What Makes A Great Line Cook

What Makes A Great Line Cook

by | Jul 6, 2016 | Career

Few line cooks want to be cooking on the line for the rest of their culinary careers. Most dream of becoming head chef or even opening their own restaurants somewhere down the road. That is why most line cooks do it, to learn the ropes of the restaurant industry, get valuable hands-on experience in a kitchen and rise up the ranks. So what can you do to make yourself a better line cook and stand out in a crowded field? Let’s find out!

Show up on time

The importance of punctuality in the restaurant industry cannot be understated. Why? Because the meal service will start on time regardless of whether or not you are ready.

If you show up late or miss a prep, then somebody else have to cover your work and their own, delaying the entire kitchen’s flow. This will also send a negative message to the higher-ups. All in all, no one will be happy with you.

The importance of punctuality in the restaurant industry cannot be understated.

This is not the kind of attention you want to draw. The very first step in being a great line cook is simply showing up on time for the shifts you are scheduled. Not too hard right?

Prep your mis en place

Preparation goes a long way in making your life easier when the restaurant gets busy and you have numerous tickets to fill. When the tickets start coming in, you want to be able to focus on the food without worrying about chopping up your mis en place or making stock.

When you’re not fully prepared with your mis en place, you’ll end up distracting yourself from the incoming orders to chop more vegetables or make more stock and usually the overall quality of the dish suffers when you can’t give it your complete focus.

If you want to prove to head chefs that you have what it takes to move up in the industry, prepare your mis en place and be on top of your tickets.

Ready your station before service begins

Sure, you might not be busy right at five o’clock when service starts, but that does not mean your station should not be ready for a full on dinner rush.

Once again preparation is key to being a great line cook.

Once again preparation is key to being a great line cook. Those who prepare stand out to head chefs and other industry professionals, so make sure that you have enough clean dishes at your station, all your pots, pans, tongs, and other utensils are clean and ready to go, and of course make sure your mis en place is already prepared.

The last thing you want to be doing is scrambling around to get clean dishes in the middle of a dinner rush because that is your time to shine and do your best cooking.

Give every dish your all

Some nights will be harder than others to find the motivation and inspiration to give your best performance, but that is no excuse not to give everything you have every night.

It’s key to remember that for the customers, this is their night out or their special dinner. They came out and are spending good money for the food you are making.

Don’t let them down because they may never come back to your restaurant if they had a bad time, and that is very bad for business.

Clean, clean, clean

When your shift is over, clean your station and the kitchen thoroughly. If you see other stations that haven’t been cleaned properly, take it upon yourself to make sure it’s done right. After all, there is nothing worse than working in a dirty kitchen.

After all, there is nothing worse than working in a dirty kitchen.

In addition to cleaning, be sure to organize your area. This will not only help you when starting your next shift, but show your superiors that you know what it takes to lead, and someday run, a restaurant kitchen.

Working hard and going above and beyond to make sure the job is done right is a great way to stick out to a head chef. If you want to be a great line cook and move up the ladder of the restaurant industry, you have to be willing to do more than is required and always have a positive attitude.

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What Do You Mean Hot Dogs Aren’t American?!

What Do You Mean Hot Dogs Aren’t American?!

by | Jul 4, 2016 | IndiNews

Ask any American which foods they consider to be ‘American’ and the answers will be the same. But which of these do we inaccurately consider our own? Don’t worry, we’ve got the answers.

Breakfast Foods

The All-American, the most popular breakfast in America by far, is a dish consisting of eggs, breakfast meats, fried potatoes, toast or American biscuits and occasionally waffles or pancakes.

Traditionally, this fare was enjoyed only by the European elite or the gentry.

Traditionally, this fare was enjoyed only by the European elite or the gentry. Eggs and bacon, for example, go back to the Greeks and Romans in ancient times. Most people broke their fast with tea and a grain like rice or oats, which prepped the body for the day.

As time passed, vegetables, fishes, meats and grains were added to the meal. The English, for instance, enjoy their bacon, sausage and eggs with baked beans, fried tomatoes, fried mushrooms and sometimes leftovers from the night before.

Typical breakfasts the world over include soft or hard boiled eggs, meats, cheeses, bread with butter and jam and a drink like coffee or tea. So, unfortunately, America can’t claim this one.

Pancakes and waffles are considered inherently American. But, such a notion probably has the Greeks of the 5th century BCE, who devised the pancake, turning in their graves.

As for the waffle, we can thank Denmark for this delicious breakfast item.

As for the waffle, we can thank Denmark for this delicious breakfast item, which was first concocted by the Danes during medieval times.

Lunch & Dinner Foods

Hamburgers are definitely considered to be an American invention, but it actually originated in ancient times with the invader Genghis Kahn. He and his men rode their horses for months at a time and their foods had to be held in one hand, so they could guide the horse with the other.

The meat was first tucked beneath the saddle to be tenderized and then eaten raw with one hand.

One of the lands they conquered had developed ground meats of lamb and mutton (sheep at different stages of maturity). The meat was first tucked beneath the saddle to be tenderized and then eaten raw with one hand, similar to what we now consider steak tartare.

