Chakkra Rath is the beverage director of newly opened Alder & Ash, located inside Seattle’s Sheraton Grand Hotel. There, the lounge offers reimagined classic cocktails with a Seattle twist. Learn about Chakkra Rath…
Hometown: Chicago, IL
First job: Michelin-Starred Moto Restaurant
Favorite ways to spend your free time in WA: I moved back to the Pacific Northwest to enjoy the beautiful bounty of nature. Every chance that I get, I’m generally out and about, exploring the city.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: My biggest accomplishment has been being able to go back to my alma mater, Roosevelt University, and teach juniors and seniors about running and operating bars, from the design and concept to the creation of the beverage program and the financial aspect of the industry. It was a truly a wonderful experience.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: My biggest obstacle that I overcame was learning to understand people and how we interact with each other. As a new manager, you may come out of the gate strong, opinionated and sometimes arrogant. It took me some time to fully understand that the way we communicate the same ideas to one another can be delivered or interpreted differently. Thus, finding the best way to communicate, listen and understand those around you is a huge hurdle that most people, including myself, tries to learn.
Someone who inspires you and why: It may sound cliche, but my grandma is someone who truly inspired me to be better. She traveled to the United States with five young children, from a war-torn country, to start a new life for her family. Not only was she the matriarch of our family, but she instilled in each of us that starting over isn’t always bad.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Be humble and start from the bottom. Often times, individuals looking from the outside assume that what we do is easy. That all we do is deliver food and play with booze. When you start at the bottom, you learn and understand the intricacies of the job and what it entails. You put yourself in the shoes of your fellow co-workers and understand what they have to do, which should allow you to become a better teammate and future leader. Stay humble. You will never know everything about this industry, but if you stay open to learning and developing, you’ll become a more well-rounded F&B individual.
Favorite quote: “Even death is not to be feared by those who lived wisely.”
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I’m a pluviophile, in which I’m in my element when it starts to rain. I enjoy the peace, calm and serenity that rain delivers to the city.
What makes someone fabulous: Being true to who they are. We’ve all heard similar phrases, but it does hold true. Know who you are, what you can and can’t do. Understand that you will not always make the right choices but will strive to be the best you can be. That is what truly makes someone fabulous.