Anthony Capua, CECC, Executive Chef of Brentwood Country Club (Los Angeles, Calif.)
When was the last time you got into your car, turned the key, and just started driving with no destination in mind? No address typed in, no general direction—just hoping you’d eventually end up somewhere good. Most of us wouldn’t do that, especially if we had people counting on us to get there safely.
Yet, in leadership—and especially in food and beverage—it’s easy for teams to fall into that exact pattern. We stay busy. We work hard. We chase ideas, trends, and short-term goals. But without a clear direction, all that effort won’t necessarily move us forward.
That reality hit home for me during a meeting at Brentwood Country Club in Los Angeles. We were deep into developing the food and beverage program when our assistant general manager paused the conversation and asked a simple question: “What is the north star of this food and beverage program?”
At first, the room filled with answers—quality, service, creativity, member satisfaction. All good things. But the more we talked, the clearer it became: We had plenty of goals, but no single, guiding principle tying everything together. We didn’t have a true north.
After the meeting, a few of us stayed behind and talked it through. We agreed that if we wanted real, sustainable success, each department—especially food and beverage—needed a shared guiding principle. Something that would help us make decisions, hire the right people, build menus, and set priorities. If an idea didn’t support that purpose, it probably wasn’t the right move.
Over the next two years, that mindset changed everything. As the program grew through innovation, creativity, and strong employee satisfaction, we started to notice a pattern. The wins—big and small—could almost always be traced back to that guiding principle. It gave us clarity, alignment, and confidence. It helped us say “yes” to the right things and, just as importantly, say “no” to the wrong ones.
Now, as I step into another executive chef venture, I find myself asking that same question early on—of myself, my team, and our leadership: What is our north star? Because without it, even the most talented teams can lose their way.
Every Star Is Different
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that a north star isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every region, every club, and every community has its own identity—and food should reflect that.
In the Midwest, there’s a deep connection to top-grade beef. You’re surrounded by local farms, and you can literally see cattle grazing in nearby fields. That sense of place naturally shapes the menu and the story behind it. In Florida, being so close to the ocean creates a completely different relationship with food, where sea-to-table cuisine is simply a way of life.
For my teams and me, the goal has always been to build programs that make sense for where we are, while serving both our members and our employees. When I worked in California, the quality of produce was impossible to ignore. Some of the best fruits and vegetables in the world were right in our backyard, so it made sense to lean heavily into fresh, farmers-market-driven menus. In Texas, that same approach might look very different—perhaps breaking down whole wild game at a hunt club or celebrating regional traditions tied to the land.
As chefs, we’re telling stories. It’s important to highlight cuisine that helps our teams grow their food knowledge while also giving members and guests an authentic taste of the region. When food reflects its surroundings, it feels more meaningful, more memorable, and more honest.
Every Star Is the Same
At the same time, no matter where you are, certain values remain universal. Every successful program I’ve been part of shares a few common threads: taking care of the people who do the work, maintaining consistency, encouraging creativity, and delivering high member satisfaction.
That meeting at Brentwood reminded us how important it is to slow down and be intentional. Instead of rushing to execute, we took the time to brainstorm, listen, and involve both employees and leadership in the process. Small group discussions turned into larger conversations, and eventually into a clear, shared plan everyone could support.
When people understand the guiding principle, alignment happens naturally. Decisions become easier. Teams connect to the bigger picture. And progress starts to feel purposeful.
The North Star Will Lead You Home
As easy as it is to create a plan, it’s just as easy to drift away from it. Busy seasons, family commitments, staffing challenges, unexpected changes—this is all part of the process. It will happen, especially in the early days of building a program or when a program is reinventing itself. And that’s okay.
The north star isn’t meant to be rigid. It’s meant to be a guide—a reminder for yourself, your leadership team, your staff, and your members of who you are, what you stand for, and where you’re headed next.
We are still at the very beginning of building our new program here in Florida. But we have the benefit of lessons learned—both my own and those shared by fellow leaders along the way. I’m excited to continue building our north star alongside a strong leadership team and to see where it takes us.
As we move into this new year, I wish nothing but the best for your teams and your clubs. Take the time to find your north star. Let it guide you, your staff, and your membership toward a year filled with purpose, happiness, and continued success.
