My fave fashion trends

Loving the winter fashion trends for 2011 and wanted to share some of my favorites with you.

1. Gum boots:  These little baby's give a whole new meaning to comfort and they are so stylish. Running around       in a restaurant all day requires comfortable shoes but being me I put the look ahead of the feel so the latest craze of gum boots is perfect for me. I bought mine from Woolworths in Grey at R499, 00. Pair them with a leggings and a chunky knit jersey and scarf and you are good to go for the lunch rush!

2.  Brooches:  They have been around since the early 1800's and have made a huge come back this season. They add a little bit of glamor and style to any outfit! you can go vintage or bling, big or small. Add them to jackets, jerseys or scarves. They are just such fun and a cheap way to turn a plain looking outfit into something fabulous!

3.  Scarves:  Loving scarves this season, I know they've been around for a while but I've found that with layering being so in for this season scarves are fantastic! I have found so many awesome patterns on scarves from stripes to animal print to damask and in all sorts of colors and I feel like I'm drawn to them and just have to buy them. I love neutrals for this season and adding a colorful scarves to my neutral outfit takes it to a whole different level. Love them!

4.  Khaki:  Without a doubt the biggest color trend of the season. It is a must have. Wether it be khaki leggings, my are from woolies and are thick, warm and just gorgeous or a khaki military style jacket it doesn't matter as long as you have something khaki for this season.

5.  Capes:   yes capes!!! Not the ones superman uses to fly but the latest in European fashion. Words cannot convince you, you will have to just see the pics, i know you gonna love it!!!

"They think they know it all"

The restaurant industry must be one of the toughest.
It is virtually impossible to please everyone because we all have such different ideas on flavours, taste and service. So here I have 3 points on how to deal with those difficult customers who always seem to know best!

1.  Silence is golden
Its our natural human instinct to want to argue when people say unreasonable things. DON'T!!! Keep quiet and listen (or pretend to) not only will the raving lunatic of a customer be embarresed by there own behaviour but you will save yourself the embarrsment of looking like a fool for arguing with a fool.

2.  Retain your humour.
Dont take the situation to seriously, try find the funny side.

3.  Goodwill.
If we can offer goodwill even to difficult customers, we will make tremendous progress. Unpleasant people may deserve criticism, but, this will not help the situation. Even the most difficult person may have one or two good qualities. Try to mentions these; subconsciously they will appreciate our goodwill. This remains the most effective way to bring out the best in others – even if it may seem to take a very long time.

So today if you encounter any of the "they think know it all" customers remeber to just smile quietly, find the humour and lie sweetly to them about the good qualitys they may posses that we cant seem to see.

Chef of the year 2011

Its Chef of the year time again with Unilever.

Send entries to:
Fax (031) 570 2395
Email coty@unilever.com


GOOD LUCK TO ALL

Welcome

And so after much deliberating on whether or not to start a blog....here I am blogging! Its pretty fun really.

After 10 years playing in a mans world of trucks and transport I decided it was time to do something I loved and I got my international chefs qualification. My husband, cousin and I then landed up as the very proud owners of a Portuguese Restaurant in Benoni, Trinchados. Strange how things work out. Needless to say I left my job in corporate and along with my two best friends am following my dream of creating gorgeous food in a warm homely atmosphere. So much of fun!!!!

So in the blogs to come you'll hear all about the fun we have in the restaurant, the cupcakes I LOVE baking, the experimenting we do in the kitchen and about the fashion we find wondering around at our little Trinie (cocktail bar) outside.

Hope you enjoy.....