Delaware Restaurateur

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20 Quarter 1
s po t l i gh t
1. Tell us a little about Harrington Raceway & Casino. How
may food service establishments are located in facility?
Harrington Raceway and Casino has been around for
nineteen years. We are the smallest casino in the state and
consider ourselves as the “Local’s Casino.” We have eight
food service outlets ranging from a Buffet and Sports Bar to a
fine dining establishment called Bonz and three bars/lounges.
In the summer months we feature a large outside patio that
has seating for Bonz diners and also a bar and stage for live
entertainment. Our food outlets service over 60,000
customers per month.
2. How did you first learn about the ProStart Program?
We first became aware of ProStart through my position on the
Board of Directors of the Delaware Restaurant Association.
I was asked to be a judge in last year’s Management
Competition and was very impressed with the whole
program. At our Board meeting following the competition
it was brought up that schools in lower Delaware were
underrepresented. Our casino is very active in our local
community and what better way to engage our community
than to work and mentor in our local school district. From
there it just grew. Dj is one of the most passionate people
I know when it comes to the restaurant industry and this
coupled with his innate ability to mentor just about anyone
was just what was needed to be successful. Dj teamed up with
Bonz Executive Chef Jason Ordway and the program began.
3. As an employer, what kinds of things do you look for in
a future employee? Do you think ProStart students are
well-equipped to enter restaurant industry jobs?
Fire in the belly! It is easy to find people with past
experiences or job histories, but getting those who have
the heart and passion for the food service industry and a
true understanding of what hospitality is all about is much
more difficult. ProStart begins with commitment. Students
must provide the time and energies in order to compete
so that passion is ignited early on. It is no different than
interscholastic sports; training and practicing week in and
week out is a must to succeed.
Meet Hank Rosenberg, Chief Operating Officer/Hospitality and Dj Silicato,
Executive Director Food and Beverage, from Harrington Raceway & Casino.
They brought their hospitality knowledge and industry support as mentors to
ProStart students at Lake Forest High School... prepping the students for their
first year of competition in the Delaware ProStart Invitational.
Harrington Raceway
Mentors ProStart Students
Hank Rosenberg