I write this update from a very sunny California!
I was convinced that moving to the United States would be a great experience, both professionally and personally. And I have never regretted it as I feel I’ve learned and grown more than ever before!
The hotel is an absolute gem, it is located on the world-famous Sand Hill Road in the heart of the Silicon Valley. All rooms are located in cottages and villas on 16 acres, all of which enjoy stunning views of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Overlooking “In Room Dining” and our seasonal Grill and Bar operations, is a good first Department Head Position. My team is experienced and strong, but keen to learn and elevate our service and offering in general. Its a great environment to work in. With Thanksgiving, typically our peak season ends until the new year. This gives us time to work on some exciting projects, both departmentally and hotel-wide.
California itself is a great place to be. On my days off I have visited multiple wineries in both Napa and Sonoma Valley or some of the State and National Parks in the proximity of the peninsula. California is simply stunning!
In September, my fellow GSS finalist and good friend Christian Köhle arrived here in Menlo Park and assumed the position of Assistant Restaurant Manager in our 1* Madera Restaurant. It is a wonderful success story for the Gold Service Scholarship as we met through the competition and he was keen to move to California and I was able to help him secure this position over here. This really shows how great this competition is and what you can actually take out of it, regardless of winning the competition or not.
Recently I received the wonderful news that the team at Holborn Dining Room who won the 2018 Hotel Catey for Hotel Restaurant Team of the Year. This is an incredible accolade for a very talented team and the result of a lot of hard work by the team lead by my mentors Julien Foussadier and Chef Calum Franklin. The team is one of the most heterogenous I have ever work in, but at the same time one in which everyone shares the same very special spirit. Congratulations!
Lastly, it is with great pleasure that I am able to share that I have already booked my flight to London in early February to attend the award ceremony of the 2019 GSS and to witness first-hand, who will be the next scholar.
