(Note: This installment of the Designated Drinker first appeared in abbreviated form in the February 2010 issue of Tastebud Magazine. Â Full format versions of her articles appear periodically on this blog. Â Today it appears because I have spent the day hiking around Colorado. Â Ok, well mostly downtown Denver in flip flops. Â I can see the […]
Regional Barbeque Styles
As a rule I attempt to be unbiased in my writings on this blog. When I express a controversial opinion I try to balance it out with a contrasting opinion. The advice I give on serving comes solely from my experience, testing, and observation. Opinions just convolute the message and make it less applicable for […]
Seafood During Pregnancy
If you sell seafood at your restaurant, you will inevitably come in contact with pregnant women concerned whether or not it is safe. During pregnancy the only thing you get more than designer baby clothes that the child wont be able to appreciate is advice on what not to eat. Seafood is confusing to expectant […]
Cost vs Profit
In a previous post about why restaurants charge for different extras, I discussed the difference between the guest’s perception of profits and reality. It is not uncommon to hear a guest say, “I can buy this for half as much at the grocery store.â€Â The problem is that food in a restaurant carries far more […]
Supply, Demand, and Chicken Wings
Yesterday’s post on extra charges for the various items a guest requests caused me to ponder on a larger scale. It is remarkably common to hear guests say, “I could buy that steak/wine/etc at the store for half that much.â€Â This is the same principle as walking into a car dealership and demanding a price […]
Extras and Upcharges
I received a message the other day from a friend and reader of the blog who is not in the business. She recounted going out to eat and asking for a few extras. When the bill came it was filled with minor charges for each of the items she requested. Her concern was not that […]
Fun Crab Facts and Jokes
They say you gotta give the people what they want. In this case it seems to be crabs. The number of searches I have seen this week that landed on my crab post is overwhelming. So I decided to revisit my favorite decapods. The previous post was a bit more scientific and specific. Today, I […]
Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar
Regular readers of this blog may have realized already that I hate getting stumped by my guests. I have spent thousands of hours researching food to prevent this from happening. Last night I was asked a question so simple I should have known the answer. They asked me what makes vinegar “balsamic.â€Â One theory was […]
Espresso Drinks
During the writing of one of these posts between 20 and 60 ounces of coffee is consumed by the author. While Microsoft Word is firing up on my Mac, I start the first pot in one of the three coffee makers in my kitchen. I sit down and write a basic outline while drinking the […]
How Wild Fish Is Caught
Your guests are becoming more eco friendly than ever before. Organic, sustainable, free range, cruelty free, locally grown, and a variety of other catch phrases that were unheard of when I started waiting tables are now common place. Most all of these are easy enough terms to understand because they are relatable. We understand grazing […]
Introducing: The Designated Drinker
One of the biggest mysteries for newer servers is the world of cocktails. Most of us started out with a base knowledge of what jungle juice, Milwaukee’s Best, and Boone’s Farm taste like. The upper end cocktails and liquors like Rye Whisky, however remain a mystery. For liquor questions I usually refer people to Teleburst’s […]
About The Author
David Hayden was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He took his first serving job in 1996. Since that time, he has worked for over a dozen different restaurant companies. He has held both hourly and salaried positions at independent and corporate restaurants. He has waited on over 100,000 guests and trained hundreds of servers. He has been named "Best Server in Kansas City" the last three years by the local weekly paper.