The Atrium Chef Café

The Atrium Chef Café, 110 110th AVE NE, Bellevue WA

Background: Atrium Chef Café, the small restaurant cum café, was in business for a long time now at the 3rd floor of our Bellevue office building. The name Atrium Chef Café comes from the name of our building, which is Atrium Place. To all the old and new Bellevue office folks, this café was known as a place to go to only when,

o its raining (which is very usual over here :)) and you can’t go out
o It’s a lazy day and you don’t want to go out.
o You were in a meeting until 12:15 and have to be in another at 1:00, which gives a very little time window to go out for lunch.

And sometimes even if there is a reason, people used to avoid going to 3rd floor cafe. An obvious assumption here, of course, is that the reason you go out for lunch is because you don’t bring lunch box to office.

Having a sufficient amount of background now, let’s look at some trivial and non-trivial facts about the Atrium Chef Café.

What lacked with the old vendor?
The main problem, as I think, was the variety of food items on the menu. There weren’t too many options to choose from. This was the main turn off if you aren’t the kind of person who eats the same menu daily, without fail. And even if you are, the food used to be too ‘boring’ to try every other day. Also the service provided by the café was just bare minimum from a running café point of view. There was no service provided in terms of heating the food, customizing based on your eating preferences or providing service as little as a glass of water on your table. If we now start talking about taking customer feedback and stuff, that would definitely be too much to ask for.

Things that the new vendor tapped on:
In the early stages, the new vendor didn’t seem to be a guy who was serious about business. But as time passed by, he showed how determined he was to prove himself up. He tried and more importantly tried successfully all the must to-do items for a business to flourish - Almost anything and everything that one would learn in a business school.

To name a few of them -


1. Mould your products to the market needs:
The new management tried a lot of different menus in order to understand what exactly brings customers. The very thing that old café owner didn’t bother to think about.

2. Not all the customers are same:
At the initial stages he realized that the building Atrium place has a mix of people as far as their eating preferences are concerned. You just cannot serve one kind of sandwiches to attract the full range of customers.

There are some people who would like to go for a take-away lunch that they would prefer to have at their desk later, at their ease, without affecting the work at hand. Then there are a few who believe in having their concentration on one thing at a time. And that implies when they eat, they want to be out of their work place, gossiping with friends.

The range of customers is not only limited to their eating styles but also to the amount and variety of food. Some people who, for some reason, have to skip their breakfast, want to cover it up with a heavy lunch and hence need a buffet kind of place where they can ‘eat all they can’ whereas some like to have variety of items in their plate.

3. Acquire proper tools and skill sets: the current vendor, at the start, was good with only the Greek food recipes. He tried them at the initial stage but people didn’t like it much. He then realized (or may be someone suggested him) to try some Asian recipes, which primarily were Indian recipes. The guy did not know much about the Indian food but he had the thing in him that took him places – willingness to learn. He talked to another chef who works in another Indian restaurant in Bellevue and also to a few folks in the building. They got him a few recipes and the basic concept about Indian spices and condiments. But the actual learning was up to him and he tried and tried until he succeeded.

4. Regular feedback from customers: one important thing with business is that even if your customers are happy; you must know what they want next. In that way you not only know how to prepare to take your business to the next level but also rule out the possibility of any competitor taking them away by showing them what you lack and they have.


5. Prompt address of the issues: Once you have the feedback, putting serious efforts to provide what customer actually wants goes a long way. There are twofold advantages by doing so. Primarily, nothing makes a customer happier, if today he notices the change he suggested the day before. Secondary, when he sees the things getting implemented the way he wanted, it gives him a sense of belonging, which ultimately makes him want to come more often. One ultimate advantage, of course, is that your business improves and is more likeable now.

6. Support existing line of product along with the new ones: I read it somewhere that it costs 10 times lesser to retain an old customer than to go for a new one. Little did I know that the café guy too has read it? Even after adding so many new items on the menu, this café still has its old delicacies. I don’t know how he manages to do so, but he is doing so and that makes his old customers to still give him business.


