eric j.

Eric J. | Line Cook

Chez Elle

Years of Industry Service: 5

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Crepe cook Eric is part of a two man band called The Righteous Kings

who are working on putting a show together. He lives in South Kansas City,

sees shows and hangs at friends' houses. Eric would like

to see more green efforts in Kansas City.

  Make KC Better » Sustainability. 

for the love of kansas city

Billboard on Beardsley Rd in the West Side » Kansas City, Missouri

ben c.

Ben C. | Server

Succotash and Blue Koi

Years of Industry Service: 15-20

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Ben grew up in Plattsburg, a small town outside of Kansas City, but for the last 14 years he's lived in Texas, Seattle and for a short time in Portland, Oregon. Back in town for about a year and a half, he sees poverty, schools closing,violence and a good portion of the city struggling. "There's a lot of sadness, it's kind of heartbreaking. I don't know how to go about fixing it. But we have great free health clinics." Ben doesn't like to go out much and plays music. He also collects and sells music and books. If he could live anywhere in the world, it would be near the mountains of Northern Italy.

  Make KC Better » Address poverty issues. 

10,000 Page View Giveaway

Here at The Employee Lounge, we like to celebrate. A lot. And 10,000 page views in less than a month is a reason to celebrate, right? To mark another great day, we're doing a giveaway!

 YOU JUST HAVE TO 

Follow the blog and

 Leave a comment in this post.

 GET EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN IF YOU 

"Like" us on facebook OR

Follow us on twitter.

This super fabulous giveaway is a Vintage Wood & Brass Cocktail Set which includes a bottle opener, a stirring spoon, a strainer, cork screw and jigger. Good luck and we are so happy to be celebrating with you! You have until midnight on Friday, April 22 to make a comment. Winners will be chosen at random.

photos by Linh Trieu

jon g.

Jon G. | Bartender/Bar Manager

The Westside Local

Years of Industry Service: 20

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In twenty years, Jon has loyally worked for three restaurants: Free State Brewing Co. in Lawrence, Grand St. Cafe on the Plaza and The Westside Local. In an era where job loyalty can be a foreign concept, especially in the service industry, that kind of track record is impressive. Jon has two sisters, one brother and is the youngest of the family. He speaks about his neighborhood with great pride, "There is no other neighborhood like this." They are close-knit, they know their police officers, there are lots of gardens and unique homes and businesses are close at hand. Jon says the The West Side Local "is the restaurant you wish were in your neighborhood, and this is the neighborhood you wish was yours."

  Make KC Better » People should drink more beer at lunch. 

 But Kansas City is exactly how it's supposed to be. We are who we are. 

joanna s.

Joanna S. | Server

Bulldog and McCoy's

Years of Industry Service: 9

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Joanna, who is studying to be a dentist, is a big fan of Asian pop culture. Her tattoo-covered right arm is is a mix of Japanese cartoon characters and modern Asian art. She likes make up, art, ice skating and has two cats. "But I'm not a crazy cat lady. I have a boyfriend too." Joanna's boyfriend is an insurance sales rep. Sometimes office and restaurant careers can be quite opposite, but because their incomes depend on generated sales (tips and commission) and neither work a regular 9-5 day, their jobs actually had a lot of similarities.

Like Chris at Genessee Royale, Joanna would also like to see the end of the Power & Light District. She shared a story about one customer who was making a pit stop at the Bulldog and Bazooka's before heading to P&L. He was boasting about being from out of town so she asked him where he was from. His answer: Olathe. As our laughter died down, she said, "It's like a Disneyland for idiots."

  Make KC Better » More health food markets in the city. 

john b.

John B. | Owner/Winemaker

J. Bookwalter

Service Industry Fly By

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John, a Washington winemaker and chair of the Washington Wine Commission, has been in the beverage industry his whole life. His family owned a winery, but after college in Arizona, he worked the corporate life for ten years, including stints at Pepsi, Gallo and Coors. John said, "I kept moving closer and closer to home." At Coors, he met and was inspired by people who were starting their own path. Coupled with missing the entrepreneurial side of business, John found his way back home and back to Bookwalter Winery. "My father was one of the pioneers (of Washington wines). It makes us one of the 'old guards' of Washington, but our brand isn't that old."

When John travels for work, he has the advantage of getting to a know a city more intimately then the average traveler, as he's often guided by the local sales reps. "I get more exposure. I do get to see the area and see the different personalities." Although he hasn't been in Kansas City for a few years, one of the things he admires is our old buildings and the growth he has seen (in KC and encouragingly, in many other cities as well). When John is not traveling for work, he likes to visit Mexico. His idea of relaxing includes "a bucket of beer, sand and sun."

J. Bookwalter wines are all named in a literary theme: Anecdote Riesling, Subplot 25 (Red Blend), Foreshadow Merlot, Foreshadow Cabernet, Protagonist (Bordeaux Blend). Washington State appeared on the cover of Wine Spectator for the first time ever this past December and John's wines, the 2007 Foreshadow Cabernet and 2007 Protagonist both scored 93 points. Great job, John!

  Make Richland, WA Better » We need better food. We need cool, 

 independent places to stay and more community planning. 

agustin j.

