My Southern Trinity….what the heck is this!

This last week in New Orleans was AMAZING, inasmuch as I had the opportunity (thanks to Tales of the Cocktail, Fee Brothers, THE Hotel Monteleone, and to Antoine’s Restaurant to experience the completion of the third leg of the THIRD trinity of my life, i.e., the Southern Trinity (a trinity that has really affected, moved, and humbled me). In that magnificent city of New Orleans, the true “heart and soul” of our country, the third leg of the Southern Trinity, the third trinity of my life was most importantly completed. Growing up a good (well kinda) Catholic boy, raised under the outstretched arms of Touchdown Jesus (tough schedule this year but we’re getting better), I was moved early on, by my first of the three fundamental trinities of my life, the Holy Trinity ( the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit), and it has had a fundamental spiritual effect on me throughout my life. I have strayed numerous times, but they have always been there to drag me back from any spiritual abyss. Truly a humbling, yet most valuable, Trinity. The second “Trinity” of incredible effect on me personally was my culinary “trinity.” I realized a little later in my life that cooking was something that really soothed me, gave me great joy, and was the great equalizer…. All of my good looking, single friends at the time may have had the looks, but I could cook, baby, and THAT was a real equalizer! And, while I was really coming into my own culinarily, I was in Louisiana, and thanks to a number of cooks and chefs there, I was introduced to the culinary “trinity” of Louisiana…onions, celery, and green pepper in equal parts. In that regard, I would acknowledge that there are slight variations, but I realized early on that THESE three ingredients were almost always a critical part of most of my culinary adventures. Now, for those who do not have a passion for cooking, you may think… “REALLY? You consider THAT trinity profound?” That’s okay, it’s MY “trinity,” and I am stickin to it! If you have a passion for cooking, I am sure you will understand. Throughout my career, both politically and in radio, I have had the opportunity to meet an unbelievable number of truly GREAT people: President Ronald Reagan, Queen Elizabeth II, Daniel Boulud, and so many others… Each of these luminaries were certainly great in their own way, but, may I introduce you to the THIRD trinity of my life, my Southern Trinity: Silky Sullivan, Jim “JB” Brenner, and Yvonne Alciatore Blount Davis, three VERY different people, but in some important ways so very similar. Most importantly, having met the third member of the “trinity” this past weekend in her (and her family’s) longstanding and wonderful establishment (Antoine’s Restaurant), I knew that this was a special group, a true “trinity” if you will, that I am proud to have recognized, and honored to have been welcomed into. The roots of my Southern Trinity began innocently enough thanks to a mutual friend of ours (TV/Movie producer/director Ed Richardson, of Atlanta), who happened to be in attendance at our Mardi Gras show at THE Hotel Monteleone this year. Ed was kind enough to introduce us to “Memphis in May,” and most importantly, Silky Sullivan, and from there the Southern Trinity was beginning to form. Honestly, I thought this was just going to be another fun show weekend… I had no idea then that this would be the start of a three month period that would conclude with the formation of the third trinity of my life…that of the Southern Trinity. My first contact was with THE KING OF MEMPHIS, King Silky Sullivan, a man who took a humiliating situation in his life to start a career of restaurant/night club building in the charming Southern city of Memphis. Then, through hard work, GREAT PROMOTIONS, and great passion, King Silky (with his ability to surround himself with great people like his manager Dennis and so many others) turned his humble club into an iconic destination place, “Silky O’Sullivan’s” (http://silkyosullivans.com). Such greatness brings many challenges to the “Crown,” and such challenges have cropped up in great abundance over the years, but ALL have paled (and many have failed) over the last forty years. Such an ongoing record of success has been due in large part to Silky’s overwhelming charisma, charm, drive, pride, and most importantly a marketing and promotional mind (even as the King would readily admit the debt he owes to the laser like business acumen and discipline of his indispensable wife, Joellyn). King Silky is unlike ANY person I have ever met. TRULY the other KING of Memphis!!! (May I add that Silky’s kingships are likely more numerous, and greater, than perhaps any human being ever, and I am sure that Guinness should know of him!) In that context, I would suggest that just being in his presence reminds me that a GREAT promotion can truly bring GREAT results: i.e., the kind of results that would make even the great P. T. Barnum a student of King Silky! During that same Memphis in May weekend, I shared the King’s “round table” with a true Southern gentleman, possessing an extremely bright and keen mind (as evidenced by his lifetime membership in Mensa); while also being an excellent writer; an historian of the Civil War, extraordinaire; and a Kentucky Colonel. [Commissions for Kentucky Colonels are bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to their community, state, or the nation.]