Operator Insights w/ Cate Smith, Chef and Director of Culinary & Brand, Meriwether Godsey
About the Operator
Cate Smith is the Chef and Director of Culinary & Brand at Meriwether Godsey, a foodservice provider known for its commitment to quality, creativity, and operational excellence across multiple locations. Smith’s role spans culinary leadership and brand oversight, focusing on delivering consistent, high-quality food experiences. With a background rooted in traditional methods, Smith understands the challenges of transitioning to digital tools in foodservice. Her advocacy for digital transformation at Meriwether Godsey reflects a belief in the importance of standardization and time efficiency, which she has achieved by implementing Galley Solutions to streamline workflows, save time, and maintain consistency across locations.
The Backstory
In this interview, Smith shares her journey of shifting from manual processes to a unified digital system with Galley’s Culinary Resource Planning Platform. While there was some initial hesitation on the part of her team to make the transition to Galley, the approach, once committed to, transformed the team’s approach to menu planning, recipe accuracy, and time management. Smith emphasizes that digitizing and standardizing processes isn’t just about keeping pace with industry trends; it’s essential for driving operational efficiencies, saving time, and improving the overall guest experience.
The Conversation
Ian Christopher: Many chefs are used to traditional methods. How did you approach encouraging your team to use digital tools like Galley’s Culinary Resource Platform?
Cate Smith: It’s true—many chefs, myself included, started with the clipboard method. I grew up organizing by hand, ordering based on what was on hand and planning menus around that. But as we’ve grown, that approach doesn’t scale, especially when you have to be precise across different sites. I’ve found that showing the team how Galley saves them time is key. Time is one of our biggest challenges, and, with Galley, we’re able to give some of that time back to focus on more impactful tasks. Some team members took a little convincing, but once they saw the benefits, they were on board.
IC: What are some of the specific benefits you’ve seen from using Galley?
CS: The time savings around recipe management alone have been huge. Before Galley, we would have to go through 26 steps to get a recipe back into the menu. With Galley, it’s just one click, and it generates an accurate list automatically. That’s given us back hours we can now spend on other priorities, such as training staff or refining our menus. The system has made it easier to be on the floor, in the kitchen, and interacting with our customers rather than being stuck behind a computer or walking around with a clipboard.
IC: You operate across different locations. How does Galley help with maintaining consistency?
CS: Consistency is everything, especially when you’re managing multiple locations. Galley ensures that all of our recipe updates and ingredients information are reflected across sites instantly, so we’re all working from the same set of data. This way, we’re able to maintain the same quality across locations, which is essential for our brand. Having that centralized view has been critical in making sure that our standards are met no matter where the food is being prepared.
IC: What advice would you give to other chefs or culinary directors about adopting digital tools?
CS: I’d advise them to just take the leap. I know it can be hard to step away from old methods, but the efficiency gains are worth it. Showing your team how much time they get back, and how much easier their work becomes, really helps. It’s about taking small steps and gradually showing the team the benefits. Once they see how Galley reduces steps and automates the tedious tasks, they start to embrace it.
IC: What’s the greatest overall impact Galley has had on your team?
CS: It’s about reclaiming time and reducing mistakes. With Galley, we’re making sure everyone on the team has the tools they need to do their job well. I’ve watched team members go from hesitant to enthusiastic as they experience the system’s impact on their daily tasks. Galley has freed us from repetitive tasks, allowing us to focus more on the food and the brand experience we’re delivering.
Key Takeaways
Cate Smith’s experience at Meriwether Godsey illustrates the transformative impact digital tools can have on foodservice, especially for multilocation operations where consistency is key. By implementing Galley Solutions, Cate and her team have achieved several essential outcomes:
Reclaimed Time for High-Value Tasks: Galley’s one-click recipe and menu management has saved Cate’s team valuable hours, enabling them to focus on customer engagement, staff training, and culinary improvements.
Enhanced Consistency Across Locations: With Galley’s centralized system, Meriwether Godsey maintains recipe accuracy and brand consistency across all sites, delivering a uniform experience for guests.
Streamlined Workflows and Efficiency: Galley has significantly reduced the number of manual steps required for recipe management, allowing Smith’s team to avoid errors and concentrate on high-impact activities.
Encouraged Team Adoption Through Practical Benefits: Smith’s focus on demonstrating time savings and workflow improvements has helped her team embrace digital tools and appreciate their positive impact on daily operations.
Improved Operational Precision: With Galley’s real-time data, Smith’s team gains an accurate view of inventory, recipes, and menus, empowering them to make informed decisions and uphold Meriwether Godsey’s standards.
Cate Smith’s journey highlights how digitizing and standardizing workflows can drive efficiencies, reduce errors, and reclaim valuable time for team members. By focusing on the practical benefits of a digital system, she has successfully led her team toward an efficient, consistent, and brand-aligned operation across Meriwether Godsey’s locations.
Experience how Galley can transform your culinary operations—boost efficiency, reduce costs, and centralize your recipe management like never before. Schedule your personalized demo today and take the first step toward streamlined operations and unmatched quality.
