So I didn't drop anything... =)
I met some great folks, learned a lot and had a good time.
After arriving there, we were given about a half hour training on how to wait tables with their system. I think all of us volunteers were feeling just a wee bit intimidated and hoping we didn't screw up too badly. I don't think anyone did.
The original guest chef specializes in Japanese cuisine, but unfortunately had to cancel due to a death in the family. Another chef was kind enough to step in and he prepared a southern meal because "he was missing home". We had fried chicken, black-eyed peas, cheese grits, and corn bread. For dessert he made a puff pastry stuffed with sweet potato paste with a coca-cola reduction. A few of the guests were disappointed when they found out that the menu had changed, but they were all good sports.
At 7pm we had a brief graduation ceremony for the students graduating that week. All of them had jobs lined up in nice Seattle restaurants -woot!
I think the biggest learning experience for me was I realized I could never run a fine dining restaurant. At a table for 4, the tab for the meal and a few drinks would run a little over $200. At one of my tables, the party of 4 was having a good time and taking their time. So I have a captain that is a regular volunteer that oversees a few of us volunteers. She would assist us if needed as well. A few times she cleared dishes I would not have cleared and I realized it was in part my lack of experience, and part that they try to keep a clip going. A party of 8 arrived and they wanted to use one of my tables that was adjacent to another open table. This was the table where the folks took their time eating and stayed longer. It was hinted I should try to move them along. Yikes! I really felt like it would be rude so I just couldn't do it. I thought if they're dropping $220 I shouldn't rush them out in an hour. But the captain is a regular and she knows what can be done and what can't better than me. So, I would be out of business in no time LOL.
I also realize that there are those that drop that kind of money on a meal regularly. My husband and I were once given a $100 gift certificate to a fine dining restaurant in Seattle. We used it on our anniversary and still dropped another $120. Holy guacamole! We had ordered one appetizer to share, a dish apiece and a fairly inexpensive bottle of wine. As we were there, we noticed how crowded the place was. It is right on the water and all the folks with yachts can moor outside the restaurant and bop in for a meal. The meal was good but not particularly gourmet. My husband and I were dressed up fairly nice and most around us were dressed casually. It dawned on us during the meal that many of the folks eat there regularly as an equivalent to us dining at Red Robin. So my point is, when I see a $220 price tag, I'm thinking you can cop a squat, enjoy your meal while also talking to your dinner companion(s). But if you're used to those kind of price tags, then it's not particularly a special treat to be savored for a few hours. It's so interesting how where you are and where you come from really filters how you view the world around you.
Monday, May 12, 2008
My FareStart Evening
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4 comments:
Good job on the no-drop! $200 could feed me for 60 days, easily...fine dining starts at home.
It was a total relief I gotta tell you Allan! =)
We spend about $600/month for our family of 4 on food items I would say. Don't know how that compares to the average, but I feel like we eat well.
...$150 a week for 4, w/kids and all, is admirable...you can do well if you avoid processed goods (mostly). It's amazing how cheap food is if one is willing to cook! (And keeps an open palate)
Aye, I mostly cook from scratch and though I buy higher quality products than I did years ago, I still try to buy stuff on sale. But both my sons are young. I'm sure that budget will double or more in the near future heh.
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