628: Kim Alter on Pushing Harder to Be Better

Growing up in Laguna Beach, CA, Chef Kim Alter is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy. She went on to work in some of the Bay Area's most notable restaurant kitchens before joining the Daniel Patterson Group where she served as Executive Chef for Haven and Plum in Oakland, CA. Today, Kim Alter is the chef/owner of Nightbird and the adjoining cocktail concept, Linden Room, in San Francisco's Hayes Valley.

Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra:

• "Success isn't just about what you've accomplished, it's about what you've inspired other people to do."

In this episode with Kim Alter we will discuss:

• You inspire others around you positively
• Using food to make people happy
• Food as acceptance
• Creating impactful "food memories"
• Mental health in the restaurant industry
• Tell your staff that they're doing a good job
• The hard work angle
• Ego
• Mentors
• Learning something new every single day
• Constantly improve your business
• Experiencing failure
• Fear of failure
• The inevitability of doing something wrong
• Thoughts on awards
• The importance of non-transactional relationships in the kitchen
• Money and waste management in the kitchen
• Diffusing angry guests
• Supporting the restaurants in your community
• Tasting menus
• Acquiring permits
• The importance of respect
• Women in the industry
• Culture v. Systems
• Working with your life partner

Today's sponsor:

Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable.

CAKE provides an easy-to-use integrated software and hardware solution to build better dining experiences for restaurant operators and their guests. With mobile marketing and waitlist management to point of sale payment processing, the CAKErestaurant management system helps you grow your business. Learn more at trycake.com/unstoppable

EthicsSuite.com -provide a safe, secure, simple and anonymous communication channel between you and your employees to help you protect your hard-earned reputation and assets. Demonstrate to your team that you are committed to providing a workplace that operates with the highest ethical standards. Staying informed about important issues will help you resolve them internally before they spiral into larger, costly, or public problems.

Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Being humble
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Too much time in the kitchen and not enough promoting
3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
   • Personality, goals, how do they treat the dishwasher?
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Issues with the city impeding customer flow
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team
   • Treat each other with respect
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • BOH and FOH are one in the same
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz
   • Setting the Table by Danny Meyer GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM
8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influence operations?
   • Social media
9. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
   • Put your head down and work hard
   • Treat people with respect

Contact info:

Night Bird website

Instagram: @kimalter @nightbirdsf

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Huge thanks to Kim Alter for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!