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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From the heart of our kitchen to the tables we set, we embrace the flavors, history, and stories that make Hispanic cuisine so extraordinary. Join us on a journey that transcends borders and showcases the incredible artistry of Latin American flavors. Our team is inspired by the creativity, passion, and dedication that chefs from this heritage bring to the world of gastronomy.
In celebration of Chef`s Appreciation Week, we are honored to highlight Chef Margaret Occhipinti, who is dedicated to providing culinary experiences to wow our guests. She sees everyday as an opportunity to learn, teach, and serve. We appreciate her and all of our chefs who are inspired to create amazing culinary experiences in the workplace. Happy Chef Appreciation Week!
Happy Labor Day to our team members that bring it every day and to our guests that inspire us to stay ahead of the game.
We are so proud of our food service staff. They aways go above and beyond to help our guests. Congratulations to Angela Hall, Baylie Nice, Eduardo Labra and Krystal Palos for being named Food Management`s 26 B&I Foodservice Heros. More to come as we highlight each of our outstanding employees.
Learn more: https://www.food-management.com/business-industry/26-bi-foodservice-heroes-who-made-difference-over-past-year
Happy 4th of July! We hope you are indulging in mouthwatering barbecue and delectable desserts!
LifeWorks is spreading the love, acceptance, and support for our LGBTQ+ community by partnering with the local business, Baz Bagels.
Baz Bagels is an advocate for equality and acceptance, and their rainbow bagels are a testament to their commitment. These bagels are a true work of art, handcrafted with love, and carefully baked to perfection. The colorful layers symbolize the beauty of individuality and remind us all to embrace our differences.
#prideatwork #DEI
#supportlocal
Through our Educated Eats Chef Learning Experience, talented chefs receive hands-on training to transform workplaces across the U.S. into experiences that cultivate creativity and interconnectivity.
Learn more: https://www.lifeworksrestaurantgroup.com/epic-stories/?mp=the-educated-eats-chef-learning-experience
Positive workplace experiences build community, feed company culture, and fuel employee potential, helping attract and retain top industry top industry talent. Discover the top trends driving the most successful workplace experiences:
https://armklifeworks.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Attract-and-Retain_Final.pdf
We celebrate the start of Pride Month by highlighting our Pride employee resource group!
Pride builds workplaces where team members learn, grow, and build a unique sense of community.
#LifeWorksPride #PrideMonth
Spring time calls for Nosh Al Fesco! This picnic-style adventure encourages your team to take a moment for themselves or enjoy dining as a group in an invigorating, outdoor setting! #raveworthyexperiences
