Maitre d' (May-truh dee) From the French maitre d' hotel, which means, essentially, 'Master of the House.' Typically this title is unisex, applying to men or women in the position, as the feminized "Mistress of the house" has, *ahem*, un-egalitarian connotations. In the restaurant, the 'House' has two sides; the Front of House and the … Continue reading Restaurant 101: Maitre’ d
Mark-- verb. The act of setting a table with the appropriate utensils for the next course. "Desserts are up for table four, have they been marked?" "Yes, everyone has coffee spoons and dessert forks" Usually marking is performed by the server, though in some establishments the duty is shared equally by servers and backwaiters.
Servers. Waiters. So ubiquitous that it seems silly to "define" what a server is, but here we go. A server is a lot of things, a factotum with an incredible memory, an entertainer, a clairvoyant, an efficiency expert, a marathon walker, a dextrous tray carrier. But more than anything, a server is a diplomat. She … Continue reading Restaurant 101: Server
Polishing is one of the most common sidework tasks in a restaurant. Every glass and piece of silverware must be buffed free of water spots before it goes into the dining room. Polishing can be a tricky business, but it is worth doing and home, and worth doing well. First and foremost, it is easiest … Continue reading Hospitality @ Home: Polishing
Names of restaurants are more than mere assemblies of culinary words cleverly tossed together. The name of a restaurant can tell you everything from the hours of operation, the size of the staff, and how the wine will be presented. I say CAN because-- as with most things with historical roots-- sometimes the original intentions … Continue reading Restaurant 101: What’s in a Name?
