As I prepare to ascend to my new career as writer and pursue my dream of moving to Ireland, I will be stepping back, behind the scenes at Tastebuds. There will be a new but very familiar face taking the spotlight and moving to center stage. Please help me to welcome my sister, Erin McGinty-Perk.
Erin has been managing partner helping to develop and grow the business since its inception in 2001, in fact, it was Erin who named Tastebuds! She is enthusiastic toward her new, more visible role and is excited to tackle any future projects or challenges that may present themselves. Erin loves providing exceptional service and derives a great deal of satisfaction in developing others to achieve success through proper training, education and motivation. Erin’s passion for extraordinary hospitality will be noticed each time you step into Tastebuds! I have the utmost confidence that Tastebuds will thrive under Erin’s leadership!
Erin began her restaurant career at the age of fifteen, bussing tables at Salmon Dave’s Restaurant under the management of Doug Petkovic, who would later become a key mentor for us both at Blue Point Grille. She worked for several years in both the front and back of the house at some of Cleveland’s tonier restaurants while earning her degree in Hospitality from Cuyahoga Community College. After a brief internship, Erin spent a decade leading the Hospitality Services Department at Ernst & Young LLP.
Committed to furthering her education, Erin received her Bachelor Degree of Science in Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina, graduating summa cum laude. After completing externships with Nestle L.J. Minor, The Ritz Carlton, and The Hilton, Erin accepted a position and thrived in her role as Admissions Counselor for Johnson & Wales recruiting and counseling students in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
For the past five years Erin has been a Faculty Instructor at both Cuyahoga and Lorain Community College. She is also a certified Manager of Food Protection, ServSafe Alcohol and Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Erin resides in Rocky River with her husband Richard and her three children, Lucy, Mary Grace, and Tommy. In her spare time, she enjoys arm wrestling, Irish dancing, drinking red wine, eating dark chocolate, listening to great music and spending time with her family, luckily…this can all be done at the same time!!!
