Meet Farley Mcdonough

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Farley Mcdonough again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Farley, always such a pleasure connecting with you and thank you for sharing your stories, insights and inspiring messages with our community. We’re looking forward to getting the download and what you have been up to since our last interview, but first can you briefly introduce yourself to folks who might have missed the prior conversation.
My name is Farley McDonough. I own Adam’s Mountain Cafe in Manitou Springs. I am sole owner and onsite operator 7 days a week. I do everything except cook on the line and put the orders away. What sets me apart from most of my industry and colleagues is that I am woman owned and not a Chef. I was a server for 20+ years. I have relocated Adams twice which was challenging. I have loved my industry since my first job hostessing at a golf club. We have overcome so many challenges including fires, floods, the pandemic and economic uncertainty. I am older and I am wiser but I am a bit more tired now and only slightly cynical.

Alright, so our main goal today is to give our audience an update on what you have been up to since our last conversation. We’d love to hear how things are going and what you are most looking forward to or excited about these days.
It has been a very challenging 5 years. As every person on the planet would likely say, COVID changed everything. And not necessarily all bad – just unpredictable. Adam’s rode out the pandemic and survived due to all the Federal assistance but weaning us off of that was hard. It felt really good to pay people good money and know they were starting a savings and could afford their housing but that is all gone and it feels more difficult than prior to 2020. The cost of food has somewhat stabilized but the cost of supplies and small tools like spatulas, hotel pans and water glasses is crazy. Our revenue was down significantly and our expenses were up significantly and hiring is nuts. That all being said, Adam’s is still viable because we provide a consistently good product. The food trends and food fads swirl around us like dirt devils but people keep coming back to us eventually because we are consistent and solid and genuine. I am doing more online marketing because competition for every guest is stiff. Customers are a lot more savvy than 5 years ago.

We have now arrived at one of our favorite parts of the interview – the lightning round. We’ll ask you a few quick questions to give us all some fun insights about you.

Favorite Movie: Hitchcock’s “Notorious” with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman

Favorite Book: East of Eden

Favorite TV Show: Northern Exposure

Favorite Band or Artist: John Singer Sargent

Sweet or Savory: savory

Mountains or Beach: mountains

Favorite Sport (to watch): soccer

Favorite Sport (to play): not a sport – cards

Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): lacrosse, soccer, avid skier

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: veterinarian

French Fries or Onion Rings: onion rings

Chuck Rhodes or Bobby Axelrod: chuck rhodes

Favorite Cartoon growing up: bugs bunny

Favorite Childhood movie: black stallion

Favorite Breakfast Food: basmati rice topped with 2 over medium eggs, a drizzle of olive oil and braised garlic kale

Life is often about tough choices – can you talk to us about your thought process, strategy or philosophy when it comes to making difficult choices or tradeoffs.
I am a strategist when it comes to tough choices. I go back and forth weighing the perceived consequences of my decision. I will write it down, talk to myself, research, and then finally, I will open up to some of my trusted inner circle. I take their feedback and start all over again. Once the decision is made – it’s made. I will not beat myself up over it unless my decision was rash, or emotionally motivated. In those situations I am always disappointed in myself. But if I went through the process, then I can sleep at night. I am only human. I manage a lot of people and my choices have consequences but I know I can’t always get it right.

Website: https://www.adamsmountaincafe.com

Image Credits
Farley McDonough