How Advertising Creative Student, Angelina Mammarella, Finds Advertising Lessons in Fine Dining
Mammarella, a senior studying advertising creative at Michigan State University, discovers how her degree helps to benefit her restaurant job
By: Sophie Wirth
It may come as a surprise, but having an advertising degree can be beneficial for working in the food and beverage industry. Angelina Mammarella, a senior ad creative major, started working at an upscale seafood restaurant, Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, while she was home in Pittsburgh, in the summer of 2023. Mammarella found that she immediately loved the energy that came with the constant connection with people in the restaurant industry. Mammarella said she felt her education could be tested working here in a unique way.
“Over time, I moved up to serving and then became the head fine dining service specialist,” she said. “Basically, I help train new staff, oversee service during dinner shifts and make sure every guest has the best possible experience.”
What started to make some extra money quickly turned into something more meaningful to her. Over time, she began noticing how much her advertising classes connected to what she was seeing on the floor.
“Advertising is all about understanding your audience,” she said. “In restaurants, it’s the same thing, every part of a guest’s experience, from how the food looks to how we interact with them, affects how they view the restaurant.”
Through her coursework, Mammarella has learned how brand identity and customer experience go hand in hand. Whether she’s training new staff or helping organize special events, she approaches every task with an advertiser’s mindset. This is where she focuses on the audience and makes sure that every detail counts, because she knows how much it matters.
Mammarella says she has also found creative ways to bring her advertising background to the restaurant’s social media promotions. From helping to create and launch seasonal menus to special events, she’s helped brainstorm ways to show off the restaurant’s online presence. How to properly advertise an organization is something that Mammarella has learned within her classwork. Now she can professionally advertise the restaurant with efficiency and ease.
“It’s fun to think about how we can highlight the restaurant’s personality through different marketing ideas,” she said.
Looking ahead, Mammarella hopes to continue blending her love for creativity and people.
“I’ve realized I really enjoy shaping how people experience a brand,” she said.
Whether she’s in class or serving a full dining room, Mammarella has learned that great communication starts with understanding the people in your community.