Only when brought to America by German immigrants was the meat placed between two slices of bread and called a hamburger for Hamburgh Steak.

Hot dogs, or sausages, are one of the oldest foods in the world going back to the 9th century BCE. They were called dachshund sausages or little dog sausages, for what reason, no one seems to know, and were brought to the New World by German immigrants and sold at roadside stands.

They were called dachshund sausages or little dog sausages, for what reason, no one seems to know.

How did they become known as hot dogs? A reporter at a ball game in New York couldn’t spell dachshund, so he just printed the words “hot dogs”, because vendors shouted to “get your dachshund dogs red hot”.

Pizza is another American favorite thought by some to have been invented in Chicago during the 19th century and by others, in New York during the 20th century, but they’d all be wrong.

When it came to America, pizza morphed over the years into what Americans know and love today.

The flatbread with things on top of it has existed since around 500 BCE. Egyptians, Indians, Persians, Greeks and Romans all made flatbread with toppings to form what we today call pizza.

As with all things, when it came to America, pizza morphed over the years into what Americans know and love today.

Food and a specific method of preparation may have been born in a certain country, but the end results are always personalized by the cooks preparing the dishes. After all, the same foods are used all over the world. Americans celebrate their food by finding new ways to combine and cook their ingredients in an imaginative manner, and this is what truly makes it American.

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How to Find the Best Local Restaurants When Traveling

How to Find the Best Local Restaurants When Traveling

by | Jul 1, 2016 | IndiNews

Do you want a chance to step outside of your comfort zone? Hit the road and go somewhere that is on your bucket list. Travel is the best way to challenge yourself to try new things. One of the most important factors to consider when going to a new location is where are you going to eat. Don’t stay with your fellow tourists, rather eat with the locals. Use these tips for how to find local restaurants when traveling.

Use Personal Connections

Before you travel to a new destination, check with friends, family, and coworkers who have been to the same destination. Ask them what the local food scene is like and if they have any suggestions.

Try and get insider tips.

Try and get insider tips. For instance, how is the street food? What are the prices like in restaurants that are down side streets? What are some of the most popular restaurants for locals?

Do Your Research

The internet is your best friend when you are traveling. Check different travel websites before you leave. Do the same on the internet at your hotel. If a restaurant sounds interesting, check the reviews for it. Do not be afraid to try places that don’t have any reviews listed.

Do not be afraid to try places that don’t have any reviews listed.

Look for local deals and see if you qualify for the offer. Sometimes these offers are available to travelers especially if the location is new and trying to grow their customer base.

Walk around the non-tourist parts of town when you arrive. If a restaurant seems appealing, walk in and try it.

Brush up on the Local Language

When traveling outside of the country, it is important to understand the local customs and culture. One of the most important parts of the local culture is understanding the language.

Make sure you know how to read and speak key phrases. Some food related ones to know are: excuse me, what do you recommend? Where do you like to eat? What is in this dish?

These phrases along with basic manners will help you blend in a bit more.

These phrases along with basic manners will help you blend in a bit more. Making an attempt at a new language will get you in the good graces of locals, once you make the attempt many will switch to English if they know it.

Be Prepared to Expand Your Palette

Travel is an exciting escape from the everyday grind. It is the perfect time to try new dishes. Experiment as often as you can because you probably won’t be able to taste these dishes when you’re are back at home.

Take a risk and try something new.

Don’t be afraid. The worst that could happen when trying new flavors is that you don’t like it! So take a risk and try something new. However, if you know you have an allergy or sensitivity use caution.

Chat People Up

Ask the people at the hotel where they eat. Let them know you do not want to eat where typical travelers eat. If you are looking for a specific type of food let them know so they can narrow their choices down.

If you are traveling overseas, this includes talking to the flight attendants when you get the chance. There is a good chance they will have some recommendations especially if you are flying on one of their regular routes.

Do not be afraid to talk with people on the street. If something smells good and a local is walking by the location, ask them about it.

Ask the people at the hotel where they eat.

Ask the servers where they eat if you want future meal ideas. Talk to the people in tour centers as you pick up your tickets. Ask them where they eat for all meals.

While the primary goal is to find positive food experiences, take to heart any local opinions on places to avoid.

No matter if you are traveling for business or pleasure, use these tips to expand your food knowledge. Know your limits though and if you have any allergies or sensitivities, make sure you inquire what is in with the dishes that you want to try. Happy eating!

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Hacks to Make your Novice Serving Life Easier

Hacks to Make your Novice Serving Life Easier

by | Jun 29, 2016 | Career

When entering the food and beverage service industry, you probably have some ideas on what the experience will be like. You know you’ll have to memorize the menu and plaster a smile on your face. You expect good days and bad days. However to ensure the highest amount of good days, you’re going to need some seasoned hacks. Here are some excellent ways to make your job easier!

Realize Serving is a Team Effort

Not every server practices reciprocity, but you should. Anyone can tell you that guests come first, so helping out your neighbor server is the right thing to do. If someone’s food needs to be run, run it. If they’re obviously in the weeds and being crushed under tasks, see if you can help in some way.

