New Menu Ideas

The Kemosabe Pulse

With Patrick


Howdy all you folks out there in blog land... Hello?... Anybody out there? If there is anyone out there reading this I dedicate today's blog to you. Today's topic is new menu items. I'm trying to come up with names for some new items hitting the menu soon, and I was hoping to run a few of them past you and see what you think... oh and don't get upset we are still keeping your old favorites, these are additions not replacements.

I want the names to keep with the theme of the Kemosabe Cafe and its existing cool and fun menu, like the "Big Chief Jim Burger" and our "Screaming Hot make you red face Buffalo Wings"
The first menu item is a grilled cheese sandwich made with aged white cheddar. It's served with "scalped" potatoes(get it "scalped potatoes" instead of" scalloped potatoes" LOL) I'm calling this dish "Grill Whitey".

The next addition to the menu is the "Totem Burger". This is the Kemosabe Cafe's take on the sliders craze(mini burgers). In stead of lining them up on the plate we stack them on each other like a totem pole. I know... I know.. your welcome.

Another addition to the menu is stuffed cannelloni pasta in a red wine marinara and cheese sauce. We are calling it "Canoe-dles and Cheese"(instant classic right there). Our final addition to the menu is a delicious chickpea and ox pot pie which I'm cleverly naming "Chick Pox Pie" No he didn't... Yes He Did! I'm an OP(that's Original Punster for those of you who aren't down with the lingo)

Come on down to the Kemosabe Cafe and sample some of the new menu items don't forget to call a head and make a 'reservation'... oops I did it again I made a Punny!

Well that's all for now my faithful reader. Thanks for keeping my finger company on The Pulse.

OP out

PS If anyone out there has any suggestions on any menu items( and names for these items) that you would like to see on the menu let me know. Write your ideas in the comment box on this website or on our facebook page or if your in the neighborhood you could slip it in our comment box on the counter next to the till at the Kemosabe Cafe for a chance to win a free Kemosabe Cafe T-shirt.

The Art Of Pow- wow

The Kemosabe Pulse

with me Patrick

Managing a restaurant is like being a colonel in the army, It's like "The Art Of War", a book I have yet to read. Many of the same principles are shared between winning a war and getting through a busy dinner rush I bet.

And winning a war all comes down to the strategic planning and that my friend is done in Pow-wow. That's the new name that I call our meeting with the floor staff prior to starting the shift. It's normally called pre-shift, but I think Pow-wow is a no brainer in our restaurant, those who have been there or seen some pictures know what a sweet fitting name this is. That's why this guy is in charge Col. Patrick reporting for duty Hoo-Rah! Anywho to win the war I need to deploy my troops in the right areas to hold the attack, I need good intel, and that means I need to know what kind of reservations we have for the night, and assign sections accordingly. If I have a large group coming in I will put Sue on that section because she is great at keeping everything organized, which is beneficial when they all start screaming for separate bills. I'll station Andy in the section that is most likely to have the most turn over, he can handle the pressure. If we have any staggets or girls birthday parties Chad is my man, because he knows how to work the ladies. If there are a lot of requests for the counter stools, I know we got some drinkers coming in and that's where Mel will be. And the left over section goes to Scott. He's kind of a mix between the guy in the war movies who you know isn't going to make it out alive, he's just a little too slow on throwing the grenade. And the Vietnam vet who's done too many tours and is all messed up and shell shocked, that's Scott. I try to keep him away from the front lines.

I'm not only the colonel heading up this rag tag platoon, I'm also the bomb expert. That's right you guessed it I diffuse bombs. Which is what I call a situation between my soldiers and the hostiles (staff and customers). I slide in when there is a problem and disarm the threat by buying them a dessert or taking something off the bill or I distract them with coupons. Its all about them leaving happy, they are usually wrong but at least there happy. The old adage 'the customer is always right" was proven wrong like the next table after that, but to run a successful war I need a low number of casualties. I need the hostiles to leave happy and want to come back to my little war. Because war is big business my friends.

