Meet Zocalo’s Newest Manager, Sandy!

My name is Sandy Hulse and I am the newest manager at Zocalo, Sacramento.  I’m a Sacramento State graduate with a BA in Spanish and a minor in Anthropology. I grew up on a ranch, so I apologize for my social graces, but on the bright side, horses find me hilarious. I studied Spanish at UAG in Guadalajara, Mexico and I have a huge passion for the Latino culture and regional Mexican cuisine.

In my spare time I can be found at the gym or out at local restaurants in downtown Sacramento. I have played soccer for 10 years, but I play a little more like Victoria than David. I have a dog that snores during the day and the night- her name is Jolie and she is a French pug.  My favorite drink is our blackberry margarita with fresh lime-juice and agave nectar. I also love wine tasting especially at local wineries like Bogle Vineyards (their Phantom red is to die for).

Managing at Zocalo has been a blast so far, from our live mariachi band on Fridays to our cilantro rice on my break. I look forward to meeting you when you come in, please feel free to ask for me and I can help you become a part of the Zocalo family.

Name:  Nicholas Vasilas

Position: Bartender

Hometown: Redding, Ca

Twitter: @NickVasilas

Quote: “Less is More”

1. Industry Experience:

I have been in the industry for over 12 years, and I have been a bartender for 7 years.

2. Why did you join the Zocalo family?

My girlfriend and I just moved to Sacramento after many years in Santa Barbara. I heard that Zocalo was not only one of the best places to hang out but also a great place to work.

3. Favorite food:

PIZZA!!!!!!! I see myself as a pizza connoisseur you’ll never see me eat sub-par pizza like Domino’s.

4. Favorite drink:

I like to drink………………a lot but my favorite drink has to be ice cold milk. So yummy.

5. What do you like to do in your spare time?

I try to live an active lifestyle doing anything outdoors on my days off, this includes, but not limited to: skateboarding, camping, golf, tennis, disc golf, kayaking, hiking, fishing, cards or other games in a nice park, the list goes on and on.

6. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

This is easy I have already planned this out. 1^st, Tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2^nd, snowboarding in New Zealand. 3^rd, party in Hong Kong, China.

7. What can you not live without?

Music, it invokes so much emotion in me I surely couldn’t live without it.

8. Hobbies that you love:

My hobbies go back to what I like to do on my spare time, lots of skateboarding and lots of card games. I also am always working on something in my garage, right now I’m in the middle of a little art project.

9. Most memorable past time:

It’s hard to pick one memorable thing in my past. I try to live every day like its one to be remembered, one that sticks out is I have swam with dolphins and have been only as far as a few feet from giant gray whales.

10. What has been your favorite Zocalo moment so far?

Cinco de Mayo was crazy!!!!!!!!! It sure was a lot of fun though.

]]> http://www.zocalosacramento.com/2011/07/15/employee-feature-nicholas/feed/ 1 http://www.zocalosacramento.com/2011/07/12/employee-feature-nestor-jimenez/ http://www.zocalosacramento.com/2011/07/12/employee-feature-nestor-jimenez/#comments Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:50:34 +0000 Zocalo http://www.zocalosacramento.com/?p=2683

Name: Scott
Position: Server
Hometown: Vacaville, CA
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottcambodia2011

1. Industry Experience:

7 years in the industry; 6 years at Strings Italian Café and 1 year at Zócalo.

2. Why did you join the Zocalo family?

A friend of mine referred me to Zócalo and after my first impression of how awesome the staff seemed so I couldn’t wait to jump aboard and become a part of the team.

3. Favorite food:

Steak!  A great BBQ steak tops my list or a grilled skirt steak like the Zócalo Arrachera los Altos.

4. Favorite drink:

I’m a huge coffee drinker and prefer the darker roasts.

5. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Gym & planning my next big trip wherever that should be.
6. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Spain, I’ve always wanted to go and now have the opportunity to spend a year there this coming August.

7. What can you not live without?

God and my church family, they are the support that keeps me running!

8. Hobbies that you love:
Baseball and softball.

9. Most memorable past time:

I travel a lot and have been to 10 countries so far in the past two years.  I enjoy experiencing new cultures and staying among them and learning their ways it’s a very enriching experience.
10. What has been your favorite Zocalo moment so far?

Cinco!!  What a blast that night was being able to experience Cinco de Mayo at Zócalo with lots of music and people.  It was great seeing how much fun everyone was having from the customers to the staff we all enjoyed the night!

Name: Kaelyn “Eidt”
Position: Server
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain

1. Industry Experience:

I’ve been in customer service since I was old enough to work, and about 2 years ago I was fortunate enough to start serving at a Mediterranean restaurant in San Jose called Thea.

Because they’re awesome.

3. Favorite food:
Osso Bucco, made by my Dad.

4. Favorite drink:
Well now that’s a pretty broad question Beer – New Glarus Spotted Cow, Liquor – Jameson  (tequila – Forteleza) I could go on for a while…

I am an avid disc golfer! For those of you who don’t know what it is you should look it up, it’s pretty amazing (and a lot harder than it looks!) I like to go hiking with my friends, kayaking, anything outdoorsy that’s what we Wisconsin people do!

