457: Working in a fluid circle with Cara Graham

457: Working in a fluid circle with Cara Graham

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee March 28, 2018 Duration: 1:12:33
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
BusinessArtsFoodManagement

 

In this episode with Cara Graham, we discuss:

  • Trusting your gut/intuition.
  • The value of working in corporate structure to learn the standards.
  • The authentic personality of your servers coming out in front of your guest.
  • Constantly putting yourself in uncomfortable positions in order to grow.
  • Not being pretentious with your food and beverage knowledge.
  • Learning by constantly taking on new responsibilities.
  • The importance of educating your staff, so your staff can educate your guest.
  • Being confident and sure as a leader.
  • Working together as a team.
  • Giving your people opportunities or risk losing them.
  • Hiring people that mesh well with your team chemistry.
  • How to maintain your cool when someone green is doing something totally stupid.
  • Being open to learning from your staff.
  • The importance of giving back to your community.

Hailing from Pegram, TN Cara Graham got her start in hospitality serving while in college. She instantly fell in love. Over the next 20 years she would progress by constantly challenging herself, and taking on tasks she wasn't accustomed to. She climbed the latter from server, to bar tender, to manager, and eventually to general manager at Eastland in Nashville. It was at Eastland where she met her future business partner, Chef Hal Holden Bache. In 2011, together, they opened Lockeland Table Community Kitchen and Bar.

 

Show notes…

Favorite Success Quote or Mantra.

"Follow your moral compass."

Today's Sponsor

 

Gusto-  "The best payroll, benefits, and HR for the small business owner." It is time to let Gusto do the heavy lifting. Sign up today, and once you run your first payroll you'll get 3 months FREE on Gusto. Click Here to get started

 

bentobox- Bring your restaurant's hospitality online with BentoBox. Get in touch to learn more and save up to $1500 on initial setup when you mention Restaurant Unstoppable. Click Here to get started

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?

    • Paying attention.
    • Constantly living in a place of growth.

  2. What is your biggest weakness?

    • Worries too much.

  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?

    • Pay attention to body language.

  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?

    • Work-life-balance.
      • She has overcome this by empowering her team.

  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.

    1. Be kind.

  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?

    1. Be yourself.
    2. Know your menu.
    3. Know the stories behind the food.

  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
    GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 

  8. Share an online resource or tool.

  9. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?

    1. Be kind
    2. work hard
    3. find what you love.

Contact Info

Cara@lockelandtable.com

Email: employment@lockelandtable.com

Instagram: @lockelandtable

Chef Hal's personal Instagram:@chefhalholdenbache

Facebook/lockelandtable

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Huge thanks to Cara Graham for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Eric Cacciatore sits down with the people who actually run the show in the world of food service. Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore is built on conversations with established restaurateurs and seasoned professionals who have navigated the intense realities of the industry. Twice a week, these interviews dig past the surface, focusing on the tangible details of leadership, team management, and effective marketing that separate a thriving venue from a struggling one. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of what worked, what didn’t, and the often-overlooked decisions that shape a restaurant's path. This podcast serves as a direct line to collective experience, whether you're dreaming of your first opening or steering a multi-location group. The dialogue is practical, centered on the daily grind and long-term strategy needed to build something lasting. For anyone invested in the business of hospitality, these regular episodes compile a vital resource, turning shared insights into actionable knowledge for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

Official website RSS
instagramyoutubetiktokspotify
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Podcast Episodes
390: PART 2- Never do these 3 things with Scott Crawford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:36
This is the second part of a two-part series! In part two, Chef Scott Crawford and I discuss why shutting the door on opportunity is sometimes the best way to open doors to more opportunities, building a reputation by do…
389: PART 1- Focusing on results with Scott Crawford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:20
This is the first of a two-part series! In part one Chef Scott Crawford and I discuss focusing on results, how Chef Crawford found his lane, how to find your passion, working for the best possible people, how to build re…
388: Respect, listen, and push forward with Marc Jacksina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:27
In this episode with Chef Marc Jacksina, we discuss what attracted Chef Jacksina to this industry, why you need to "remember where the fence is", why a clean workspace is more than just a clean workspace, paying attentio…
387: The 7 Rules of Greatness with Chef Charles Carroll [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:39
In this episode with Chef Charles Carroll, we discuss the power in building your team, the inspiration behind his new book, and we share "Chef's Seven Rules of Greatness". Chef Carroll is an award-winning chef who travel…
386: Writing job posts that convert with Pablo Fuentes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:37
In this episode with guest, Pablo Fuentes we discuss how success starts with discipline, how to use your team to get inspiration for writing a good job post, the elements of a perfect job post, common mistakes to avoid w…
385: Creating opportunity for the talented with Alex Lapratt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:36
In this episode, with Master Sommelier, Alex Lapratt, we discuss hiring those who are persistent about working for you, being positive and humble, knowing your stuff- if you don't know don't make it up, hard work making…
384: Blazing your own path with Colin Lynch & Jefferson Macklin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:16
In this episode, we bring back past guest, Business Manager of Bar Mezzana, Jefferson Macklin, and business partner, Executive Chef, Colin Lynch. When Jefferson first came on the show (episode 228) he and his partners, C…
383: 5 places NEW customers come from with Erik Shellenberger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:54
In this episode, we discuss what makes Erik Shellenberger an authority on the topic of marketing, and we cover the 5 areas you're most likely to find your next NEW customer: word-of-mouth, reviews, search engine optimiza…
382: Collaborating with the greatness in others with Donnie Madia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:18
In this episode with Donnie Madia, we discuss the power of collaboration, knowing your strengths, attracting onto yourself those who are strong where you're weak, taking the ideas of others and tweaking them to make them…
381: Summarizing your brand by being the best with Jennifer Pelka [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:42
In this episode, we discuss how Jen Pelka got her start in the industry, how you got to "fake it till you make it", how to create opportunity for yourself by creating positions, the power of side hustles, having great co…

«1...909192939495969798...100»