Linger Eataury, the latest Denver dining establishment to be nationally recognized for its awesomeness, was named 2015 Restaurant Bar of the Year by Nightclub & Bar Media Group earlier this month, and rightly so!
The annual Nightclub & Bar Awards, established to honor “well deserving bars, nightclubs and lounges for excellence in the industry,” announced the 2015 winners in early March following a lengthy two-month selection period. Entries submitted by industry professionals on behalf of venues across the country were reviewed by a panel of recognized experts, who then determined the finalists and winners.
According to Jon Taffer, president of Nightclub & Bar and host/executive producer of Spike TV’s Bar Rescue, “the winners are visionaries who are instrumental in setting trends and forging the way for other hospitality venues,” and Linger most definitely fits the bill.
Situated in the former Olinger Mortuary garage – thus the name, which chef/owner Justin Cucci came up with by dropping the O and substituting Mor with Eat – this wildly popular restaurant/bar is the total package, from victuals to libations to aesthetics; the kitchen serves up a salute to the street food of the world, the mortuary theme is touched on without getting too kitschy (Linger tissues available for weepers, a “Harold and Maude” photo mural hangs over the open kitchen, funeral fans hang from a wall), and last but not least, the views overlooking downtown Denver are absolutely breathtaking.
Yup, it’s pretty obvious why locals and visitors alike haven’t stopped rushing the doors since they opened in summer 2011.
And now it’s official: Linger is the 2015 Restaurant Bar of the Year. Congratulations, it’s well deserved!
If you’re one of the many that has laid their heart on the line for a date with their server only to be shot down, fear not because those days are dead and gone. Here to assist in romancing your service industry crush are a few guiding principles, that if followed will earn you some serious consideration.
Same Rules Apply
Would you ignore someone you’re planning on asking out? What about making demands before getting a name? And throwing down insults about their work?
Hopefully the answer is no (and if it’s yes, it’s time to re-evaluate your game in general). Well, surprise! The same courting rules that apply to the general public also go for your server, host, bartender, etc. because we’re people too! So avoid the brush off, any version of “get me” especially without saying please and thank you, and any insinuation that we’re not doing our jobs to the utmost of our abilities. Basically, mind your manners and treat us how you’d like to be treated, or else you’re just digging your own grave in the dating department.
For most, this goes without saying, but better safe than sorry. Pet names are generally not appreciated, even if we put up a good front about their use. Neither is gawking, catcalling, and definitely not copping a feel.
Now you may not even be aware that you’re guilty of a few of these no-no’s, because let’s face it, sometimes when we’re not trying to be on our best behavior, things slip through the cracks. So, to counteract a few of the misses, don’t pass up an opportunity to show your appreciation of the work we’re doing so that you can enjoy yourself. Basically, do your best to be respectful because just that goes a long way.
If You’re Interested, Act Like It
Working in the service industry, specifically in the front of house, means that we literally serve others all day long. As far as dialogue, there’s very little in the way of engaging conversation. So it’s quite refreshing when we’re asked questions that go beyond the drink menu, perhaps even venturing outside of life at work, and getting a chance to actively participate in an exchange. Not only does this clue us in to your attraction, but may also ignite one of our own!
A word of caution: even if a conversation is going well, don’t guilt trip us if and when we have to attend to our other customers. It is our livelihood, after all. Instead, graciously let us go and leave us wanting more!
Love Don’t Cost A Thing
Sure, a big tip is always appreciated, but be careful about throwing around your money, credit cards included. Attempting to impress with the promise of cash bonuses is in most cases considered solicitation and, excluding special circumstances, is no way to gain affection, literal and otherwise. Even dressed up with promises of tomorrow, all you’ll get for tooting your own horn is payback. And you know what they say about payback…
Impress us with the immaterial, like your great sense of humor, infectious laugh, or even your total lack of coordination (sometimes it’s cute!).
Take A Hint
If your attempts at wooing go wayward, and even a bat can see that there’s no future (at least for the moment), then bow out with style. Don’t skimp on the gratuity, make a scene, or talk trash because no one wants to date a sore loser and, who knows, there may be a chance at redemption next time.
Know more secrets about charming your server (or any service industry employee for that matter)? Let us know here, or @gosirvo.
The universal sign for work- coffee. Be it physical, formal, collaborative, or leisurely, there is coffee to be consumed, often multiple times per day and on occasion free of charge. Even electing a new pope requires the diverse drink, The reason why? Well, energy of course! Actually, while this is the most commonly associated by-product of coffee-drinking, there are other reasons why more than 400 billion cups are consumed each year.
