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Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you :
David Neinstein
Your current job :
Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Barque Smokehouse
In which city are you located?
Toronto
A word to define what kind of worker you are :
Socratic
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Rezbook (open table), gmail and google drive, maitre’d, quickbooks, mailbox
What does your office space look like?
Busy
What kind of music do you listen when you are working ?
None. ambient at best and i couldn’t tell you what was playing
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work ?
the immediate needs of guests always come first: reservations, quality control and loyalty initiatives. after these issues are taken care of, a long list of priorities are juggled constantly.
What tips would you give to improve productivity ?
learn to delegate. in a creative environment, it’s easy to hold on to all decisions. however, there’s never enough time to accomplish everything and employees are empowered by decision making. in the end, much more is accomplished this way.
You’re better than your colleagues to :
i’m not sure what you mean here. did you mean ‘i’m better than my colleagues in?’
if so: guest empathy is my specialty.
What is the best advice anyone has given you ?
hire slowly and fire quickly
What is your best tip for saving time ?
‘m most productive first thing in the morning. so i get up early and set up important meetings in the am. as the day progresses, there are many additional distractions. by piling all of the important meetings/decisions in the morning, i avoid distractions and essentially, save time and get more done.
What is your routine start and end of the day ?
In the morning, I do all the work that requires concentration and patience. At the end of the day, I focus on the set-up of the guest experience. like preparing for the curtain to rise in a theatre. after we’re open, my work is done.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
My car. I need the ability and independence to travel when I want. Whether for tastings, meetings, last minute shopping – my car is an essential tool.
