Experience

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  Culinary Options

  • Owner

    • 1997 - Present

  • Owner/Principal

    • Mar 1997 - Present

    Karen has worked in every aspect of the food and beverage business: wholesale, distribution, manufacturing, retail, high end grocery, restaurant, catering, culinary instruction, food writing and media spokesperson. Karen assists clients in identifying underlying issues or, in the case of start-ups, establishing clarity around concept integration throughout the operation. Whether working in the commercial or non-commercial sectors of the foodservice industry, her focus on concept and menu development remain her primary focus. As such, she has led many Ideation Sessions to help clients achieve laser-sharp focus as to their ultimate vision and goals for their business. Karen has had extensive training in change and diversity management, creative leadership, strategic business planning and multiple culinary applications. She established Culinary Options, an independent consultancy, in 1997. She has been an active member of FCSI for fifteen years, during which time she has been a Conference Chairperson, Chair of The Americas Council for Professional Standards, and received The Award for Excellence for one her restaurant projects as well as the FCSI Service Award. Further, she received the 2007 FCSI Service Award and Consultant of the year Award in 2008. Foodservice Equipment & Supplies awarded her the Top achiever Consultant of the year Award in 2012.She is a member of the Educational Faculty for the Operator's Bootcamp whose goal is to help operators understand the dynamics of managing renovation and start-up operations within their non-commercial foodservice organizations. She is frequently a speaker at NRA and foodservice conferences around the USA. She has been a guest presenter at both the Abastur Foodservice Show in Mexico City, the Espace Show in Santiago, Chile and The Northwest Food Show.

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  Starbucks Coffee Company

  • Food & Beverage Director; Menu Development Director

    • Dec 1993 - May 1997

    Oversaw the $52,000,000 F & B program, to include development of the regional food manager program, a new financial model for food in the growing markets, development of Frappuccino and a proprietary group of food items. Later became Director of Menu Development which encompassed all gold sta...

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  Larry's Markets

  • Seattle, WA

  • Vice-President, Food & Beverage, Product Development

    • Mar 1988 - Dec 1993
    • Seattle, WA

    Oversaw all food service operations within the seven upscale supermarkets as well as developed all of the recipes utilized within the operations which included: cafes, coffee bars, taquerias, paninotecas, sushi bars, grab-and-go Delis, gourmet service counters, salad bars and bakeries. Karen was ...

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  Satisfaction Guaranteed, Inc.; Restaurant Servi...

  • Greater Seattle Area

  • Director of Menu Development

    • Sep 1983 - Nov 1988
    • Greater Seattle Area

    Karen was responsible for developing and training all new recipes for seven restaurants in the greater Seattle area: FX McRory's, Jake O'Shaughnessey's, Leschi Lake Grill, The Kirkland Roaster, The New Jake O'Shaughnessey's, Lake Washington Grill & Tap Room, Von's in t...