Professor Elam

Thursday July 2. 2015

The wife and I enjoyed lunch today at Ernesto's.  We will be studying managerial accounting in Summer II. A couple of topics will include the Balanced Scorecard and Total Quality Management.. Ernesto's is a fine example of both. By the way for new students, we do hope you will click on the links to learn more about Balanced Scorecard and TQM or you could look it up in the textbook, no time like the present!

We were greeted by our waiter who took special interest in our presence. He asked if this was our first visit, did we live in SA or were we visiting. I replied a good friend had recommended Ernesto's and I had looked it up on the internet and bingo here we are. 

Later Ernesto himself came to the table and inquired in similar fashion. Both assured us of a  great meal and it was.  By the way, Ernesto himself re filled our water glasses. He explained that it as a family affair with one son and chef and the one who greeted us was also a son. HIs daughter is involved. 

One of the dynamics of Balanced Scorecard is Customer Satisfaction. Both of them were interested in  our satisfaction and whether we planned another visit. We certainly do plan another visit. 

I had the grilled cod with the Acapulco Sauce and the wife had chicken enchiladas. But clearly Ernesto has a Vera Cruz approach to traditional Mexican fare as well as  borrowing from the great French tradition of special sauces, see below. 

I inquired and yes Ernesto had worked on the recipes for the sauces. And in Vera Cruz fashion, the chicken enchilada were not smothered in chili and yellow cheese but rather finished with a nice tomato onion pepper compote. 

it was clear the restaurant was a believer in TQM, this is the idea that each product maintain a consistent level of quality. In the restaurant business this is of course what keeps people coming back!

It is hard to beat the business model of a successful team working on the same goal each and every day realizing that their success derives from customer satisfaction. I recommend Ernesto's as both a lesson in the practice of Managerial Accounting (Ernesto probably does not think of himself as a MA but I promise he is sure doing it right?) and a great place to dine.

Bravo Ernesto!