May 2024: Spring Edition
This edition of HOTG features an employee spotlight on Allie Huresky, Keith teaches about spring foraging, we celebrate two 13 year employees, quick CSA & Sailing Center pass reminders, and more!
Employee Spotlight: Allie Huresky (she/they), Assistant Operations Manager at the Food Hub
Allie Huresky has been working at SP's Food Hub for three years. Food has always been an intrinsic part of her life. Growing up, Allie watched her parents host friends and family for dinner parties. "I love how food brings people together, nourishes the soul, and really makes me feel connected to people." Allie enjoys cooking immensely and now hosts dinner parties for friends and family, continuing the tradition of connecting people through food.
Allie joined the Food Hub as a prep cook and was recently promoted to Assistant Operations Manager; yay, Allie!! "What excites me about stepping into this role are the people…helping with interviews, training, hiring, working on making the culture better along with making some of our processes better".
Allie has been working on improving organizational systems and processes at the Hub. For example, during the Lake Street closure, the Food Hub was deep cleaned and reorganized to increase accessibility to better suit the needs of staff; it was a true glow-up. Along with organizational changes, Allie has been working on the Skinny Pancake recipe book. As you can imagine, the book has been contributed to by many hands and minds. Allie has helped make the recipes, units of measure, and quantities more uniform and consistent.
When Allie isn't at the Hub, you can find them dancing ballet or playing ultimate frisbee with her teammates. Allie's been playing ultimate frisbee for ten years and is on an all-inclusive, very queer-friendly team called "Sugar Shack." When the team needs a boost, they all take maple syrup shots and get back out there to kick some butts.
Allie's advice to new SP team members is to "Feel empowered to use your voice. If you notice anything that needs to be changed or could be improved, let someone know. I really just want this to be a comfortable place to work, where we're really supporting each other and lifting each other up".
The Food Hub isn't like the rest of Pancakia because it isn't guest interfacing. I asked Allie what is something all of Pancakia should know about the Food Hub, "These are not my words, but we've been called the heart of the company because all of the food comes from us. Maybe some people are unaware of us, but we're just making food; we really care about what we do and love doing it".
Talking with and getting to know Allie was such a pleasure. It's inspiring to talk to coworkers who care so deeply about the work we are all doing. It's easy to get caught up in our own day-to-day lives, and Allie continues to help bring us together, check in on others, and work towards a common goal of good food and a good work culture. Thank you for all that you do, Allie!
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) sign up reminder:
CSA sign ups are in full swing! We have folks signed up with the Muddy Boots collaborative CSA based in Warren, Bread & Butter Farm in Shelburne, The Intervale Farm in Burlington, Bear Roots Market in Middlesex, Full Belly Farm in Hinesburg, and Lewis Creek Farm in Starksboro! When we say your state is your oyster, we mean it! While many of these CSA options are in more rural towns, many farms allow you to pick your CSA up in more easily accessed places, such as the Burlington Farmers Market!
Don’t forget, SP has upped our contribution amount to increase accessibility! If you’re still apprehensive or are struggling to find a CSA that is your perfect fit please reach out to me, Kate! I’d love to help you in your CSA journey, Kate@skinnypancake.com . The sign up deadline is May 31st. Follow the link below to see how this benefit could work for you!
SP's CSA Cost Share Benefit Information Sheet (Link)
*13* Years of Awesome: Britt Sperber & Will Godek
Two of Pancakia’s most knowledgeable, hardworking, and fun team members are reaching their thirteen year anniversary this month, WOW! Britt Sperber, our Director of Development and Will Godek, our Operations Manager at the Food Hub, started working in tandem 13 years ago. Above is a photo of them prepping food for SP’s, now retired, catering company Love Local Catering. Here’s a Q&A with these two powerhouses…
Will Godek:
Q: What is one of your most memorable moments working with SP?
A: I'll always remember the period of time when I worked with both of my brothers and we all played for the (now defunct) Skinny Pancake softball team.
Q: What was your first position working with SP?