7. Make a customer come back again: the café guy has a new punch card which has some 11 slots. He punches a slot every visit you visit his café and that makes you eligible to have one free meal after every 10 meals.


The café guy has certainly done a great job in managing the café and I have no doubt in my mind that amid all the recession and bad market scene, he is one guy who is here to stay.

There is a saying in Sansakrita, the ancient Indian language of pundits. And it goes like, उद्यमेन ही सिध्यन्ति, कर्यानी न मनोराठे, नहीं सुप्तस्य सिंघस्य, प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगः

Those who put efforts achieve the success at the end. A sleeping lion can never catch the prey.

Gyaan

Read one bullet point at a time and ponder about it before moving to another,

• The most efficient way to learn is to learn from others’ mistakes. That’s learning with minimum stakes involved.
• The most common symptom among all the losers is that they want to excel in everything they do. Do not be one of them; try to pick your calling.
• If people crib before you about things around them, there has to be some reason behind it. Find the real cause. And even if you can’t solve it for them, avoid being in that situation yourself.
• The world is full of diversities and that makes it so interesting. Respect it that way.
• The only common thing among everyone is that everyone is different. So learn to live with all the differences.
• No one has ever been able to make everyone happy, so there is no point in even attempting to do so.
• People possess their own inherent nature by birth and ‘usually’ that CANNOT be changed. It applies to you too. So be happy with what you are.
• You are never too old or too young to learn. So keep on learning. Learning never goes waste.
• Keep yourself surrounded by frank and straight forward people.
• Never forget people you met your way up. You will miss them up there and would need them your way down.
• No one keeps winning the whole life. Everyone loses. So be a good sport: accept when defeated. Remember the old saying? “lose the fight but don’t lose the lesson”
• If something consumes way too much time and energy of yours. Shun it ASAP.
• Some people find pleasure in music, some in peace, some with crowd, and some in solidarity – find out what best suits you.
• You are never too occupied to remember others’ special days, and too busy to wish them on those days.



... To Be Continued

Charity at its worst

I have this age old habit of mine to keep me abreast with the world news and can often be found skimming through the headlines of various newspapers. Although I am out of my home country nonetheless I have a keen interest in what the Indian political and sports scene is up to and Times Of India (TOI from here) website has been very helpful in quenching my reading thirst regarding this. TOI is a busy web site with lots of traffic day in day out, hence lots of ads. I don’t mind ads at all as they are the reason the website is up and running and its worth – small cost for readers to get the latest news at their doorstep.

A few days back I noticed an ad for some charity organization – it shows a disabled kid. Below him was a text message urging readers to help him change his life. One look at the ad and I bet it will sweep all the thoughts but this picture off your mind. A kid having a big cut in his upper lip that even his gums were visible - asking for help by demonstration of shortfalls.

I don’t mind their selection of a well known website to reach out to people. That’s how the marketing ought to be. What irritates me is the image that they display - A helpless kid shown in the disgust (in lack of a better word) with a message asking readers to help him. I saw this and the first thing that crossed my mind instantly was – WHAT NON SENSE!!!. What am I supposed to do after seeing this promotional graphic? Feel guilty for not being able to help him. Or feel bad for him and other children like him. And to your amazement, I was none of them. Instead, I was ashamed of organizations that chose these cheap tricks to raise money.

In my opinion the whole idea of displaying the image was to hit where it hurts the most – GUILT. Guilt of not being able to help a kid who lives such a nauseating life, Guilt of sitting in a comfortable chair in your office while there is someone who can’t even live his normal life.

I have seen many ads from many reputed charity organizations. For example, CRY. They will never attempt to make you feel guilty to donate the money. Instead they make you feel emotional. Which I think is a sin not as bad as this one.

Lots of my friends work for several NGOs and I have seen them working hard for their organizations. One look at their efforts and you would realize how sincerely they believe in the cause they are working for. They arrange marathons, publicity booths, online campaigns, music and dramatics events. They just don’t expect others to help their groups by just asking for funds. They motivate people to donate by setting the right example. And I think that’s how the charity is done.

