Consultancy
Hot Plate Restaurant Consultants
For Start Ups and Existing Businesses
December 1971 - Opened Captain America’s Cookhouse in Grafton Street, Dublin with Mark Kavanagh. Responsible for all areas of operations from 1971 to 1986. Oversaw expansion of restaurant in 1976 and again in 1982 when restaurant acquired full licence. Opened Solomon Grundy’s Restaurant in 1978 ( 100 seater ). Opened entertainment complex at Phoenix Park Racecourse in 1983 comprising bars, restaurants, night club and on course catering. Opened Captain America’s West in 1983.
1986 – joined Chi Chi’s Mexican Restaurants. Spent four months in USA training with Chi Chi’s in all areas of restaurant management. Returned to London to open and run their flagship restaurant on Leicester Square. 400 seats, 3 kitchens, 180 staff, 10 managers. Chi Chi’s sold to City Centre Restaurants in 1988. Oversaw change from Chi Chi’s to Chiquito’s. Re wrote manuals, recipes, menus etc.
1989 – returned to Dublin to run Judge Roy Bean’s Bar, Restaurant and Nightclub.
1991 – opened QV2 Restaurant, St Andrew’s Street, Dublin. Owner/Manager. Responsible for all and everything.
2002 – sold QV2 and moved to Cork. Started South Coast Coffee Company.
August 2005 – August 2007 – Stock controller and purchaser for Boqueria Tapas Bar, Bridge St. Cork. Position required only part time. Also involved in Menu planning, Wine List etc.
Why would you need me?
- Creation of business plan
- Menu planning and costing
- Stock control and purchasing
- Contacts in HACCP and Safety Statement implementation
- Achieving P&L Forecasts
- Wine list planning & costing
- Staff rostering
- Staff manuals and operations manuals
- Product sourcing
- Mystery shopper
- Customer Relations
- Staff Relations
- Continued Monitoring of operations
Read This ! – It’s Important !
What makes me a cut above the rest?
Integrity, for one. You can trust me. I’ll give you value for money and keep my mouth shut. I’m open, friendly, warm, humorous and thoughtful.
Those are the nice bits. What about the meaty bits?
Well, I have huge experience and expertise as can be seen from my CV. I can bring that experience and expertise to your business in a calm and efficient manner. I will be brutally frank with you about how I see your business at present. I will accentuate your good points and highlight your bad points. I will set you on a clear and well defined path which will not only help to increase your profits but will make your life a whole lot easier. Above all, I will get you, the operator, to do the necessary by getting you to realise just what has to be done. It’s in there. We just need to get it out.
What do I need from you?
Full access to your financials. No quibbles. If I can’t see the full picture I’ll be no use to you.
Why you opened a catering operation in the first place. Well, why did you? Think about it. Do you actually like what you are doing? Well, do you?
What are your Unique Selling Points? What makes you better than the place just down the street? What is your target market? What socio-economic grouping are you aiming at? What is your signature dish?
We’ll answer all these questions together with you taking the lead. You’ll be surprised at how much you already know.
My chief goal?
To get you on a streamlined and profitable path as soon as possible and for me to get the hell out of your hair and on to the next job.
Call 087 2415513 now for a full, frank and free first meeting.
