As I continue to age, I like so many before me, pine about the "good old days". Yes, my youth was great but what we have now and the technology we have is greater...however, what we've lost is really horrific...we've lost one of our most prized possessions...COURTEOUSNESS. We are becoming more of a "what's in it for me" and "it's all about me" society, so much so, that RUDENESS is becoming the norm, and we as a society are to blame for allowing it to happen, by doing nothing and letting the RUDENICKS rule the day. I for one am tired of it and would like to recruit some like minded "courteousness seekers" to join me.
When I was a child growing up, courteousness ruled-the-day (yes sir, no ma'am...respect for elders and women) or, the back-of-the-hand took center stage. We or anyone around us that were rude or selfish were quickly chastised and as culprits, we were embarrassed or shamed into ceasing our rude behavior...NOT TODAY! Take note of what happened to us recently (and this is just one of many daily rudenick stories y'all know very well).
She who must and I were at our favorite Waffle House yesterday and the place was crowded and service was really rough (a lot of employee "sick calls). A rudenick was sitting at the counter nursing a cup of coffee (which is all he had). He got up and disappeared for about 15 minutes, when he reappeared a to-go order was sitting on the counter in front of him (the only place it could be put). Now, all hell is breaking loose in the store and rudenick loudly demands that "this bag be moved"...it bothers him, this is HIS spot. The staff did move it and the poor woman who was desperately waiting for someone to take her money at the register FINALLY came back to get her food and the fiasco continued. She looked for five minutes for her food...rudenick says nothing, finally a (courteous) patron pointed out her food, which she promptly went behind the counter to get and left, obviously distressed, while rudenick just sat there nursing his coffee.
About ten minutes later rudenick saw someone he new, so he jumped up again, this time taking his cup and he ran outside for about 20 minutes during which time a couple had come-in, waited for about 10 minutes and then took two of the three obviously empty places at the counter (why not, no one had been sitting there for at least 10 minutes). Now, while the couple VERY patiently waited another 10-15 minutes for someone to take their order, in walks rudenick and nastily says to the woman sitting on "his" stool, "I would like to have my seat back...now", bewildered at his rudeness, she and her husband got up, obviously angry and left! Waffle House looses two customers and retains rudenick....hmmmm, not a great business model in my opinion.
Now, what would have happened if it had been me, is as follows. We would have taken "our" seats that were obviously empty and then when rudenick came up to us and announced "I would like to have my seat back...now", I would have proudly retorted "I would like to ban the world or rudenicks....now, but since that is obviously NEVER going to happen, then I will choose to remain in "OUR" seats and YOU can have the empty one over there!"...I just VERBALLY slapped him.
Now, it is important to note that I saw the reaction of several people that witnessed rudenicks earlier rantings and they appeared to be equally as sickened by rudenick as I had been. Can you imagine the applause or the happiness I would have brought to everyone around me if I had been sitting in that seat!
Please my friends, let's work together to bring back good old fashioned courteousness, let's return to our 21st century the fine old tradition of respect and decency, let's make shame and embarrassment mean something again.
Let technology not be the only thing we can be proud of "as we boldly go where no man has gone before" sorry pcr's (see, courteousness). Take a VERBAL slap at rudenicks, it feels good and "it's good for ya"! Remember "only YOU can prevent rudenicks" (sorry, Smoky).
Fatman
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Most restaurant reviewers are low, but "food snobs" are LOWER
Our show, Chef and the Fatman the Blue Collar Chefs, besides doing a live cooking show for two hours each and every week, we also have been in the restaurant review business for the better part of the five years we have been on the air, we have reviewed over 185 restaurants in five cities.
We started our reviews as a on-air "response" to the bevy of sarcastic, bashing, nasty, skulking and ego driven reviewers that I had been exposed to over the years. The "Food Weasels" as I refer to them are the spineless jellyfish that hide behind their anonymity (claiming loudly, "it is the only TRUE way to be credible"...they honestly believe that) as they scorch, sear and shred restaurant owners much more often than they compliment them, it is their "BADGE of EGO" they so fondly wish for, since anonymity strips away their "fame", no picture no way to recognize these geniuses, so they have to be content with the fact that people "talk",laugh and chortle about their latest addition to their gastronomic "trash heap". They try and build their reputation off the sweat, toil and hard work of those that have the cajones to "put it out there" for all to see, feel, touch (with gloves I hope)hopefully consume and yes even critique. Sad but it is the life they choose. I would like to add this little caviate...NOT ALL restaurant reviewers are weasels....there are some decent ones out there...I just can't remember who they are, and that is good.
This blog is not about the Review Weasels this time! It is about a more insidious creature skulking around the culinary world....the dreaded "food snob".
Believe it or not, the "food snob" is in my opinion WORSE than the Review Weasels....they are even further below contempt, to me, than the aforementioned RW's. Thanks to the internet the food snobs are becoming more emboldened. As "food snobs" watch their "food snob" buddies get and find more "screen time", they feel that THEY should gain equal or greater recognition by sharing "their genius" with their very small world. "Food snobs" are the self proclaimed "gastronomic geniuses" with their only credentials (most of the time)being, "they eat out a lot" most of the time by themselves or in very small "food snob" packs. The "food snob" is the one that rips, tears and snarls at anything they don't agree with reviewer or fellow threader alike, THEY decide who should or should not be reviewed, THEY rip the reviewers and write the most vitriolic names, and yes, they are known to only a select few by their REAL names, the few being like minded "snobs". They sneer with contempt at almost anything that isn't in "their opinion" upscale, they laugh with contempt at most any restaurant that doesn't plate properly...the dreaded "food snob" is beginning to believe that they are "credible" that they are worth listening too, that, my friends is why I am dragging them out of their sleazy hiding spots behind their little screens and dragging them kicking and shrieking into the purity of the light, the light of fairness and revelation.