May god bless that kid (from these organizations)

Aye Hip Hopper

“Hey bro”, “Nah bro, I ain’t comin.”, “Wassup with ya man”

No No!!! I have not turned gay or black. I am still the same old fashioned guy who speaks traditional English. Just that I have noticed some deshwaasi frequently using this form of English in various places. You can easily spot them in restaurants, coffee shops, chat and even orkut. Not sure what goes in their mind when they use these words or what influenced them. But they do it with pride. None of my business I know, but I can’t help me ignore this.

I have tried to give it a lot of thinking but still not sure why would a normal Indian guy talk like a hip hopper. Does being an African American (I will refrain myself from using the other word) is so in thing now that a usually good looking Indian male wants to epitomize them? Or is it just ignorance? Yes, ignorance it is. The reason being no sensible man on earth would like to be a black Bappi Lahiri. No offence!!!

Being an Indian I know what a typical Indian youth mentality is. And I think the same applies not only to Indian but youngsters in any geography. They just want to own a thing which they see is in. Be it cloths, accessories, music or accent. Most of the Indian youth have not been to this side of the globe and whatever cultural impression they have about America is inherited from Hollywood movies or song. What they don’t realize is that, a movie is just a glamorous package, made in a way that sells the most. It doesn’t reflect reality. Not all of them at least. The same way as not every Indian is named as Raj and not every garden in India has hidden orchestra and groups dancers, who appear just when the hero falls in love with heroine. The same goes with music too. Not every Indian sings a song when he wants to ‘pataao’ a girl and not all the Americans talk in the distorted form of English like those glossy hip hoppers who wear (be)low waist jeans and a hoody.

I personally know many guys and girls in my country, who proudly address each other as “hey dude”. When they talk, they keep two fingers (index and middle, to be precise) intentionally popping out and their body shaking in a rhythm. They think it looks cool. What they don’t realize is how idiotic they appear when they try to fake it.

Another disease, which is no less contagious, is their accent. I have seen people who were onsite for three months (by onsite I mean in US), and when they came back they have somehow picked up a fake US accent. Come on, how can you pick US accent in just three months? Unless you had gone through a call centre training.

I know how mean I sound when I talk like this. But this is how I feel.

Bhagwaan inhe sadbuddhi de!!!

At the end, here is a nice song for you to checkout -

Bandini

I had heard a lot about the movie and its director Bimal Da. Having less work pressure this weekend, I got a DVD and watched it finally. To my surprise I found it up to no good. All those positive remarks made to me until then appeared having no value. Also from the direction point of view it was average, just average. More so because of having so much expectation built up, Bimal Roy now looked inferior to a regular B grade movie director.
But this was only until I saw the last 10 minutes of the movie. Until then I had almost decided to shut off the movie at one point in time. In the last sequence Nootan meets Ashok Kumar and gets to know about why he betrayed her and married the other woman. Ashok kumar is going to leave via a ship whereas Nootan’s train has also arrived. She is going through a mental tug of war whether to leave him or go back. In the background the famous song “o re maajhi…mere saajan hai us paar” plays. This all has been done with so much perfection; I bet that you can’t miss the magic Bimal Roy is trying to create. All well that ends well. Nootan goes back to Ashok Kumar and movie ends.

And after that there is one more member in Bimal Roy fan club now.

hero fir bhi hero hai

While on a discussion with a close friend a few days back, I mentioned about two of my favorite movies and their characters. I will pen it down here -

First one is Raju (Dev Anand) from the movie Guide. He is a kind of person who always cares about himself. Before meeting Rosy (Waheeda Rehman), he used to be a carefree tourist guide. He meets rosy and after a series of events, which are irrelevant to be mentioned here, takes her along. He helps her making her career in dancing but has his own hidden motives. He drinks, gambles, cheats, forges and do whatever pleases him. All this in spite of being a hindi film hero… MIND IT!!! He gets jailed, comes out and goes in search of seclusion. Ultimately when he realizes that there are lots of people who look up to him in hope and trust, he does what they wanted him to do. At the end he fasts and gives out his life.

