A different kind of diplomat.

AuthorEndrst, Elsa B.
PositionNorman Manjaka of the Delegates' Dining Room at UN Headquarters

A Different Kind of Diplomat

Norman Manjaka is not a trained diplomat and yet his skills of diplomacy, discretion and tact are tested daily. As Manager and Maitre d'Hotel of the Delegates' Dining Room at UN Headquarters in New York, he greets and seats ambassadors and other dignitaries from all over the world--and ordinary tourists as well--with the same elegent manner.

Like a general, Mr. Manjaka directs a staff of 30 from a desk covered with flags of many of the 159 UN Member States, just outside the fourth floor dining room.

His duties include overseeing the serving of some 80,000 lunches a year in the spacious dining room--with floor-to-ceiling glass windows facing north and east--overlooking the East River. And on many evenings, he announces guests--sometimes including Presidents, Prime Ministers and Kings--at the more than 500 diplomatic receptions held there each year.

Having studied hotel management at a school in Switzerland, Mr. Manjaka arrived in America and worked at the posh Swiss Pavillon restaurant in Manhattan before coming to the UN in 1973.

Reflecting on his 17-year experience as manager of the UN Delegates' Dining Room, he believes that the restaurant is unique because of its "open-air feeling, the stunning view of the river and the special flavour that diners from many cultures lend to the atmosphere".

The main dining room, which seats more than 300, is also a popular meeting place for UN visitors. Three smaller dining areas--used for private lunches during the week--are available on weekends for weddings, bar mitzvahs and other special parties given by individuals and corporations. "We're doing well", says the tall, handsome Jordanian. "We're at least 30 per cent ahead of last year's attendance so we must be doing something right."

A feeling of caring, the manager says, includes providing a personal touch for diplomats accustomed to good food and prompt service. "We try to keep the standards as high as we can, with moderate prices, so they can afford to eat here every day", he notes.

"I think both the ambassadors and other regular patrons are very pleased with what we do here. Some have even said that if they were to grade us, we would certainly get four stars."

The dining room also accommodates groups of up to 50 persons who have booked guided tours of the UN. After the hour-long tour, they take the elevators to the dining room where their buffet lunch begins around 11:15 a.m. This, the manager explains, enables them...

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