I Live to Serve
By Austin Brentley
austin.brentley@chefschoolreview.com
Chef School Review Columnist
There's nothing worse than receiving poor service at a restaurant. A saucy waiter, an incorrect order, late food, or complete incompetence can take the flavor out of even the most delicious sirloin steak. That's why restaurants (at least the better ones) spend so much time on proper hospitality training. Dining is more than just filling an empty stomach. Atmosphere and service are equally important.
Another major thing to keep in mind is that you must always tip if the service is good. Words cannot describe the frustration that restaurant or hotel staff experience when they work hard to provide you with excellent service and receive no gratitude in return. Not to mention that hospitality jobs usually pay a lot less than regular jobs. Good tipping breeds good service.
austin.brentley@chefschoolreview.com
Chef School Review Columnist
There's nothing worse than receiving poor service at a restaurant. A saucy waiter, an incorrect order, late food, or complete incompetence can take the flavor out of even the most delicious sirloin steak. That's why restaurants (at least the better ones) spend so much time on proper hospitality training. Dining is more than just filling an empty stomach. Atmosphere and service are equally important.
Hospitality Jobs: Service with a Smile
The need for hospitality training extends far beyond the eating industry. Poor service can ruin a hotel or spa visit as well. You work hard for your money, and you want to be treated well. This doesn't necessarily mean that service staff should fall over themselves to accommodate your every wish. That's not what hospitality training is about. You want to know that if a problem arises, everything that can be done will be done.
The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHIC) prepares more students in the Chicago area for successful careers in food service than any other culinary school — using the traditional, European hands-on approach to culinary education that was previously difficult to obtain in the Midwest. Affiliated with the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, CHIC combines classical cooking techniques with leading-edge American technology.
Waiting Tables: the Best Hospitality Training
While you certainly deserve the best possible treatment, there are a few things you should keep in mind when it comes to hospitality jobs. One very simple way to make sure that you always receive the best service is to try waiting tables yourself. In doing so, you'll better understand what hospitality jobs entail. You'll be much more understanding when, as a paying customer, problems do arise. You'll be less inclined to yell at a waiter for bringing you the wrong order. Rather, you'll patiently help the waiter resolve the issue. This is guaranteed to make the food more delicious and more enjoyable when the right order finally does come through.Another major thing to keep in mind is that you must always tip if the service is good. Words cannot describe the frustration that restaurant or hotel staff experience when they work hard to provide you with excellent service and receive no gratitude in return. Not to mention that hospitality jobs usually pay a lot less than regular jobs. Good tipping breeds good service.
About the Author
A freelance writer and researcher, Austin Brentley is an English teacher currently living and working in Yamaguchi, Japan. His previous experience includes working for a lobbying firm in his native Washington, DC and working for various record and television studios in New York. Austin holds a B.A. in historyPosted on September 12, 2005 at 3:30 PM
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