Moments That Matter
Spotlight - Chef Margaret Occhipinti
This article was republished with permission from the National Culinary Review®, July/August 2021, Volume 45, Issue 4, 2021 by The American Culinary Foundation. All rights reserved. For more information on this or any other ACF publication, please call (800) 624-9458 or visit www.acfchefs.org.
Women Who Lead
In her role, Chef Margaret Occhipinti oversees business dining, on-site restaurants and food halls across the country and is responsible for all aspects of culinary, including concept and recipe development, identifying product specs, hiring and training, guest experience, food quality, food safety and more. She manages three senior executive chefs and 14 executive chefs and their teams across seven campuses.
With so many different people to manage, Chef Occhipinti takes a personalized approach to leadership. “In my experience, the more that you invest in your team, the more you get back in terms of quality, drive and productivity,” she says.
Chef Occhipinti does this by meeting regularly with her team members — having coffee or lunch one-on-one before COVID-19 (and hopefully again soon when safe to do so) — to discuss challenges and opportunities.
“I make it a priority to know everyone’s name and care about their lives and their goals,” she says. “It’s also important to give honest feedback, both positive and constructive.”
By getting to know her team well, Chef Occhipinti is able to approach tough topics with ease. She approaches everything with honesty, whether it’s being empathetic toward others when it comes to fears about COVID-19, dealing with a performance issue or encouraging safe kitchen practices.
It’s not all tough stuff. Chef Occhipinti tries to create a culture that is upbeat, fun and creative.
“An atmosphere that is fun and whimsical helps to keep the creative juices flowing and the energy high,” she says. “I encourage our team to take a risk, to go with that crazy idea — you never know what is going to be the next great thing.”
Chef Occhipinti also makes sure to involve everyone in the menu creation process.
“I typically work with the executive chefs to set the structure and talk about what is trendy, seasonal and a good fit for our restaurants,” she says. “The chefs have autonomy to write their menus and recipes, and I review and oversee implementation.”
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So proud to have Executive Chef Margaret featured in a #nationalculinaryreview article about "Women Who Lead". Check out the link in bio to read about her amazing work!
As summer starts to heat up 🔥 make sure to stay hydrated with water-rich foods like watermelon, which is made up of 92% water. 🍉 What's your favorite way to stay hydrated in the summer? #foodie #healthyfood #foodlover #foodstagram #Catering #Culinary #LoveOfFood #FoodTrends #InTheKitchen #HospitalityIndustry #sustainability #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup
Sunday is #NationalIceCreamDay and we are celebrating early because...why not! What toppings do you put on your ice cream? #foodie #foodlover #foodstagram #Catering #Culinary #LoveOfFood #FoodTrends #InTheKitchen #HospitalityIndustry #sustainability #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup
Fresh berries are the perfect ingredient in a delicious summer salad! #foodie #healthyfood #foodlover #foodstagram #Catering #Culinary #LoveOfFood #FoodTrends #InTheKitchen #HospitalityIndustry #sustainability #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup
Who can resist a cupcake with sprinkles? Our chefs are gearing up to showcase their skills with patriotic dishes. What’s your go-to Fourth of July meal or treat? #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup #LoveOfFood #FoodTrends #InTheKitchen
It’s #nationaltakeyourpettoworkday and to celebrate our furry friends, Executive Chef Margaret Occhipinti is sharing with us her housemade peanut butter dog biscuits. Treat your furry friend to this delicious recipe today in the #linkinbio
There’s something about watermelon that just screams summer. Our chefs enjoy finding delicious ways to keep our guests hydrated and refreshed during the summer months and beyond. Plus, who doesn’t want a fun mocktail during the workday? #Catering #Culinary #LoveOfFood #FoodTrends #InTheKitchen #HospitalityIndustry #sustainability #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup
We believe preventing deforestation is imperative to the wellbeing of our global community and remain committed to working with our partners toward No Deforestation, No Peatland Loss, and No Exploitation of people (NDPE), inclusive of legal and illegal deforestation. #WorldRainforestDay
Wishing a Happy Father’s Day to all of our guests and team members! #fathersday
Today, we come together to celebrate a historic day commemorating the end of slavery. At LifeWorks, we are committed to enabling the equity and wellbeing of people around the world. We hope you will join us in pausing to reflect on the past year, embracing the importance of coming together to learn about our shared history, and supporting your Black and African American neighbors, friends, and colleagues.
Warmer weather calls for an outdoor picnic with all your favorite meals. What’s your favorite picnic food? #nationalpicnicday #foodlover #foodstagram #Catering #Culinary #LoveOfFood #FoodTrends #InTheKitchen #HospitalityIndustry #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup
There’s always room for dessert – especially when blueberry pie is on the menu. We’re not drooling, you’re drooling. #foodlover #foodstagram #Catering #Culinary #LoveOfFood #FoodTrends #InTheKitchen #HospitalityIndustry #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup
It’s #NationalDoughnutDay! What’s your favorite doughnut flavor? #foodie #foodlover #foodstagram #Catering #Culinary #LoveOfFood #FoodTrends #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup
Happy Pride Month! This month, we continue to celebrate the diversity of our culinary talent by highlighting LGBTQ+ culinarians through our Chef Spotlight program. Our chefs are doing more than just making meals, they’re bringing people closer together. #pridemonth #chefspotlight
NEW trend alert 📢 🔥! We are putting a new spin on the beloved avocado toast and created a deconstructed avocado toast with poached egg, sweet corn puree, pea greens, toasted macadamia nut, and grilled sourdough. #toasttuesday #avocadotoast #LoveOfFood #FoodTrends #InTheKitchen #HospitalityIndustry #sustainability #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup
So proud of our team members that were named Foodservice Heroes highlighted in @food_management magazine this month. Check out the link in bio to hear their inspiring stories. #foodmanagement #foodserviceheroes
Would your four-legged friend like these scratch-made dog treats? Since our chefs limit the amount of food waste, there are times when leftovers become something our guests can take home to their pets. These dog treats were made with leftover bananas, chicken stock and peanut butter. Talk about a high-class dog treat. #Catering #Culinary #HospitalityIndustry #sustainability #foodmanagment #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup
Congratulations to our very own Food Service Manager Jordan Dicken, who was named a 2021 Food Service Hero in Food Management Magazine! Link in bio to hear the full story. #foodmanagement #foodmanagementmagazine
Charcuterie is a fun and easy way to incorporate a pop of color with seasonal veggies, fruits, and garnishes. What are some must-have items for your charcuterie display? #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup #Catering #HospitalityIndustry
Wishing a Happy Mother’s day to all of our team and guests! #mothersday
