“Petra Dobson joined the Alpine F&B team last season as a Front of House attendant, where her upbeat attitude and fun demeanor made a lasting impression on our guests. This season, she returned in a completely new role as a cook, an exciting but significant transition given the fast-paced and often intimidating environment of our kitchen.
Petra quickly found her rhythm and has become a key member of the culinary team. She embraced the challenge, proactively learning new skills and stepping confidently into her role. On any given day, you can find Petra in the café serving great food with a giant smile, bringing the same positive energy to the kitchen that our guests appreciated on the front line. Petra may be from Jamaica, but after two years with us, she has earned her snow angel wings!”
– Dan Sanderman, Director of Alpine Food & Beverage
Where are you from? How did you end up at Palisades Tahoe?
I was born and raised in Jamaica! I have been in the US for almost two years, though, and plan to stay here through the Summer. My sister worked seasonally at Six Flags in Upstate New York. She really enjoyed the job and referred me to the company through which she found her job. I interviewed with them, and they helped me get a job at Dollywood Parks & Resorts in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I worked in their food and beverage department as a food runner and busser. The resort was amazing. The park was always busy, and it was a really cool place to be a part of.
I stayed there for 8-9 months, then moved to Tahoe in November 2024. My sister had worked the winter here after her time in New York. She recommended Alpine to me, and I followed her over here. My sister ended up going back to Jamaica before I was over here, but luckily, one of my best friends from Jamaica is here. We live together in Tahoe Vista now. My brother-in-law also worked here last season as a sous chef at Alpine.
Why did you want to come to Tahoe?
I was definitely inspired by my friends and family who had worked here before. Their encouragement meant a lot. But I really was excited to live in the mountains. Being from Jamaica, I had only seen snow in the movies. I wanted to see it in person and really understand what it was all about.
I first spotted snow while driving to Tahoe after flying into the Reno airport. I was excited to see the snow lining the roads. And it was cool to see the snow levels build the closer we got to Tahoe. My first morning in Tahoe, I woke up to my friend telling me to look out the window. It was snowing so much! It was amazing to see the snow falling from the sky – just like the movies. Now I’m used to the snow and the cold. But I don’t like the cold very much anymore. I have a 9-year-old daughter back in Jamaica, though, and I like to tell her about the snow. She would really love to see it.
What do you do for work at Alpine?
This is my second season working at Alpine. Last season, I worked as front-of-house staff in the Alpine Cafe. It was a nice way to meet the guests, but it wasn’t as busy as I would like my work to be. This season is my first season working in the kitchen as a line cook, and I like it a lot.
Being a cook here has taught me a lot. I have to know the menu, understand common allergies, learn best practices in the kitchen, and overall just try to make people happy. I am always moving and always cooking in this job; it keeps me busy.
Have you always enjoyed cooking?
I have always loved to cook. Some of my favorites include fried chicken, veggies, and Jamaican rice. Cooking runs in my family; Black forest cake is a favorite for all of us. I enjoy cooking these classics, but working as a cook has encouraged me to try new things when I cook up at home.
I loved cooking Jamaican food for the employee dinner in February. We had a band in Alpine Cafe, and I got to share Jamaican rice and peas and fried plantain with everyone. Seeing everyone enjoy the food just made me feel really good inside. It’s cool every time we have family meals like that. I like learning how to cook food from other nations. But I have learned to tone down my seasoning a bit here. In Jamaica, we like to use a LOT of pepper, but here I must go light with it.
What do you do in the Summer?
Last summer I worked in Bar Harbor, Maine, and I’ll go back there this summer. It’s a really busy town in the summer with the tourists and the cruise ships. It’s right near Acadia National Park as well, so hopefully I can explore the park this summer.
At the end of the summer, I will go back to Jamaica. I am really excited for that. My daughter Kylie is there with my sister right now. But I want to go back and raise her and teach her about the world. I have been in the States for almost 2.5 years! That’s a long time away from my family.
What do you do outside of work?
I am an indoor person. I love music and cooking. It’s nice to relax at home with some music that fits the mood. One of my favorites is dancehall music, which is similar to reggae but not as positive. I also like good soul, lovey-dovey music, but what I listen to depends on my mood, really. I like many different genres.
Why did you come back this season?
I was happy to be back at Alpine this season. Especially in a more fast-paced job. I have great housing through Palisades, fun coworkers, and my boss, Dan, is a great person. He always turns on Jamaican music just to get us going for the day. It’s hard being so far from home, and things like that really make you feel like you are welcome here. He’s always walking through the kitchen, giving out high fives, and saying “Great job!” The people here make this such a nice place to work. You don’t usually go places and find people this nice. It’s just such a good feeling.