“JB” shares many thoughts, challenges your mind, and allows you to defend or present your thoughts in a truly Southern gentlemanly way. At the same time, he can regale you with his historical and current thoughts, and as a true Irishman, he does so with GREAT stories that drive a point home in a fun and informative way, always providing you a “point to ponder” moment.… His opinions are never presented in an offensive way, and are ALWAYS presented in a fun, educational, and informative way that makes you feel better and stronger just sitting in his presence. “JB,” James Brenner, is a true gentleman, and a Scholar of both the South and of Ireland, the likes of which I have never met. Finally my “Southern Trinity” was completed this last weekend in the meeting of a true Grande Dame, both of New Orleans’ cultural and culinary scenes, and even more importantly, the Grande Dame of the Puck Fair Goat Festival in Killorglin, Ireland (one of the oldest and most prestigious festivals in all of Ireland!) This amazing soul, Yvonne Alciatore Blount Davis, also happens to be the owner (and the Grande Dame) of one of New Orleans’ most prestigious, well-known, and iconic dining establishments, i.e. Antione’s Restaurant. I had the pleasure to dine as a guest of Yvonne’s at her private table, and then was honored to have a historical/restaurant tour on which she joined us, while adding wonderful stories relating to the historical pictures and memorabilia showed to us by our server and tour guide extraordinaire, “Bradley.” When in the presence of this extraordinary Grande Dame, one realizes what true CLASS really means. With her stylish apparel, her classic “Duke/Duck” [walking stick] by her side, combined with her lilting Southern drawl, Yvonne regaled us with amazing stories of her family’s rich culinary history during the last three centuries. Likewise, she spoke with pride of her father’s, her son’s, and her immediate family’s involvement in maintaining and growing this iconic place to even higher heights, despite the extensive damage inflicted by Katrina. Her delightful narration was presented in a way that, much like their oysters Rockefeller (prepared with NO SPINACH, and actually invented at Antoine’s by Yvonne’s father), or the amazing baked Alaska, you simply begged for more. In providing this informative narration, Yvonne’s intelligence, her charm and wit, her drive and passion (and, yes, a little of her impishness) are clearly present at all times. This amazing package is wrapped in gentility that few have ever witnessed a charm that will lilt you, and an infectious, wondrous, laugh that just engulfs you in happiness…. Upon reflection, it suddenly hit me: this truly represented my Southern Trinity completed…. Silky Sullivan, James “JB” Brenner, and Yvonne Alciatore Blount Davis: i.e., the closest of friends, soul mates, children of the South, and of Ireland; but most importantly, part of a unique “trinity” that took me YEARS to find…my Southern Trinity. This magic moment, the culmination of three meetings of three extraordinary people, HUMBLED me…. I have been able to sit at their ROUND tables and be treated as an equal, never an outsider. I now await the day when the Southern Trinity again forms as one around one table of great food, great drink, and (most importantly) GREAT stories of past glories, and glories yet to come! When that day comes, this humble co-host hopefully will be given a seat and I will report as best as I can…but quite possibly not EVERYTHING that will undoubtedly be carried on during such an enjoyable event. The reasons I write this blog are many: to let these special people know how special they really are, both singly and collectively to me; a reminder to me how fortunate I am to be able to call them friends; and a chance for me to introduce all y’all that reads this to a special Southern Trinity that LIVES and exists…no myth! Like these great people above have done for me, now I challenge YOU to take a moment out of your life, to think of YOUR “trinities,” and think of those three unique things that came together at a time (probably when you least expected it) to affect your life in some similar way. I think this would be what JB might consider a “teachable challenge, suh!” i.e., a challenge that will afford you the opportunity to think, remember, and remind you of very special moments, people, or heck, just ingredients that have had a profound effect on YOUR life! My wish for each and every one of you is that YOU find YOUR Trinity, and that you realize it, embrace it as completely as I have, and that you have the same rich, warm, humbling experience as I have enjoyed (and am enjoying still!) And, if you do, your life will likely be profoundly changed, touched, moved and humbled…. THANK YOU my Southern Trinity….thank you from this humble media person’s heart [“Forever your servant Suhs, and Ma’am”]. One final note: Please do not consider this exposition of “my three trinities” to be in any way a disparagement, or a lack of appreciation of other GREAT moments, or relationships, that I have enjoyed so much in my life… My Sycamore High familia, my NOLA friends, and my Atlanta and Ireland friends most certainly all continue to hold special places in my heart. Nonetheless, trinities are so VERY few, and VERY moving, that they are indeed deserving of the unique status in which I hold them…in my own very humble opinion. My thanks to you for reading my tale, and in every good way, may the Trinity be with you!