Agustin J. | Owner

Los Alamos Market y Cocina

Years of Industry Service: 11

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Agustin, a resident of the West Side for 29 years, said he went into then the Korean-owned market to sell product. Instead of buying product from Agustin, the owners ended up selling him the the business. This little corner market has been a West Side staple for over 60 years. Originally owned by Italians, then Koreans, and for the last 11 years, by Agustin (born in Guanajuato and raised in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico), Agustin says his shop which is also a restaurant has, "a little bit of everything."

Just in time for Easter, his "everything" includes a truck full of piñatas and handmade Easter eggs. Agustin had gorgeous bags of dyed eggs at his shop, filled with confetti and sealed with a bit of wax paper. He said the Easter tradition in Mexico was not to hide eggs, but rather to crack them over each other's heads. Confetti is the traditional filler, but if you make your own, you can fill it with sugar or flour. Stop by and pick up a piñata today for only $20 (usually $29.99). His are authentic Mexican piñatas made from bamboo instead of paperboard, and then covered in newspaper and decorated.

  Make KC Better » Make it safer. 

blair c.

Blair C. | Sous Chef

Genessee Royale Bistro

Years of Industry Service: 12

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Blair was once a server, went to pastry school in Switzerland and for the last nine years has been a chef. One driving principle of how she chooses to shape her career: she won't work for a chain. Previously at local brunch favorite You Say Tomato, which was more of grocery, Blair is now happily putting her fine dining training to proper use and working in a professional kitchen at Genessee Royale. She and husband Chris share a car and work together. With his departure imminent, Blair says that although it will be hard, "I'm happy for him." She says that as far as towns go, Kansas City is a great place, but they are flexible about where they live depending on where their careers take them.

  Make KC Better » Better public transportation or 

 if everyone wasn't so spread out, more centralized. 

chris c.

Chris C. | Server/Bartender et al.

Genessee Royale Bistro

Years of Industry Service: 9

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Chris was once part of the cubicle crew, but he only lasted a year. He hated it, likening the experience to being "stuck in a vacuum, time was really slow." After nine years, his tenure in the service industry is also soon coming to an end. Chris, married to Genessee Royale sous chef Blair, will be leaving to pursue his career in musical theater as an opera singer. In fact, he is leaving KC for three months this summer to be part of an opera company. Originally from Boston, Chris has grown to really like Kansas City. But if he could do one thing to make the city better, he would destroy the Power & Light District downtown. "Why would you go somewhere you've never been before to go to chains?" If anyone in city government can answer that for us, we're all ears.

  Make KC Better » Public Transportation. 

 The bus is fine but it's never going to have that city feel. 

teri l.

Teri L. | Bartender

JJ's

Years of Industry Service: 30

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Teri is the kind of bartender you become friends with instantly because she always greets you with her infectious laughter. She makes everyone who slides up to her bar feel loved and welcomed. At sixteen, she worked for a mom and pop operation called Washington Street Station. There, she learned responsibility, developed a loyalty for independently-owned restaurants, and found a career in an industry that she excels in. Over the years, Teri has had her share of crazy partying stories, one of which included her birthday, a convertible and a trip to the emergency room. But after a recent scare, she has quit drinking. "Even though alcohol is part of this industry, I've slowed down and that's okay." Instead of picking up a cocktail, she is putting up her fists at Title Boxing to relieve stress. And if you need a dog sitter, call Teri!

  Make KC Better » Create something good and build up ALL of Kansas City, 

 especially the areas that need more help. Come together as a community. 

pj

P.J. | Bartender

La Bodega

Years of Industry Service: 16

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Originally from Oakland, California, P.J. who is named after his father, doesn't have a lot of free time. The time he does have, he walks his dog, practices yoga, goes to baseball games and every once in while, he sees his wife. She's also in the service industry and it can sometimes be hard to get their schedules to coordinate. When they get to spend time together, P.J. and his wife enjoy cooking together. "I'll cook anything that sounds good." She does more of the inside cooking while he mans the grill.

  Make KC Better » Public Transportation. 

Presenting....March Employee of the Month

March Employee of the Month

Craig R. // Pinnacle Imports

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Craig shamelessly asked for votes from his facebook friends.

And we're okay with that! He has a competitive spirit and that's what

makes him such a great wine rep. But just don't play Rummikub or

or Monopoly Deal with this guy.

With Honors

Orien B. // Tannin Wine Bar

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Orien had the most page views out of anyone on the blog thus far.

He sent fans of Quattro World to our blog and we appreciate the traffic.

Being honored is enough, right Orien?

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 THE PRIZES  

Craig will be receiving a set of six vintage rocks glasses.

Orien will be receiving a vintage Porsche Audi license plate holder.

Prize photos NOT taken by the talented Tina.

frank g.

Frank G. | President

Pieroguys™ Pierogies

Years of Industry Service: 5

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Frank hails from Northeastern Pennsylvania where pierogies are a natural part of the food lexicon. But in Lawrence, where he went to college for a short time, no one knew what the heck those little dumplings of Polish origin were. Frank saw a business opportunity,"We try to make pieorogies fun and cool." Five years ago he started Pieroguys™ Pierogies with partner and friend Andrew Misak and today, Frank and Andrew's little dumpling company is the largest in the Midwest and growing quickly. They relocated from Lawrence to Kansas City two years ago and are now located in the City Market. Frank says he "works quite a bit" but in his free time, he likes to work out and travel.

  Make KC Better » I'd like to see more authentic food diversity.