New manager at Oozie’s Lounge
By Joan Janzen
April 1st marks the beginning of the golf season at the Kindersley Golf Course, and the opening of Oozie’s Lounge. Wayne Samson, the new manager, is looking forward to stepping into this new venture, along with his wife and daughter.
“This is kind of the perfect storm,” he said, noting golfers provide a constant clientele. Wayne, not only has a background in business, advertising and marketing, but has trained as a chef. More importantly, he has a lot of friends in Kindersley who will support him. In return, he plans to keep them well fed.
Those plans include pasta for ladies’ night, steak night for the men, as well as lunch and supper specials. Fish and chips will be on the menu as well. “I’m from the east coast; I eat real fish,” Wayne said. “Haddock is real fish.”
Although Wayne is accustomed to working in a larger kitchen, the limited space won’t limit the menu. There will be homemade soups, dry ribs and an assortment of burgers, made with local beef from Kindersley Packers.
“The ladies are already talking about fried pickles,” he said. “You gotta keep the ladies happy. You have to be accommodating, and talk to the people, see what they like and put it on the menu.”
Oozie’s will be open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends, with breakfast for those who like to get out on the greens early. And there may be something available downstairs for people who are unable to navigate the stairs.
“I plan to do deliveries to the oilfield batteries. I used to work out there for about ten years, so I know a lot of the operators, and will deliver to batteries that are close by,” he said. “They’re tired of eating sandwiches every day, or that’s what they tell me, so they’ll be able to enjoy a good meal.”
Once the curling season draws to a close, Wayne has plans for the winter months. Besides good food, Wayne has plenty of ideas laid out on the table for the winter months, including trivia nights, dart league, catering parties, and Rider night.
“I just purchased a big screen TV. I’m a big sports guy, so I might never go home,” he laughed. “I have no problem putting in long hours, and I get to work with the family, so that’s a bonus.”
It’s obvious that Wayne, not only loves to cook, but he loves his own cooking, which he plans to share with all his friends. When serving customers, Wayne stressed the importance of consistency. Every item on the menu needs to be prepared the same each and every time.
“I want to make sure they leave happy and they leave full,” Wayne said. It sounds like a winning combination for Oozie’s Lounge.