Friends of Tabletop Restaurant Edition: Brandy Ray from kō•än
Last year, we started a monthly series highlighting the many social influencers and bloggers who have become not only our colleagues, but our friends throughout our journey with Tabletop Media Group. Well, we recently decided to include clients and people in the restaurant community with a new series called: Friends of Tabletop, Restaurant Edition. We hope for this new series to highlight folks that we admire and love working with + give a little peek into their world and background.
With that being said, we’d love to introduce our October feature, Brandy Ray from kō•än! Check out our fun Q&A with her.
Tell us about your position at kō•än.
I am the General Manager/Backwait/host whatever needs to be done… :)
What's your favorite thing about working in the Triangle?
I love how we are all somehow connected in this industry. It’s a small triangle, but we all know a lot of the same people and support each other. I also really love how in the Triangle we are really big on supporting locally - that is huge to me.
What's your bar order?
Bubbles! I love to start with a glass of sparkling or Champagne.
Do you have a favorite fun/crazy story you'd like to share that happened at the restaurant?
I have lots of stories! So a CRAZY STORY, NYE here was a lot of fun and we all came together decorated and took group photos before the shift and had a lot of fun that night working together that night. We had only been open almost two months. Little did we know that 2020 well… If I have to find a silver lining of this crazy year 2020 it would be that closing here at Koan for covid for three months was hard, but with Chef Drew and our whole team we were able to pull off the amazing grocery and food curbside and delivery. We were able to help people get what they needed without leaving their car or house, and meet people who I might never have met who have now come in for dinner or continue to support koan curbside and they feel like friends and regulars . We bonded as a management team and really took a pause after to reflect and choose how we wanted to reopen and reimagine the service industry. And that for me is crazy and awesome! There’s still a lot of work to do, but I am grateful to be here.
What's your favorite dish to eat?
One dish that is hard! I am not picky. I love really anything. I am a girl who loves her Chicken wings and cheese fries! But I love sushi and pasta too :)
What is your least favorite food?
I’m one of THOSE people who can’t stand cilantro! It tastes like soap and metallic.
What's your favorite dish at kō•än?
Since we have added our full sushi menu I have to say that’s what i've been ordering most. Tuan Fuego roll with Spicy tuna + avocado + cucumber + pickled daikon + seared tuna + wasabi mayo . That’s my jam right now!
What's your favorite restaurant in the Triangle (other than kō•än)?
Bella Monica is one of my all time favorites in the Raleigh area. It’s close to home and my comfort food. Flatbreads and pasta with red wine is all I need!
What's the most useful lesson you've learned from being in the restaurant industry?
I think it’s not just this industry but treat EVERYONE with respect, listen, and keep learning. Never become complacent.
Who impacted you the most in your career?
Jason Smith for sure, working with him for 10 years I learned a lot. I served, bartended, and managed at 18 Seaboard. I met a lot of great people who became friends and family to this day. I really learned how to build business relationships with guests and have them trust 18 Seaboard for events, special occasions, rehearsal dinners and business dinners. Jason is really great at that and he trusts me and teaching me means a lot.
Bonus Question for October: What's your favorite fall activity in the Triangle and are you a lover of all things pumpkin?
Triangle- maybe a little outside Raleigh there is the Clayton Fear farm it is so much fun and scary. There are 7 or so haunted houses including a haunted hayride. I always end up with a raspy voice the next day from screaming. I love fall and I hate that it is such a short season in NC. I love decorating my house all warm and cozy and watching scary movies and my holiday fav, Hocus Pocus!
UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT! I do not like anything pumpkin flavored.
