Sure, it looked like a glamorous position when you attended your friend's wedding last month. Watching the banquet manager, or maitre d’, escorting the bride & groom into the room, then directing his waiters in serving the food, then later even taking center stage during the cake cutting ceremony, seemed like a cool job. You even thought, hey, I would like to do that. Now it's time to tell you the truth!
ANIMAL CRACKERS"Animal crackers, and cocoa to drink,That is the finest of suppers, I think.When I'm grown up and can have what I please,I think I shall always insist upon these." by Christopher MorleyIn 1902 the National Biscuit Company's Animal Biscuits assumed the legal trademark name of BARNUM'S ANIMALS. They designed the colorful five-cent box that looked like a circus wagon cage, and attached a string so the box could be hung from the Christmas tree. In tot... Read Full Story
The product we know today came into being in 1902, but it had existed in similar forms for generations. During the Christmas season of 1902, packaging became an important factor. It was designed with a string attached to it so it could be hung as a Christmas tree ornament. In total, there have been 37 different varieties, currently there are 22. More than 40 million packages of these are sold each year, and they are exported to 17 countries. They are turned out at the rate of 12,00... Read Full Story
We have a large pink bin (why pink I’ll never know) that all of banquets and the restaurant are supposed to place our dirty ivory napkins in. Then Housekeeping comes each day and takes the dirty napkins to the laundry in the basement to be washed. Sort of easy right?Every once in a while we need to rent special colored napkins for a social event. We can't put these napkins in the big pink bin ‘cause they’re rentals and we aren’t supposed to keep them. They must go in c... Read Full Story
On a previous post, I asked my readers to vote for the favorite joke that I have posted on this blog. There is only 1 week left to vote. Click on this link to be taken back to the original post where you can read each joke. Then place your vote in the poll on the left sidebar. I'll reprint the winning joke later, thanks. Share Like this story? Share it with your friends and family on Facebook. Share Read Full Story
In the year 1213, England's King John (1166-1216) ordered 3,000 capons, 1,000 salted eels, 400 hogs, 100 pounds of almonds, and 24 casks of wine for his Christmas festivities.King Edward I of England in 1274 ordered his sheriffs to provide 278 bacon hogs, 450 porkers, 440 fat oxen, 430 sheep, and 22,600 hens and capons for his coronation feast. In 1377 at the Christmas feast of King Richard II of England, 28 oxen and 300 sheep were consumed.When George Neville was made Archbishop of York 1464... Read Full Story
The wonderful world of weddings. You book the event and promise the "perfect wedding". The birds will sing, the flowers will bloom & the rainbow will shine in all it's glorious colors. Well at least we can dream can't we?So the night comes and guess what? It does indeed turn out to be the perfect wedding. The staff does a great job, not a drink spilled. The kitchen doesn't muck-up the food and everyone leaves at midnight as happy as a lark. A great end to the day.All you have left ... Read Full Story
Here's some of the Banquet Manager's favorite comments from readers in the month of October. Thanks for adding your voice to this blog and keep them coming.On "New York Bar Serves Up Wine in Baby Bottles"Manker said:"Gives new meaning to "bottle fed" ! :)On "What the F*%$ Did She Say" Purplegirl said: "Some corporate genius decided the hosts should tell you all that stuff instead of the servers, and the hosts get their asses reamed if they're caught not doing. They also get ... Read Full Story
It bears noting that restaurant people are not necessarily “people” people. Some are in it solely for the food, or for the money, and would rather be in the kitchen, or in the backroom counting cash, than out here dealing with all your nonsense. Others are just moody eccentrics.Kenny Shopsin, whose namesake Manhattan luncheonette—since closed—was the subject of a New Yorker tribute by Calvin Trillin, had, among many house rules, a ban on parties of five. (No splitting the group into two table... Read Full Story
On rude waitstaff, belligerent maître d’s, scowling chefs, cranky banquet managers and the people who love them.By Peter Jon Lindberg, Travel+LeisureThe stereotype of the surly Parisian maître d’ may be losing currency nowadays, but for the determined efforts of one man: Philippe Pinoteau, owner of Le Baratin, a bar à vin/bistro in the 20th Arrondissement.A skilled sommelier and manager, Pinoteau is even more adept at making his customers feel like so much terroir. A friend once showed up wit... Read Full Story
I wonder if my chef can do better than these scary foods...probably not!Octopus SaladWatermelon BrainScary Gingerbread ManCupcake EyeballsKiller Pop TartFingers-in-a-BlanketMashed Potato GhostsKiller Rat CakeCold Cut Skeleton HeadHappy Halloween... Share Like this story? Share it with your friends and family on Facebook. Share Read Full Story
