Wow.

She seem sorta grumpy to anyone else??

The last Chef I worked for, before venturing out on my own actually did this. When a waiter would come into the kitchen and say "Hey chef? I have a four top, and three of the people want the tasting menu, the one guy just wants the short ribs. But the three want to know if the tasting is heavy on fish cause only two of them like fish, well shrimp only really, so can you adjust the tasting for them? I told them I would ask." At this point Lawrence's face has gone through 6 shades of blue and purple, and somehow he manages to get out "take this piece of paper, and this pen give it to your table and tell them to write thier own GD menu with whatever the F they want. In fact tell them if they would like to cook it themselves I would be happy to move out of thier way so they can make the meal they want. And if they would like us to eat it for them that would be great too!" At which time the waiter looks to me and asks "is he serious?" to which I reply, "tell them it's actually an all seafood tasting tonight, and that you would be happy to guide them towards some other choices"
Not really sure why people even go out.

I was reading about a restaurant that lets you set your price. The waiter tells the chef how much you want to spend and the chef cooks a meal worth that much. After dinner you toss a coin. If it's heads, you pay double for the meal. If it's tails, it's free.

Maybe your place could get a gimmick like that!

It's essentially what we do. There's a section of our menu which allows people to choose their ingredient, how they'd like it cooked, what sauce they'd like with it and what starch. It's eliminated much of the aggravation caused by people wanting to design their own dish.

Because we let them do it. Takes all the fun out of it.

I, too, am aggravated by everyone wanting to change this and that and the other thing because their "dietary restrictions" are so limiting.

Normally, I don't care, because health is health, but dammit, I know a lot of people who have "dietary restrictions" that have diddly to do with health--they are either food neurosis in action or they are just plain made up!

I get frustrated with the whole, "The customer is always right" crap, too, but there is a reason I no longer work with the general public.

Though I will be going back to it again soon. Gah.

I'm sure your resturant will be known for its unique ambience....
:)

I prefer a cafe where the day's special is chalked on a board and that's what you eat. And a glass of house wine, no angsting over whether it will suit the food. People needlessly obsessing over food are anti-social. Stay home.

I suppose it depends on how highly you think of the craft and how you express it, but I often think it would be like looking at a painting, or even a Rivera mural and saying "Hmmmmm well I do like it overall, but, maybe a little less of the yellow, and a little more of the red there, and why on earth would you think to place those subjects together like that? I have never seen that before, maybe I shouldn't be looking at this at all." How about a nice big platter of Shut the _ _ _ _ up?

I love my industry

I may be the lone dissenter, but I feel that when I order food (restaurant or catering) it should be the way I want it. Now, before you come down on me, yes, I have worked as a cook (and a waitress) and I know it’s a pain when people do that, but I still think it’s their right. They are paying. I’m not saying everyone should re-construct your dishes, but if I want something added or subtracted (within reason) or whatever I think its perfectly acceptable to ask for that and the people in the back of the house should be able to cope. Now, I'll have the house salad, chopped if possible, and can you leave out the onions? And oh, add some olives, but only if they still have pits, and I’d like the dressing on the side…(wink)

"People needlessly obsessing over food are anti-social. Stay home."

Now that is a brilliant statement, Kitchen Hand.

And Paul - I am going to use the "platter..." line and I promise to give you full credit. LOL

"I may be the lone dissenter, but I feel that when I order food (restaurant or catering) it should be the way I want it."

IMHO, those are two entirely different situations. If catering, the menu is decided on ahead of time, to the mutual satisfaction and agreement of both parties, right?

"Now, before you come down on me, yes, I have worked as a cook (and a waitress) and I know it’s a pain when people do that, but I still think it’s their right. They are paying. I’m not saying everyone should re-construct your dishes, but if I want something added or subtracted (within reason) or whatever I think its perfectly acceptable to ask for that and the people in the back of the house should be able to cope."

Aside from the part about it being perfectly acceptable to *ask* for changes, this is where I disagree. When you walk into a restaurant, it is not your RIGHT to anything, just because you are paying. You can certainly ask the chef and staff to accomodate your wishes, but IMO they are equally entitled to decline to do so. If they choose not to, no one is forcing you to eat there. You can eat somewhere else that is more in line with your tastes.

It is the chef's menu, the owner's restaurant. Their call, and as long as the policy is made clear up front, before a meal is ordered, I don't think a customer has any right to believe they can force the staff to cater to their requests.

"And Paul - I am going to use the "platter..." line and I promise to give you full credit. LOL"

Woo hoo! I'm helping! I'm helping! (glad you liked it)

Paul