Hannah Cohen Photography ©2014. All Rights Reserved.
What is your name, and what is your job at Gracie’s?
Travis. I have been a back server since July of 2013.
What do you like most about working here?
There are really not enough great things I can say about working for Gracie’s, however, I would have to say the challenge and love that goes on everyday. A lot of service industry jobs in the past for me were dry. They lacked any real skill to do, were full of negative people and even worse, corrupt management.
Whenever I walk through the doors, I feel like everyone cares for what they are doing with such passion, and geniunely love the people they work with. Everyone is getting 1% better everyday, and pushing others to grow in positive ways. It’s a feeling you get as soon as you walk through our doors.
Working here has taught me a lot about running my own business and helped me grow as a person more than I would have imagined.
Is there a favorite item or tool that is essential to your job?
Unlike most of my staff, I have no culinary background or further interest in the food industry outside of work (other than cooking as a hobby which I take great delight in and am pretty good at). I come from a background in Fine Art Photography, and one thing I take great pride in is being able to see the world from an objective standpoint. I see art in everything; I love to learn about what drives people, the real inner workings of how it’s made and easily become inspired by it, so much that I will get almost too excited to tell you all about it! This is my greatest tool.
Travis Alex Photo ©2014. All Rights Reserved.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I’m a busy body; I’ve been working and building up a Portrait & Fine Art Photography business for a few years now. It’s my true calling and passion in life, and Gracies has done a lot mentally and financially to help me get there, including hiring me to photograph their recent star chef dinner with Taylor Knapp (which was a lot of fun!).
Chef Taylor Knapp and Chef Matthew Varga. Photo by Travis Alex.
Working at Gracie’s has inspiried me to become more of a beer hobbiest- taking the time to study more about craft beer and explore how beer is made. I worked my first beer convention this Saturday the 8th of November at the Providence Beer Convention which was really exciting.
I also recently have been getting into yoga which has been really exciting.
What is your favorite food?
Homemade mashed potatoes with beef gravy and blue cheese dressing.
What is your favorite drink?
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale out of Michigan. If you are a beer person and have not tried this beer, you are missing out.
What is your favorite song?
Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Cookie Dough.
What is your favorite candy?
Peanut Butter M&M’s
What is your hidden talent?
I’m growing a name in the Spinning Arts community for my fast and evolving skill with a prop called “Rope Dart”. I practice nearly every single day and often perform while it’s on fire (Fire Spinning). Starting next year, I will teach my own developed style of Rope Dart called “Yao She” (meaning “To Snake” in Chinese) to the Spinning Arts community.
http://youtu.be/LlfQQ_RCdS0