Food snobs cheer plating and small portions with HUGE prices...because that is "UPSCALE. Oh yes, they even have their own cutesy jargon, their cool hip IM acronyms....they've got it all baby....
They will spew forth all of the above with great relish, oh yes, the above and so much more....all from the security blanket of their tiny little screens "sending" their ugliness across the airwaves nightly (or whenever the great unwashed dares to question their favorite "resto").... I often wonder, what would "food snobs" REALLY say or do if they had to tell their bilge to someone face-to-face. I'll never know, because "food snobs" never will. It would be fun to see!
"Food snobs" opinions may actually be accurate at times, seldom, but at times. Their postings may even be witty, rarely, but you will always know who the "food snobs" are, for they will post to the world and proclaim to everyone of their genius...after all they eat out more than you do... "almost every nite". They will spew forth from their little screens and then, they will post their web name....proudly.
Y'all know who you are and we all know who they are (at least by screen name)...so I offer this "suggestion".
Why not tell people WHERE to go and why...not WHERE not to go with nastiness.
Come out from your murky shadows....TELL PEOPLE proudly who you are, state your "opinions" (try using the word SUGGESTIONS...it goes a lot further)to the owners, chefs, servers or other patrons, be helpful not hateful, be a true reviewer NOT a negative critiquer. Take responsibility for your actions and try to help the owner AND the consumer. Bring something POSITIVE to the "plate".
For if you do, you will rise out of the murky depths of sleaziness and breathe in the fresh-air of fairness, it will feel oh so good....try it, and let me know who you are. I'd be honored to know you. I will welcome you with open arms to the "positive"-side of our industry and you will become welcome anywhere....come scattered, smothered or chunked...I'll leave the light on for ya. And I won't care what "resto" you like....honest!
Respectfully submitted,
Fatman
Kevin Jenkins
Host
Chef and the Fatman
You may speak to me face-to-face at a weekly public appearance near you. It's on our appearance page.
We started our reviews as a on-air "response" to the bevy of sarcastic, bashing, nasty, skulking and ego driven reviewers that I had been exposed to over the years. The "Food Weasels" as I refer to them are the spineless jellyfish that hide behind their anonymity (claiming loudly, "it is the only TRUE way to be credible"...they honestly believe that) as they scorch, sear and shred restaurant owners much more often than they compliment them, it is their "BADGE of EGO" they so fondly wish for, since anonymity strips away their "fame", no picture no way to recognize these geniuses, so they have to be content with the fact that people "talk",laugh and chortle about their latest addition to their gastronomic "trash heap". They try and build their reputation off the sweat, toil and hard work of those that have the cajones to "put it out there" for all to see, feel, touch (with gloves I hope)hopefully consume and yes even critique. Sad but it is the life they choose. I would like to add this little caviate...NOT ALL restaurant reviewers are weasels....there are some decent ones out there...I just can't remember who they are, and that is good.
This blog is not about the Review Weasels this time! It is about a more insidious creature skulking around the culinary world....the dreaded "food snob".
Believe it or not, the "food snob" is in my opinion WORSE than the Review Weasels....they are even further below contempt, to me, than the aforementioned RW's. Thanks to the internet the food snobs are becoming more emboldened. As "food snobs" watch their "food snob" buddies get and find more "screen time", they feel that THEY should gain equal or greater recognition by sharing "their genius" with their very small world. "Food snobs" are the self proclaimed "gastronomic geniuses" with their only credentials (most of the time)being, "they eat out a lot" most of the time by themselves or in very small "food snob" packs. The "food snob" is the one that rips, tears and snarls at anything they don't agree with reviewer or fellow threader alike, THEY decide who should or should not be reviewed, THEY rip the reviewers and write the most vitriolic names, and yes, they are known to only a select few by their REAL names, the few being like minded "snobs". They sneer with contempt at almost anything that isn't in "their opinion" upscale, they laugh with contempt at most any restaurant that doesn't plate properly...the dreaded "food snob" is beginning to believe that they are "credible" that they are worth listening too, that, my friends is why I am dragging them out of their sleazy hiding spots behind their little screens and dragging them kicking and shrieking into the purity of the light, the light of fairness and revelation.
Food snobs cheer plating and small portions with HUGE prices...because that is "UPSCALE. Oh yes, they even have their own cutesy jargon, their cool hip IM acronyms....they've got it all baby....
They will spew forth all of the above with great relish, oh yes, the above and so much more....all from the security blanket of their tiny little screens "sending" their ugliness across the airwaves nightly (or whenever the great unwashed dares to question their favorite "resto").... I often wonder, what would "food snobs" REALLY say or do if they had to tell their bilge to someone face-to-face. I'll never know, because "food snobs" never will. It would be fun to see!
"Food snobs" opinions may actually be accurate at times, seldom, but at times. Their postings may even be witty, rarely, but you will always know who the "food snobs" are, for they will post to the world and proclaim to everyone of their genius...after all they eat out more than you do... "almost every nite". They will spew forth from their little screens and then, they will post their web name....proudly.
Y'all know who you are and we all know who they are (at least by screen name)...so I offer this "suggestion".
Why not tell people WHERE to go and why...not WHERE not to go with nastiness.
Come out from your murky shadows....TELL PEOPLE proudly who you are, state your "opinions" (try using the word SUGGESTIONS...it goes a lot further)to the owners, chefs, servers or other patrons, be helpful not hateful, be a true reviewer NOT a negative critiquer. Take responsibility for your actions and try to help the owner AND the consumer. Bring something POSITIVE to the "plate".
For if you do, you will rise out of the murky depths of sleaziness and breathe in the fresh-air of fairness, it will feel oh so good....try it, and let me know who you are. I'd be honored to know you. I will welcome you with open arms to the "positive"-side of our industry and you will become welcome anywhere....come scattered, smothered or chunked...I'll leave the light on for ya. And I won't care what "resto" you like....honest!
