A Letter to the Amarillo Country Club Membership and Staff

Don’t Touch the Cheese Rolls!
 
Thank you all for your warm welcome as I arrived at Amarillo Country Club in early November.  You have really shared some serious Texas hospitality and made it known that you are a warm and welcoming membership. I am grateful for every one of you that I’ve had the privilege to meet during my time here at ACC.  
 
My mission as your Interim Executive Chef has been to make improvements to the way we do our “culinary thing” and to provide stability and leadership to the culinary team while navigating through an eventful holiday catering season.  Toss in the launch of a new a la carte menu on December 1st and a little staff turnover, a trilingual culture and the challenge is complete.  When you do what I do for private club food and beverage operations; coming in and working with whatever is left after a shake up, there are always new things to see and learn and figure out.  In the case of Amarillo Country Club’s Food and Beverage, I’ve not had a dull moment and there are still plenty of targets to focus on. 
 
I guess that one thing all private clubs have in common when a new chef arrives; even for a short term, is that it’s a fresh and new beginning.  Like a new year, a new chef brings new offerings on the menu, a new personality to the team, and a set of new priorities. My focus here has been to build the culinary team, share some experience, provide some direction, and give encouragement. It is after all, the people who make up the team at Amarillo Country Club that make the experience all that it can be for the members. The morale needs to be high for the team members to enjoy their work and that is always on my mind as I walk through the doors for a new day in the kitchen.   
 
What about the cheese rolls and steak bites? “Those are among the list of legacy ACC dishes that must stay on the menu!”  It’s interesting that menu items on club menus are “hands off” even to the most experienced and accomplished chefs. Membership demands that their favorites remain and with good reason. Afterall as club chefs we are in the business of providing food to a specific group of people that have in some cases been coming to this club since they were in diapers. You will only find those cheese rolls made at this club and they can’t be found at any other restaurant!  Some clubs have members that want their “pork tenderloin” sandwiches and skillet cookies a la mode. To some it’s the key lime pie.  The members here at ACC want their hearty beef and vegetable soup made the way it’s been made for who knows how long? And then there is the coconut cream pie that is without question, the best-ever!
 
As I will soon look back on my time at the Amarillo Country Club to reflect.  I will remember the cheese rolls, steak bites, and coconut cream pie but more importantly I will remember the people that made them; because it's the people; after all, who made them  so special!
 
Wishing all of you a flavorful and prosperous new year!     
 
Ts