Happy Retirement Kathy and Melissa!
Two remarkable women have recently retired (mostly) from their work at the School, and we wanted to commemorate their careers and wish them well. Thank you to Kathlyn Bell (Class of 1985) and Melissa Graham for your many years of dedicated support and commitment.
Kathlyn Bell
An Alumna of Stratford Chefs School's inaugural class of 1985, Kathy has worked at both The Old Prune and Rundles. She was formerly dining room manager at Rundles and has worked at the School since 1987 in various roles including purchaser, instructor, events coordinator, teaching assistant and most recently Senior Service Instructor. In this capacity, Kathy provided guidance and feedback to Level 2 students during Restaurant Labs, when students take on senior service roles in the dining room, acting as Maitre d’Hotel, Sommelier and Server, honing their service skills and developing confidence and expertise dealing with diners.
Although Kathy is no longer an Instructor at the School, she is still in high demand and works in a front-of-house capacity seasonally at The Prune, while continuing to be a huge help to the School: "I have to admit that I don’t feel like I have retired fully from the School because I am still there at least once or twice a week helping out - watering the plants, doing the recycling, receiving the laundry. I just don’t feel retired!"
Thank you Kathy for your ongoing support, expertise, and positive energy in all things hospitality. Your impact on the School and our students is immeasurable!
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Melissa Graham
Melissa originally worked at Stratford Chefs School as School co-founder Eleanor Kane’s teaching assistant in Gastronomy and Chef Neil Baxter’s teaching assistant in Level 2 Pastry, both highlights of her time at the School. Melissa’s background in theatre, teaching, freelance writing and restaurant front-of-house has served her well as the Level 1 Communications and Food Writing Instructor for many years.
Melissa names teaching English to chef Riccardo Camanini, an International Guest Chef at the School from Italy, as one of her fondest School memories. In the always diverse Level 1 Food writing class, Melissa taught students creative and business writing as it applies to the culinary field; in Communications she introduced students to the principles of effective public speaking, social media communication, and much more. Always learning, Melissa also enjoyed many memorable and unique Student Chef dinners, wines and fabulous cheese, and continues to work in "front-of-house" at the Stratford Festival.
Thank you Melissa for your enthusiasm, sense of humour and support of our students. We hope to keep seeing you at Dinners!
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Photos by Terry Manzo
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