I want it MY way and I want it NOW.....

Oh, how many times in the restaurant or service industry have we heard that line...or a variation there of. Well, let me address the restaurant industry as I have a little more recent knowledge of it.
First off, I would like to thank Burger King for providing our society with the concept of "Have it your way". This was a clever, but simple high-end NY ad agency catch phrase but one phrase that has unleashed a generation of uncontrolled, boorish "I want it my ways" into our culture.
I want my sandwich this way, NOT the way that way you make it, I want to switch this for that, I want extra this in PLACE of that, I want a quarter of it this way 1/2 another and 1/4 that way, oh, and I want extra this sauce, and this sauce and I want more fries these aren't enough and I want.....and I want.....and I want....but I DON'T WANT TO PAY ANY EXTRA and tipping is after all up to my discretion...I just want it MY WAY, that's "your job" if you want to keep MY business!
The "I wants" examples above are really NOT all that exaggerated and the numbers of "I wants" are swelling out of control, this is what scares me.
Alas, I truly believe this is an outcropping of our societal lapses. I call it the era of Entitlement....I WANT, I'm entitled.
Believe me my friends this goes much deeper than just an eating joint...the "I wants" are pervasive throughout the service industry and our communities at large, I believe this attitude has flourished because our moral compass is WAY OFF...we have lost our sense of reason, sensibility and shame, we have taken that clever ad agency slogan that simply let people know that they (BK)were offering choices to their burgers and created a NIGHTMARISH group of consumers that have put a horrible and a disturbing unnecessary burden on our industry by suggesting that we all are ENTITLED to what "we want" our way all the time at NO COST.
Now,PLEASE don't confuse the "I wants" with the "would it be possibles". The "I wants" demand, nay, expect WHATEVER demand they want to be met AND to be met at the industries and owners expense, whereas the "would it be possibles" ASK if it would be possible to have and if told no...understand and don't explode or walk out or unleash nasty diatribes...or, perish the thought, the "would it be possibles" will even pay an extra charge for their requests. These my friends the "would it be possibles" are the group we all should applaud, acknowledge and respect...the "would it be possibles" are a group that GETS what our industries do and RESPECTS what our decisions may be...yes, the "would it be possibles" exist in REAL life not just in Grimm's Fairy Tales...for I am a devout "would it be possible" and proud of it.
The "I wants" neither GET IT nor respect the service industry, after all "it is the SERVICE industry" after all, YOU should SERVICE me anyway I demand (now keep it clean)...that's "YOUR JOB"...and "if you don't like it, get out of it" ...the "I wants" NEEDS to be acknowledged also, acknowledged and ridiculed and yes, banished (I know that will never happen but we can dream, HUH?).
I would like to address the "I wants" common phrase "if you don't like it, get out of it" you see "I wants", many of us love and respect our industry and those that "serve" in it...we get it and we KNOW what we are there for and what to do...so we stay in it, despite you, despite your obnoxious and demanding ways...we GET YOU better than you GET YOURSELF...so we SERVE you despite you and most times with a smile...but we are getting tired of you...sooooooo, I offer this suggestion to help SERVE you to becoming a better customer, person, citizen and friend. Because I/we care we take the time to SERVE UP this simple suggestion.
Now my friends, before we get to the exciting suggestion (how about that for a shameless teaser) I would like to remind you that I have identified the "I wants", I have given a number of examples of their "wants", I have even explained why I believe they exist...I have identified the "would it be possibles" and shown their side, now it is my OBLIGATION to offer a suggestion as to how to get rid of these blights on our industry and our society...here goes, are you ready?
I propose that EVERY one of those "I wants" be forced to work ONE WEEK as a service person...ONE WEEK on the other side of their selfish, boorish and obnoxious ways...ONE WEEK to walk in the service persons moccasins( old Indian quote used by Dale Carnegie in our sales course which I took, and proudly won,the coveted "Best of") before they are EVER allowed to walk into ANY restaurant or service industry establishments. Yes, let the "I wants" feel the barbs and arrows slung at servers and owners...let them grovel at their smelly demands...ahhhh, yes...even make them smile and say "SURE". I know the smile may HURT but heck, it will SERVE a higher purpose one day, maybe!

