Matteo Ini

Leading the bar programme at Talea by Antonio Guida, a 1 Michelin Star Restaurant, located in the iconic 7-star Mandarin Oriental, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.

Reporting directly to the Bar Manager and being responsible for the smooth running of the Bar and its business performance. Maintaining high standards of spirits and wines, food, service, health and safety and helping to deliver best service to guests at all times.

Duties:

• Inspiring the bar team to deliver prompt, friendly and efficient service at all times.
• Conducting regular performance evaluations of bar staff, providing constructive feedback and identifying areas for growth and improvement.
• Providing day-to-day support to the Restaurant Managers.
• Daily Stock Control and full monthly audit.
• HR responsibilities include recruitment of bar personnel and the beverage training of the restaurant team.
• Organising the daily rota and duties.
• Responsible for management of brand standards, stock rotation and cashing up.
• Analysing data and drawing conclusions for the business.
• Daily and weekly reconciliation of sales. Monthly menu engineering to identify selling and non-selling items and make amendments accordingly.
• In-depth understanding of measurements and weights of drink levels.
• Managing a team of 8 permanent and casuals.
• Working with the Restaurant Manager in coordinating and planning for events.
• Re-evaluating the beverage offering, highlighting trends and new products to managers

Mandarin Oriental's Task Force Programme: "CEA" Cultural Learning Ambassador - to assist the team on site with the opening and infuse the company's culture to new colleagues. Protecting brand image with exceptional restaurant and bar presentation and maintenance.

Duties:

• Managing two bars from the pre-opening to full operation.
• Planning and organising the daily task list.
• Leading motivated teams of front- and back-of-house colleagues, achieving high-quality standards and service.
• Sharing and improving Mandarin Oriental standards.
• Quickly identified problem situations, skillfully resolving incidents to maintain satisfaction of involved parties.
• Providing training to new employees, offering ongoing support and guidance to maintain first-class customer service.

Assisting the Bar Management to drive the development and maintenance of an innovative and unique beverage programme. The smooth running of the service of the designated outlet with service excellence to deliver business objectives and financial success.

Duties:

• Being part of the developing team of an innovative and diverse cocktail list that aligned with the target market and enhancing the overall bar experience for the guests.
• Providing exceptional customer service, exceeding their expectations and ensuring their satisfaction with the bar and its offerings.
• Assisting in developing and managing a shift programme for the bar personell, ensuring fair scheduling and adequate coverage for all shifts.
• Placing orders for bar supplies and maintaining accurate inventory records, ensuring sufficient stock levels to meet demand.
• Overseeing the management of the cash register and ensuring accurate transactions, minimizing errors and discrepancies.
• Responsible for the fair allocation of tips to both bar and service staff, ensuring a transparent and equitable distribution process.
• Staying up to date with industry trends, market demands, and customer preferences to improve the bar's operations.

Responsible for creating an excellent guest drinking experience, by creating classic and innovative drinks exceeding customers’ needs and expectations.

Duties:

• Understanding and anticipating the guests’ needs and acting upon it.
• Stepping out of the bar and helping on the floor when there is a need to assist colleagues.
• Preparing and serving all beverages to guests according to required standards in an efficient and friendly manner ensuring guest satisfaction.
• Guaranteeing that the opening and closing of the bar is organized as per HACCP and the local Food and Safety standards. This includes making sure that there is always adequate mise en place, setting up the bar and surrounding seating areas before the guest’s arrival and performing all duties related to the closing of the bar.
• Ensuring that all steps throughout the sequence of service are thoroughly followed in a timely manner so that the guest experience is positively impacted.
• Organizing the bar and all related paperwork efficiently to ensure successful monthly stock takes.
• Ensuring profitability through controlling beverage costs and any other costs related to the bar operation within the venue.

Creating the bar's beverage list. Utilising contemporary mixing techniques to create cocktails, refined homemade liqueurs and sodas, flavored syrups.

Duties:

• Supervising a team of 5 members and providing continuous training.
• Building a positive environment with good team spirit, to guarantee the highest quality in service delivery.
• Creating new cocktail lists and signature drinks and recipes that aligned with guest demands and trends; proposed drink mixes and cocktails based on customer preferences.
• Applying assertive actions and emotional maturity to deal with difficult situation.
• Responding with attentiveness to the needs of the venue's guests and communicated how they could be met while staying in line with the establishment’s procedures and rules.
• Monitoring and ensuring smooth operations and performing managerial duties.
• Opening and closing the bar according to the procedures of the venue.

Bartender that has been given additional managerial duties to run the bar fully on their own. Assisting the Management that guests needs are exceeded and to have an overall positive experience.

Duties:

• Interacting with guests, assessing their needs and preferences and make recommendations.
• Preparing alcohol and non-alcohol beverages, taking orders and serving snacks and drinks.
• Mixing ingredients to prepare cocktails.
• Stay guest focused and nurture an excellent guest experience.
• Restocking and replenishing bar inventory and supplies.
• Complying with all food and beverage regulations.

Duties:

• Preparation of a la minute cocktails, pre-mix and pre-batched.
• Bar set-up an closing.
• Daily stock requisition.
• Following check lists to align with the local Food and Safety regulations.
• Participating in weekly trainings by the Bar Manager in collaboration with Diageo and Martini, enhancing my mixing techniques, mixology, merchandising, HACCP, as well as bar sales techniques.

Duties:

• Greeting guests in a timely manner and take orders.
• Providing high quality service to guests, carrying out all tasks with attention to detail, cleanliness, and safety.
• Mixing and serving drinks following set standard recipes, while adhering to all local and national liquor laws.
• Processing cash and credit card transactions following appropriate procedures.
• Assisting with inventory and inventory control.

Duties:

• Preparing all front of house mise en place.
• Welcoming and serving guests.
• Staying attentive to the needs of guests in the dining area.
• Ensuring the food order is made correctly by kitchen staff and looks presentable for guests.
• Following health code standards with regards to the handling of food.
• Handling the cashiering.
• Responsible for maintaining the lounge area clean and ready to operate at all times.

Being an employee at the Zacco Retail Group, which runs one of the largest multi-brand stores in Southern Italy. Acquiring the basics of sales techniques, customer care, and developed methods of verbal and non-verbal behaviour.

Duites:

• Welcoming customers into the store and offering and service beverages.
• Advising customers on fashion choices.
• Selling clothing and processing payments at checkout.
• Organizing merchandise on shop floor.
• Attaching and updating pricing tags on merchandise.
• Carrying out stocktaking duties.
• Handling returns and exchanges.
• Assisting the store management to decorate the boutique and mannequins.
• Preparing parcels for delivery and packing all products for sale.
• Receiving and handling product deliveries for the store.
• Responsible for maintaining the back of house areas clean and organized.

Summer / Autumn season as a commis bar waiter.