Catering Director - Esther’s Cajun Cafe & Soulfood

• Overseeing catering operations
• Staff supervision
• Menu planning
• Customer relationship management
• Working closely with chefs and kitchen teams
• Ensuring food quality and inventory management
• Booking events
• Effectively cost and price events
• Oversee outside vendors and décor suppliers
• Direct the day-to-day activities of the catering team
• Manage employee relations encompassing staff recruitment and performance evaluations and payroll
• Collaborating with clients on menu preparation
• Direct the catering sales effort to ensure revenue maximization with a working knowledge of food and beverage and an understanding of kitchen and banquet service procedures
• Develop, train, and motivate the catering team that is responsible for developing new accounts, maintaining existing accounts, and implementing catering strategies to achieve catering revenue goals and maximize profits for Esther's, while maintaining guest satisfaction
• Assist clients with menu planning, food and beverage coordination, table arrangements, and decoration options. Arrange all details of conventions and/or catering events to include room set-ups, staging, lighting, audiovisual, traffic flow, menus, décor, entertainment, group room blocks, VIP services, and approved method of payment
• Achieve budgeted revenues and personal sales goals
• Review daily posting of charges, and resolve any discrepancies in a timely manner

Esther has always wanted to provide an ambiance of fellowship and economic empowerment to the community through her soulful Cajun style cooking and philanthropy. She has used her restaurant to give back to the community through various organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, Booker T. Washington High School, the Studewood Cobras Little League Football Team, the GENTS Organization, Independence Heights Community Health Center, The Lady League & Gents, Inc. and many more. She also donates food to the homeless, groups and organizations for special events. Esther has received many awards from the community in honor of her charitable efforts and many editorial praises for her amazing food.