Serve on baby....

The Fatman

p.s. I hope you enjoyed the above blog, I hope you took it in the tongue-in-cheek manner in which I tried to present it. PLEASE before y'all start yammerin', yes, I realize the "I wants" are a small portion of the population but I contend that they are a small group, but this small group was microscopic just 10 years ago...so I want to do my part to prevent them from growing from small to "relatively small".
Call it my way to "serve" my brothas and sistahs of service and humanity as a whole!

HOW DARE YOU…….!

Very recently we ventured into the newest addition to the Woodstock, Ga (culinary black hole of the universe) gastro scene.

At the beginning things seemed ok, the meet, greet and seat went fine. Now we were all understanding that this was a “bar and restaurant” so our expectations were not too high.
The server was fairly new and was pleasant enough.
The appetizers came out and were average at best….so now the fun begins!

When the main courses came out the presenting waitress (PW) was not familiar with who got what, fine, they need to work on that. The PW then went on to get further confused as to what was rare-to medium rare (the only way I can eat meat) and the burnt, butterflied and burnt again style my wife demands (I know…why eat beef). After a few meat cooling minutes I (not the PW) determined who got what (even though my side dish was not on the plate) and was correct. Before leaving the PW quickly assured me that SHE assigned dishes according to the Kitchen Managers assignment..

Shortly after taking care of the tableside confusion we swapped a few tastings around, my friends pork chop was so dry and overcooked he had to spit it out. His wifes “Cajun” pasta was so hot from too much cayenne (I am thinking…cause I wouldn’t try it) that it was almost inedible and the seafood pasta and sauce was a dark pink.

A side note here….Cajun does NOT MEAN KILL YOUR TASTEBUDS HOT! It simply means lots of flavor with nice mouth warmth...a rich blend of numerous seasonings to compliment the dish!

I digress, my dish was fine, cooked fine and eventually receiving my side dish albeit it luke warm (it was only baked beans) my wife’s skewered meat was 1/3 rare, 1/3 medium and 1/3 correct. Upon notifying the waitress she went back to the kitchen, allegedly informed the kitchen manager and promptly returned with a small white plate that my wife was instructed to place her uneaten but cut into pieces on and the kitchen would re-cook the pieces and bring them back to her….YES, this really happened.
I of course refused that debacle and insisted that they REPLACE the pieces with freshly, properly cooked pieces….which of course never happened.

Now the waitress had been informed of our other dish issues and said “OK” and brought us our check. We were charged in full for everything. No manager took any time to stop by our table.

HOW DARE YOU...remind the customer it was the kitchen’s fault the dish assignment got confused. Take ownership and move on….we don’t care who’s fault it was! PLEASE don’t let the customer know this has been happening “fairly frequently tonight”…we don’t care nor do we want to know about anyone else’s concerns.

HOW DARE YOU…bring a little plate back and announce that the kitchen manager will RE-COOK your cold improperly cooked meat! NO YOU WON’T, firstly I do believe it is against the health code, secondly, REPLACE the meat, humbly apologize and move on.

HOW DARE YOU….get presented with all of the above issues and NO MEMBER of management comes to the table. Service 101….Let MANAGEMENT take the heat and solve the issues…servers are not usually trained for such things nor should they be….BE A MANAGER and get out there and SOLVE THE PROBLEM!

HOW DARE YOU….not assign some compensation for the numerous issues above. There were some serious issues that the customer should not have paid full price for!

This is a new restaurant and yes, they had been open only a few weeks but the above concerns were so numerous and egregious that the restaurant needs to know.

