The main dish

The main dish

Tessa Grounds - General Manager at Lewis Silkin

Tessa Grounds - General Manager at Lewis Silkin

Describe your typical day

I get to work by 7am, check through the hospitality room bookings and talk through the day’s catering requirements with Shaun our head chef.  Breakfast is set up by 8 and a double macchiato is generally in my hands by 8.01.  I’ll then type up menus, update the hospitality recharge sheets and do general office admin. 

My day is spent going between the cafe in the basement and the hospitality rooms on the first floor, checking the service and helping out wherever help is needed.  Lunch service finishes at 2.30, when I reconcile the till and update the accounts.  When the chefs leave, the office becomes a quiet oasis for me to complete any paperwork that needs to be done.

What’s the best part of your job?

The very friendly customers here at Lewis Silkin, and my great team.

And the worst part?

In the office by 7am?  Are you kidding?

What did you do before joining H&J?

I have always worked in the catering industry starting with The Admirable Crichton working on their events team and then joining Avenance, firstly on the sales side before moving into operations.

Why H&J?

I TUPE’d over from Avenance when H&J won the contract at Cameron McKenna.

Why still H&J?

Because they not only have a great ethos, but they stick to it too - the passion for food and investment in people is not just a sound bite.

What about when you’re old and grey?

I can’t really think that far ahead, but I hope to be working somewhere that has windows!

Haven’t you just won a trip to Champagne?

Yes, a four day educational tour of Champagne and Burgundy through the Nick Tarayan Bursary.  We will be going on private tours of some of France’s leading wine producers which will be fascinating and a great opportunity to learn more about these delicious wines.

And finally what do you do when you’re not working?

Well, as I’m getting married in April, at the moment it’s all wedding wedding wedding!

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