A blog for hospitality and restaurant professionals. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the Front of House blog is a place to share funny stories and grievances related to the restaurant industry.
In my first post I told you that, in addition to tales of the weird and crazy, I'd be talking about some of the good people I've encountered along the way. Right now I'd like to direct you to a website that was set up by a couple of kids I know.
Kids Make a Change (KMAC) was set up by Mason and Eve Elizondo who, according to their mission statement, want to "get kids more involved in giving." They have raised a lot of money for a lot of causes, such as the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the World Wildlife Fund, and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Recently they've been working on raising money for Haiti. These are the kinds of kids that actually inspire a sense of hope for the future and I'm glad to know them. So, if you have a minute or two, pop on over to their site and see what they've been doing.
(Actually, I’ve never believed in giving my name to a guest when I greet a table. I think it sounds forced and corporate. Besides, more than likely, the guest isn’t interested in the slightest hello, let alone getting to know you on a personal level. If they do want that information, it’s available upon request.)
Sort of like how some countries require mandatory time spent in the service, I’ve heard a lot of servers say that everyone should be forced to work a year in the service industry. Working in a restaurant gives you an amazing insight into the lives of the people who come out to eat and the results are in: the restaurant-going public is a weird and twisted lot, full of the Good, the Bad, and the Holy Shit: A week or two ago:
“Do you prefer cream or milk?”
“I drink it black.
Like my soul.”
Even after years in the industry, people continue to amaze me. They’re demanding and demeaning, rude without realizing, and just not very well socialized. They almost can’t even be blamed for their ignorance.
The majority of people don’t really fall into this category, though. You just hear about them more because Guests-Gone-Wild are more fun to talk about than the normal people who were pleasant, had a good meal, tipped twenty percent and went off on their merry way, hoping to see you again, as is the ultimate goal. On this blog, I’ll talk about both kinds of people and probably those that fall somewhere in between. Additionally, I’ll be talking about food a lot, as it plays a pretty crucial role in the restaurant industry. It’s kind of the whole point, right? It’s all about the food isn’t it?
Over the course of my career in restaurants, I have developed a passion for food and wine. Working with talented and amazing chefs has exposed me to a diverse assortment of creative cuisine and has inspired me to do a lot of cooking in my free time. From things I’ve made at home to dishes I’ve encountered on my travels, good food will inspire and feature prominently into the content of this blog.
Also, like a good server, I’ll be making some recommendations from time to time. If I hear about a unique event in the Boston area or try out a new place that I love (or hate), I will let you guys know.