A: Prep Cook at the Chubby Muffin.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to a new SP employee what would it be?
A: Show up and be present, try to be consistent, be ready to adapt and embrace the chaos.
Q: What is something most folks don't know about you?
A: There's a rock by my house that looks like a cheeseburger.
Britt Sperber:
Q: What is one of your most memorable moments working with SP?
A: At Green River Festival in 2018, we ran clean out of batter and many ingredients before the last day of service. Rather than quit, the team gathered the ingredients at a local store and made batter on site using food grade buckets and a drywall mixer attached to a drill. It took a long time to get that batter to mix up, but it was well worth the effort. We had record sales that year and I got to see Dr Dog to boot.
Q: What was your first position working with SP?
A: Line cook at the OG Skinny Pancake Lake St when it was just a hole in the wall, maybe 12 tables? I was a sophomore in college and 19 years old. One of my first shifts was Mother's Day brunch in 2011.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to a new SP employee what would it be?
A: The experience is 100% what you make of it. You only get what you put in. There's a lifetime of lessons and fun to be had in our kitchens, but you can't sweat the small stuff and you have to be a team player. Amazing people come to work for the Skinny Pancake. I've made lifelong friends here who were first my coworkers or my bosses. Many people, including myself, have met their life partner at Skinny Pancake. None of that would have happened if I didn't embrace the work, the culture, and the people.
Q: What is something most folks don't know about you?
A: I am pretty good at hula hooping and you can catch me doing it at live shows or festivals often in the summer. I absolutely love the beach and any excuse to sit in the sunshine.
Local Food Fact from Keith!
Spring Foraging
The recent movement to warmer weather has finally kicked off a very important season in Vermont and New York....foraging! Springtime brings life back to the forests and fields in many ways, and one of them is the emergence of delicious things to eat. There are a few items that probably jump into people's minds when they think about spring foraging: Ramps, Fiddleheads, and Mushrooms (chiefly Morels in the spring). But did you know there is a huge variety of other edible items that can be found in the Vermont and New York forests in the coming weeks? Dandelion greens, Coral mushrooms, Nettles, Claytonia (Miners Lettuce), Garlic Mustard, Cattails, and Violets (yes the flower) are all plants safe for human consumption that sprout in the spring. Be aware though, not all edible plants can be eaten raw or straight out of the ground. Fiddleheads and nettles should both be blanched before consuming to remove dangerous chemicals. Check out A Practical Guide to Vermont's Wild Edible Plants by Steven Goileb for more information on not only finding but how to safely prepare wild edibles.
Sailing Center Passes at Lake Street:
Don’t forget about one of SP’s best summer benefits! For years now we’ve had a trade going with the Community Sailing Center at the Burlington Waterfront. Beginning on May 25th you can check out a rental pass from the Lake street office to rent a kayak or stand up paddle board from the sailing center! There are two passes available for staff to use, once you’ve finished up with your sailing experience you return them to the Lake Street office. As we get closer to their opening date keep an eye out on 7shifts for this benefits updated description. Questions? Send me an email, kate@skinnypancake.com
Postcards from Pancakia!
Staff Anniversaries
I thought we had an impressive line up in March’s edition but this is incredible! Thank you for your time, effort, and continued support everyone!
13 Years!
Brittany Sperber
Will Godek
6 Years!
Dave Lavallee
Michayla De Jong
5 Years!
Jon Garrow
Abigail Wright
4 Years!
Stefanie Pinard
3 Years!
Allie Huresky
Emmett Lurssen
2 Years!
Alexander Valley
Kat Thorpe
Leola Amblo
Luiza Tenney
Sam Bromirski
Del Rosner
1 Year!
Siobhan Woods
Lauren Shipp
Luke Parsons
Thomas Shepard
Ian Anderson
Zach Motovidlak
Emma Engler
Catherine LaForte
Olivia Carbone
Alex Lumbard
Katherine Tretter
Kevin Conley
Hannah Miller
Kai Putney
Matthew Porreca
Eain Dowling
Nix Griswold
Rowan Bouchard