Moments That Matter
Spotlight - Chef Margaret Occhipinti
This article was republished with permission from the National Culinary Review®, July/August 2021, Volume 45, Issue 4, 2021 by The American Culinary Foundation. All rights reserved. For more information on this or any other ACF publication, please call (800) 624-9458 or visit www.acfchefs.org.
Women Who Lead
In her role, Chef Margaret Occhipinti oversees business dining, on-site restaurants and food halls across the country and is responsible for all aspects of culinary, including concept and recipe development, identifying product specs, hiring and training, guest experience, food quality, food safety and more. She manages three senior executive chefs and 14 executive chefs and their teams across seven campuses.
With so many different people to manage, Chef Occhipinti takes a personalized approach to leadership. “In my experience, the more that you invest in your team, the more you get back in terms of quality, drive and productivity,” she says.
Chef Occhipinti does this by meeting regularly with her team members — having coffee or lunch one-on-one before COVID-19 (and hopefully again soon when safe to do so) — to discuss challenges and opportunities.
“I make it a priority to know everyone’s name and care about their lives and their goals,” she says. “It’s also important to give honest feedback, both positive and constructive.”
By getting to know her team well, Chef Occhipinti is able to approach tough topics with ease. She approaches everything with honesty, whether it’s being empathetic toward others when it comes to fears about COVID-19, dealing with a performance issue or encouraging safe kitchen practices.
It’s not all tough stuff. Chef Occhipinti tries to create a culture that is upbeat, fun and creative.
“An atmosphere that is fun and whimsical helps to keep the creative juices flowing and the energy high,” she says. “I encourage our team to take a risk, to go with that crazy idea — you never know what is going to be the next great thing.”
Chef Occhipinti also makes sure to involve everyone in the menu creation process.
“I typically work with the executive chefs to set the structure and talk about what is trendy, seasonal and a good fit for our restaurants,” she says. “The chefs have autonomy to write their menus and recipes, and I review and oversee implementation.”
See what we're up to
today on Instagram.
We`ve revamped the "Bull Market" introducing a few innovative concepts, a brand new micromarket and a selection of warm, ready-to-eat entrees.
Barilla recently hosted a pasta-making experience at one of our LifeWorks locations. Our team whipped up imaginative pasta and pesto dishes with the expertise of top Chefs. Tastings of Chef Lorenzo`s specialties delighted everyone. No competition, just wonderful fun, and mouthwatering pasta!
#LifeworksCooking #PastaLove #BarillaPasta
Happy Halloween from LifeWorks!
Celebrate this spooky holiday with flavors as rich as the night is dark. Whether you’re indulging in decadent treats or savoring savory bites, make it a Halloween to remember with premium ingredients and unforgettable tastes.
Trick or treat yourself to a little luxury today—because everyone deserves a bite of the extraordinary!
#HappyHalloween #TreatYourself
An edible masterpiece! 🍫✨ Chef Gustavo and Rosie brought the Alinea-inspired magic to life with this stunning dessert table. The perfect ending to a memorable Teaching Kitchen class where participants crafted their own chocolate bars and enjoyed a special day connecting with top performers.
This year, clients associates enjoyed new activities including farmers markets and monthly cooking classes. Our culinary team were able to exhibit various cuisines during private dinners while after-hour socials were broadened. Kudos to our Starbucks team for snagging the "Store Team of the Quarter"! 2024 was truly a year of growth and development for our client in Austin.
Join us for our latest `Memorable Moments` series video, as we spend some time with Sasha at Lifeworks. Discover what sets us apart as she shares personal insights and experiences that truly show what makes us unique in our own special way. #LifeWorks #MemorableMoments
We celebrated the grand opening of a new West Coast location in style. The event was marked by delicious samples from local businesses that embodied the essence of the fall seasons. We also celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by bringing in local, minority-owned products. #GrandOpening #LocalBusinesses #FallSeason #HispanicHertiageMonth
Join us in welcoming the fall season by exploring our Octoberfest boards! Dive into an array of festivities and traditions that herald the season of colors and warmth. Feel the true spirit of fall captured in our boards. #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup #OctoberFest
At the Walmart Home Office, their talented Executive Chef Raf Salcedo is preparing a delightful Peach & Burrata Panzanella dish, using fresh, locally sourced ingredients from Arkansas. Check out more of what`s happening at Walmart HQ in Bentonville by following on Instagram and subscribing on Youtube!
https://www.youtube.com/@LifeworksWalmartHQ
Get ready for some quick-fire culinary fun! LifeWorks Chef James is set to answer 10 rapid fire questions about his kitchen life, favorite dishes, and techniques! Don`t miss it. #ChefJames #RapidFireQuestions #FoodieFun