If any of you have ever worked in the restaurant business you know what I'm talking about it's like being in the trenches man!

That's all for now folks... too many flash backs post traumatic stress from the things that I've seen and the things that I've been made to do in the name of the Kemosabe Cafe.
" The horror...the horror."

Finger Kemosabe Pulse

Thanks
Patrick

The dysfunctional Kemosabe Cafe Family

Kemosabes you now have your finger on The Pulse with Patrick

Today's topic is the Kemosabe Cafe family. I like to think of us as a working family rather than just staff members who work together at a restaurant. A loving family, but like all loving families they are bound to have moments of dysfunction. Today was a perfect example of this dysfunction.

But before I get into all that I should probably introduce you to the front of the house family(there is no real family unit in the back of the house(the kitchen staff) they are like migrant carnival workers and by that I mean no disrespect. I only liken them to carnies because they're a sketchy bunch, with bad hygiene and they're in charge of the patrons bodily safety. In this case the food in the real carnies case the death defying rides shoddily put together, maintained and run by this elite group of individuals... where was I going with this? Oh yeah don't trust your life to carnies and there is no real family unit in our kitchen)

Anywho back on topic the front of the house family consists of: Andy, Sue, Chad, Mel and Scott.
It's a rather small family for a restaurant but it's a rather small restaurant and the five of them is all we need to provide the service that our customers have come to expect. Andy is a struggling actor/waiter(how novel) he's done a few commercials and I think he played a corpse in a Steven Segal straight to DVD gem. He's got a good head on his shoulders. I would say if I weren't around he would probably be the one they would look to for leadership.

Sue is currently dating and living with Andy. I don't know how they do it, if I were to ever have a girlfriend I doubt we could ever work together. But some how those two little love birds seem to make it work. If Andy was not in the picture I'm pretty sure Sue and I would be an item. All I'm saying is strong sexual tension my friends. Sue is an aspiring actor as well, but I have over heard her talking to Mel in the change room talking about going back to school (she better not quit). She cares about issues and stuff of that flaky nature (don't tell her I said that she would be on her soap box giving me what for).

Chad is a bit of a ladies man, he's pretty cool. He's not locked down to one girl and that's how he prefers it. Him and I have a lot in common I think. He says he doesn't see it but that's kind of our relationship we like to joke around and we both enjoy a good ribbing.

Mel is a little firecracker. She's lots of laughs. She acts like she hates working here but I know deep down she wouldn't want to be anywhere else. She is currently looking for love in all the wrong places( If you know what I mean). In my opinion. I don't want to toot my own horn but I think there's a little spark there too, but she might be too much of a handful for me.

And finally we have Scott. We tend to butt heads a lot and I truly believe its because we have very similar personalities. The only real difference is I don't have his highly addictive personality. (Lets just say he likes to slow dance with Mary Jane every chance he gets) If you don't know what I'm talking about that's Okay, just go ask some hip cat to translate that for you. It's a code, a smoke signal if you will(wink wink). You know what I'm talking about. But seriously great guy a little too opinionated but the little rascal means well.

I can't remember what I was going to complain about, I can't stay mad at this bunch... I should wrap this up, I have to get back on the floor this dysfunctional family needs constant supervision.

Thanks for putting your finger on The Pulse

Patrick

Boss With Buddy Benefits!

You now have your finger on The Pulse with Patrick

It was a great shift with the new tie and new duties as acting floor manager. It was a nice change to be giving orders rather than taking them.

The staff seems to be adjusting to the change as best they can. It must be quite the shift for them, one day I'm there buddy and the next day I'm their boss, that's a lot to adjust to. I reassured them that I can be both.,I can be their boss with buddy benefits!

I want to be like that teacher that everyone liked in high school. You all know the one. The awesome one that treated you like an adult, when no one else would. The one that would have students over to his place on the weekend for a hot tub party. The one that would be cool enough to let you have some beer while you were there too. The one that was so cool that the other teachers and parents felt threatened and couldn't compete with, so they got him transferred to another school district. This ones for you Mr. Handsdon( but to me and my fellow classmates he'll always be " hands" to us, a cool gym teacher with a cool nickname).

