|
TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Yes, Virginia, there
is a free lunchWarning: Reading further may cause reevaluation of current employment.
In many work places, much morning time is spent discussing where to go for lunch. In some, the answer is not only a no-brainer, it's a no-cost option.
At Halekulani, employees eat free in a cafeteria that shares a kitchen with Orchids restaurant. Almost constant food preparation is overseen by hotel Executive Chef Darryl Fujita.
At lunch it offers two hot entrees, soup, an extensive salad bar, a range of desserts from fancy tarts to fudgesicles and creamsicles.
Sunday afternoons and Mondays are favored times due to what Fujita calls the hotel's "cross utilization policy." Entrees and desserts not used for Sunday brunch at Orchids are repurposed in the employee dining room.
DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Halekulani employees gather in the hotel's lunchroom.
Conde Nast readers ranked Halekulani the No. 1 Pacific Rim resort and No. 22 hotel in the world in its current Top 100 issue. As a thank you to employees, special extra entrees were offered over three days including a whole suckling pig, stuffed seafood ravioli and roast rib eye served at a carving station.
DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
"It's a morale booster for employees, especially with the type of food we have." --Fred Honda, Halekulani general manager
The upscale fare sometimes gives way to what employees grinningly call "junk food day," said public relations staffer Bunny Look. Burgers, dogs, chili and pizza are popular.
The cafeteria was a big draw for relative newcomer Frank Hernandez, who is single and never brings home lunch.
Salaried employees are allowed off-property for meals but hourly workers, who receive 30 minutes for breaks, must stay on hotel grounds. Some bring lunch from home sometimes, but most usually choose hotel cuisine. Well, duh.
Engineering employee Mike Riordan enjoys that both managers and hourly workers share time and tables. "It's not out of place to see Mr. Honda down here," he said, referring to General Manager Fred Honda.
Running an employee cafeteria is not cheap, but is mutually beneficial, Honda said.
"It's a convenience for both the hotel and the employee, but most of all it's a morale booster for employees, especially with the type of food we have."
Outrigger and Ohana Hotels and Resorts' properties are far-flung and do not have employee cafeterias, but they offer free or discounted dining off-property, according to Public Relations Coordinator Rayne Shimabuku.
Some businesses with no foodservice component also have employee cafeterias.
The state's two largest banks offer dine-in options at two levels, literally and figuratively.
First Hawaiian Bank has an employee cafeteria on the 6th floor and the Bankers' Club on the 30th floor of First Hawaiian Center.
Bank of Hawaii has employee cafeterias in its Hale O Kapolei location and its main branch, which also features an executive dining room.
The cafeterias are open to all employees while the executive facilities are for officers.
The more casual employee cafeterias serve breakfast and lunch and the Bankoh-cafe caters bank functions, according to spokesman Stafford Kiguchi.
Hot and cold items and salad bars appear in both banks' eateries.
"The most popular item, on Wednesday, is chili pepper chicken and on Fridays, fried rice. It's excellent," said Kiguchi. Not that he's biased or anything.
"They also have an Atkins menu," he said, in fairness to his carb-eschewing colleagues.
One large employee cafeteria serves a mix of public- and private-sector workers.
At the Honolulu International Airport, eating eligibility extends to anybody who works there and has a security badge, said Ben Schlapak, airport manager.
The 24-hour cafeteria is always operating and offers a range of discounted meals, snacks and beverages, all nonalcoholic.
"We've gotta stay sober on the ramp," Schlapak chuckled.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com
