Joe Nicholson - Contestant # 120 in The World's Top Waiter Competition

Hello,
my name is Joseph Alan Nicholson.
I was born in New York, The Bronx, then I moved to New Jersey.
My mother is Barbadian/ Bajan, but she also lived in New York. My father is English from New Castle.
Barbados is where I grew up from 6 years old til the present day, I still have family there but still have lived in other places around Florida. Growing up on the Island was a bit sheltered we were only exposed to what was imported, by whatever means, and the technology was not what it is today.
So I went to the University of South Florida, in Tampa, Florida, you could say that is where I started my Food and beverage career.
My friend asked me if I wanted a job so I said yeah, and he said show up here at 6pm. So I did.
I ended up being the fry guy, frying wings at a hole-in-the-wall campus food stand, and selling 10-cent wings to hungry college students. After a few weeks, the wing thing fizzled out so my guy asked me if I wanted to make pizza. I transferred to The University Center where I was the nighttime pizza prep guy as well as making pizza for the empty keg, and any special orders. I also worked at the local stadium The Sun Dome, doing Concert shows and catering setup, whilst in University taking Business courses.
So now in my college years, I am making and training around corporate food and also doing setup of major Rock Bands and singers.
The Corporation that I worked for in college was part of the Marriott. So I was able to transfer very easily to the Marriott Airport hotel where I started out in Banquets, making $6.00 US an hour and tips sometimes. and that was supposed to be a decent job. It was. They had a sister property on Westshore Blvd, so between the 2, I worked for the Marriott for 10 years as a banquet Waiter, Captain, Room service, Restaurant Server, Bartender, and Catering Supervisor.
I then moved to Barbados. worked at a fine dining restaurant for about a year, as a manager, also doing High-end catering functions for the Prime minister. I moved back to Tampa and worked at the Performing Arts Center as a Banquet Captain, and Catering Manager, for Aramark Catering. I then worked in a high-end Italian Restaurant Called Bella's in South Tampa as a waiter, for about a year.
So I then moved to Jensen Beach, Florida, and worked at, Olive Garden, then Guytano's, then a place called Ballantrae Country Club.
That is where I met Ned. LOL!
We worked like the last week of a buy-on-get-one-free dinner special. We were hired together I just met him at the place, but the lady really had nobody else. we made the most money we ever made in one week that week. Then nothing but a few catering functions here and there, weddings, etc... after about 6 months we both got jobs at Rotiie's a four-star restaurant on the beach owned by the Heirs to the Cocoa Cola Fortune. How we got the job is a whole other story.
Working for Pietro the GM at Rottie's was amazing, everything was supposed to be perfect we had an amazing chef from New York Dave. we were brought in an hour early just to polish the silverware and wine glasses. I would have to say at least for myself that is where I truly became a polished professional waiter. We had Top-notch meals, beautiful wines, and cocktails. I worked there for 7 years and became a bar manager and then left. I will get into some of the other stories about the restaurant and Ned later....
I then worked for Panera Bread, a bakery cafe' for about a year as a manager. The pay was not very good so I then left for Flanigan's.
I worked for them for ten years. Great company.
I then moved to Barbados to start all over again. I started my own Surf and SUP School, Island Tours, and T-shirts. Everything worked really well and I also worked at an Italian restaurant, Mama Mia's. I worked for myself as much as I could, Surfing lessons, tours, and Fishing, and I also worked at the restaurant at night.
Ned also came down to visit the Island and we actually made some great videos which can be seen on RUclips.
This was all very nice until Covid, and everything was shut down. I literally had to survive off of Spearfishing which was my New Job.
I then moved back to Tampa Fla, and worked for Starbucks as a Barista and then as a GM at the airport in Ft Lauderdale for 2 years.
Currently, I am a manager back at Flanigan's for about a year now.
@The World's Top Waiter Competition
Hi friends,
Your support means the world to our contestants! 🙌👏
Connect with Joe at:
/ @breadfruitshow
www.facebook.c...
Click the link if you want to participate:
www.thewaiters...
#WaitersAcademy #TopWaiterCompetition #Joe#HospitalityHeroes #TheWorldsTopWaiter #waiter #waitress #restaurants #hotels #finedining #competition #awards #restaurantmanager #hotelmanager #florida #Miami #USA #foodserver @followers