I’d like to begin by thanking anyone who is taking time out of their busy schedule to read this. This is the first post of my amateur writing career, so I hope you enjoy it.
A few months back, I attended a class titled “Hospitality and You.” The class was heavily focused on how to improve Guest Service levels in any business. There was also a strong emphasis on the correlation between service levels and their affect on the perceived quality of the product offering itself. Ordinarily I despise sitting in classrooms, listening to someone drone on and on about something I could care less about, but this class was different. Out of all the great content that was delivered during the session, this is by far the most powerful takeaway. The instructor gave an example that you have all experienced before about how waitstaff can make or break a dining experience.
Imagine this, you are in a new restaurant and dissecting the menu. Your brain, heart, and stomach are currently having a clash of the Titans on what to order and after what seems like hours, you have made the ultimate decision. Your waiter comes by to take your order and you confidently speak those precious words to begin your culinary adventure…or you end your order speaking with an upward inflection, like my girlfriend who usually still undecided on what to order even after the meal has concluded. Getting back on track, you order and your waiter replies, “Ooooh, that’s my favorite.” It’s probably supposed to make the customer feel good, but in all reality it’s a huge turn off. As a customer, I don’t really care what the waiter likes and doesn’t like, because guess what…the waiter is not me!! The appropriate response would have been something like “Excellent choice, sir” or “Wonderful selection, Madame.” I have a huge amount of respect for the waitstaff of the world. It’s a job that I have worked in the past, and typically it’s pretty thankless. This is not an attack on them at all, it’s a recent learning of mine and something that really made me think.
Now…Eat What You Like, Drink What You Like. This has been my dining motto for quite some time, and I feel that it can improve your dining experience. I say experience, because eating should be more than a meal. As human beings we eat to survive, but we should also eat to feel alive. We all have our personal tastes and that’s what makes us all great. Let’s say you are at a steakhouse, but you are drawn to a fish dish that looks incredible. You are torn because you’re at a restaurant know on for a specific dish, but that fish looks so good…I have 3 words for you. GET THE FISH. It’s your experience and your choice. It’s like those pick your adventure books from when we were kids. “For steak go to page 19, for fish go to page 26.” Guess what, the stories will all end happily. There is not a chef in the world that will put a dish on their menu that sucks, so don’t feel like you always have to go with the flow.
The same principle applies for your beverage selection with your meal. We’ve all heard the, “Red meat, red wine…light meat, light wine” theory and to be honest, you can trash that. If you’re in the mood for a giant porterhouse but you want to pair it with a Moscato or a Riesling because that’s what you like to drink, then do that! Do not be afraid to order to your taste. That said, if you are still undecided on wine selection, if you are dining at a restaurant that has a sommelier, do not feel embarrassed to ask for their suggestions. They are some of the most respected people in the food industry and they spend years perfecting their craft. They will ask what you are eating and will ask about your taste preferences and are sure to select a wine that is sure to blow you away. Don’t be afraid to tip them either. Their craft is an art!
Thank you all for reading this first installment of Jackcity Eats! Each post I’ll leave you all with a little parting advice. Since yesterday was National Cheesesteak Day here you go…Warning!! If you ever find yourself at the front of the line at Jim’s in Philadelphia, order quick and order correctly. You’ve got plenty of time to figure out how. Get it wrong and they will toss you out of line. I’ve seen it, trust me.
Cheers!
Jackcity Eats 