Respectfully submitted,
Fatman
Kevin Jenkins
Host
Chef and the Fatman
You may speak to me face-to-face at a weekly public appearance near you. It's on our appearance page.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Life is good, in Cordele, GA
It is with a fond farewell that I bid adieu to the 58Th Annual Watermelon Festival in Cordele GA (about 3:15 minutes South of Woodstock GA). This year was in many ways a milestone for me and the the show.
It was the Official Release of our first Cookbook, Chef and the Fatman Red, White and Blue Collar Cookin', our first book signing, the first Watermelon Festival for young 1 yr old Lindsay aka "little blob" as I affectionately refer to her as (Mike and Chris Bresnan's offspring) it was a festival milestone (our fourth official trip to the same event) in our five year on-air history and yes, the first time I had a chance to eat some AWESOME BBQ at Smoakies on Cemetery LN. I had my first interview with a local media legend...Phil Streetman (who had already interviewed me five times in the last four years) who has spent the last 48 years on local radio and television, bringing locals a "little good news today" like I am sure Anne Murray would be proud of, this might be Phil's last year covering the Festival, I know he will be sorely missed not only for his obvious love for the Festival but for his true "American Spirit" that drove him every day (three interviews a day 7 days a week) to find the "good news" (which is so much harder).
Ah, so many firsts, although memorable, it was the constants that really made me feel whole again. The incredible friendliness of the people of Cordele everyone saying hello, hi, how are ya? (and meaning it), Monica Simmons (the President of the Cordele/Crsip County Chamber of Commerce) running crazy but gettin er done! It was dinner at the Daphne Lodge and the fabulous fried pickles, drinking a couple of ice cold beers on our little deck outside the very fine Best Western on a warm balmy Cordlele evening. The extreme triple digit heat index on the show set in cozy Watermelon Park, it was Watermelon Queens singing country classics, and the town crooners singing God Bless America. It's watermelon eating contests viewed by hundreds of happy onlookers cheering on their favorite "slogger" (name for contestant), kids coming up for air with watermelon juice covering them from head-to-toe and no mother caring. It's guys and gals of all ages and social strata working very hard to catch the wind as their watermelon seed comes flying out of their mouths, delighting the crowds but making every "spitter" take note of techniques used and making sure the judges count every inch but giving none.
Yes, Doc Hollywood can have his "squash festival" it looked nice, as nice as Hollywood could make it, but for me, give me Cordele Watemelons (the sweetest watermelon in the country...it's the soil you know), the 59Th Annual Cordele Watermelon Festival and the REALITY of that hot summer weekend next year, all the firsts and all of the constants that I will be experiencing with such relish, and....I'll be happy, happy to just "spit one" for the team and remember how lucky I am to be in Cordele GA for the 59th Annual Watermelon Festival.
Then all will truly be at peace with my world.
Thank you Cordele!
Fats
It was the Official Release of our first Cookbook, Chef and the Fatman Red, White and Blue Collar Cookin', our first book signing, the first Watermelon Festival for young 1 yr old Lindsay aka "little blob" as I affectionately refer to her as (Mike and Chris Bresnan's offspring) it was a festival milestone (our fourth official trip to the same event) in our five year on-air history and yes, the first time I had a chance to eat some AWESOME BBQ at Smoakies on Cemetery LN. I had my first interview with a local media legend...Phil Streetman (who had already interviewed me five times in the last four years) who has spent the last 48 years on local radio and television, bringing locals a "little good news today" like I am sure Anne Murray would be proud of, this might be Phil's last year covering the Festival, I know he will be sorely missed not only for his obvious love for the Festival but for his true "American Spirit" that drove him every day (three interviews a day 7 days a week) to find the "good news" (which is so much harder).
Ah, so many firsts, although memorable, it was the constants that really made me feel whole again. The incredible friendliness of the people of Cordele everyone saying hello, hi, how are ya? (and meaning it), Monica Simmons (the President of the Cordele/Crsip County Chamber of Commerce) running crazy but gettin er done! It was dinner at the Daphne Lodge and the fabulous fried pickles, drinking a couple of ice cold beers on our little deck outside the very fine Best Western on a warm balmy Cordlele evening. The extreme triple digit heat index on the show set in cozy Watermelon Park, it was Watermelon Queens singing country classics, and the town crooners singing God Bless America. It's watermelon eating contests viewed by hundreds of happy onlookers cheering on their favorite "slogger" (name for contestant), kids coming up for air with watermelon juice covering them from head-to-toe and no mother caring. It's guys and gals of all ages and social strata working very hard to catch the wind as their watermelon seed comes flying out of their mouths, delighting the crowds but making every "spitter" take note of techniques used and making sure the judges count every inch but giving none.
Yes, Doc Hollywood can have his "squash festival" it looked nice, as nice as Hollywood could make it, but for me, give me Cordele Watemelons (the sweetest watermelon in the country...it's the soil you know), the 59Th Annual Cordele Watermelon Festival and the REALITY of that hot summer weekend next year, all the firsts and all of the constants that I will be experiencing with such relish, and....I'll be happy, happy to just "spit one" for the team and remember how lucky I am to be in Cordele GA for the 59th Annual Watermelon Festival.
Then all will truly be at peace with my world.
Thank you Cordele!
Fats
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Salt and Pepper.....Why is it so difficult?
On this beautiful warm sunny day in Georgia, when everything seems right with the world, I feel obligated to raise a concern with restaurant owners in order to make my day even better. Owners it's your salt and pepper shakers, those little conniving containers that have caused me grief yet again, this morning, and it's time for me to make MY day even better by telling you about it!