Surprise! Coffee keeps you alert. Caffeine, the most commonly consumed psychoactive drug in the world, is a stimulant. It blocks the adenosine receptors in the brain, which lets the neurotransmitters like epinephrine and dopamine that are associated with alertness run wild. There are many studies showing that ingesting caffeine helps workers perform better, especially if they’re working when their circadian clocks say they should be sleeping. Researchers studying night-shift workers found coffee is effective in counteracting any “sleepy effect,” and caffeinated shift workers made fewer errors than their decaffeinated colleagues.
Coffee eases the pain of working at a desk. There’s a reason why computer programmers are so wired: Consuming caffeine has been found to ease pain in the neck, shoulders, forearms, and wrists that are often experienced by those of us who are chained to our keyboards.
Coffee is a social lubricant. Researchers from MIT found that employees who take coffee breaks together are more productive. The study tracked a group of workers in a call center and found that when coffee breaks were scheduled so that co-workers could take them at the same time, their performance improved.
Even without the coffee, coffee shops are good places to work. A study in the Journal of Consumer Research explored the effects noise has on creativity. They found that a low to moderate level of ambient sound, like the one found in your favorite coffee shop working spot, improves creativity. A tech startup in Virginia developed Coffitivity, a coffee shop noise simulator.
Coffee may be a life saver, especially for older workers. The US National Institutes of Health found a link between coffee-drinking and lower risks of death. People in their 50s and 60s who drink three or more cups of coffee a day have a 10% lower risk of death compared to those who don’t don’t drink coffee at all.
It even works with decaf. The same NIH study found that removing caffeine didn’t change coffee’s life-extending aura. This article originally appeared on Qz.com.
Why do you drink coffee? Let us know here, or @gosirvo.com.
Airline food can be hit or miss nowadays. And with sky high prices (pun intended), making a good choice is necessary. Here to help are the top foods on 9 major airlines chosen by the professionals that also know the airplane as their office.
United Airlines Thai tilapia fillet with shrimp
“I think the Thai-style fillet of tilapia with shrimp is the best thing we serve. It’s good for a late evening meal because it’s not too heavy. You want something light on a later flight.” – Sondra Dickens, flight attendant
Virgin America bibimbap
“With our latest menu update, it’s hard to choose a favorite dish, but our Korean vegetarian rice bibimbap is definitely high on my list with its big, bold flavors. The bibimbap is a hot bowl of fresh vegetables marinated in ginger, garlic, red chili, lemongrass, and coconut milk served on hot steamed rice and finished with a Korean red chili BBQ sauce and a soft-poached egg.” – Mariella Guadarrama, inflight team leader
JetBlue sea scallops
“When customers on the plane hear we have seafood options, they are generally leery. But in our Mint Experience we offered a hot sea scallop entree with a blackberry Sauternes sauce and foie gras mousse and it was to die for. JetBlue truly brought the freshest seafood I’ve had on a plane.” – John Stripling, inflight onboard lead
American Airlines four-cheese pasta
“My favorite food we serve, and a definite favorite of our customers, is the four-cheese pasta with a cream sauce. It’s served in the main cabin on flights to and from South America. This pasta stays moist even in the ultra-dry air of the cabins, and it’s creamy and delicious.” – Scott Bowie, international flight attendant
Southwest Airlines Ritz Cheese Crackers
“I always like it when honey-roasted peanuts are back onboard, which happens in January every few years — and this is our year. But after 19 years of flying, I’m peanutted out. On longer flights we offer free snacks such as 100-Calorie Lorna Doones, 100-Calorie Ritz Snack Mix, and Ritz Cheese Crackers. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but you can’t go wrong with cheese crackers.” – Troy Ford, flight attendant
Delta Airlines chicken pot pie and quinoa wraps
“Traveling for a living presents a constant quest for comfort food and healthy food options. Chef Hopkins’ chicken pot pie and the Luvo quinoa wraps are delicious and meet both criteria when I’m flying.” – Julie Pearson, flight attendant
Hawaiian Airlines Loco Moco
“I’ve been a flight attendant with Hawaiian Airlines for nearly 17 years. My favorite dish is our famous Loco Moco, featuring a hamburger patty topped with a sunny side-up egg smothered in gravy, all over hot white rice. Everyone who has been to Hawaii has tried the Loco Moco at least once because it’s truly an island favorite and one of the most popular dishes in Hawaii. As a destination carrier, we are proud to be able to offer island-inspired meals like the Loco Moco on our planes because it’s one of many ways we entice our guests with the sights, sounds, and tastes of Hawaii from the moment they board our aircraft.” – Mapuana Faulkner, flight attendant
Air Canada falafel wrap
“I settle for a healthy option. From the Air Canada Café menu, I go for the falafel wrap — you get a whole-wheat wrap packed with falafel, red peppers, baby spinach, tzatziki, and red onions. On the side, I grab some fresh hummus and pretzels as well as some Vitamin Water. I never have that heavy-food feeling at the end.” – George Dias, onboard sales resource, service director, and inflight safety and service
Allegiant Air Wingz Kids Snack Pack
“My favorite menu item Allegiant offers is the Wingz Kids Snack Pack. I love the Oreos and Jelly Jets, plus $1 from every pack sold goes directly to Make-A-Wish!” – Kathleen W., flight attendant This article originally appeared on thrillest.com
What’s the best airline food you’ve had? Let us know here or @gosirvo.
