WORKING -- Natalie Stanchfield

-- 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.