-- Story by Young Chang; photo by [tk]
SHE IS
One to memorize your name and drink and serve everything just right,
but only if you treat her with respect
PHONE PEEVES
If there's one thing Natalie Stanchfield just can't stand, it's people
whispering and gesturing out their order while cradling a cellular phone
at the ear.
This isn't OK. The habit is so inexcusable, in fact, that the affable
19-year-old server will wait until her customer is off the phone before
taking the order.
"They think that their phone conversation is more important than the
person standing in front of them," said the Costa Mesa resident. "There's
an etiquette that hasn't been developed yet, but I'm just trying to do my
little part to make people realize that there's the here and now and
there's the person on the cell phone."
The only pardon? If you're on the phone taking down a friend's order.
"I can excuse that," she said.
A DEEJAY IN SKIRTS
At Aroma's in Costa Mesa, Stanchfield plays her own music, which is
her favorite perk of the job and another way she brings her personality
to work.
"When I get to bring in my eclectic collection and play it, it just
makes everything a lot better," she said. "I like the fact that I can
play my own music and I can dress the way I want."
Stanchfield, also a radio deejay at KUCI-FM (88.9), listens to
everything from obscure instrumentals to '80s new wave. Her wardrobe is
just as varied. But one consistency is that she always tries to look nice
and usually wears skirts.
"I wouldn't want to wear a T-shirt that says 'Aroma's' on it," she
laughed.
A PEOPLE PERSON
Stanchfield postponed going to a four-year college -- where she wants
to study international relations -- and continues to work at Aroma's
while working toward a certificate from Orange Coast College in sound
engineering.
Her coffee shop job is the longest she's ever had-- a year and some
months -- and so far it's also her favorite.
"I like the social atmosphere of it, I like the fact that I'm active
all the time instead of waiting for people to buy stuff or folding
clothes," she said.