It all starts with communication or lack there of! If the kitchen staff is not communicating and doing things properly then the wait staff gets frustrated and angry and then shuts down there communication with management, who then cannot communicate properly with the customer who then communicates quite clearly by NEVER COMING BACK.

I will inform the above establishment of the issues as I hope they can correct and possibly bring a fairly decent restaurant to our troubled city.

The Fatman's Culinary Bill of Rights!

My friends, as I sit here listening to the gentle rains falling upon the mountain top retreat of dear friends (nestled high in the beautiful Smokey Mountains). I ponder this Father's day a little differently this year as in years past, as this is the first year I have had a Father's day without my father being here. It is a sadder day to be sure, and a little less "fun" as in past Father's Days, however, I began thinking of the great things my father had taught and passed down to me over the years...and I began to smile just a little....one particular thought that came to mind this day is his constant reminders as to the importance of EXCELLENT communication.
My father had been a famous and outstanding trial lawyer so it would seem appropriate that his communications skills were honed to a higher level...his constant reminders to me to constantly work to improve mine most assuredly led me down my career path of national speech awards, numerous radio hosting postitions and sales trainer.
So on this well deserved day of salutation to Father's everywhere I thought I would share one of his many important thoughts with you, and then, share my salute to him in a culinary kinda way, with my tribute I will simply refer to as, the Culinary Bill of Right's.
My fathers thought, "always communicate your thoughts clearly and with conviction so that there is as little confusion with the other person as possible and that will lead to a more enjoyable and forthcoming exchange and experience"...although paraphrased a bit truly seemed appropriate for this day.
I hope the above thought makes your day a little brighter and now I humbly present the following for your "mental digestion"!


Culinary Bill of Rights



Customers Bill of Rights

1. Be met, greeted and seated in a timely manner.

2. Prompt service and courteousness from staff.

3. Food to be delivered hot or cool, appropriate to item and on appropriate plates.

4. Server should be versed on specials and have a basic knowledge of the products served. Servers should be trained in the basics at the very least before taking their first order.

5. Management should be involved in both front and back of the house at all times.

6. Management should handle problems of every kind so as to not cause customer further annoyance.

7. Fair and proper compensation for problems (brought to a restaurants attention in a timely and appropriate manner) should be followed at all times.

8. Management should respond quickly and courteously to any and all problems.

9. There should be NO minimum tipping scale for any group under 8.

10. If taking reservations…customer should be seated within 15 minutes of time agreed upon. Except under EXTREME conditions. Then under EXTREME conditions should be given and honest and fair time assessment!

11. Customers should expect clean and stocked restrooms.




Restaurateur's Bill of Rights


1. Customer to be reasonably patient and courteous during busy times.

2. Customer should be expected to tip appropriately.

3. Customer should let management or server know immediately upon problem arising.

4. Customer should be courteous and patient in explaining the situation and should not take out non-service related problems on the TIP!

5. Customer should give restaurateur a second chance to improve (depending upon the severity of the problem) upon issues brought up to them.

6. Customer should never make a scene in the dining area as to embarrass or demean restaurant and or server.

7. When asking for "special" orders, customer should be reasonable and make absolutely sure they have been clear in their request and get request repeated back to them so that there can be little confusion. Customer should be PATIENT with "special" orders.

8. Customer should be expected to receive REASONABLE compensation for their problems…..NOT EVERYTHING FREE ALL OF THE TIME!

9. The customer is NOT always right!

10. When a customer asks for something "EXTRA" the customer should EXPECT to pay for it.


Well, I hope you will "communicate" your thoughts back to me on the above "delectable" ditty.
I hope your Father's Day is as special as mine.

Slainte,

Kevin

Musings from Mardi Gras no. 4…..post “K Beast” (post Katrina)….

