Why don't you go home?

That question was posed to me today by Baker Bob.  I had worked a long day yesterday and I am not quite back to 100%.  So, I did go home and the rest was very welcome & I'm definitely going to try a bit more balance going forward -- sometimes I think we are slowed down for a reason...

However, back at the shop.... 2 waitresses, a runner / busser, a barista and full staffing in the kitchen --- all seemed OK.

However, we did not do justice to our customers with regard to service and timing.  For this, I apologise & recognize that managing the overall flow & timing of the "rooms"  is a major part of what I do.  That is not a skill I have transferred well yet.   

If you were with us today and want to share your experience, + / - ---I would really like to hear from you.

My work "to do" based on feedback so far will involve all the workers and much additional skill transfer,

So, "why don't you go home?"  has, at this point, some issues & after 4 months, we are still learning how best to run our little business to best service our many strong supporters.

Thank you all!

The telephone issue!

A number of our customers have been kind enough to let us know that our phone number is not listed with the 411 services. (As you may remember, earlier we had a number listed & it was our fax machine, so that was really distressing to those who called & go the fax "noise" in their ear -- sorry about that once again!)
We made a decision to have the shop phone (609 235 7539 -- as indicated on all paper collateral and hopefully now the only number on the website -- of this I'm not sure, my cell or Bob's may still be posted in one or two places --) be a cellular phone. And so it is, and so we are not listed with the land line carriers. (if anyone knows how we can be, I'd love to hear about it) I do have a google listing for us but I have not endeavored to fill out info about the shop on the myriad sites that are possible -- opinions on where we might do well would be very welcome.

But now to the current issue: When the phone is not answered, we are not great at the "callback"!!

Today I found a message from early in the week requesting confirmation of a tea reservation. No one had picked up the message, so needless to say, no confirmation was made and no tea was had. I am so sorry, because I know this mother and daughter and I know they really would have had a lovely time together over tea at the rooster. I also know that they are not ones to waste an opportunity for an outing.

We are strengthening our commitment to customers by putting the baristas (all 4 of them!) into a position of accountability for the phone - answered or not -- to get messages and reply on the same day.

I hope if you've had any phone problems (or others for that matter) that you will let us know -- blog, email or in person.

Our First Holiday Season

Here we are, coming to the middle / end of the 2008 holiday season.  The whirlwind of work from Sept 1st until now is now becoming part of life, and we are becoming clear about the need to build back all the other parts of life during 2009.  (first priority is for Bob & me to have actual days off in the week... look for this in January....)  

The prospects of a day off in the week becomes clearer & more possible now that Bob has a full-time baker's assistant!  Yeah Cory!  Cory has been with us in a part-time bread focused assistant for a while now and we are pleased that he has agreed to take a fulltime role.  More about staff later.

Right now, the peak holiday offerings from the Blue Rooster are not quite up to what we want them to be.  Full size pies, full size cheesecakes, gift baskets and a few more items like note cards and calendars from one of our favorite providers.  All this is great and you all seem to like them, however, we would like to bring some European holiday specialities into the BR and....

How about special cookies and cupcakes?  How about a more solid participation in Toys for Tots and offerings of food for the needy?  How about something like an English Wassail?  A  quick google on the topic is below - 

2009 - we will move into gear with seasonal planning & hopefully specialties, as appropriate!  Your thoughts and ideas will be most appreciated.

14 days -- too long!!

So, I am actually having blog withdrawal -- along with all else that's been going on!

Here's the scoop-- (mainly about me... more about other topics once this is down on "paper"):

First - I came down with a cold.  Normally, no big deal.  However, you are the public and you (& I) do not want to be greeted,  served, or to have your hand shook by someone with cold & flu symptoms.   So, I followed the advise I give to all our workers -- stay away until you are well or at least until you are through the worst of the symptoms.  This is not my SOP -- however, I left on Monday 15th late morning, stayed away all day Tues and came in midday Wed.  While away I mostly slept & I definitely needed that; hence no blogging.

The rest of the week seemed like catch-up time and although the thought "blog", crossed my mind, I didn't get to it.  I did get a chance to marvel at how well all the front of house staff work together & how well they know the importance of customer first & service.  I also see where some additional training will be useful for all.  2009 - opportunities for improving!

