Newsletter Archive
November 2009
Three Questions for Christine Bidlingmaier
Whether serving fresh tea or coffee, a healthy muesli or a delicious lunch – Christine Bidlingmaier and her colleagues from the personnel and guest catering team ensure that all are well looked after. Even when WALA is bursting at the seams with visitors …
1. What exactly is your job at WALA?
Together with my colleagues I am responsible for catering for staff and guests at WALA. We start making coffee at seven in the morning. The gardeners from our medicinal herb garden are the first ones to come and get their coffee. Even at that time of day they’re a cheery bunch.
By the way, we use Demeter coffee, which is grown biodynamically. Our cocoa comes from the fair trade company GEPA. We generally place great importance on the source of our foods: currently 75% of the items on our menu are of organic quality. Apple juice, fresh fruit, milk and yoghurt all come from our own Demeter farm. WALA staff can help themselves to these items when they choose their breakfast at the muesli counter. It is also important to us to source our products from regional suppliers.
2. What are you working on currently?
Twenty doctors from around the world will be visiting WALA soon. They will be staying for two days. In consultation with the colleague who is organising the event I shall be buying the flowers to decorate the conference room, preparing the food and snacks and ensuring the venue has everything necessary to make things go smoothly. We always try to make our guests feel comfortable – whether it’s an individual or a 200-strong group. Just a little while ago we held a big event with Dr.Hauschka Natural Estheticians – that certainly kept us on our toes. But that’s what makes my work so interesting and enjoyable.
3. What do you see when you look around your workplace?
Our newly decorated cafeteria here in the oldest of the WALA buildings is absolutely beautiful: it’s flooded with light and furnished in pale wood and warm colours. It’s great fun decorating the room – we can really get creative. In summer everyone sits out on the terrace. There's a lovely view of the orchards and paddocks from there. Many of our visitors say it’s like being on holiday.
