Our fourth Charvet Chef Talk event featured none other than Tom Aikens. Tom talked openly about industry topics close to his heart and features a charity close to Tom – Only A Pavement Away.
The free 60-minute online event is now available to watch in full, but here are a just a few snippets…
Tom… on the Hospitality Industry
Having an actual voice for the whole of the Hospitality would be an amazing thing with a lot more emphasis on trying to get people into this industry.
… on Staff Shortages
I think the biggest issue now is for a lot of business is trying to attract more and more people into the business, it’s tougher than as ever been before, I can’t remember it ever being as tough as this.
The pandemic and Brexit has meant we have a huge void that needs filling. As opposed to coming into a Christmas where everyone is hoping that they are going to be making the money they should be, I don’t think a lot will be as they just don’t have the staffing to do that. Do I have any answers to that, no not really as everyone is in the same boat. There isn’t a magic wand that’s suddenly going to solve this.
… on Staff Retention
We’re looking again at how we can make the work place a better environment. We are fortunate that we have a small team as we only do 23 covers nevertheless we still want to provide a level of service with the right amount of staff. It’s a constant tight rope we are working to, as you have to look after your customers and the right level of service but at the same time you have to look after the staff and making sure they aren’t working too long.
… on Fine Dining
Getting people to come back has always been the biggest conundrum particularly in Fine Dining, that’s always been on my mind, what is the magic that is needed.”
… on Charvet
I have a bit of history with Charvet as I used to have a Charvet suite at Tom Aikens on Elystan Street. The suite there wasn’t the ultra bespoke suite that I have at Muse, however it was still a Charvet. I had a lot of fond years in that place and because of the way that stove worked, it was a beast and worked very well I thought do I need to really go anywhere else when deciding for Muse.
What Charvet have created here at Muse is absolute quality and in terms of what we have here is exactly the right shape and size for the covers that we are doing and of course the performance.
For more information on the charity Only A Pavement Away that Tom talks about and supports in this edition of Charvet Chef Talk visit Only A Pavement Away | OAPA | Restoring Hope & Dignity Through Jobs
