Monday, November 19, 2007

Give Your Compliments to the Chef

When was the last time you heard the phrase "Give my compliments to the chef"? It's been a while since I've heard it, and I think it's time that we all showed some more appreciation to those preparing the food out there. America's very much an eat-out culture, so it's in our best interest to help those that prepare our meals to refine their art through simple feedback. Sure, some cooks out there are barely 'artists' (sorry french fry guy), but these folks would nonetheless appreciate some positive feedback. Plates emptied and repeat orders help the league of chefs to understand what's been liked, but some direct feedback would take it beyond the guess that it was eaten because it was there on the plate...you've no doubt heard - America has a weight problem.

Tips are great, but realize that tips are generally pooled when given to the kitchen staff, if at all, and therefore association of the tip to a certain dish, cooking technique, presentation, etc is lost. Why not let your server/waitstaff know what you really thought, and ask that some direct positive comments are passed to the kitchen?

If you're into food at all, you've likely watched some food TV lately. Name a food focused TV show that doesn't put the judgement of the chef's preparation as its climactic scene--chefs especially, are into the profession to please.

Coincidentally, while recently discussing this topic, my waiter in a famous San Diego seafood restaurant asked "anything I can pass along to the chef?" Of course I obliged. Hopefully that comment and my tip made its way to the kitchen, and made some chef/sous chef/cook/assistant's day.

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