SERVING SARATOGA'S FINEST!

Meet Max!

Our Employee of the Month is our very own Manager, Max Schneider! At the SandCo, we are so proud of our amazing staff, led by the amazing Max. Max was our first hire, and a critical component to making our concept work. With his background in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, plus his years of loyal employment at Bella's Bistro, Max was a natural fit for the position of Manager. He has stepped up in a big way, guiding and mentoring the staff, leading our culinary team and welcoming our customers with a smile. 
Picture
Speaking of smiles, his Mom, Christie, shared this little gem from Max's childhood. It looks like Max has had his sights set on the kitchen for quite some time. Thanks for all you do, Max. We're lucky to have you and proud of you!

Q&A with Max

DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM SANDWICH? I would have to say my favorite sandwich is the Croque Madame. This is a classic French sandwich, made with ham, gruyere, mornay sauce, and topped with a fried egg! It’s the perfect sandwich!
IF YOU'RE TRAVELLING THE GLOBE, SPECIFICALLY FOR GREAT FOOD, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? As I stated earlier I’ve been blessed to be able to visit many countries in Europe, my favorite being Italy. The great thing about food is that wherever you go in the world you’re always going to find different wonderful flavors and dishes. If I was able to go to any country in the world specifically for the food it would be France. I’ve already been but I was too young and enthralled by the sights and sounds to really focus on the classical French dishes, and the techniques used to create them.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO STUDY CULINARY ARTS? My love for cooking and culinary arts all started while I was young. I cooked with my mom in the kitchen making German puff pancakes, quiché, and many other delicious treats. I also watched my grandmother Irene cook classic polish dishes around the holidays while visiting Chicago. My love for culinary arts grew on my trips to Europe, I was able to try many different foods from many different cultures and it just kind of grew into a passion. I competed in culinary competitions in high school which intrigued me even more so. And finally with all of my life experiences I saw how happy food makes people (myself included), and thought that it would be a way that I could impact people’s lives in a positive way!
Picture
WHAT IS YOU CULINARY P.O.V.? I think that a persons' culinary POV is always changing and evolving with the skills and techniques they pick up over time. Therefore I think that I would describe my culinary POV as a meanderer.  I follow a wandering path or course with no seeming direction.  It may appear that I am all over the place, but each place has led me in the next direction, to the next restaurant! I also think that my interests are broad and varied. I'll go through streaks of different types of foods, and different types of preparations. Sometimes I’ll keep it simple, other times I’ll get very technical with it! Ask me again in 5 years I’ll give you a completely different answer!
WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING BACK IN THE VALLEY AND MANAGING THE SANDCO CREW?​ It has been quite a change from the college lifestyle I’ve been living for the past three years! But I wouldn’t change it for the world, it has truly been a huge booster for my career in culinary arts and hospitality management! Ive been able to put what I’ve learned in school to use! I’ve also learned the many things that go into opening a restaurant such as menu creation, dining room design, finding out what equipment is needed, and the actual construction needed to make a building safe enough to serve food! I also love my staff here at the SSCO, it’s a diverse mix of great people who are eager to learn new things and help the business grow! I appreciate Tommy and Cassie for trusting me with their new endeavor, and I’m excited to continue creating new menu items to offer our wonderful community!