I don't know, maybe it's me, but whenever I go into a restaurant and reach for the salt and pepper shaker I feel like a real crap-shoot is about to begin, will I, or won't I, have to take the lid off the shakers in order to season my food!
I challenge you friends to go into a decent restaurant or most any restaurant for that matter and use the salt and pepper shakers without having to take the top off, go ahead try it ( I know most of you know where I am going with this). You shake, you shake harder, then you bang and then...you take the lid off (those holes in the container are ALWAYS to small).
Oh, I know there are those of you out there that are more physically fit than I (probably 90%), and that you truly enjoy the shaking, banging and the eventual aerobic workout that you receive before you are blessed with a "dash" of either or both, to you, I have nothing to say.
For me, I just want to pick up the shaker and with minimal effort apply my condiments and eat on...but no, most restaurants feel incumbent upon themselves to create this challenge for me and mine, and to you I say...SHAME.
I often ponder as to why it is that the nicer the restaurant, the smaller the openings on their shakers? I guess it follows right along with the nicer the plating, the smaller the portions the smaller the portions , the higher the price. I get it....you are looking out for me, thanks, but no thanks.
Owners, why not take a moment and "walk in my moccasins" as the great Charles Carnegie once wrote and shake your shakers baby, then please make sure those shakers that go on your tables are dispensing with ease instead of causing us all of the aforementioned hassles and the eventual opening of the lids and inevitable pouring out to much condiment ruining, your culinary delights.
Step up, be a leader in your industry...shake it one tiiiiime for US, your customer.
Make our dining experience juuuust a little more memorable, we would appreciate it.
In return, maybe we won't be as disgruntled with your smaller portions and nicer plating, maybe just maybe, we won't grumble so much about the sticker shock....maybe.
I finish with this side note: I cannot guarantee to silence the grumbling of my 1/2 empty stomach, from the weenie portions you have plated so beautifully and I am still unable to control the chirping of the crickets coming from my completely empty wallet, for that, I humbly apologize!
I don't know, maybe it's me, but whenever I go into a restaurant and reach for the salt and pepper shaker I feel like a real crap-shoot is about to begin, will I, or won't I, have to take the lid off the shakers in order to season my food!
I challenge you friends to go into a decent restaurant or most any restaurant for that matter and use the salt and pepper shakers without having to take the top off, go ahead try it ( I know most of you know where I am going with this). You shake, you shake harder, then you bang and then...you take the lid off (those holes in the container are ALWAYS to small).
Oh, I know there are those of you out there that are more physically fit than I (probably 90%), and that you truly enjoy the shaking, banging and the eventual aerobic workout that you receive before you are blessed with a "dash" of either or both, to you, I have nothing to say.
For me, I just want to pick up the shaker and with minimal effort apply my condiments and eat on...but no, most restaurants feel incumbent upon themselves to create this challenge for me and mine, and to you I say...SHAME.
I often ponder as to why it is that the nicer the restaurant, the smaller the openings on their shakers? I guess it follows right along with the nicer the plating, the smaller the portions the smaller the portions , the higher the price. I get it....you are looking out for me, thanks, but no thanks.
Owners, why not take a moment and "walk in my moccasins" as the great Charles Carnegie once wrote and shake your shakers baby, then please make sure those shakers that go on your tables are dispensing with ease instead of causing us all of the aforementioned hassles and the eventual opening of the lids and inevitable pouring out to much condiment ruining, your culinary delights.
Step up, be a leader in your industry...shake it one tiiiiime for US, your customer.
Make our dining experience juuuust a little more memorable, we would appreciate it.
In return, maybe we won't be as disgruntled with your smaller portions and nicer plating, maybe just maybe, we won't grumble so much about the sticker shock....maybe.
I finish with this side note: I cannot guarantee to silence the grumbling of my 1/2 empty stomach, from the weenie portions you have plated so beautifully and I am still unable to control the chirping of the crickets coming from my completely empty wallet, for that, I humbly apologize!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Try picking some blackberries.....
With the stress of cheffing on the show for the first time under my belt, and, with the final (hopefully) edits for our new book completed, and Father's Day over at my shop completed for another year, all I can say is that it was a "stressful week".
Soooo, I grabbed a plastic bag and headed out early yesterday morning to ....pick blackberries.
As a kid this time of year was great, blackberries on cereal, blackberries just plain and oh, on homemade ice cream and the homemade cobblers, well, you get the idea.
The stress of the week just melted away like a fine scoop of that homemade ice cream on a hot summer day and the berries (small this year due to the dry conditions of N. GA.) just continued to mound up in my bag.
I wondered as people drove by, some smiling, some frowning some just looking, well, indifferent, I wondered, that if I could just get a plastic bag in their hands on this beautiful sunny, sultry Sunday morning in beautiful N. GA, with the dew of the early morning making those black jewels stand out beautifully, against their equally beautiful but not so ripe crimson bothers and sisters, just beggin to be picked. I wondered if all of those folks could have joined me on this Father's Day journey, would it be as memorable, happy, stress relieving and yes, a little nostalgic for them as it had been for me? I think, no I am sure it would have.
So please, just grab a bag, head out to your favorite picking spot (keep a vigilant eye out for roadside harvest spots during the week) by yourself or better yet, with the ones you love, and just pick blackberries for awhile....don't mind the thorns or the chiggers (we didn't as kids), juuuust pick and think..... cobbler, ice cream and then do what all great chefs do....taste along the way, make sure there OK!
Oh, your hands will be stained, but that's OK too, because those stains tell the world that you stopped and picked some blackberries....they'll smile and they'll understand!
Fats
Soooo, I grabbed a plastic bag and headed out early yesterday morning to ....pick blackberries.
As a kid this time of year was great, blackberries on cereal, blackberries just plain and oh, on homemade ice cream and the homemade cobblers, well, you get the idea.