In a society that lives by the words, “never leave till tomorrow that which you can do today” and in which we are all just an email, phone call, or text message away from the work crisis of the hour, not to mention, in most cases having a virtual office at your disposal no matter where you are, it can be somewhat difficult to stop working and just live for a minute or two. However, experts agree: the compounding stress from the nonstop workday is damaging to overall well-being, and that maintaining a balance between work and personal life is integral for long-term success in and out of the office. Work-life balance looks different for every individual, but here are a few universal tips from health and career experts that can help you continue on the path toward fulfilling professional goals while carving out time for you and your loved ones.
Moderate perfectionist tendencies. The key to avoid burning out is to let go of perfectionism, says executive coach Marilyn Puder-York, PhD, who wrote The Office Survival Guide. Many of us develop perfectionist tendencies during higher education or our first jobs, however, “as life gets more expanded it’s very hard, both neurologically and psychologically, to keep that habit of perfection going,” Puder-York explains, adding that the healthier option is to strive not for perfection, but for excellence. Prioritize tasks and time according to what is necessary to accomplish your endgame, and stay focused on the overarching goal instead of the minute details.
Turn tech off. The ease of communication in this day and age has created expectations of constant accessibility, thereby allowing work to seep out of the actual workday and into time and space that should be dedicated to your personal life. “There are times when you should just shut your phone off and enjoy the moment,” says Robert Brooks, a professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and co-author of The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence and Personal Strength in Your Life. Brooks says that phone notifications interrupt your off time and inject an undercurrent of stress in your system. So don’t just silence the work phone, actually turn it off. And if that isn’t enough to stop you from checking it, leave it at home. Make quality time true quality time.
Make time for exercise. Even when we’re busy, we make time for the crucial things in life. We eat. We go to the bathroom. We sleep. And yet one of our most crucial needs – exercise – is often the first thing to go when our calendars fill up. Exercise is an effective stress reducer. It pumps feel-good endorphins through your body. It helps lift your mood and can even serve a one-two punch by also putting you in a meditative state, according to The Mayo Clinic. This doesn’t mean spending 2+ hours pumping iron. Even 20 to 30 minutes of walking has major payoffs and can be worked into the busiest of schedules. If the weather is nice, opt for walking or biking to work instead of driving. Take your dog on a walk or stroll through the park with a friend. Even taking the stairs instead of the elevator fits the bill.
Limit distractions. First, identify what’s most important in your life. This list will differ for everyone, so make sure it truly reflects your priorities, not someone else’s. Next, draw firm boundaries so you can devote quality time to these high-priority people and activities. For those sucked into social media or internet surfing while at work, try using productivity software like Freedom or RescueTime. And if you find your time being gobbled up by less constructive people, find ways to diplomatically limit these interactions by politely excusing yourself. Focus on the people and activities that reward you the most. To some, this may seem selfish. “But it isn’t selfish,” says psychotherapist Bryan Robinson. “It’s that whole airplane metaphor. If you have a child, you put the oxygen mask on yourself first, not on the child.” When it comes to being a good friend, spouse, parent or worker, “the better you are yourself, the better you are going to be in all those areas as well.”
Delegate. Sometimes we forget that help is literally just a phone call away. So, instead of trying to do it all, focus on activities you specialize in and value most. Delegate or outsource everything else. Delegating can be a win-win situation, says Stewart Freidman, a management professor at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and author of Leading the Life You Want: Skills for Integrating Work and Life. Freidman recommends talking to the “key stakeholders” in different areas of your life, which could include employees or colleagues at work, a spouse or a partner in a community project. “Find out what you can do to let go in ways that benefit other people by giving them opportunities to grow,” he says. This will give them a chance to learn something new and free you up so you may devote attention to your higher priorities.
Start with baby steps. We’ve all been there: crash diets that fizzle out, New Year’s resolutions we forget by February. It’s the same with work-life balance when we take on too much too soon. Start small, find what approach works for you, then gain confidence from your successes in order to make more drastic changes that secure your own definition of work-life balance.
What strategies do you use to maintain a balanced life? Let us know here, or @gosirvo.