It takes a village to serve the front of house, so help each other out.

It’s not only for the guest, it benefits you too. Team players will be more likely to help you, if you help them or if they see you helping others. It takes a village to serve the front of house, so help each other out.

Adopt a Method to Remember Who is Who

When serving food to a table, the best way for quick distribution is to remember which person ordered what. Quicker distribution means you can get to another task faster, and your life is easier for it. It also makes you seem more professional, and can score you a higher tip! It’s a win, win situation!

Try taking orders left to right around the table and arrange your food that way when picking it up at the window. Usually, your meals will come up in the order it was taken, so it’s easy to put your food in the succession which you took the order.

The key is to find something that works for you.

Alternately, you could remember something about each person that correlates with what they ordered. The key is to find something that works for you. Any method is better than none!

Invest in Good Shoes

Most restaurants will give you the option to buy serving shoes through a hospitality catalog. Do it! Or at least, visit your local shoe store to find some comfortable, supportive shoes with good traction.

There’s nothing worse than trudging through a double-shift with an aching body.

At first, wearing regular tennis shoes may seem fine, but eventually, your feet, lower back, knees and hips will begin to ache all the time. There’s nothing worse than trudging through a double-shift with an aching body.

Tighten your Core

Many new servers instinctively tighten their legs and arms to keep from spilling over-full drinks. In reality, this is more likely to create jerking motions that will cause you to splash some of the beverage on yourself or on the floor.

Instead, tighten your abs and glutes.

It also makes you look like a robot. Instead, tighten your abs and glutes. This reduces motion transference from your legs to your arms and the glass.

Circle the Extras

When you’re running around like a crazy person, the last thing you want to do is make an extra trip to the kitchen, if it can be avoided. When you’re taking an order always ask about condiments and circle anything they want that wouldn’t ordinarily come with their order.

It’s easy to overlook details on your serving pad, especially if you’re busy.

It’s easy to overlook details on your serving pad, especially if you’re busy. By circling the extras, your attention will be drawn to those notations, and you’ll be less likely to forget those small details.

Don’t let a Nasty Customer get you Down

This cannot be said enough: don’t let a sour-puss customer rain on your sunshine. Remind yourself that you don’t know anything about them or what they are going through.

Do not let that negative energy transfer to you.

Also, if they’re just a rude person, that has nothing to do with you. Do not let that negative energy transfer to you. If you let it get you down, you’ll be distracted, your productivity will be lower and your tips will reflect that. Not to mention, the rest of your shift will suck.

Along the way, you’ll discover other ways to make your life easier, but these tips along with our other Server Hacks will get you started on the right foot!

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Bar Reservations May Increase Restaurant Profitablity

Bar Reservations May Increase Restaurant Profitablity

by | Jun 27, 2016 | Business Toolkit, Management

Do you take reservations for the bar in your restaurant? If not, it may be time to start. According to a new survey from OpenTable, offering reservations for bar dining has many potential benefits including added seating, faster turnaround times and, for a specific type of guest, increased hospitality. 

In late May, OpenTable launched Table Categories, a pilot program that allows users to book bar reservations at a handful of participating restaurants in Chicago. As OpenTable’s Eli Chait, this was a response to internal company data showing that bar dining options are underutilized at many restaurants.

“We estimate that non-standard seating options like bar, communal tables, and high-tops make up 12 to 15 percent of restaurant inventory in the U.S. These seats are typically empty or highly coveted, as some diners actually prefer a seat in the center of the action.”

In order to establish some bar dining benchmarks, and to kick off their Insider Survey Series, OpenTable polled 420 restaurant partners, of which 62% were casual fine dining, 31% full-service casual, 12% formal dining establishments.

Here are the survey key findings:

  • 36% of respondents are already accept dining reservations in their bars and 12% are interested in doing so.
  • 52% report that the bar generates the same amount or more revenue than that of the dining room.
  • 54% say that the average turnaround time in the bar is under 60 minutes.
  • 85% agreed with the statement, “Investing in my bar area increased my restaurant’s profitability.”

So, what’s the main advantage of offering bar reservations? As BonAppetit‘s Sam Dean explains, it all comes down to having the flexibility to seat more guests.

“Solo diners can drop in without having to hog a two-top, and a friendly word from a bartender can free up enough space at the bar for a whole new party—after all, you can’t exactly ask a couple to slide down to the next booth in the middle of their meal.”

However, skeptics remain, fearing that bar reservations may compromise customer service and guest experience. In response, OpenTable says that implementing this practice satisfies another type of clientele that prefers the bar scene.

“Offering bar seats to guests who are thrilled to book them means those diners get the experience they desire—and seats stay occupied all night.”

And, yes, for the customers that like to get their names in the book but would rather sit at the bar, this is definitely the case. But what about those that prefer the bar precisely because it doesn’t require a reservation? They probably wouldn’t be too pleased.

All in all, it really comes down to the establishment and its clientele. That said, with the right conditions, allowing customers to book the bar could mean more money in the register.

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