The Business of Hospitality, by Clara Tenenbaum

THE BUSINESS OF HOSPITALITY

For the beginning of the day, we ate at The Water Tower, savoring my asian’s food, I was listening a charming chef woman, Janet Kirker. She told us her relationship with her mentor. He was very strict, but thanks to that, she was be able to do lot of thing. With her husband, who has the same job. They would like to create their own restaurant. She wants to use her networking for that, because it’s very useful ! 

Janet Kirker

After we want to the Drake Hotel. The Drake Hotel is a luxury hotel located downtown on the lake side of Michigan Avenue. It was founded in 1920 and considered as a historical monument of Chicago. A number of famous cinema films have been shot at the Drake Hotel : Wicker Park, Mission Impossible or Hero for example.
In reality, a lot of history has stem from the Drake Hotel : Marilyn Monroe caved her initials into the bar and it still to be seen today.

The Drake Hotel organized events, meeting, banquet. It’s also a place for organized wedding or diner. It’s a wonderful and awe-inspiring hotel. We met the manager Shaun Rajah, who showed us different room. A fascinating guided tour because we felt like a customer. A ballroom, a meeting room, the toilet, every places are well-decorated. Why attention to detail matter in business? Because we see only the detail. When every girl came to the toilet, they observed the beautiful soap and the perfect decoration.
Shaun showed us in the kitchen met the Chef Herve. The Drake Hotel’s kitchen is very spacious. Chef Herve is a impressive man. He’s french and he left France to Texas and after for Miami. Now he works in Chicago. Why Chicago? Because as a european man, he miss the real season. He told us his background. After be graduated to his culinary school, he came to Texas and he worked with Mexican man who don’t speak english and it’s how he became trilingual, with the french, english and Spanish. He understand with the time that speak a number of language opened doors. He is passionate about his job, it’s encouraging to see a man so passionate! He has devoted himself mainly to cooking. he said that when you really want something with all your heart, it will be happen and the money come after, with the passion. « It’s hard to become a chef, you don’t have a lot of time for yourself, for your family, but cooking is something in your heart. »

Chef Herve

I was very impressed about the detail in Drake Hotel’s kitchen. All the staff of the kitchen have a list   where is indicated all the allergy. The details are very important especially in a beautiful and renowned hotel like The Drake. 

After in the day, we went to Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafters meet Dominique.  erican people loves enjoy their food inside the place. It’s not like in Europe, where everybody buy their croissant and go eat them in their house. So by adapting to the need of american’s costumer, they opened a room who everybody can eat inside the bakery. She said that all the customer are a link with her. She knows them. It’s a family company. It’s important to create essential links with customer to develop relationships. Because if they have a good link they come back and they will be a regular customer. It was a wonderful day !