Radio Cherry Bombe
Restaurant (R)evolution: Chef Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel Of Birdie’s In Austin On Tipping, Healthcare & Vacation Time
Sep 20, 2023
Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, chef and co-owner of Birdie's in Austin, talks about their 'fine casual' concept, offering paid family leave, health insurance, and four weeks of planned and paid vacation. They discuss their unconventional benefits and policies for their team, including a high hourly wage and a flat tip pool. They share their ambitions for future restaurant expansion and the benefits of their restaurant model. The episode also explores the power of networking in the industry and the potential for creating a cookbook.
38:33
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Quick takeaways
- Birdie's in Austin challenges the traditional restaurant model by offering a fine casual concept and emphasizes the importance of taking care of their team with benefits like paid family leave and health insurance.
- Birdie's provides a fine dining experience in a casual setting by operating with a lean team, allowing them to distribute tips and ensure a fair wage for all team members, including those in the kitchen.
Deep dives
Revolutionizing the Restaurant Industry
Tracy Malacheka-Zikiel, chef and co-owner of Birdies in Austin, challenges the traditional restaurant model by offering a fine casual concept. Instead of a large dining team, Birdies has a lean staff and counter service, while still providing high-quality cuisine sourced in a fine dining manner. Tracy emphasizes the importance of taking care of their team, offering benefits like paid family leave, health insurance, and planned paid vacation. Birdies' unique labor model allows them to allocate higher wages, including tips, to all team members, including dishwashers. Tracy's goal is to create a healthy work-life balance for their team and change the way restaurants operate.
