‘ we opened Farmhouse Cafe with a Ballymaloe trained cook and loads of
notions about ‘proper ‘ food, and absolutely No experience otherwise.
Very quickly we discovered that you can’t do everything yourself.
Which is where operational systems come in. So this is not the time to
return to college for management training, Queue Blathnaid Bergin. I
just can’t believe how lucky I was to have bumped into her.
As I was up and running as a cafe her ‘Start a Cafe ‘ course was not
really for me so she agreed to come in for a day and observe and
advise.
That’s exactly what she did she sat all day at various tables
unobtrusively, watching, taking notes, following us into the store
etc.
Then shot from the hip.
Then the report, she dissected us- nicely.
E.g. She showed how it took us 7 trips to clear and reset a table- use
a tray! ( with a cloth on board )
It was the most illuminating experience and it fundamentally changed
the way I think about everything we do.
Blathnaid has become a wonderful
friend and supporter but never indulges us , she is bursting with
enthusiasm encouragement and good spirits and ‘can do, will do’.
She’s like that big sister, rip you apart but she is so on your side.
Best thing we ever did. –
Susan O’ Sullivan – The Farmhouse Cafe, Longmile Road, Dublin