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Sound Bites: The Accomplished Careers Of Servers At Some Of St. Louis' Oldest Restaurants

Lisa Haddon (at left) is a server at Trattoria Marcella, and Peggy Conley is a bartender at Sidney Street Café. Both joined Thursday's talk show alongside Sauce Magazine staff writer Matt Sorrell.
Greg Rannells | Sauce Magazine
Lisa Haddon (at left) is a server at Trattoria Marcella, and Peggy Conley is a bartender at Sidney Street Café. Both joined Thursday's talk show alongside Sauce Magazine staff writer Matt Sorrell."

For many, restaurant work is a temporary gig to make money in college or pick up shifts as a bartender between periods of more permanent employment. But among restaurant veterans, service industry jobs are a profession. And they often bring all the opportunities for accomplishment — and financial benefits — of jobs thought of as more prestigious. 

Sauce Magazine’s latest issue features local career servers at some of St. Louis’ oldest establishments, like Tony’s and Sidney Street Cafe. On Thursday’s St. Louis on the Air, host Sarah Fenske talked with two of themabout why they love what they do, how they’ve made a living in a job so dependent on gratuity and why the job is something for others to consider. 

Joining this month’s Sound Bites segment were Sauce Magazine staff writer Matt Sorrell and server professionals Peggy Conley from Sidney Street Cafe and Lisa Haddon from Trattoria Marcella.

Listen to the full discussion to hear all about how they navigate their careers:

St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is hosted by Sarah Fenske and produced by Alex Heuer, Emily Woodbury, Evie Hemphill, Lara Hamdan, Alexis Moore and Tonina Saputo. The engineer is Aaron Doerr and production assistance is provided by Charlie McDonald.

Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org.

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Lara is the Engagement Editor at St. Louis Public Radio.