting out the Wineries ~ Chateau St. Michele, Alder Ridge, and Efeste

Hotel Concierge Visits

More Shadowing the Bartender

4:45 pm ~ That's it...Happy Hour with Friends

Wednesday...Here comes the Northwest Heatwave!

So it's Wednesday and I forgot to have Lisa post before she left.

The Northwest is gearing up for a big HEATWAVE. 90 DEGREES today!!! One of the chefs made smoothies for everyone. Drinking a lot of water and not even thinking of the 5K we, managers & staff, are thinking of running in just over 1 month...we'll see.

So today, Lisa is shadowing Marcus. This means prepping for lunch and dinner salads/sides. Everthing is prepped to spec, so watch carefully Lisa. We'll test you later.

Phew. Out of the kitchen. Will it be iced tea or smoothie, or both?
Did I mention HEATWAVE? Well instead of the fresh baked cookies that Lisa packed yesterday, today she's preparing a little summer relief.
Water bottles and squirt guns!
We'll be giving these out tomorrow to present & potential customers, along with menus and Ruth's Chris Steak House 45th Anniversary Recipe Cards.
The temperature should be in the 90's!!!

Until later. Stay cool
~Gracie