Page 40 of Canapés at the Beach House Hotel
“Harper, please have a seat,” I said.“Philippa, follow me.You might be able to help Chet and Ricardo with a special menu.”
When Philippa and I approached Jean-Luc’s office, Chet and Ricardo were working on a computer.
“I thought you gentlemen might want some help.Philippa could have some ideas for you.”
“Great,” said Chet.“Ricardo, this is Philippa Ferrara.Phil, this is Ricardo Perez, the sous chef.
“I’ll leave you to it,” I said, not wanting to interfere any more than I had.
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In the office, Rhonda and Harper were talking about our wedding business.
I took a seat and listened to what Rhonda was saying about our growth in that area and how Lorraine wasn’t able to devote as much time to it.
“Anything to add, Annie?”Rhonda asked.
“You explained it well,” I said.“What we’re looking for is someone like yourself, Harper, to work a few hours on the weekends we have a wedding in-house to trail a wedding group, making sure they have what they need.You’d be following plans that were already made and some that might be spontaneous.It wouldn’t be for every wedding, depending on size and group activities.We’d make sure there’d be no loss of pay if it affected bartending time.”
“Would I do this alone?”asked Harper.
“You’d be part of the wedding team but would have no responsibility in making the plans,” I explained.“You’d help see that those plans were successful.Lauren is an assistant to Lorraine Grace, who manages weddings with Annette Bruner.But she can’t always do her job and tag the group.”
“For instance, the mother-of-the-bride in our last wedding fell by the pool,” said Rhonda.“If someone had checked in with that group occasionally, perhaps some kind of intervention might have happened.”
“I know from working in the bar that the last wedding group consisted of a bunch of drinkers who could be difficult to deal with,” said Harper.“Are they all like that?”
“Absolutely not,” Rhonda said.“But even easy-going groups need to have someone they can turn to for help from time to time.The reason we thought of you is that you seem to fit in with most groups because you’re friendly and naturally helpful.”
“It’s something to think about,” I said.“We have a small group wedding next weekend so probably don’t need your help until the wedding following it.”
“Thank you.I am interested.I like the hospitality business and want to learn what I can,” said Harper.“I especially want to work with your daughters on helping to pull in a younger crowd for happy hours.”
“Superb.They want to do that with you,” I said.“As busy mothers, they don’t have many free hours, but they know that one day they’ll take over for us and want to keep active in the business as much as possible.”
“Just as you’d do for weddings, you can be the person to help things along with projects for the girls.It’s something the three of you should discuss,” said Rhonda.
A wide smile stretched across Harper’s face.“I like that idea a lot.Thank you for thinking of me.”
“We’ll set up a time for you to meet with Lorraine and Lauren,” I said.
Harper rose.“Thank you again.I’ll wait to hear when you want me to meet with the wedding department.”
She left the office, and Rhonda and I faced one another.
“Just another day at the hotel, huh?”Rhonda teased.
I laughed.“A day like so many others.”
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Chet, Ricardo, and Philippa brought a copy of the menu they’d given Bernie to us.
After looking at it, I was impressed.“It’s simple but allows a varied selection of food.”
“It’s very typical of a Sunday dinner in Italy,” said Philippa.“But it won’t be family style.”
“There’s nothing that we can’t handle,” Ricardo said.“Phil has even offered to consult with the antipasti.And we have the food on hand but will need to order more for tomorrow.”