The stress of the week just melted away like a fine scoop of that homemade ice cream on a hot summer day and the berries (small this year due to the dry conditions of N. GA.) just continued to mound up in my bag.
I wondered as people drove by, some smiling, some frowning some just looking, well, indifferent, I wondered, that if I could just get a plastic bag in their hands on this beautiful sunny, sultry Sunday morning in beautiful N. GA, with the dew of the early morning making those black jewels stand out beautifully, against their equally beautiful but not so ripe crimson bothers and sisters, just beggin to be picked. I wondered if all of those folks could have joined me on this Father's Day journey, would it be as memorable, happy, stress relieving and yes, a little nostalgic for them as it had been for me? I think, no I am sure it would have.
So please, just grab a bag, head out to your favorite picking spot (keep a vigilant eye out for roadside harvest spots during the week) by yourself or better yet, with the ones you love, and just pick blackberries for awhile....don't mind the thorns or the chiggers (we didn't as kids), juuuust pick and think..... cobbler, ice cream and then do what all great chefs do....taste along the way, make sure there OK!
Oh, your hands will be stained, but that's OK too, because those stains tell the world that you stopped and picked some blackberries....they'll smile and they'll understand!
Fats
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Service, it's all about COMMUNICATION!
SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) and I very recently ate at a restaurant the we have enjoyed the first two times we have eaten there,however, the last trip was a service nightmare. I only mention the following as a guide for servers and customers. (On our show, we have reviewed and reported on over 175 restaurants in 5 cities.)
We were greeted very well as soon as we walked in (by a rather tall pleasant brunette), we were told there was a 20-30 minute wait (very good COMMUNICATION)! We were asked if we would like to sit at the bar, we chose to, and a few minutes before we ordered our drinks we were told a table would be ready shortly, the hostess then asked if we would like to wait and order our drinks from our table instead(EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION).
We were seated at 6:25 pm with silverware and menus placed in front of us....then things/COMMUNICATION broke down, horribly. (Note: Hostesses need to COMMUNICATE with servers to let them know someone is seated in there area....this is just a suggestion, but when practiced it helps alleviate problems like the one soon to be described...I do not know if this was done or not...no blame here, just a suggestion)
We were TOTALLY IGNORED by everyone (Note: at least 3-4 staffers cruised our area the whole time....bussers you can COMMUNICATE too, let the server know someone is at there table) till approximately 6:43 (at the same time I went up to find the hostess to inquire as to what server we are supposed to have).
Now, the server that was waiting the table behind and to the side of us did a nice job of taking care of HIS tables but could have cared less about ours (Note to servers: If you see a table that is not yours that has obviously been missed ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE BEEN SERVED then HELP THEM...I know it's not your station, or your tip, however you need to COMMUNICATE that a customer needs assistance...really. If they do not need anything I assure you they will appreciate the COMMUNICATION). I digress.
The hostess (NOT the same one that seated us) seemed genuinely concerned when I told her of my dilemma and she followed me back to my table where we both saw a server had finally arrived....as soon as she saw the server, and, before I could say anything she took off and went back to her station....(Note: Let the owner or GM know right away that there is a service issue....let them decide what to do, but, let them know....COMMUNICATE).
Now our server came up cheerful (like we had just been seated), knew his menu fairly well and asked us what we would like, we ordered our drinks...they came out in about 5 minutes...OK I guess, then we ordered our apps and said we would order main course when apps came out...apps took about 20 minutes during which time we never saw our server again, except, to run food and drink to the table behind us while our glasses and bread dip lay barren. SWMBO finally took it upon herself to go and get refills, yes my wife went and got our refills, our server came back shortly AFTER she got our refills and asked if we needed anything. Hmmmm, we have full glasses and no bread dip (a signature item) what would you think, why would you ask if I needed something... the dip plate is EMPTY let me know your going to fill it...don't wait for me to ask you!....well you get the picture. (Note: Servers need to follow up at least twice between courses to check water, and whatever....COMMUNICATE with your customer, let them know you care and are there for them, let them know generally what the disposition of there food is....show them the love baby). When the app finally made it out, the risotto and scallops were very flavorful but lukewarm at best. (Note: Now, nobody new that our apps were lukewarm because our server never asked us.... COMMUNICATE, ask your customer how there food is within a reasonable time after they receive it...don't be afraid, it's OK if it's not right, this gives YOU the chance to fix it and become a hero and possibly another 5%, not asking, makes you the goat).
Finally, someone COMMUNICATED with us, as the OWNER/Chef/Expediter came to our table and asked how everything was....we COMMUNICATED back to him our concerns. He was noticeably shaken, and I told him I would send him and e-mail with my concerns. The service nightmares ended right then-and-there!
We like and respect the owner of this establishment, so we COMMUNICATED our concerns to hopefully help him, his staff and his business.
When you get bad service or have major concerns it is your OBLIGATION to COMMUNICATE those concerns to management and or owners. For then, can you truly say, you have done your part at being a good customer. Then, observe how the management/owner team reacts to your concerns, that will speak volumes as to what kind of team they really are. The true test of a team/restaurants quality, is not necessarily how things are handled when everything is right, but, how the team handles problems when things go wrong....that is the true test.
A good chef and good food can be destroyed by poor service....conversely, so-so food can seem much better when very good customer service/COMMUNICATION is practiced.
Try a Waffle House sometime....we kinda like the service (overall)....and the scattered, smothered, covered and chunked....
Fats
We were greeted very well as soon as we walked in (by a rather tall pleasant brunette), we were told there was a 20-30 minute wait (very good COMMUNICATION)! We were asked if we would like to sit at the bar, we chose to, and a few minutes before we ordered our drinks we were told a table would be ready shortly, the hostess then asked if we would like to wait and order our drinks from our table instead(EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION).