Well for the Krewe of Chef and the Fatman another magnificent Mardi Gras has come and gone. So many high points and one very low point.
I would like to report that New Orleans is BACK baby and it is WONDERFUL!!!!
As always the Hotel Monteleone was magnificent receiving the prestigious 4 diamond award from AAA again....for 2009 (the only 4 Diamond hotel in the Quarter I might add)!
Andrea Thornton Director of Marketing really gave us the ultimate experience by giving us the Monteleone Suite….wow, unbelievable, now I might add we are used to getting very nice suites or rooms wherever we go but THIS was above and beyond.
Andrea also gave us the tour of the new multi-million dollar renovated Bienville House also owned by the Monteleone family …just when you think they have outdone themselves with the flagship Hotel Monteleone, they bust out another wonderful hotel right on Decatur approximately 100 steps from Jackson Square…..the Bienville House has slightly larger rooms with many overlooking the river or the BEAUTIFUL salt water pool and courtyard alongside the very successful and beautiful IRIS restaurant.
They even throw in a wonderful continental breakfast with Starbuck’s coffee.
Meeting rooms to accomadate almost any size and the appointments they provide are nothing short of what you would expect from the Monteleone family….Mr. Billy ya’ done good! We hope to meet you one day.
Of course we had to dine at some favorites….Mr. B’s (Cindy Brennan’s place, yes of the famous Brennan family)….Executive Chef Michelle McCraney makes the BADDEST BBQ’d Shrimp in New Orleans baby….and everything else is just GREAT. The service, well, I don’t have to say anything about that…..it is classic Brennan family style.
Now for the very low point….we ALWAYS spend a whole lot of time at Arnaud’s/Café Remoulade/French 75 cigar bar, the Casbarian families absolute CLASSIC giant that should ALWAYS, ALWAYS be a stop whenever in New Orleans.
This time our joy was tempered at learning of the loss of one of the GIANTS of the New Orleans culinary, hotelier and hospitality industry….Archie Casbarian.
One of my true regrets in life was I never got to meet this giant of a man. However, I have had the honour to befriend his living legacies Archie Jr. and Katie Casbarian two children who have taken on the Herculean task of maintaining and growing the fabulous restaurant empire. I know Ms. Casbarian, her husband Archie although he is gone from this earth can rest a bit more comfortably knowing that their two wonderful legacies along with an awesome cast of “family/staff” (for that is what the following members truly are) are carrying on the rich tradition.
I am privileged to introduce just a few of these people to you.
Charles the seasoned consummate professional Maitre’d, he’s continental elegance, dashing, extremely attentive and actually got me to remove my hat, Maitre’d James a younger version of Charles, with a laugh, an infectious smile and an absolute attention to detail and customer satisfaction that I am sure makes Charles proud.
From the bar you must have a GREAT one and Chris is truly a professionals professional in the beautiful French 75 Café and Cigar bar….his passion and mixology abilities are second to none….and of course THE FOOD…..Executive Chef Tommy DiGiovanni, a more hard working dedicated, loyal and provider of TRUE New Orelans classic dishes you will not find….these all and so many more will make life and have made life easier for the Casbarian family. The rich heritage will live on proudly for everyone knows Archie Sr. is watching and smiling over the legacy he has left us….THANK YOU ARCHIE we will miss you my friend!
Finally, to Anne an Paul Tuennerman Mr. and Mrs. Cocktail of New Orelans, what a great radio show you have on WIST in NO….all about the restaurant and mixology business in New Orelans. NO ONE knows more than these two about the best of the best in New Orelans. They ARE Tales of the Cocktail and the true ambassadors of this wonderful city we call our second home.
This year we were honoured to be guests on their show with Head bartender/Mixologist/Liqour Artisan Marvin Alan of the famed Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone this giant of mixology spent an hour with us on our final show from Mardi Gras 2009 and he literally created one drink and put added a wow factor to a classic second drink through his wonderful and true artistic flair that he provides to his craft.
To y’all mentioned and the many we didn’t…..thank you….thank you for a wonderful time…and if you read this before March 30th of this year the Bienville House is running a $79-$119 special all week at their beautiful hotel.
To all of you we look forward to seeing and sharing with you again at French Quarter Festival 2009 in April and Tales of the Cocktail July 8-12th at the city that is back Bigger, Badder and Better than ever….New Orelans….the Soul of America.
Join us we’d love to introduce you to the REAL New Orelans and the people that make her so wonderful!
Laissez Les Bon Temp Roullez….Thanks New Orleans!

Why not serve “hot food” HOT?

Lately I have observed a disturbing trend in restaurants. “Hot food” is not being served HOT. Why not?

Few things are more irritating in my eat-a-day world than sitting down on a cold evening to a LUKEWARM bowl of soup. Whatever happened to the days when hot soup and foods were brought steaming to the table? In the past week I have suffered through three meals where food was served less than hot, including two appetizers, one soup and one main course. Truth is, these lamentable situations could have been easily averted.

