Meet the Team— Zakariae Takhripha, Restaurant Manager
Going out to enjoy a great meal usually begins with a simple click or two to make a reservation on our smartphones, then throwing on our favorite attire and getting ready to indulge in gorgeously prepared dishes amidst beautiful surroundings with service second to none.
This is the experience you have at the farmer's daughter restaurant, where our team is happy to provide you seamless service with a smile. Our professionals are experts at making sure you have a memorable time.
We chatted with restaurant manager extraordinaire Zakariae “Zak” Takhripha to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on what it takes to create and maintain the perfect ambience for a date night dinner, family brunch or weekend bash at one of Montgomery County's premier dining destinations.
Zak hails from Tetouan, Morocco, and has a degree in hotel hospitality (he spent nine years in Madrid). He’s assumed many roles throughout his career, including supervision, serving and bartending. Zak’s been a Normandy Farm team member since 2007, and he excels at working the plethora of conferences, weddings and other events held throughout the season at the resort.
He typically works the busier shifts, which include weeknight dinners, Sunday brunch and all day Saturday. A typical shift for him entails:
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Reviewing the meals reservation systems and hotel estimates to accommodate guests accordingly.
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Inspecting the dining areas for cleanliness, place-setting counts and table configurations.
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Appointing specific server staff to appropriate locations.
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Monitoring logistics of floor plans for dining rooms, the bar and the outside venue.
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Greeting every table to ensure guests have everything they need and are happy.
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Assisting with dining checks, discounts, prepaid deposits and charge card receipts.
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Tallying and distributing server tips.
Zak also raves about Chef Mtele Abubakar’s menus at the farmer's daughter restaurant. “The presentation of our dishes from our award-winning scratch kitchen makes my job easy because they're just so delicious. I love seeing our repeat guests enjoy the seasonal menu time and time again.”
When we asked Zak about his biggest challenge on the job, he replied, “Staying calm while listening to a guest to resolve any concerns or misperceptions. Our guests are our priority. We don’t let it wait and will address expectations immediately. I believe our guest services are what set us apart from many other restaurants. We truly care about the dining experience and will always go the extra mile to make sure that it's amazing.”
Zak speaks three languages fluently and considers himself a family guy who adores his two young sons, gardening, being outdoors and riding his Aprilia Atlantic motorcycle to work. He’s also crazy for “anything vegetable.”
Zak is grateful for Normandy Farm’s supportive team and management, making everyone feel like family. “We all really care about this place and that makes it natural to carry that philosophy over to our guests.”
Don't forget to check out our Facebook page, our website and blog for information on the latest goings on at the beautiful Normandy Farm.
Located just 25 minutes from Center City Philadelphia and situated in the heart of Blue Bell, Pa., Normandy Farm Hotel and Conference Center is more than a meticulously restored American landmark—it's a fully wired, high-tech hospitality venue. Relax on our grand terrace, sip a cocktail in America's oldest silo, play a challenging game of golf on our championship course, plan an event with us or dine on our delectable farm-to-table cuisine. It all adds up to One Historic Experience.