We were seated at 6:25 pm with silverware and menus placed in front of us....then things/COMMUNICATION broke down, horribly. (Note: Hostesses need to COMMUNICATE with servers to let them know someone is seated in there area....this is just a suggestion, but when practiced it helps alleviate problems like the one soon to be described...I do not know if this was done or not...no blame here, just a suggestion)
We were TOTALLY IGNORED by everyone (Note: at least 3-4 staffers cruised our area the whole time....bussers you can COMMUNICATE too, let the server know someone is at there table) till approximately 6:43 (at the same time I went up to find the hostess to inquire as to what server we are supposed to have).
Now, the server that was waiting the table behind and to the side of us did a nice job of taking care of HIS tables but could have cared less about ours (Note to servers: If you see a table that is not yours that has obviously been missed ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE BEEN SERVED then HELP THEM...I know it's not your station, or your tip, however you need to COMMUNICATE that a customer needs assistance...really. If they do not need anything I assure you they will appreciate the COMMUNICATION). I digress.
The hostess (NOT the same one that seated us) seemed genuinely concerned when I told her of my dilemma and she followed me back to my table where we both saw a server had finally arrived....as soon as she saw the server, and, before I could say anything she took off and went back to her station....(Note: Let the owner or GM know right away that there is a service issue....let them decide what to do, but, let them know....COMMUNICATE).
Now our server came up cheerful (like we had just been seated), knew his menu fairly well and asked us what we would like, we ordered our drinks...they came out in about 5 minutes...OK I guess, then we ordered our apps and said we would order main course when apps came out...apps took about 20 minutes during which time we never saw our server again, except, to run food and drink to the table behind us while our glasses and bread dip lay barren. SWMBO finally took it upon herself to go and get refills, yes my wife went and got our refills, our server came back shortly AFTER she got our refills and asked if we needed anything. Hmmmm, we have full glasses and no bread dip (a signature item) what would you think, why would you ask if I needed something... the dip plate is EMPTY let me know your going to fill it...don't wait for me to ask you!....well you get the picture. (Note: Servers need to follow up at least twice between courses to check water, and whatever....COMMUNICATE with your customer, let them know you care and are there for them, let them know generally what the disposition of there food is....show them the love baby). When the app finally made it out, the risotto and scallops were very flavorful but lukewarm at best. (Note: Now, nobody new that our apps were lukewarm because our server never asked us.... COMMUNICATE, ask your customer how there food is within a reasonable time after they receive it...don't be afraid, it's OK if it's not right, this gives YOU the chance to fix it and become a hero and possibly another 5%, not asking, makes you the goat).
Finally, someone COMMUNICATED with us, as the OWNER/Chef/Expediter came to our table and asked how everything was....we COMMUNICATED back to him our concerns. He was noticeably shaken, and I told him I would send him and e-mail with my concerns. The service nightmares ended right then-and-there!
We like and respect the owner of this establishment, so we COMMUNICATED our concerns to hopefully help him, his staff and his business.
When you get bad service or have major concerns it is your OBLIGATION to COMMUNICATE those concerns to management and or owners. For then, can you truly say, you have done your part at being a good customer. Then, observe how the management/owner team reacts to your concerns, that will speak volumes as to what kind of team they really are. The true test of a team/restaurants quality, is not necessarily how things are handled when everything is right, but, how the team handles problems when things go wrong....that is the true test.
A good chef and good food can be destroyed by poor service....conversely, so-so food can seem much better when very good customer service/COMMUNICATION is practiced.
Try a Waffle House sometime....we kinda like the service (overall)....and the scattered, smothered, covered and chunked....
Fats
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Go ahead...Try it....You might be surprised.
Well the show is in the "can" as the old axiom states and yes, I survived. Having created and been the host of Chef and the Fatman the Blue Collar Chefs for the last 4 1/2 years, I had a feeling, that it would be inevitable, that the stars would align in such a way, that I would have to Chef. They did and I did. I had great trepidation about Cheffing as I am not really anything more than an above average part-time "slinger". Trying to "create" the recipes, present the recipes, keep the banter with the audience, stay on point, plug the place and the rubs and cookbooks, stay on-time, provide culinary info and entertain people that would need to stand for 2 hours kinda concerned me.
Heck, it's no different for me than it is for others who are faced with similar situations of being put into the "spotlight" without wanting or expecting it.
I had 3 BIG things working for me, Chef Mike a steady hand at cooking (his two nephews BJ and Chris) secondly, a GREAT engineer that new how "to get my attention" and finally a crowd that was willing to accept anything we said.
This is not too dissimilar to what almost everyone faces at one point or another in their life....your turn in the "unexpected spotlight"....think about those around you, you've probably got a great helping hand (you may not know you even have), a support structure ( your friends and colleagues) that understands a little of your trepidation but WANT to help you succeed and a "crowd" (everyone else around you) that is willing to believe in YOU.
Take the challenge, grab the friggin spotlight....meet it head-on, here are my suggestions to make this moment work ( I want you to succeed!)....organize your game plan (critical), surround yourself with great people and dive in with confidence (although, a little trepidation is cool, trepidation can be an ally) believe that everyone that COUNTS around you will support and work hard to make your "trial" a positive one.
When it works (and it will) baby, you feel on top of world....it really rocks. Bathe yourself in the glow of success, it is even sweeter than you thought....indulge in the moment....Then, THANK GOD for the people around you and remember to thank them again-and-again. It just feels good and is the absolute right thing to do.
Go ahead....try it, take the step into the unknown when the moment is thrust upon you...FEAR NOT...leave that comfort zone (it will be OK)...believe baby, BELIEVE in YOU and everyone AROUND YOU and you WILL be GLAD you took that step on the "wild side".
