Life in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry Through BBQ and Balance
Presented by WeldWerks Brewing Co.
To write your own article click here
By Steven Swiderski
Since joining the restaurant and hospitality industry, my mental health has been great. Finally I had a full-time job — working behind a bar for the first time ever at Cali BBQ in Spring Valley, California (San Diego area) — and I learned to enjoy the constant challenges that come with this career.
Enter, COVID.
You know what happened next: The pandemic changed the whole service industry model (and the world).
Before it hit I was a manager, in charge of overseeing all catering and events for Cali BBQ. We were busier than ever with weddings, sporting events, and musical festivals, all piling up. Not to mention our two big annual barbecue competitions and festivals. We were getting dialed in for another fantastic year.
But thanks to COVID-19, it all suddenly changed. This is when my mental health started to diminish. I had no idea what was going to happen to the world — not to mention my career — just like the millions of other people dealing with the same horrible situation. I broke down mentally.
I wondered, “Am I about to lose my job?”
I worried, “How am I going to pay my bills?”
It took a few weeks to finally find the light at the end of the tunnel. Yoga and meditation helped me regain my sanity.
Now I’m feeling more relaxed. Outside of work, I spend most of my time catching up with friends, family, and former coworkers who I haven’t connected with in awhile.
Even when I’m not working at Cali BBQ, I’m still “working” in some way. I’m always improving the skills and tools I use at my job by cooking for my loved ones at home.
Honestly, I have yet to find a work-life balance. But you know what? I enjoy working. I’m still young, and I consider each and every day a chance to learn. When I’m tired, all I need is a reset day, and I’m good to get back at doing what I love.
Established in 2015, WeldWerks Brewing Co. is an award-winning craft brewery located in Greeley, Colorado recognized for brewing an array of beer styles including Juicy Bits, one of the most highly regarded IPAs in the country. WeldWerks has garnered numerous medals and acclaim on the way, including being named the best new brewery in the country by USA Today in 2016 and multiple medals at both the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. The brewery’s charitable arm, the WeldWerks Community Foundation, is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports local nonprofits through events like The WeldWerks Invitational.
My name is Steven P. Swiderski, and I am the Catering & Events Manager with Cali BBQ in Spring Valley, California, as well as our Ghost Kitchen Manager for Cali BBQ & Cali Wings inside the Barrio Food Hub in Barrio Logan, California (both, near San Diego).
Find Steven Swiderski’s work online at Cali BBQ, @_midnight_thinker on Instagram and TikTok, @_midnight_thinkr on Twitter, on Facebook @ Steven Perry Swiderski and LinkedIn @ Steven Swiderski, and @stevenswiderski on Clubhouse.
Opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Best Served. To achieve our mission of bringing more voices to the table, we are committed to sharing a variety of viewpoints across the industry.
