Caring for the needs of the dining public is a pain in the ass. I know. I tried my hand at waiting tables in late 2007 at PS 7’s. I’m sympathetic to Wait Staff Nation—the long hours they spend on their feet, the copious amounts of information they have to synthesize and deliver quickly to diners, and the endless shit they get from the kitchen and customers alike.

But sometimes the front of the house staff is just clueless. I mean, utterly, painfully clueless, and their cluelessness can hurt a diner’s experience. Let me give you two examples from the weekend:

Read More “Two Unsolicited Tips for Hostesses and Wait Staffers” »

D.C. party planners must be in a frenzy, searching for new caterers and chefs. The Obama presidency promises to shake up the old, butter-heavy French and Southern/Texas cooking traditions favored by a number of former White House occupants. Food writer Marian Burros writes on The Caucus, the New York Times’ politics blog, that D.C. hostesses would be wise to first contact Anita Ellis if they want an insider’s take on the president-elect’s healthy eating habits.

Writers Burros:

Read More “Is Obama the Country’s First Health-Food Prez?” »