Council Member Of Association
Joseph Mercieca has decided to take a job in the catering industry by choice and not by default. He managed to turn his job into a career. He has been working in this prime industry for 33 years, during which he performed several duties, always related to the service and cooking side of catering. At a young age he was exposed to the first experience by being employed as a summer worker in a Restaurant in Xlendi.
This early experience offered a unique opportunity to Joseph to further his knowledge and interest in this demanding and challenging industry. In fact, he enrolled on a full-time course at the ITS in Gozo covering Food and Beverage Preparation. On termination of this two-year full-time course, Joseph embarked on his first full time job as a waiter in the Kartell Restaurant. During this time, he was also performing duties of Head waiter and later promoted to Food and Beverage Manager.
After two years gaining relevant experience at the Il-Kartell Restaurant, he took a bold step and opened his own outlet in Xlendi. At it-Terrazzo Restaurant, Joseph invested a lot of money time and energy to established it as leading Restaurant not only in Xlendi, but also in Gozo.
This bold move was the stepping stone to move on to another challenge in Joseph career path, as he renovated and opened the Country Terrace Restaurant in Mgarr. He grew in this position furthering his management skills on a span of 17 years.
Now, Joseph is Chef Patron of the Country Terrace Restaurant, a catering outlet that continued going forward from strength to strength. This is all attributed to the keen interest and passion Joseph always put in his work place.
Joseph never shyed away in giving to his Understudies, what he himself learned along his career. In fact, Joseph makes it his mission to rope around him his kitchen and service team and during the course of his career he gives and shares with his staff the tricks of the trade.
Knowing fairly well that the catering is no place for a one man show, Joseph believes a lot in looking after his staff. He is confident that happy staff can achieve and give more. This is the creed that Joseph follows and that is why his present twenty members of his staff are enthusiastic in working for him, with him and alongside him.
Last but not least one of the striking attributes of Joseph, is his concern about his clients. For him the Client is the king. Not only because the client is always right, but Joseph believes that a happy and satisfied client is the best advertising one can get for free. Apart from preparing a well-balanced and gastronomically appetizing menus, enticing his client’s appetite, Joseph insists with himself to attend to every diner and ensure that each client is getting value for money.
The aforementioned are the reasons why Joseph continued to drag after him a loyal clientele where ever he was working and these are also the attributes upon which we believe that Joseph merits this nomination.