I did, and, I'm so thankful for everyone that made this moment feel so good, Chef Mike, Engineer Karen, Chris and BJ, the BGE and most of all the crowd that stood there for 3 hours I kid you not....3 hours.....standing, laughing, cutting up and asking for autographs throughout,....Y'all ROCK baby, it really does not get more humbling than that.
Thanks!
Fats
Heck, it's no different for me than it is for others who are faced with similar situations of being put into the "spotlight" without wanting or expecting it.
I had 3 BIG things working for me, Chef Mike a steady hand at cooking (his two nephews BJ and Chris) secondly, a GREAT engineer that new how "to get my attention" and finally a crowd that was willing to accept anything we said.
This is not too dissimilar to what almost everyone faces at one point or another in their life....your turn in the "unexpected spotlight"....think about those around you, you've probably got a great helping hand (you may not know you even have), a support structure ( your friends and colleagues) that understands a little of your trepidation but WANT to help you succeed and a "crowd" (everyone else around you) that is willing to believe in YOU.
Take the challenge, grab the friggin spotlight....meet it head-on, here are my suggestions to make this moment work ( I want you to succeed!)....organize your game plan (critical), surround yourself with great people and dive in with confidence (although, a little trepidation is cool, trepidation can be an ally) believe that everyone that COUNTS around you will support and work hard to make your "trial" a positive one.
When it works (and it will) baby, you feel on top of world....it really rocks. Bathe yourself in the glow of success, it is even sweeter than you thought....indulge in the moment....Then, THANK GOD for the people around you and remember to thank them again-and-again. It just feels good and is the absolute right thing to do.
Go ahead....try it, take the step into the unknown when the moment is thrust upon you...FEAR NOT...leave that comfort zone (it will be OK)...believe baby, BELIEVE in YOU and everyone AROUND YOU and you WILL be GLAD you took that step on the "wild side".
I did, and, I'm so thankful for everyone that made this moment feel so good, Chef Mike, Engineer Karen, Chris and BJ, the BGE and most of all the crowd that stood there for 3 hours I kid you not....3 hours.....standing, laughing, cutting up and asking for autographs throughout,....Y'all ROCK baby, it really does not get more humbling than that.
Thanks!
Fats
Thursday, June 14, 2007
I love it and Monti gets it!
A couple of weeks ago I went into a new restaurant in my hometown of Woodstock GA (as we refer to on the show as the "culinary black hole" of the South) named Monti's Express.
This is a breakfast and lunch place that is small and rather unassuming. This is a place that GETS IT. You don't have to have the biggest menu, the most items, the foofiest platings....just serve up good food everyone can recognize, good portions for a fair price and serve it hot and quick. HELLO how difficult can that be? CIA grad and owner Chef Monti truly understands.
Baby it ain't fancy but his Monti's 5 minute breakfast sandwich ROCKS, 3 eggs scrambled, good quality bacon a nice cheese on a Kaiser Roll (or plain white for me) a BIG sandwich with a container of OJ and a drink, made fresh to order in 5 minutes or less, $4.99. God love you Monti. Monti has other free standing locations in NJ and I think maybe in FL.
This CIA chef from Jersey GETS IT and I LOVE IT. Woodstock, your seeing light at the end of the black hole. Thanks MONTI!
This is a breakfast and lunch place that is small and rather unassuming. This is a place that GETS IT. You don't have to have the biggest menu, the most items, the foofiest platings....just serve up good food everyone can recognize, good portions for a fair price and serve it hot and quick. HELLO how difficult can that be? CIA grad and owner Chef Monti truly understands.
Baby it ain't fancy but his Monti's 5 minute breakfast sandwich ROCKS, 3 eggs scrambled, good quality bacon a nice cheese on a Kaiser Roll (or plain white for me) a BIG sandwich with a container of OJ and a drink, made fresh to order in 5 minutes or less, $4.99. God love you Monti. Monti has other free standing locations in NJ and I think maybe in FL.
This CIA chef from Jersey GETS IT and I LOVE IT. Woodstock, your seeing light at the end of the black hole. Thanks MONTI!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
The Cookbook!
After 4 1/2 years of airing our show, a cookbook was the inevitable outcome. We all agreed that this was worth the effort. We gave birth to "Chef and the Fatman Red, White and Blue (Collar) Cookin'"
If I knew then what I knew now....
After 2 1/2 years of sweat and toil I have learned so much. Words like, Word, Adobe, PDF and CONVERSION, 81/2x11, 9x6, 1 inch, 1/2 inch MARGINS.....CONVERSION again. I think you get the drift.
Now, I am a very hands-on person, who doesn't delegate well. I have taken it upon myself to speed up the finish and bring it home....I have.....I think FINALLY brought it home.
Only time will tell.
The pre-releases (about 70 copies) sold for 1/2 price (with errors) just to get a feel, and, the feeling was very good.
The FINAL change to the FINAL change has just been submitted. We, meaning the team can take great pride in the finished product. Yes, I did over 200 hours of editing, tweaking and "messin" not counting the other hours Erik and Karen put in, but I think I can say it was worth it now....I think!
Please, if you ever think of doing a cookbook.....let me know! I can save you literally hundreds of hours and a number of strokes. PLEASE, e-mail me and let me save you from the HELL of your first cookbook.
If I knew then what I knew now....
After 2 1/2 years of sweat and toil I have learned so much. Words like, Word, Adobe, PDF and CONVERSION, 81/2x11, 9x6, 1 inch, 1/2 inch MARGINS.....CONVERSION again. I think you get the drift.
Now, I am a very hands-on person, who doesn't delegate well. I have taken it upon myself to speed up the finish and bring it home....I have.....I think FINALLY brought it home.
Only time will tell.
The pre-releases (about 70 copies) sold for 1/2 price (with errors) just to get a feel, and, the feeling was very good.
