Interview a Family Business Leader - Essay Example

Q: When was the Liqun established? And who named the restaurant? Xou Liqun: The restaurant was established in 1992. It was named after my father Zhang Liqun who was a former chef at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant chain. Q: How did you get started? For how long have you been running this restaurant? Xou Liqun: I have always been inspired by the way Zhang Liqun worked at the restaurant. During my childhood, I often used to help Zhang Liqun at work; it developed a spontaneous devotion to the field.

After the death of Zhang Liqun, I look after the activities of the restaurant. It has been about 10 years since Zhang Liqun passed away, and from that time, I have been supervising the restaurant. Q: Do you have managers and supervisors at the restaurant? A: Well…as you know that the restaurant is a small and family owned business therefore, I personally manage and supervise at the restaurant, but we do have assistants and attendants to take care of our valued customers. Q: What is the signature dish of your restaurant?

Tell us something about it. A: Roaster Duck is the main specialty of Liqun Restaurant. This is a dish, which is one of the oldest and famous gourmet cuisine of Beijing (Pillsbury). It is known for its shining color, crispy skin and tender meat. Liqun restaurant is famous for providing the best Roasted Duck in town. . The roasted duck is thinly sliced, served with cucumber, spring onion, pancakes, and a sweet bean sauce. Q: What are your duties and responsibilities at the restaurant as a manager and owner?

A: To place orders for meat, vegetables fishes and other grocery, Ensure that everyone is happy and working appropriately, Keep a check on the cleanliness and hygiene of the restaurant, Checking the quality of the food and listen to complaints of customers, Ensuring the working of equipment, Welcoming and chatting with the customer, Making sure that the arrangements and presentations are done properly, and finally, evaluating the feedbacks of the customers and making appropriate changes in the management Q: What is the secret you keep your customers coming in?

In your opinion what is your best promotion of your restaurant? A: Well, there is no such secret exactly. I believe that the restaurant is providing the best-roasted duck I the town (Gillham). We have been following the authentic recipe created by Zhang Liqun. The authentic taste and quality of the food is the major attraction that keeps customers coming in. The other main factor is the buzz and the hype that has been observed among the people (Harper, Chen and Chow). Apart of the roasted duck we keep changing our menus with different and innovated dishes.

Creativity of the dishes and presentations is the key to successful business. Regarding the successful promotions of the restaurants, on the days when we are closed (Mondays) we have an event of ‘home-style cooking’ session for the chefs. In this event, the chef’s cook different dishes, about 36 guests are invited all around the city including merchandise and other people (Plamer and Richt). Through this, we are