Stew Cues

routine, etc.), and keep any notes short and to the point. Bullet points make preferences easy to read, and the occasional bold type or underline can help draw attention to important information — but don’t overdo it. • Make it visual: Include images whenever you can. Headshots of guests make them easy to identify, and photographs of festive table settings, favorite cocktails and special meals are the quickest way to capture complex preferences and impress even the most particular passengers.

Maintaining Preference Sheets

Preference sheets are living documents that need to be constantly updated and shared with a rotating crew. Preference records are only as good as they are current, so be sure yours don’t get stale. • Assign an owner: Every program should have a “preference owner,” a single point of contact for making sure profiles are up to date. The owner — usually the chief or second stew — should be the only person who can edit the master preference sheet and be responsible for making sure any new information (e.g., from group chats, Post-its, and emails) is added and communicated with the crew. • Post them everywhere: Print up-to-date preference packets for current guests and post them anywhere guests won’t notice — on the crew board, taped to the pantry wall, in the galley, in the linen closet, and anywhere else you can think of — so that crew can grab them on the fly. • Time stamp everything: Even the best preference sheets have an expiration date, so make sure you know how old yours are. Label the cover of your preference packet with the date of its last edit so the crew know if they are working off the same version, and track individual changes by including the author’s initials and date next to any new notes. This is particularly helpful when preference packets change hands. • Keep a digital copy: Keep preference records in one place online. Google Drive is a great, free alternative to Dropbox, and using Google Docs allows crew members to edit or comment on individual items. Plus, having a digital copy makes it easy to check preferences on your phone when a paper copy isn’t nearby.

Just be sure to toggle the settings so your document is “available offline.” ‹

For more tips and a free template, visit: www.sevenstar.software/triton

CIARA FARROW IS A VETERAN CHIEF STEW AND PURSER WHO HAS WORKED ON A NUMBER OF YACHTS, INCLUDING M/Y GENE CHASER.

Streak-free windows

• It is common practice to work on window cleaning with one person cleaning on the inside and another cleaning on the outside.

That way, you can work together to determine which side of the glass any streaks or spots are on. • If you are by yourself, use strokes for the inside that are different from the strokes you use on the outside — for instance, horizontal inside and vertical outside. That makes it easier to see which side the streaks are on. • Early morning is a good time for cleaning windows because it is easier to see the streaks. On a hot sunny day, the windows dry too fast and create streaks. • If any streaks remain, use a clean, dry whiteboard eraser to erase the streaks away.

— VETERAN CHIEF STEW ALENE KEENAN

WHAT ARE YOUR BEST TIPS FOR INTERIOR CREW? SEND THEM TO CREW@TRITONNEWS.COM

Wine Anxiety: From Confused To Confident

By Alene Keenan, the Yacht Stew Guru

Winning at wine

Want to impress guests with your sommelier skills? “Wine Anxiety: From Confused to Confident” is a treasure trove of information on the appreciation and presentation of wine. Topics include wine basics, the challenges of ordering and buying wine, the distinction between grapes, important growing regions, fundamental characteristics of wine, and wine-tasting like a pro. Written by veteran chief stew and instructor Alene Keenan as part of her accredited yacht interior curriculum, the book is now available on Amazon for $14.95.

For a great primer on wine-tasting, use this QR code. >