I'm going to be that guy, the boss that you can relate to and share a joke with. The one that you want to have drinks with after your shift is done and share a long soak in a hot tub with(in more of a metaphorical way since I actually don't have a hot tub ,yet. I don't really have the space for one right now). Just like "Hands" I put my pants on one leg at a time, I'm just a regular guy with a golden tie. A boss with Buddy Benefits.

Thanks for putting your "Hands" on The Pulse with me folks.

Patrick

Wining Oscardo Gold!

Hello Kemosabes

You now have your fingers on The Pulse(Yup that's sounds awesome I'm keeping that sweet intro).

Winning Oscardo Gold sounds like winning at the Spanish Oscars. Well I do feel mucho awesome.

I'm still glowing from my sweet win/promo(promotion). Today at work we had the gold medal ceremony. (It was a mix between the Oscars, the Olympics and the medal ceremony at the end of Star Wars). What a rush! I felt like Han Solo if he played Hockey for team Canada, when they win gold.

You may be asking yourself two things right now. And the answer to the first is yes Chewbacca would be in goal. And the second answer is...if you look at the picture at the top of the page, check out the gold tie I'm sporting. That's what I'm talking about. It's the gold tie only worn by managers, the gold eagle feather Oscardo by Wade Baker. Boom! Around this guys neck, yeah it is! You see everyone is given a native themed tie to wear as part of their uniform when they're hired. The acting manager reaches into the old tie box and randomly pics a tie. Where as the Golden Oscardo pics you!

There is also a bit of a wage increase too and 10% dental coverage. But the ties 100% silk, yeah it is. It's really about the respect and recognition that comes with the golden Oscardo that I care about. Now I'm the big chief with my feather in my cap, so to speak, instant respect.

I can't wait for everyone to see it around my neck. Since I was the only one in attendance during the medal ceremony. Well the cleaners that clean the restaurant at night were there, they found it on the floor near the desk in the office, I assume Fred the owner must have slipped in and dropped it off, he's a busy guy so he must have been in and out without me seeing him, I must have been busy too. Speaking of busy I should go out front and unlock the front doors so the staff can get in and see me and my golden eagle tie in all its regal glory! With great tie power comes great tie responsibility!

Thanks for putting your finger on The Pulse

Patrick

New Sheriff In Town

Welcome to the Kemosabe Cafe Blog written by yours truly Patrick

I am here to announce there is a new sheriff in town pardners. That's right folks I got the promotion I am now the new manager at the Kemosabe Cafe!

The votes have been cast and the ballots have been counted. It was a crazy week. A real roller coaster ride of emotion, a lot of ups and downs, but the ride has come to a stop and the best man won, but the real ride is about to begin. This feeling is reminiscent of when I won the title of" the person most likely to drive the least distance to our ten year reunion." I was the only one in my posse to get acknowledged in the yearbook, boom! My point being I was popular then and I am popular now,( so don't beat yourself up Andy). But all gloating aside I would like to take this opportunity to thank my competitor Andy who was also up for the promotion. He is a great guy but not management material in my opinion. He has only worked here for three years while I have been here for six, so I have twice the experience. But enough about why I was the best candidate for the position (mad popular + twice the experience= New Manager)

I have so many great ideas for taking this restaurant to the next level. This is just one of them writing this blog. Another is starting a facebook page for The Kemosabe Cafe( I'm not sure what that is, but I hear the staff at work talking about it a lot, which is another reason I got this promo(promotion) I have this uncanny ability to dial in on trends and whats hot. I have my finger on the pulse of whats hip, if you feel me?)

That's what this blog will be about I think my reign as manager of the Kemosabe Cafe and I'll call this series of blogs "The Pulse"

Thanks for keeping your finger on The Pulse(sweet that's how I'm going to sign off)

Patrick