Category Archive: Food & Beverage

1. December 8, 2021

   Meet the Team: Carl Busch

   Name:  Carl Busch

   Title:  Lead Bartender

   Hometown: Muscatine, IA

    

   1. How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque?  

   I have been working at the Hotel Julien Dubuque for 6 months as a bartender/mixologist

    

   2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry.

   I’ve been bartending for about 12 years, starting out at Winifred’s Catering out of Cedar Rapids, IA. I eventually started bartending at their high-end steakhouse, also called Winifred’s. While working at Winifred’s, I began to experiment with different spirits and house-made ingredients and learned that I was pretty good at making cocktails. In 2013, I entered and won the Iowa’s Best Mixologist Contest hosted by the Iowa Restaurant Association. I took a short break from bartending for about 4 years, working in digital marketing and online tech support before finding my way back into the hospitality industry at 7 Hills Brewing Company. I worked for 7 Hills as a bartender and marketing manager up until I had to be laid-off due to COVID-19. I took some personal time and started my cocktail YouTube channel, Alchemix Bar, with my wife. In April of 2021, I entered and won the IRA’s Top Mixologist contest again, representing myself and Alchemix Bar. But, there’s nothing like bartending for a crowd that enjoys cocktails. So I reached out to the Hotel Julien Dubuque and asked if they needed help. Now, here I am!

    

   What are you most passionate about professionally?

   Professionally, I’m most passionate about creating a phenomenal customer experience. That means making patrons comfortable by offering friendly and fast service and great-tasting, consistent cocktails.

    

   What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend?

   Personally, I’m passionate about cocktails and learning about different spirits, modifiers, and techniques to build quality cocktails.  I spend a lot of my free time working on and growing our YouTube channel. I also enjoy making wood projects on my CNC and learning about business and marketing.

    

   What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

   The Dubuque area has beautiful scenery, and I’ve enjoyed hiking the trails at Mines of Spain and walking along the Mississippi River walk with my wife. I also like to visit the local breweries and some of the more unique bars in the area.

    

   What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque?

   I love the history and the atmosphere of the Hotel Julien Dubuque. Walking through the doors feels like you’re stepping back in time, but with the modern amenities we’re used to.

    

   What is your personal motto?

   Be 1% better every day

    

   Describe your typical work day.

   On a typical work day, I get up and take my son to school. Then, I edit content for our YouTube channel and do some web development for websites or do some woodworking. I get ready to head into work by 2:30 to prep the bar and all of the fresh ingredients I need for that night’s shift. When I get home, I’ll usually unwind and take some time to relax before I go to bed.

    

   What is your favorite cocktail we serve at Riverboat Lounge and why you like it?

   My favorite cocktail I am serving right now is an original cocktail I created called the Winter Mai Tai.  It takes the traditional Mai Tai flavors of almond, mint, and lime and adds winter spices. The cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg elevate the cocktail and make you feel like you’re celebrating the holidays on a beach somewhere tropical.

    

   Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself.

   I played hockey for 6 years and love hardcore metal music.

    

   Is there anything else that you’d like to share?

   I can’t wait to see new faces at the Riverboat Lounge and to bring my knowledge of modern and classic cocktails to the patrons who visit the bar.

2. August 23, 2021

   Meet The Team: Michael Henson

   

   Name:  Michael Henson

   Title:  Executive Chef

   Hometown: Miamisburg, Ohio

    

   1. How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque?

   A little over a month!

    

   2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry.

   I have been in the hospitality industry since the age of 13. I started as a dishwasher and then worked my way through the ranks to start managing kitchens at the age of 18. I have worked in a plethora of restaurants from QSR to fine dining. Most recently I was the Executive Chef at Inspired Madness Inc., an amazing restaurant group in Bozeman, MT.

    

   3. What are you most passionate about professionally?

   I am passionate about from-scratch-cooking with a focus in locally sourced ingredients.

    

   4. What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend?

   Spending time outdoors in nature. I love to hike, camp, backpack, hunt, canoe, swim, and just about anything that endures enjoy our beautiful forests, rivers, and lakes.

