Hello everybody! I just wanted to say “hi” with a half-way-through-the-year-already-June-2022-news-letter. I hope you are all doing well.
The biggest announcement on our end is the recent retirement of our beloved Front of the House instructor Jim Baker. I was fortunate enough to work with Mr. Baker all the way back at Mary Elaine’s at the Phoenician. I remember being impressed with his knowledge, professionalism, and passion during our time working together. So, many years later, I was delighted to have him join our team at ACI. During Jim’s time with us he introduced hundreds of ACI students to the world of FOH. Many cooks feel uncomfortable with the idea of being out in the dining room and interacting with customers, but Jim excelled at making that world accessible and helped many realize that there is a lot of opportunity on that side of the industry. And, I can’t even count how many student reviews I read saying that “I enjoyed that class so much more than I thought I was going to”. He will definitely be missed here on campus. We all wish Mr. Baker a wonderful retirement…you have certainly earned it.
With summer here, stay cool and hydrated everyone! Despite all the chaos of the kitchen, and the constant striving to make our customers happy, don’t forget to take care of yourself too. If you’re looking for work, please reach out to us. There are still plenty of job opportunities out there. AND, keep up the great work! We’re proud of you.