UNVEILING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN’s CATERER, SPEAKS ON HER CAREER HAVING SERVED 7 PRESIDENTS

Katherine Adamu, ‎the chief catering officer in the State House, was one of the 313 Nigerians that got the national honours awards recently. She spoke to Sun Newspaper’s Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye about her life as a caterer having served for 12 years.

Excerpts:

How long have you been a caterer in the state house?

In the State House I have been a caterer for 12 years, in Kaduna Government House I did 12 years; that is a total of 24 years.

Catering for high and mighty

Well, it is easy and at the same time difficult but it depends on how you comport yourself and your love for your job because you must love your job, you must know what you are doing and must realise that you are serving dignitaries most especially the number one citizen of the country. He deserves all the attention and you must provide all he requires. You must make sure he is comfortable. You must be courteous in the discharge of your duty, you must be on top of your game at all times. For people to come to love and appreciate you, you must be one that can be trusted, you must exhibit those qualities that will make you a likable person.

Number of presidents catered for

I have catered for Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. He was actually the first person ‎I actually catered for in Kaduna when he was on state visit. It was my first day at work in Kaduna State Government House in June 1988. I have catered for Alhaji Shehu Shagari‎, the Head of Interim Government, Ernest Shonekan, I served, Gen. Sani Abacha, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, I served President Olusegun Obasanjo in Kaduna, he was impressed with my service and then he requested I be transferred to the State House Abuja when he won election to be president.

Challenge of working for powerful people

These are high calibre individuals and to meet their standards you have to be focused, you have to be confident. The first time you meet your principal you have to study him very well, gradually you will get to know what he likes and what he dislikes. You must make sure that whatever he likes is available whenever he wants to eat. When he sees that it gladdens his heart. Knowing your principal is number one quality any caterer must have, that way you keep your principal at ease and you earn his trust.

Choosing the right food

You see in hospitality when you are planning a menu, you must know the kind of people you are planning for and then provide the kind of food those people will eat. First of all, when you are informed about the function, you must get the guest list and plan menus that will go down well with those expected, you must present meals people can eat comfortably because it is not everything people eat‎. For instance, when serving visiting heads of state, we go into the internet and check the kind of food that they eat. We also try to get information on what the first family of such country eats. We prepare the kind of food they are used to and prepare our Nigerian meals as well because you must never miss the opportunity to promote your country’s meals as well as give Nigerians present at the function opportunity to taste that country’s meals as well. If guests are Nigerians we ensure we present meals from the four geographical regions, you must provide alternatives for your guests.

Any regrets doing this?

There are no regrets because this is what I love doing. This is my passion. I love serving people, I love seeing people happy when they are in a function. Whatever you do in a function if the food and drinks are not there or are not enough, it becomes a flop. As far as people are concerned, that function never held. When people attend a function they should leave with good memories and I dare say food and drinks must be among them.

Any complains about your food?

To my knowledge I have not. I have always had commendations and recommendations from people.

How do you stay on top of your game?

I go on courses to improve on my skills and try out new things. Most times I go into the internet, I download recipes and try them out. I buy a lot of books on cooking, I listen to a lot of radio programmes on catering, I watch food channels on television and try some of those recipes out. I attend a lot of functions too. You know hospitality is very dynamic, if you are static with what you are doing then it will become monotonous and people will get tired of you. So you have to provide variety, provide good ambience, food and drinks. Food and drinks are important aspect of an occasion. They are fundamental things in life and must be done with care. You need food for your medication, you need food to stay alive. You don’t take chances when preparing food, you ensure your staff are well motivated and taken care off because they can mess you up, especially the cooks. Your staffers are supposed to be your friends. You can be firm, correct them in love but at the same time be accessible, friendly, listen to their needs and complaints, be there for them.

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