    

   5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

   I enjoy hiking in the Mines of Spain and swimming with our pops in the Mighty Mississippi.

    

   6. What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque?

   What I love the most about Hotel Julien is the staff, the history, and the potential to grow professionally here.

    

   7. What is your personal motto?

   Word hard, play hard.

    

   8. Describe your typical work day.

   Just leading the amazing culinary team to create amazing food!

    

   9. What is your favorite entree we serve at Caroline’s Restaurant and why you like it?

   Pork tenderloin because it has a complexity of flavors on a very well balanced plate.

    

   10. Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself.

   I’m the oldest of 5 kids.

    

   11. Is there anything else that you’d like to share?

   I love food!

3. August 19, 2021

   Meet The Team : Ben Donovan

   Name:  Ben Donovan

   Position: Sous Chef

   Hometown: Dubuque, IA

    

   1.  How long have you been with Caroline’s Restaurant?  

   5 Months

    

   2. Please share a little bit about your background: education, interests, activities?  

   I was born and raised in Dubuque. I went to Kirkwood Community College for Culinary School. I usually spend my free time with my family, and I enjoy watching NFL football in the fall, going to the shooting range, and taking the kids to do new things.

    

   3. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? 

   I like hiking, hunting, and taking the kids to the pool or park.

    

   4. What are some of your favorite features on the Caroline’s menu?

   The monthly specials. The Salmon Bruschetta is one of my favorites!

    

   5. What do you enjoy most about working at Caroline’s?

   The people and atmosphere! I really enjoy working in a hotel setting.

    

   6. Please share a personal motto or quote that you best relate to.

   If you’re going to do something, do your best, and do it right the first time.

    

   7. When you’re asked to share something unique about yourself, what go-to fun-fact do you typically respond with?

   My Dad’s side of the family is really big — my grandma had 12 children!

    

   8. Is there anything else that you’d like to share? 

   Getting ready to welcome another baby girl to our family this October, we are all very excited!

    

4. January 31, 2019

   Meet The Team: Lisa Conner

   

   Name:  Lisa Conner
   Title: Assistant Manager of Caroline’s Restaurant
   Hometown: Dubuque, IA

   1. How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque?   

   About two and a half years. I started in September of 2016.

   2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry.

   I have been in the restaurant business for most of my adult life, starting at Olive Garden in 2002, as a server.  While I was at Olive Garden, I served and later became a bartender and then a certified trainer for servers as well as bartenders and service professional.  I wanted more professionally and unfortunately, wasn’t able to achieve that with Olive Garden.  I saw a job posting for a Supervisor position with Caroline’s and immediately applied! Since then, I have been a server, lead server, supervisor and now the Assistant Manager.

   
   3. What are you most passionate about professionally?

   I really enjoy the service industry, whether it’s talking to guests, helping servers and hosts to make sure they’re giving great service, or running the restaurant in the most efficient way possible.  I like knowing what’s going on at all times and I get very excited about checklists and cleaning parties, as the team will tell you!

   4. What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend?

   I have a son named Mak who just turned one, and he is my favorite thing about life.  I don’t get too many weekends off in this industry, but when I do have time off, I am always spending it with him and my boyfriend.  When I have the time, I get into projects such as refinishing old furniture.

   5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

   I like to be outside, especially during the summer.  I enjoy outdoor concerts and festivals downtown. If I get the chance, I like to be on the river, canoeing and camping.

   6. What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque?

   I love the history of the hotel and the elegance.  It’s always beautiful, especially at Christmas time!

   7. What is your personal motto?

   The road to success is always under construction!

   8. Describe your typical work day.

   I spend most of my day helping servers by running hot food out to their tables, answering questions and chatting with their guests.  I am always a helping hand for them.  I also do the scheduling and have some administrative duties in the office after the breakfast and lunch rushes.

   9. Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself.

   Organizing things either at home or at work really gets my blood pumping, I don’t know why, but it makes me really happy!

