I run a small catering business. I do pretty well for myself but I almost didn’t have a business. When I had first started the business, I got this one job for a really expensive wedding. This was going to be a big deal for me as it was my first real big event I had catered for. And it was very important to me that I get everything right. The bride and I went over the menu quite extensively, and she picked out a chicken recipe that called for a few hard to find ingredients. I did find a way to buy the main ingredient, but ont the wedding day it was not delivered.
I started panicking about the whole thing because this could blow my chances of ever having a successful business. Lucky for me, a good chef friend of mine knew where he could get enough of my much needed ingredient for me to be able to make the chicken dish the bride had wanted. I finished the dish just in time. The bride loved it. Due to a rather ugly past experience with an angry customer, I make sure that I have everything I need before I give any advice to my customers so that I won’t have to repeat that past experience. What options are available to me if I want to make a favorable impression with a room chock full of anxious people?
Perhaps my task is to help them relax before important interviews. On the heals of the previous leader you can tell your new leader i.e. teacher, pastor or music director. Or perhaps this group of people is from different divisions of a very conflicted company, and I am the consultant leading a weekend workshop to sort out their difficulties: They need to have a new beginning so they can see each other as humans. In any of these situations, I could use some sort of ice breaking activity, or I could get them to focus together on some bizarre task, like the old ‘How would you drop an egg from the tenth story and not break it?
problem. I could try initiating a conversation about a current event, but these days we will become mired quickly in the jitters evoked by the economy. Positive political feelings are on the rise since President Obama took office, but it’s still all too risky to go there. If I ask about Susan Boyle, there’s a slim chance someone will not have seen the You Tube sensation. I know! I will ask everyone about their chicken recipes! Every individual has one or two preferred dishes, and even such persons who do not cook,will certainly know a hotel that supplies something truly scrumptious or imaginative.
Even the vegetarians will know a fantastic salad recipe that be served with or without chicken. I believe that everyone will appreciated the conversations, they will start to become acquainted and at lunch they will be ready to eat! For years people have been overlooking the power of chicken salad. Since before the dawn of time, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches have been the standard lunch that parents pack for their children. Instead of conforming to the sugary treats that make your kid run wild, why not give them a healthier, nutritious alternative.
Chicken salad can be made out of left over chicken from a previous nights dinner. The Chicken breast is the healthiest part of the chicken when you are cutting a whole chicken apart. Cut up some celery and even garlic if you desire. Add some mayonnaise, the lighter the better. Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Add salt and or pepper to taste. This recipe can be altered to your liking. What you are left with is a tasty low calorie treat that helps a family have an atypical delicious lunch. Eat on a wrap instead of bread if carbohydrates are an issue.