Then,  I was zipping around a sink in the kitchen, there was water on the floor, and I slipped & fell.  Bruised & aching -- I had to take another couple of days to get back into the fray!  For those who saw me on Sunday the 21st - Wed the 24th --- I may have said I was fine -- I have a tendency to say that.  I was not.  Thanks for your concern.  

Again, I rested & there was no blogging.

So, here we are the day after Christmas 2008.  I have a volume to share with you all and I will do that in a short series of blogs this afternoon, evening & throughout the weekend.  

Then, it is my intention to become a daily blogger.  I hope that some of you who come into the shop and say that you read the blog may decide to participate a bit with me.  

Jazz Sunday

We had our first jazz Sunday last weekend and at the zenith - 15 -20 people enjoyed music throughout the dining rooms & the library.  I would be very interested to hear from you about your interest in our doing this on a monthly basis -- thanks in advance!

100 Days +

Tuesday of this week was the 100th day since we opened.  So, with our Thanksgiving Day closing, Wed was 100th day of operation!

Time is flying by, mainly in a very positive way for us.  

We have evolved our staff in all areas --- we are now two great chefs (you know Peter & Lois), 2 great dishwashers (William & Robert),  a solid team manning the barista station & being the first welcome to many visitors, and of course our waitstaff & their support (new role -- runner).

A number of folks joined us early and due to school commitments, were unable to stay with us.  A couple have left due to new opportunities in their field of study / career aspirations.

All have left us with more knowledge about how best to staff and manage a small business with young employees.  Many have left us with great new ideas for how to improve our processes, make the BR work better, and generally have shown us that there is indeed good value in hiring young local talent!

Tonight we had our first serious "congratulations on your leaving" event.  Kristen, a college graduate in ceramics, had her last day working with us today.  A fabulous opportunity presented itself to her and she snapped it up.  We look forward to following her career growth and to saying, "we knew her when...".  Kristen will be working with a potter who is taking a new line of work nationwide and we look forward as well to seeing this work and perhaps connecting you all to it when we have a website link..... Kristen.....??

One of the more amazing points of learning I have gleaned from the staff is that commitment to the BR and to doing the best possible job comes in many different forms.  Kristen presented herself as a seriously experienced waitress when that was just what we needed and she quickly developed into a seriously committed member of the BR team. The word 'team' is bandied about so frequently these days that  the true value delivered by a true team often seems to me to be diluted.

No dilution here - Kristen learned and then led and she definitely left the BR a more polished, professional group providing a good level of service to our customers.    

First snow, Sat night, really enjoy cocooning @ home!

Do people still talk about cocooning?  

I did not truly contemplate nor comprehend how the days @ the BR would bring so much of the lives of our visitors into my life.  This week - a baby born & named, a fundraiser held and so many wonderful folks joining us to help their cause,  another baby shower in the works, a family gathering at home successfully held with food & service from the BR, many first time visitors reminding us again and again about how special they feel the BR is.   

And of course -- Friday night roasted chestnuts and hot cocoa for many who stood outside watching the treelighting & seeing Santa (!); today - many folks stopping by for a taste of the best olive oil going, used in a wonderful Greek salad & sauteed spinach & served by the import company's President -- Thanks for making the trip down from Connecticut, Tom.  

I met Jonathan; 4 yrs old, first time visitor with his Mom & with a smile and an openness that just can't be beat.  He very kindly left a crayoned  picture for our board.  

A regular visitor brought us a great piece of artwork and such a nice sentiment about the BR -- pictured are our Prairie muffin, cupcake, cookie and croissant -- with a message:  "The Blue Rooster Rocks - a place where smiles are served"   thanks Grace!  

And as many of you may have read in the Cranbury Press, our barista Karissa Stiglic is raising funds for the orphanage where she will be working in South Africa come February.  She asked if selling candy at the BR would be OK -- it is so more than ok, it is right in the core of our values and we couldn't be happier to have her present her project @ the BR.  

Day life at the BR is full of wonderful people -- those who work with us, those who visit and those who stop by to learn more about us.  Evenings are short, however tonight we went out to eat with my parents -- The Americana Diner -- something totally non-BR - --- I had a turkeyburger.  

On the way home the snow started and now, as the football games carry on in the background, the snow falls so quietly and looks so clean in the garage door light.  Contentment on two fronts is so amazing -- and today I have it!