An Exclusive Interview with Mark Waterhouse, Dining Services New ...

Usual reception food at AUBG.

If you are one of the few that haven?t heard yet, Mark Waterhouse, owner of the fine dining restaurant Casa Adria, is the new Executive Chef in charge of the Dining Services at AUBG. It seems to us, the Daily staff, that the guy will be around for some time. He has already established some presence by making a group on Facebook (link at the bottom of the article) where he actively communicates with the student body and carefully notes all comments and feedback. The following interview sheds some light on the upcoming changes under his ?rule?.

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Tell us more about what you did before coming to Bulgaria and what made you come here? Why Blagoevgrad?

I have lived outside the UK for 22 years and before coming to Blagoevgrad spent 20 years in Portugal, working for 4/5 star hotel groups in the marketing departments. My background is in hotels and catering and I have a diploma in hotel and catering management.
Whilst in Portugal I met my wife who is from Blagoevgrad, and when the financial crash hit, we decided it would be a good time to move closer to her family, as we also have two children, Georgia 9 and Cydney 7 and we thought they should understand some of their heritage, culture and learn Bulgarian better.

How were you recruited as the new Executive Chef of AUBG?s Dining Services? Was there a lot of competition for this position?

I don?t know about competition, as the position came about in a funny way. The Provost was having dinner in my restaurant one evening and asked my advice on recruiting a new executive chef for AUBG, and did I have any contacts within the Bulgarian Hotel and catering trade. I said ?no? and thought little more of it, until a conversation with my wife about it, and she said ?why don?t you do it? on reflection I thought ?yes, good idea?, so I approached Provost Reed and suggested it. He put it to the board, I was asked for an outline plan, which I did, and was offered the position last week.

Is Olga Draganova keeping her job as a Manager of the Dining Services and if yes, how do you imagine your work with her?

Of course Olga will keep her job, my Bulgarian speaking is limited and she has a wealth of experience as manager, I see us working together to bring a new outlook to the dining services and Olga will be a big part in putting that to the rest of the staff and seeing it through to its conclusion.

What will happen to the old canteen?

The old canteen will run till the new restaurant (I do not want it called a canteen as it will be far superior to a canteen) opens in the spring, I presume it has been earmarked already for offices or classrooms and is not needed. What is needed is a coffee/snack bar style eatery, with ?grab and go? style food and drink, somewhere the students and faculty can grab a bite to eat and drink.

What dishes do you imagine are going to be offered?

Usual canteen food at AUBG.

That is a big question!!!!! I will bring an international style of food into dining services, fresh, wholesome, nutritional, seasonal and with an eye to our multicultural student body. So fresh soups every day, salad bar, deli bar, sandwiches, wraps, pizza, burgers, several main courses and a selection of desserts. Taking into account ethnic, vegetarian, vegan, allergy and religious tastes.

How about alcohol? Do you think that?s even possible?

Alcohol is an essential part to any restaurant and I feel an essential part for many people to their best eating experience, so to that end I will be looking into adding it to the menu. I can see no reason for it not to be added and with it not being there, it only pushes the student to eat elsewhere, which is what we are trying to change. So my answer to the question is WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!

Any surveys that your planning to conduct? Or are you relying only on social media for feedback?

I am a great believer in using social media, I think the students will reply to a Facebook survey before they will reply to one sent to their AUBG emails. But I will use all media to get in contact with my old and future clients, so I will bombard you with Facebook, Twitter, e mail, TV, web page, word of mouth, and funnily enough good old fashioned talking face to face!!! (I will be asking the journalism dept to help, and other departments I.E. we will need a web page building)

Is there going to be a change in the prices of dishes?

I have purposefully not looked at the pricing policy and how they price the food as I will be pricing as per any outlet that is a business. I have to take into account, food costs, staffing costs, utility charges and many more other costs to come to a figure that is good for the governing body and also good for the students. I will also be pricing to give a wide range of different products at different levels. I can sell a potato salad at a very low cost, but in the same level I cannot sell a rocket salad so cheap. This is where seasonality and best buying of produce will come into its own. I aim to give good value for a good price. But it will be better quality and cheaper than the surrounding eateries.

Do you think that making the Dining Services popular might pose a threat to your business?

I have been asked this question several times in the last week, and my simple answer is NO, it will actually enhance it. The two things are in totally different spheres and as the restaurant only opens late afternoon and does most of its business in the evening, I don?t believe there will be a clash. The restaurant is fine dining, top of the Blagoevgrad tree, we offer what you can?t get elsewhere on a small scale, so I think if the students like what they see in the dining services, they will want to come and taste the foods in the restaurant. We are not an everyday restaurant more of a special occasion, or once a week restaurant. The restaurants in dining services will be a place, I hope, the students and faculty use on a daily basis to eat, drink, socialize at. In fact I want to make dining services the hub of the university where you can come for a coke and a chat or come and get a great three course meal.

Thank you, Mark.

Join the group on Facebook to express your opinions and concerns or just to be better informed about the changes that are coming to the Dining Services at AUBG: Dining Services AUBG.

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