The other one is Sunil (Shah Rukh Khan) from the movie Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. He, unlike a normal Hindi filum hero, is a real loser in life. He is in the same class for last three years. His parents don’t like him - All in all a good for nothing youngster. He has a childhood crush on Aana (Suchitra Krishna Murthy). But Aana on the other hand is in love with Kris (Deepak Tijori). He attempts everything possible to break them up. Cajoling, browbeating, swearing, lying, cheating – he tries them all. The movie goes through lots of ups and down (as the title suggests – kabhi haan kabhi naa) but at the end he doesn’t get the girl.

Having said all this, the bottom-line is – hero does not always have to be an ethical, macho, love-all-loved-by-all person. He may be immature, cheater, loser and what not. He may not get the girl, he may die at the end but still– hero fir bhi hero hai

"The" collectiion

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this visual are solely of the participant and the blog does not take any resposibility for them. It may contain explicit words and material, viewers' discretion is advised.



Decibel - Naagin Live @ IIT Delhi Rock Festival


lyrics by GOD

आवारापान

I have not seen such a moving lyrics in a long time. The recipe of delight is to listen the song and read this, simultaneously

आवारापान बंजारापन, एक हला है सीने में
हर दम हर पल बेचैनी है, कौन भला है सीने में

इस धरती पर जिस पल सूरज, रोज़ सवेरे उगता है
अपने लिए तो ठीक उसी पल, रोज़ ढला है सीने में
आवारापान बंजारापान, एक हला है सीने में

जाने ये कैसी आग लगी है, इस में धुआ न चिंगारी
हो ना हो इस पार कहीं कोई, ख्वाब जला है सीने में,
आवारापान बंजारापान, एक हला है सीने में

जिस रस्ते पर तपता सूरज, सारी रात नहीं ढलता
इश्क की ऐसे राह-गुज़र को, हम ने चुना है सीने में
आवारापान बंजारापान, एक हला है सीने में

कहाँ किसी के लिए है मुमकिन, सब के लिए एक सा होना
थोडा सा दिल मेरा बुरा है, थोडा भला है सीने में
आवारापान बंजारापान, एक हला है सीने में

I have no home, am lonely I,
In heart I have a toxic wine;
Every moment is despair,
Who torments me in heart mine?
Sun rises on earth every day,
Daily there is sun-rise;
But that moment for me is,
Like sun-set, my own demise.

What is this smoulders in heart,
Smoke is not and spark is none;
Looks like somewhere distant,
Dream one more is burnt and gone.

Path on which sun and its warmth,
Both are absent all night long;
Such is the path of my love,
On which trudge I with my song.

No one in the world can view
Every one without a taint;
Even in my lonely heart,
Someone holds a candle faint.
---------------------------
आवारापान बंजारापान, एक हला है सीने में
हर दम हर पल बेचैनी है, कौन भला है सीने में

दिल जिस चीज़ को हाँ कहता है, ज़हन उसी को कहता है न
इश्क में उफ़ ये खुद ही से लड़ना, एक सज़ा है सीने में
आवारापान बंजारापान, एक हला है सीने में

खंजर से हाथों पे लकीरें, कोई भला क्या लिख पाया
हमने मगर एक पागलपन में, खुद को छला है सीने में
आवारापान बंजारापान, एक हला है सीने में

I have no home, am lonely I,
In heart I have a toxic wine;
Every moment is despair,
Who torments me in heart mine?

My heart me pulls to my love,
But mind tells me otherwise;
Oh! This fighting with oneself,
Why should my heart be in blight?

Lines of fate writ large on palm
Can with knife not be altered;
Even self deception this
Tried my heart but, yes, faltered.

and last but not the least...

ये दुनिया ही जन्नत थी ये दुनिया ही जन्नत है
सब कुछ खोकर आज ये हम पर भेद खुला है सीने में

No translation for this. कुछ बातें जिस ज़बान में कही जाए उसी में अच्छी लगती हैं

Disclaimer: Pieces in this blog may have been collected from other sources, with thanks.