Make It A Family Meal

THEY'RE NOT COWORKERS. THEY'RE FAMILY.

There is nothing more rewarding than being able to feed our friends and family. After all, taking care of people is why we got into this business in the first place. However, working in the kitchen can be tough. You put yourself through the paces every single day without complaint or asking questions, but to get through, you need proper fuel--and that often comes in the form of sitting down to eat at family meal. Beyond getting a square meal and a good dose of bonding time, the family meal can be a source of inspiration. We take exceptional care when crafting food for our team, and the dishes we bring to the table can bring fresh ideas to the restaurant.

Often, we are cooking recipes from our own family or history, our cultures, our childhoods or our memories. We are giving a little piece of ourselves to the people sitting with us at the table. Chef Kelly English of Restaurant Iris and The Second Line in Memphis says, "We have had some great menu items come from the family meal. It is always a time we get to taste each other’s family stories." Kelly recognizes that through those dishes we get a window into one another’s worlds. "That is important," he says.