   
   

5. July 23, 2018

   Meet The Team: Chef Jason Culbertson

   Name: Jason Culbertson

   Title: Executive Chef

   Hometown: Dubuque, IA

   How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? Three years this Fall

   What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? I began my journey in the culinary arts as a busboy in a restaurant. Eventually I would make my way into the kitchen and worked my way up to management. I felt if I wanted to grow in this industry, I would need to attend culinary school. So in 2005, I enrolled in Le Cordon Blue Culinary School in Minneapolis. While there, I began working at Bearpath Country Club in the Twin Cities. I moved back to the Tri-States to open Potosi Brewing Co. Restaurant and managed the Holiday Gardens Event Center in Potosi, WI. From there, I left to open Woodfire Grille where I stayed until three years ago this fall, when I joined Hotel Julien Dubuque as Executive Chef.

   What are you most passionate about professionally? My passion derives from customer reactions when you take fresh local ingredients and turn them into flavorful works of art that exceed guest expectations.

   What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? I was blessed with two beautiful daughters, so when I’m not working, I’m spending time with them. My secondary hobbies include bow hunting any and everything!

   What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? Spending time outdoors, whether it is hunting for sheds, morels or just in nature.

   What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? I love the balance between historic charm and modern refinement.

   What is your personal motto? It’s better to be a lion for a day, than a sheep for all your life.

   Describe your typical work day: It really varies day-to-day and based on business. I could be doing breakfast service one day and dinner service the next. No day is truly the same.

   Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself. I’m red/green color blind.

   Is there anything else that you’d like to share? Stop in and try out our NEW Dinner menu at Caroline’s Restaurant!

6. July 8, 2015

   Brian Neis: Wine & Cocktail Connoisseur

   

   The next time that you visit the Riverboat Lounge, be sure to say “hi” to Brian Neis. As you will read in his “Meet the Team” feature below, Brian is passionate about his position as Hotel Julien Dubuque’s Beverage Manager and the significant role that Food and Beverage establishments play in the creation of some of life’s fondest memories. Read on to learn about the path that led Brian to Hotel Julien Dubuque, his affinity for classic literature, and his favorite craft cocktail and wine selections on the Riverboat Lounge menu!

   How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? “5.5 years.”
   What path brought you to this industry? “I started in the Food and Beverage industry when I was 14 years old. I did everything from wash dishes, buss tables, mop floors, assist the cooks, and eventually assist the bartenders. When I decided to attend college, I also decided to bartend part-time to support myself. I graduated college, but instead of pursuing my field of study, I stayed in the Food and Beverage industry and began managing the bar where I was originally bartending. When Caroline’s Restaurant was in need of a supervisor, I applied and have been here ever since. I have been Hotel Julien Dubuque’s Beverage Manager for the past 2.5 years.”
   What are you most passionate about professionally? “Many of our fondest memories are associated with dining or visiting a drinking establishment. Wedding proposals, catching up with someone you have not seen for a while, celebrating a job promotion –  all often take place in this environment. It is hard to ignore the intense gratification I feel when I am in a room full of people sharing special moments. The laughter, smiles, hugs, and positive energy are infectious. How can you not love that?”
   What is your favorite way to spend your free time? “Spending time with family and friends is always a priority. During the winter months, I love to read classic world literature like Homer, Cervantes, Dostoyevsky, etc., but in the warmer months, I want to be boating on the Mississippi, riding my Harley, and taking 10 mile walks.”
   What are some of your favorite aspects of the “New Experience” in the Riverboat Lounge? “I love it when someone tells me they approve of our new approach. Having more access to the River Terrace makes a monumental difference and live music 5 nights per week is very fun.”
   What is your favorite craft cocktail on the new summer menu? Favorite wine featured in the winestation?  “Peach Sangria. Chateau Graysac Bordeaux.”
   Do you have a personal motto? “Never slam closed any door that you may someday want to walk through.”
   When asked to share a unique fact about yourself, what do you say? “I acted in Hollywood, California. I was a mummy on stage at Universal Studios for about 5 minutes.”