Let’s start with the basics. May I offer the following suggestions? Hot soup should be served at no less than 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot apps should be maybe 140 plus. Foods NEED to be served at the proper temperature so their very best taste and flavors can be experienced.

I know y’all have eaten lukewarm food – but to have so many bad dining episodes in such a short time, and at three different locations? This, my friends, is a trend. Let’s end it… TODAY. We should all expect and demand that our food be served at proper temps!

Why isn’t this happening?

It’s all about COMMUNICATION! The kitchen has to tell the servers that food is ready NOW! Servers have to be prepared: they have to get food out quickly to the customer – while it’s HOT . And restaurants need to remove their friggin HEAT LAMPS.

God, I hate those lamps! Heat lamps are a major cause of warm restaurant food. They are a “crutch” that perpetuates poor service. Does the following scenario sound familiar? The kitchen gives out a shout after placing food under “the lamp”… and forgets about it. Meanwhile, the servers aren’t too concerned about speed because the food (your food) is “under the lamp” and will at least stay warm…

Please, my friends, expect, nay, demand, that “hot food” be served HOT! If it’s not hot send it back and let the kitchen know why. Maybe, if enough of us do this, our food will again be brought steaming to our tableside!

As a side bar, let’s also consider keeping cold things COLD? Please, PLEASE stop putting cold salad on a freshly cleaned HOT plate. “Cold food” should be served on a cold plate. It’s all about maintaining proper temps.

Steam on, baby!

P.S. Thank you to my Editor/Photographer-in-chief....Ms. from NIU....he makes things look GREAT....thanks Ms.! From a grateful Fatman!

Ego….the number one killer of restaurants!

As I was watching another episode of one of Chef Gordon Ramsey’s “F-bomb” laced shows, I was truly reminded as to WHY restaurants usually fail……EGO.
Now we can go back-and-forth pontificating on whether ego is good or bad (I subscribe that it is both) but for restaurateurs and chefs it can be a recipe disaster.
Most restaurants that fail, do so because their menus are too big, too expensive, to confusing or a little of all of the above.
What and who sets those menus…..hmmmmmm?
Do you really think that 95% of the public goes out twice or three times a week to drop 60 – 100 bucks a shot on each dinner?
Do you think that foie gras milkshakes will drive the majority of diners’ ga-ga? Yes, those dishes can at times look divine (thanks to food art) and yes the ambiance is awesome. Do you think your tiny portioned “CREATIVE and EXCITING” dishes are truly the way to culinary success?
Yes, they can be, in the right place and given the right chef but those places and chefs are few and far between.
Remember, there is an extremely small number of people frequenting those locations and an even smaller number of chefs and owners that have what it takes to make it successful.
Yet, year-in, year-out the numbers that try are amazing.
I know one owner that will not put grits and biscuits and gravy on his menu….he is in the heart of Georgia….the South and has a breakfast and lunch place. He doesn’t do it because he doesn’t understand it….how can people eat that? He is not doing nearly the business he could and should be doing. Another better known chef was going to take the city of Atlanta by storm with his “culinary and edgy genius” like the aforementioned milk shakes and when it failed, very quickly, the chef condemned the palates of Atlantans. I guess we just don’t get it!
Now I have watched my third episode in a row of Gordon Ramsey’s rantings…it all boiled down to failing restaurants that did not give the people what they "the customers" really wanted.
The owner and or chef gave the people what “THEY” (the chef / owner) wanted. Fortunately, GR turned the places around….until he left, only to go back later to find most had slipped back into their own egocentric ways.
Owners, chefs, I beseech you. Study your market, LISTEN and OBSERVE to what has worked and not worked, let the PEOPLE speak…follow THEIR whims …NOT YOURS and do it well, price it fairly, and give them reasonable portions of what they understand.
The greatest and most humbling experience you can have is when someone comes back to your restaurant time-and-again and tells his or her friends about it.
Why not try and get some of that great feeling, be happily humbled (if you can) for if you do, I have a feeling YOU will be as successful as you ever dreamed and you and your chef can enjoy the exhilaration of success rather than the pain of bruised egos and busted checkbooks.

I wonder what Ray Kroch would say, after all it’s only a hamburger, fries and shakes…hmmmmmmmm?