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?
So Moll Yay. So what is a so-moll-yay? A wine expert. Some have accreditations from the Court of Master Sommeliers or the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, though some merely have battle-tested palates and an encyclopedic knowledge of oenology from the school of hard knocks. Many sommeliers work for restaurants, actively designing a wine list … Continue reading Restaurant 101: Sommelier
Forget all the frippery associated with the pairing of wine; I am going to let you in on a little secret. The best wine to have with any meal is the one you most enjoy. Most of us do not have such refined palates that we notice the unique interplay of the flavor compounds in … Continue reading Hospitality @ Home: Basic Wine Knowledge