Prague, Munich, Great Wall of China, Bali, Peru, this also could take a while..

The Green Bay Packers!!!!

Traveling, disc golfing, going to baseball games, finding new music, etc etc etc..

Packers winning the super bowl (last year in case you didn’t remember )

When a blue pen exploded in my apron and got all over my face ..and I had greeted 2 tables before a very kind server told me politely to go look in a mirror but really it’s been a blast here and I enjoy every person I work with. It’s an amazing place to have landed in Sac!

Name: Sandy Hulse
Position: Server
Hometown: Sutter Creek
Facebook: Sandy Hulse

1. Industry Experience:

Server at Hard Rock Cafe 2.5 years, Mikuni’s 6 months, McCormick and Schmicks 6 months, and Bistro Biago 1 year.

2. Why did you join the Zocalo family?

I love the food and most of all the staff.  It is by far, the best run restaurant I have ever worked at.

3. Favorite food:

Cochinita Pibil.

4. Favorite drink:

Menage A Trois wine.

5. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Gym, happy hours, and hanging out at the river.

6. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Guadalajara, Mexico.

7. What can you not live without?

Burt’s Bees pomegranate chapstick.

8. Hobbies that you love:

Learning new words in Spanish and dancing.

9. Most memorable past time:

Indoor soccer.

10. What has been your favorite Zocalo moment so far?

Playing on the new server iPod to enter our orders.

Name: Angel Garcia

Position: Pastry Chef

Hometown: Bay Area

1. Industry Experience: 2 years

2. Why did you join the Zocalo family?

I came to eat here once and was automatically drawn in by the environment that this restaurant had. There was live music, people laughing and having a great time  and don’t even get me started talking about how good the food was and how beautifully it was presented….. Anyways, I automatically knew that I wanted to be part of this great restaurant no matter what it took.

3. Favorite food:

Of course being Mexican I love my own cultures food but Italian is right next to it.

4. Favorite drink:

I enjoy a nice cold Tecate.

5. What do you like to do in your spare time?

I’m a big outdoors person and having two dogs I’m always out hiking or running around with them.

6. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Everywhere and anywhere. The world had so much to offer and there are so many different cultures that I wish I could see and learn a little from everywhere.

7. What can you not live without?

FOOD!!!

8. Hobbies that you love:

I enjoy cooking at home and trying new things, traveling, biking and playing my drums.

9. Most memorable past time:

It would have to be having breakfast as a kid and having my mom bring a plate of Chilaquiles with tons of queso fresco and grilled onions on top of it. I still have flashbacks of the smell every so often.

10. What has been your favorite Zocalo moment so far?

I can’t say I have a favorite on-e I mean every day has been an experience. There’s always something new to learn even if it’s the tiniest thing. I have learned so much that this has been an amazing trip for me and I’m very grateful for it. I went from just getting out of culinary school not knowing very much to now taking over desserts for the restaurant, so it’s pretty great.

Name: Jason Poole
Position: Bartender
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jasonblq

1. Industry Experience:

14 years- I started as a busser at 13, was a bartender at 21, and General Manager at Blue Cue at 24. Now happily behind the bar at 27.

2. Why did you join the Zocalo family?

I joined Zocalo because I knew that they stood for a very quality cocktail, and have made every effort to explore unique cocktail creations and use only quality ingredients.

3. Favorite food:

I have an addiction to the other white meat … Pork. Roasting a whole pig for pulled pork sliders on the superbowl a couple years back has got to be my favorite food story.

4. Favorite drink: I love a great craft brew.

Big beers from breweries such as Dogfish, Avery in Colorado, and Sierra Nevada have some great big beers that paved the way for small brewers, and homebrewers.

5. What do you like to do in your spare time?

I started my own Specialty Food company called, Bar In A Jar. I make jam and jelly inspired by cocktails that I make at work. Mojito Jelly, Screwdriver Marmalade, Lemondrop Jelly, etc. www.Barinajar.com So that takes up a bunch of my free time!

6. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would love to go spend some time in Fiji. I have always wanted to spend some nights in those little huts that they built over the water. Just seems to be a tropical paradise!

7. What can you not live without?

This is where I say my girlfriend right??? The extra Brownie points can’t hurt!

8. Hobbies that you love:

I LOVE cooking. Almost to the point of it being an addiction. Specifically food preservation. Making cheese, salami, sausages, preserves, and pickling all fall into my addiction.

9. Most memorable past time:

I have had some great camping trips that really create some lasting memories. It is a whole new experience hiking into the forest and purifying your own stream water, catching dinner, and really just living in the elements!

10. What has been your favorite Zocalo moment so far?

Cinco was crazy! But a great night at work. My number one favorite has to be a good ole fashioned SAFETY MEETING! The Staff will know what I’m talking about.