My Recipe for Success
Chef Louis (Louie) Prantil, CWC, CDM, CFPP
Charleston, SC
ANFP Member Since: 1990
Chef Louie, CWC, CDM, CFPP has over 35 years as a CDM, CFPP in Healthcare and over 15 years as a Cook/Chef in restaurants. He grew up in his family’s food and beverage business which is still in business with 3rd generation family. He learned to cook from his mom and dad. He graduated High School with two years in Commercial Foods studies in 1978. He worked in many restaurants before attending and graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1989 in Hyde Park, NY. He worked at many fine dining restaurants as Head Chef such as the Canal House in New Hope, Pa. He then entered food service in the healthcare industry and become a CDM, CFPP in 1990 and became a Chef/Director of Food Services until retiring in 2024 after 15 years with Life Care Centers of America. During that time, he was an active member of SC ANFP and did volunteer work and was the state treasurer for 2 years. He is now happily retired and doing consulting when needed.
Chef Louie's Recipe for Success
- Be a leader by example. When you show pride in your work your staff will notice and join you. Hold daily staff meetings, discuss the department’s needs and their input and concerns.
- Listen to and stand up for your staff. Be an advocate and allow them to shine.
- Set high standards in your workplace and empower your staff to uphold and improve them. Cross training your staff is a great standard.
- Random acts of kindness and staff appreciation awards are key to success and staff retention as well. We all love rewards.
- Empower your staff to take charge and make decisions in your absence. You’ll be proud of what they accomplish and so will they. One example was they passed a state licensure audit with flying colors and were rewarded with a catered lunch.
- As a CDM, CFPP, time management, department operations, and customer service are key essentials to your department. Work together smartly.
- Working together and respecting the workplace gets results and respect from all.
- As the saying goes, The Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
- Honesty and humor are welcome and appreciated as a supportive team spirit.
- Delegate and support as much as you can. The best bosses are those whose absence is not noticed by the rest of the building.
View the archive of My Recipe for Success articles at www.ANFPonline.org/myrecipeforsuccess.
Nominate Yourself or a Fellow ANFP Member
Have you spent a career in foodservice? Share your wisdom and advice in a new feature from ANFP. My Recipe for Success is aimed at retired members or those who have spent a long career in foodservice. Share the biggest lessons you’ve learned to a lengthy, fruitful, and successful career in the non-commercial foodservice industry.
My Recipe for Success Archive
January 2021 - Dorothy Radermacher, CDM, CFPP
March 2021 - Wanda Dickson, CDM, CFPP
May 2021 - Tom Thaman, CDM, CFPP
July 2021 - Chef Richard "Nick" Nickless, CEC, CCA, AAC, CDM, CFPP
September 2021 - Karen Swift, CDM, CFPP
November 2021 - Paula Bradley, CDM, CFPP
January 2022 - Deborah McDonald, CDM, CFPP
March 2022 - Trish De Leo, CDM, CFPP
May 2022 - Deb Dawson, CDM, CFPP
July 2022 - Rosalind Davis, CDM, CFPP
September 2022 - Ken Owens, CDM, CFPP
November 2022 - Janice Hemel, CDM, CFPP
January 2023 - Bonna Brown, CDM, CFPP
March 2023 - Becky Massey, CDM, CFPP
May 2023 - Colleen Zenk, CDM, CFPP
July 2023 - Joey Rost, CDM, CFPP
September 2023 - Milton McGowian, DBA, FMP, CDM, CFPP
November 2023 - Robert McKeon, CDM, CFPP
January 2024 - Hunter Hying, CDM, CFPP
March 2024 - Kim Kyle, CDM, CFPP
May 2024 - Sharon Vermeer, CDM, CFPP
July 2024 - Regina St. Clair, CDM, CFPP
September 2024 - Ken Hanson, CPM, CDM, CFPP
November 2024 - Barbara Thomsen, CDM, CFPP, RAC, QCP
January 2025 - Michael Kopec, CDM, CFPP
March 2025 - Preeti Padmanabhan, CDM, CFPP