MARIA GARCIA MAY

KITCHEN CREW/DISHWAHER

THIS IS MARIA.  Maria has lived and worked in McMinnville for over 20 years.  She’s been working at neighboring restaurant, La Rambla, for 13 of them as dishwasher and prep cook. Just a few years ago, she married our Jesus, and the two of them are the BEST team.  At first, Maria would occasionally sub in for Jesus at Community Plate when he had an appointment or obligation which meant something very important for the restaurant: we always had a dishwasher. The two of them would arrange it themselves, making sure the duties were always covered and never asking for someone else to take an extra shift.

Over the years, we saw Maria more and more… sometimes she’d even come in for the last bit of Jesus’s shift, helping out so they could both finish early.  She tells us that, on beautiful days, they walk to work together – she to La Rambla and he to Community Plate – so that after, they can enjoy a leisurely walk home together and relish peaceful, beautiful McMinnville.  

At Community Plate, Maria is much like Jesus in that her favorite part of the job is being helpful.  Even while washing dishes, she keeps a watchful eye on the front of the house, jumping in to stock coffee cups and carry away the recycling when that line of hungry visitors starts snaking out the door. She is remarkably intuitive about how the staff works together, and hyper-aware of when a busy day requires extra effort on her part.

WHAT DOES MARIA LOVE ABOUT WORKING AT COMMUNITY PLATE?
She loves the people, the work environment, the buzz of a busy weekend, and Jenna’s turkey sandwich. But, most of all, she loves working with Jesus.

FIRST COOKING JOB La Rambla | McMinnville, OR
SPECIALTIES Efficiency and organization
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT Mariscos Morales | Hubbard, OR
IF EATING AT COMMUNITY PLATE Turkey Sandwich
LOVES Jesus Martinez