Essentials of Dining

So much has happened since my last post! I am now in a class called Essentials of Dining Room. It is a class where I learn all about the front of the house. Instead of in the kitchen preparing food for customers, I am now representing a restaurant and caring for guests and all their needs! I wear a different uniform compared to my other culinary classes. I have to wear black slacks, black socks, black shoes, a black apron, a dining shirt and hair pulled back. I say we all look pretty professional.

It’s pretty interesting though, learning all about proper etiquette, certain ways to set tables and how to present food. What is hardest for me is carrying all four plates, including b&b (bread and butter) plates, all in one trip after the entree course. It’s called a full clear. I need a lot of practice because I don’t hold the first plate the right way and I feel like I don’t have enough finger strength.  I need to squeeze a stress ball to gain some strength or something!!

Now we’re in the process of tasting wines! On friday we tasted a few white wines. I don’t remember the first one we tried but the second was Chardonnay. I didn’t care for the taste of either of them. What we have to do is sip a little, breathe in air, “bite” the wine to get the flavor all over in your mouth, and then spit it out. Then we have to figure out the flavors of the wine and what dishes we could pair it with. It’s kind of difficult for me because I’ve never tasted wine before.

Every day during class we have to serve two classes that equal 40ish people. Each student in my class serves an average of three people at their table each day. We have to serve drinks, appetizers, soups/salads, entrees, and dessert by ourselves. We even have to write the tickets to give the kitchen to serve the correct food for each table and then write the guest check by totaling up the meal and handing the table our check.

So the funny thing was at one table I had two guys and one put the other guys number on the check for my tip! It was funny, and everyone in my class kept talking about it so I don’t think I’ll hear the end of it.

Everyday we have to set up tables and do certain prep work for service. Our service lasts about an hour, and hopefully the guests can get all of their courses in, depending on if the server is fast enough (and if the guests eat fast enough!) haha! But it’s good to learn all of these important facts for dining for the distant future or even for a part-time job while in college! Only three more days of this class. Up next: New World Cuisine! I’m excited to be back in the kitchen and doing the “behind the scenes” work for service instead of being in the front of the house!