The FINAL change to the FINAL change has just been submitted. We, meaning the team can take great pride in the finished product. Yes, I did over 200 hours of editing, tweaking and "messin" not counting the other hours Erik and Karen put in, but I think I can say it was worth it now....I think!
Please, if you ever think of doing a cookbook.....let me know! I can save you literally hundreds of hours and a number of strokes. PLEASE, e-mail me and let me save you from the HELL of your first cookbook.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Get rid of the red ketchup bottles.....PLEASE
OK, maybe I am a little, well a lot outspoken, but certain things just bother me.....like red ketchup bottles. I don't have a great appreciation for Teresa and now have even less appreciation for another Heinz, the red ketchup bottle.
Between the two of them I don't know which is more annoying!
Restaurant owners....think of US, not YOU, when deciding what ketchup bottle to put on the table.
In a not so very scientific survey of restaurants I frequent (serving ketchup on the tables) within the last couple of months....65% of them with the red bottles were empty or near empty, they looked good and full though.
When polling owners as to why they chose the red bottled Heinz, they felt the bottles "LOOKED better on the table". Of COURSE THEY LOOK BETTER and that makes the owner FEEL better but it does nothing for the CUSTOMER.
Sooooo, I mentioned this to the owner of Bobby G's the Chicago Style Eatery in Alpharetta GA...TRUE Chicago style thin and crispy pizza with REAL Vienna Hot Dogs "Dragged throught the garden" REAL Chicago Style Italian Beef sandwiches "dipped" in his secret "au jus" to die for (a favorite grazing spot of the Fatman) who had the annoying red bottles on the tables of his fine establishment and yes, he (like others) felt the red bottles "looked better", however, he actually polled 10-12 customers (while I was sitting there) and he received a resounding 90%+ that felt they would rather have the bottle they could SEE (if there was enough ketchup) as opposed to guessing the weight of the bottle and then tracking someone down to get more.
The moral is Bobby changed and customers were happier (needless to say he was shocked at the response).
"The servers are supposed to check the condiment bottles regularly" owners remarked in my survey..... and they do..... in "fantasy land", not in reality.
Yes, the red bottles makes servers lives easier, yes they look nicer on the table, but, in reality it is only the customer that suffers....be gone red bottles from Heinz!!!! Let's return to good old fashioned customer service....please. It really does make us happier. I promise. I hope you care enough about us the "great unwashed" (and about 90% of the dining public) to make the change. Unite ketchup loving Public....and I will make you this offer, get a restaurant to take off the red bottles and send me the name, address and web site of your restaurant and I will give them a free plug on-air and on the web site.
Have a happy "Hunts" kinda day!
xoxoxo,
The Fatman
Between the two of them I don't know which is more annoying!
Restaurant owners....think of US, not YOU, when deciding what ketchup bottle to put on the table.
In a not so very scientific survey of restaurants I frequent (serving ketchup on the tables) within the last couple of months....65% of them with the red bottles were empty or near empty, they looked good and full though.
When polling owners as to why they chose the red bottled Heinz, they felt the bottles "LOOKED better on the table". Of COURSE THEY LOOK BETTER and that makes the owner FEEL better but it does nothing for the CUSTOMER.
Sooooo, I mentioned this to the owner of Bobby G's the Chicago Style Eatery in Alpharetta GA...TRUE Chicago style thin and crispy pizza with REAL Vienna Hot Dogs "Dragged throught the garden" REAL Chicago Style Italian Beef sandwiches "dipped" in his secret "au jus" to die for (a favorite grazing spot of the Fatman) who had the annoying red bottles on the tables of his fine establishment and yes, he (like others) felt the red bottles "looked better", however, he actually polled 10-12 customers (while I was sitting there) and he received a resounding 90%+ that felt they would rather have the bottle they could SEE (if there was enough ketchup) as opposed to guessing the weight of the bottle and then tracking someone down to get more.
The moral is Bobby changed and customers were happier (needless to say he was shocked at the response).
"The servers are supposed to check the condiment bottles regularly" owners remarked in my survey..... and they do..... in "fantasy land", not in reality.
Yes, the red bottles makes servers lives easier, yes they look nicer on the table, but, in reality it is only the customer that suffers....be gone red bottles from Heinz!!!! Let's return to good old fashioned customer service....please. It really does make us happier. I promise. I hope you care enough about us the "great unwashed" (and about 90% of the dining public) to make the change. Unite ketchup loving Public....and I will make you this offer, get a restaurant to take off the red bottles and send me the name, address and web site of your restaurant and I will give them a free plug on-air and on the web site.
Have a happy "Hunts" kinda day!
xoxoxo,
The Fatman
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Smoky Falls Lodge
Wow, what a weekend at Smoky Falls...this is the official rest stop for Karen and myself. Our friends Eric, Lydia and son Clint make this a true HOME for us and all of their guests. We got to totally relax and Eric and I got to play in the kitchen tweaking some new and old recipes from the Chef and the Fatman Show, Karen got to sleep....a bunch.
We had 2 inches of snow over the weekend and it was bitterly cold...but what the heck we were in Maggie Valley NC 3200 ft up in the Smokies. The fire places were roaring, the kitchen was kickin and the guests really enjoyed the food and their Easter 07 at Smoky Falls Lodge.
Feel free to contact us anytime.
We had 2 inches of snow over the weekend and it was bitterly cold...but what the heck we were in Maggie Valley NC 3200 ft up in the Smokies. The fire places were roaring, the kitchen was kickin and the guests really enjoyed the food and their Easter 07 at Smoky Falls Lodge.
Feel free to contact us anytime.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Chef and The Fat Man - take 1
Friends,
Here's our introduction to blogging. Who knows where this will take us! Have fun! Please feel free to comment!
Fatman
Here's our introduction to blogging. Who knows where this will take us! Have fun! Please feel free to comment!
Fatman
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